Legoland

Legoland is the name of six theme parks, thematically based on Lego toys. In the parks modeled with Lego landmarks can be seen from all over the world. The rides were built in the style of Lego bricks. In 2005, the Legoland parks were taken over by the Merlin Entertainments Group.

History

The company opened the first Lego Legoland in 1968 in Billund, Denmark. Later, other Legoland parks opened in Sierksdorf, in the British Windsor ( 1996), in Carlsbad, California (1999) and in May 2002 in the German Günzburg. All Legoland parks are known for their respective Miniland, were recreated in the international and national landmark from Lego bricks.

The first German Legoland was in 1973-1976 on the site of today's Hansa Park in Sierksdorf. Some of the rides of the past still exist today in modified form, for example, the Western Railway and the cog drive (then carbon bead).

On 13 July 2005 it was announced that Lego sells its four parks for € 375 million of the U.S. investment firm Blackstone Group. The amusement parks were incorporated into the new company, Merlin Entertainments Group, 70 percent, and the Danish Lego owners, the family of Lego founder Ole Kirk Christiansen and Godtfred, 30 percent of the shares held at the Blackstone. Meanwhile, as another investor there, the Dubai International Capital LLC added. 2008 was announced to open in 2011 another park in Dubai, Dubai within the country. After a construction freeze in 2009 the works but so far (as of December 2012) were not resumed. In September 2012, opened a Legoland Park in Malaysia.

Locations

Legoland Billund

Location: 55 ° 44 '8 " N, 9 ° 7' 34 " O55.7355569.126111 The oldest Legoland, Legoland Billund, located in the Danish town of Billund, the Lego also is located. It was officially opened on 7 June 1968. Legoland Billund is divided into nine different theme worlds: Duplo Land, Imagination Zone, LEGOREDO Town, Adventure Land, Miniland, Pirate Land, Knights' Kingdom, Polar Land and Lego City. The amusement park was expanded from 3.8 ha to 14 ha now. In 2012, he was visited by 1.65 million people, making it the most visited tourist attraction of Jutland. Meanwhile, the park is limited in its area by outside buildings. So it was in 2013 to the closure of two children attractions to Ghost - The Hounted House - to build - the new season 2014.

Legoland Windsor

Location: 51 ° 27 ' 48.8 "N, 0 ° 39' 3.9 " W51.463558461111 - 0.65109184611111 Legoland Windsor is the second theme park of Lego and was opened in March 1996 in Windsor, near London. Legoland Windsor has seven theme worlds: Imagination Centre, Miniland, Duplo Gardens, Lego Traffic, Wild Woods, My Town and Castle Country. The on the site of the former Windsor Safari Park opened 60.7 hectare park saw 2 million visitors in 2012.

Legoland California

Location: 33 ° 7 ' 40.7 "N, 117 ° 18' 43 " W33.127969825278 - 117.31193306333 Legoland California is the first Legoland Park outside Europe. The Headquartered in Carlsbad amusement park opened in March 1999 and is located north of the city of San Diego in California. During the school year the park closes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In Legoland are several smaller roller coasters and the first Robocoasters system of the USA with name of Knight 's Tournament. The California Legoland has six theme worlds: Explore Village, Fun Town, Knights' Kingdom, Miniland USA, Imagination Zone, and Dino Iceland. The park size is 51.2 hectares.

Legoland Florida

Location: 27 ° 59 ' 24 "N, 81 ° 41' 31" W27.990113888889 - 81.69185 Legoland Florida is located in Winter Haven, southwest of Orlando. The park was opened in the fall of 2011, and as a special feature a botanical garden and a water ski show. The Botanical Garden was taken over from the predecessor Park " Cypress Gardens " along with several roller coasters.

Legoland Germany

Location: 48 ° 25 ' 28 " N, 10 ° 17' 56 " O48.42444410.298889 The first Legoland Germany was in 1973-1976 on the site of present Hansa Park in Sierksdorf in the Baltic Sea. Legoland Germany in the Bavarian town of Günzburg was opened on 17 May 2002 and is visited annually by about 1.3 million people. The company owns an area of ​​140 hectares. Of these 70 acres are cultivated, of which about 20 acres to parking, 14 acres on the adventure area for visitors and 8 acres on the Legoland Village. Legoland welcomed in 2005 already its five millionth visitor, making it one of the most visited tourist attractions in Bavaria. Legoland Germany 2012 was awarded the most child-friendly leisure park.

In the park, a miniature landscape from more than 25 million Lego bricks has been established, the so-called Miniland. In Miniland detailed sceneries be reproduced, currently:

• Berlin
• Frankfurt
• Port of Hamburg
• Netherlands
• Neuschwanstein Castle
• Swabian village landscape
• Switzerland
• Venice
• Allianz Arena (Munich ) with over 30,000 characters and many lighting effects (since 2005)
• Munich airport take-off and landing runways, buildings, aircraft, models of the Airbus A380 and the Transrapid ( since 2006).
• Star Wars - famous scenes from episode 1-6, and from Clone Wars (since June 2011)

The largest building in Miniland, the Allianz Arena, was assembled in 1:50 scale in 4,209 hours of work from over a million Lego bricks. The model weighs 1.5 tons. In Legoland make eight model makers from up to 2000 different elements in about 60 different colors - all standard Lego bricks - their work.

In addition to the elaborate Lego landscapes, there are numerous game attractions for children. The roller coasters are generally suitable for small children. Among the topics Worlds in German Legoland include: Lego X - treme, Knights' Kingdom, Lego City, Miniland, Land of Adventure, Imagination, and the land of pirates. The latter area was opened in 2007 and covers an area of 5,000 square meters, the largest expansion of the park since its inception.

It is sometimes very rapidly respond to current events, so in the spring of 2009 on the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama in Berlin. The Love Parade by then built up in front of the Lego Reichstag building was replaced by a guard of honor with President, Chancellor, various escorts, president's wife ( a bit off ) and President Dog First Dog Bo.

Robocoasters PowerBuilder at Legoland Germany

Attractions ( selection)

• Lookout tower Legoland ( Gyro Tower, height: 65 meters, Year: 2002, Manufacturer: Ride Trade ( Intamin ) )
• Project X - Lego Test Track ( roller coaster type Wild Mouse, Manufacturer: Mack Rides)
• Jungle Expedition ( flume ride with adventure theme )
• Fire Dragon (combination of theme ride and family coaster, Manufacturer: Painters )
• HERO Factory, formerly Bionicle Power Builder ( Robocoasters, Manufacturer: KUKA Roboter )
• Captain Nick's Pirate Ship Battles ( boating with water cannons, Manufacturer: Mack Rides)
• Lego Studios 4D cinema ( cinema with 3D movies and special effects )
• Atlantis by Sea Life ( walk-through seawater aquarium with tunnel )

Legoland Discovery Centres

Since March 31, 2007 there are in Berlin's Sony Center at Potsdamer Platz with the Legoland Discovery Centre Berlin the first of the company's indoor park. In 3500 m², in addition to a mini country with Berlin in model size, a 4D cinema, a dark ride with gondola ride through a dragon castle, a Lego factory and ways to build self with Lego bricks, available.

A second indoor park is on 19 April 2008 in the former Werhahnmühle - opened at the Duisburg inner harbor - the premises of the former Atlantis Children's Museum. This is close in favor of the expected spring 2013 be opened Legoland Discovery Centre in Oberhausen. A third indoor park was opened in the late summer of 2008 in Chicago.