Legoland Florida Discussion Thread

Great new ride for Legoland Florida. The splash battle at Legoland California is very popular in the summer time despite being 7 years old. The dark ride section looks very interesting especially for a splash battle ride.

This looks like it will be a great addition! I haven't been on a splash battle but this will be a must once it opens. Theming looks outstanding!

Looks like a great addition! Splash Battles in a place like Orlando are always good. Can't wait to see the dark ride part as well!

I don't know anything about this IP but the ride looks awesome. I've always loved Splash Battle rides and feel like this will finally take them to the next level. (now is some would just install one in a water park)

Couldn't have said it better myself!

This definitely looks like an excellent addition. I loved the Splash Battles that I have been on and the dark ride portion looks especially exciting. Looking forward to riding this once it's open.

Sounds like an excellent move by the park.

A little risky rolling out a new ride on something yet to air, but it sounds general enough that it would work without the show.

Don't have any clue who or what Chima is? How popular is this IP?

That aside, I love heavily immersive rides and I think that this is a unique ride to the Florida market and also unique for the type of ride system as it has both outdoor and indoor portions. Being that this is a splash battle, I hope the indoor portion preceeds the outdoor portion as, being indoor and wet can make for a chilly ride and you get soaked on splash battles.

Very good addition for this park. I've enjoyed all the Splash Battle rides I've been on.

dt

A little risky rolling out a new ride on something yet to air, but it sounds general enough that it would work without the show.

With how rigorously tested Lego's product lines are before they are put into production, along with the fact that the original testing feedback was the most well received in more than a decade, Merlin probably felt comfortable launching a ride the summer after the product is first released to the market. This is actually the -perfect- time to open the ride, as the series will be at the height of it's popularity.

Don't have any clue who or what Chima is? How popular is this IP?

 

That aside, I love heavily immersive rides and I think that this is a unique ride to the Florida market and also unique for the type of ride system as it has both outdoor and indoor portions. Being that this is a splash battle, I hope the indoor portion preceeds the outdoor portion as, being indoor and wet can make for a chilly ride and you get soaked on splash battles.

The IP is -very- popular. The sets are very well made and have a lot of playability, something Lego has become better and better at doing over the past decade.

If you look at the media released you can see that passengers will begin inside the building, with a short dark ride section, proceed to the outdoor "battle areas" where passengers will engage in the signature feature of the ride system, the water battles. You will then move back indoors for the "finale" sequence.

The Lego parks continue to improve their attractions, and this looks to be one of the best themed experiences yet.

I'm completely fascinated by taking the Splash Battle ride to this level of themeing. Obviously they're great rides, fun for a wide audience, and especially in Florida... why hasn't someone built one in Orlando before?

I've really thought some of the themeing on Splash Battles has been fun (Europa Park and Dollywood are both really fun) but has anyone built one with an indoor portion at all before? What about the idea of making it interactive? This sounds more like a shooting gallery setup than just "shoot water cuz it's fun".

Very, very interesting! I also love that Legoland is making a whole coherent land out of it.

I'm completely fascinated by taking the Splash Battle ride to this level of themeing. Obviously they're great rides, fun for a wide audience, and especially in Florida... why hasn't someone built one in Orlando before?

 

I've really thought some of the themeing on Splash Battles has been fun (Europa Park and Dollywood are both really fun) but has anyone built one with an indoor portion at all before? What about the idea of making it interactive? This sounds more like a shooting gallery setup than just "shoot water cuz it's fun".

 

Very, very interesting! I also love that Legoland is making a whole coherent land out of it.

Dollywood has some heavily themed semi-enclosed sections near the station and has targets throughout that spray water jets various directions when hit. So it has elements of a dark ride and interactivity already in what they have done. But it sounds like Legoland is taking it to the next level with their effort.

Legoland Florida has sent us a press release announcing the grand opening of The World of Chima, which is set for July 3rd, 2013!

An army of animal tribes from LEGOLAND® Florida’s newest expansion featuring interactive family fun, The World of Chima presented by Cartoon Network, invaded Central Florida today with an important announcement. The dozens of three-foot LEGO® models of characters from the new product line, LEGO® Legends of Chima, descended upon downtown Orlando and downtown Tampa, bearing tags announcing that the park’s The World of Chima attraction will open to the public on July 3.

 

Laval the Lion, Eris the Eagle and members of other Chima animal tribes are searching for the missing CHI, a powerful energy source needed to power LEGOLAND Florida’s newest attraction that was stolen by Cragger, the leader of the Crocodile tribe.

 

Soon fans can join The Quest for CHI to help Laval and his friends find the CHI needed to power The World of Chima presented by Cartoon Network by joining an interactive Facebook contest beginning May 27 at http://www.facebook.com/LEGOLANDFlorida. One grand prize winner will be selected to be a VIP for the Opening Ceremony on July 3.

 

This expansion will be one of the centerpieces of the new LEGO Chima brand, which already includes a major LEGO product line, a stunningly animated television series to air on Cartoon Network beginning in July and multiple interactive video games and apps. LEGOLAND Florida is the only place in the world that LEGO fans can go to unleash the power and be fully immersed in The World of Chima, providing an experience like no other.

 

The centerpiece of the new World of Chima at LEGOLAND Florida is an interactive, family-friendly water ride, The Quest for CHI. Guests will enter The World of Chima through a fantastical stone and moss covered entrance which leads to the Lion Temple at the base of the majestic 45-foot tall floating Mount Cavora. There, guests will explore a diverse landscape setting and join the Lion Tribe in an epic battle to recover the stolen CHI orbs. Guests will board a watercraft which will take them on an interactive experience using water cannons to help their hero, Laval the Lion Prince, defeat Cragger the Crocodile King as he attempts to steal the precious supply of CHI. The journey will take them through the land of Chima where they will meet some of the highly advanced animal tribal habitats, including the Rhino Quarry, Raven’s Roost, Eagle’s Nest, Wolves Encampment, Gorilla Forest and Crocodile Swamp among other imaginative settings.

 

The World of Chima also features a super-charged, super-fast SpeedorzTM Arena where multiple players build their LEGO Speedorz and compete to win the precious supply of CHI by participating in-group challenges and competing in a series of obstacles. Families can also enter Cragger’s Swamp, the Croc Tribe’s secret hideout, where they will find a lush green foggy swamp filled with playful bubbles, intermittent water spouts and interactive elements that trigger swamp water effects. A new 4D movie, the LEGO Chima 4D Movie Xperience, will further immerse families into The World of Chima by bringing the characters to life on the big screen. Kids will also get to meet their hero Laval the Lion Prince and Cragger the Crocodile King at daily character meet and greet sessions. Plus, with the largest supply of LEGO products in Central Florida, guests can find their favorite LEGO Legends of Chima sets and Speedorz.

 

For more information regarding The World of Chima presented by Cartoon Network and the more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, visit http://www.LEGOLAND.com. The best way to experience LEGOLAND Florida is with a Florida Resident Annual Pass for just $99 plus tax. Pass members will receive unlimited admission for 12 months to LEGOLAND Florida and the LEGOLAND Water Park along with other Merlin U.S. attractions including LEGOLAND California Resort & Water Park, LEGOLAND Discovery Centers, Sea Life Centers and Madame Tussauds with no blackout dates. The LEGOLAND Florida Resident Annual Pass also includes admission into special events throughout the year including Red, Brick & Boom, Brick-or-Treat, Christmas Bricktacular and Kid’s New Year’s Eve. Additionally, pass members will enjoy free parking and discounts on all food and merchandise throughout the year.

^That was a clever publicity stunt. The whole World of Chima concept looks pretty cool.

LEGOLAND Florida’s child ambassadors christen the LEGO World of Chima attraction boats, helping gear up for the July 3rd Grand Opening!

Today Theme Park Review was invited out to Legoland Florida for the media preview of The World of Chima expansion opening tomorrow to the public. The new land is the first of its kind as it is the first ever LEGO property to launch and have a Legoland attraction or land launch with it in the same year. It is also the first LEGO property to have a TV show launching concurrently with the new land. In fact, if you're a local you've probably already seen advertising for the Legends of Chima show on Cartoon Network, with a special ad on the back end that promotes the new land at Legoland Florida.

The World of Chima expansion consists of "The Quest for CHI" splash battle, Cragger's Swamp water play area, the Speedorz Arena, Razar's Bazaar and the addition of a LEGO Chima 4D Movie Xperience in the Wells Fargo 4-D Theater.

Time to enter The World of Chima!

Our morning started out with a few words from Park GM Adrian Jones...

Soon after Laval and Cragger came out from Chima, with Cragger holding a source Chi, the power that keeps the balance in the world of Chima. After some coaxing, he gave it up.

It's just like the ending of The Phantom Menace!

"Weesun being friends!"

Pyro!

Funfetti!

After the opening ceremony we were given the chance to conduct interviews with Adrian Jones. He was extremely passionate about the park and its latest expansion (he always is) and offered us his personal favorite thing to look out for in the ride.

We also had the chance to speak with Scott Thomas, Vice President of Consumer Marketing for Cartoon Network. In addition to supporting this new expansion, the partnership between Legoland Florida and Cartoon Network means that Cartoon Network will be providing additional content throughout the park (including in ride queues) from their other shows including Adventure Time, Regular Show and Gumball (those were the examples he gave).

Time to take "The Quest for CHI" for a spin!

The ride is extremely family friendly in its speed and design. You can stand throughout the entire ride experience but there are seats for those not comfortable enough or perhaps those wanting to be less of a target for others' guns.

I'll say this now: There is no shortage of water on this attraction! And like other Splash Battles, you would be hard pressed to escape fully dry.

The bulk of the ride takes place outdoors, meandering through the home terrains of the varying residents of Chima. Those brown circular shields are actually water-triggered targets that set off effects (or water jets) throughout the ride path.

I was wearing a poncho and I was still considerably drenched by the end of the ride.

Awesome and dangerous at the same time is the ability for non-riders to grab a water gun and shoot back at you while you shoot at them. As if the ride's automatic water jets weren't enough, this is just icing on the cake.

Another scene from along the ride path...

Into the mouth of the Crocosaurus...

Okay, it isn't actually Crocosaurus, but it is awesome.

Lightsaber battle?!?!

The final scene sees Cragger strung up for his crimes.

The things I subject myself to for Theme Park Review.

Time to look at the ride from the outside view.

Now I just need to find 98 more...

Soakage ensues...

Like other attractions at Legoland Florida, there is a building station in the queue for kids to keep them occupied during their wait.

Cartoon Network will also be providing content from the show to play in the queue.

The interior portion of the queue is pretty neat!

Awesome details!

The CHI Pool is actually Adrian Jones' favorite element of the new land.

More cool details.

Cragger's Swamp is a water play area for the kids, including triggered effects and jumping fountains.

The Speedorz Arena allows guests to race Chima Speedorz vehicles along obstacle courses.

In case you were wondering what a Speedorz is...

Back to The Quest for CHI!

Chima's floating island is definitely the "weenie" of the land.

Seconds later, the girl in the red soaked me with her gun.

They have a LEGO play wall at the exit of the ride.

Here I was stopping to admire the LEGO-built details when someone goes and sprays me with their gun.

This new expansion is phenom-nom-nominal!

I was clearly standing in the wrong place.

Even the adults love it!

Look everybody! It's Banks from Orlando Attractions Magazine: The Show!

And JeniLynn's here too!

Razar's Bazaar is off to the side of the exit path for the ride.

Need Chima merch? They've got you covered!

Another resident of The World of Chima hangs out by the ladies restroom.

There is also more Chima merchandise to be had.

Another look at The Quest for CHI's fortress.

For the love of Larry.

One more for the Index.

Thanks again to Legoland Florida for hosting us today for the preview of the awesome World of Chima expansion! And thank you for the sweet Chima goody bag!

That looks like a really well thought out area. I like the Splash Battle tunnel but I'm not to sure about the floating mountain. To be it sort of just looks stuck there.

I wonder if chima will be rolled out to all the other Legolands in the near distant future.

-Craig

I've never seen the show but does that island float in the sky on the show? I was just wondering if they were going for the floating tap look with that pole like i've seen in some water parks

Love the themeing! More parks should have nice splash battles.

Wow.....they got this area done fast. We were just there less than a week ago, and it looked like they had quite a bit of work to go.

We may just have to swing back by there after we leave Disney.

My friend's uncle is Scott Thomas, he is a really cool guy and it looks like Cartoon Network and Legoland did a great job. I'm actually gonna see Scott in a couple weeks at Comi Con SD

It looks to be a great addition to the park and with this Florida heat, I can see this being very popular attraction.

This ride looks SICK! I wish there are more attractions like this - this is a refuge from my state's sauna-like summers!

The area looks great! I really wish more parks had splash battles.

Looks great. It's a great improvement over the Splash Battle rides.