LEGOLAND California is great for:
- Guests with young children aged 3-9yo
- Fans of LEGO, Waterparks and Aquariums
- Visitors looking to explore an underrated and fun theme park
LEGOLAND California might not be good for:
- Guests visiting without children
- Teenagers aged 14 and older
Hey, nice to meet you! Want to build some LEGOs together? Sure, we can start building cars, towers or even a Super Star Destroyer, but what if I told you that someone has actually constructed a whole theme park made of LEGOs in California, a place that might be a perfect destination for families with kids?
LEGOLAND California is just that: a full theme park filled with cool rides, character meet-and-greets, and hotels themed after this Holy Grail we call LEGO. It’s similar to Disneyland in that it has a very kid-friendly feel, and, in fact, it’s geared way more toward children aged 2–9 than Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm.
LEGOLAND is actually so fun that many kids in that age range prefer it over Disney or Universal. Yep, that’s the power of LEGO, and, honestly, we can’t blame them. This theme park is absolutely charming, offers very affordable pricing, and isn’t nearly as crowded as the juggernauts associated with Mickey Mouse or Harry Potter.
This guide was created to help you plan your very first trip to LEGOLAND California. We’ll talk about things like:
- What is LEGOLAND California?
- LEGOLAND California Tickets
- Important Info About LEGOLAND California
- Where to Stay at LEGOLAND California
- Best Times of the Year to visit LEGOLAND California
Let’s go!
What is LEGOLAND California?
LEGOLAND California is:
- A theme park located 30 minutes north of San Diego and about 70 minutes from Disneyland.
- A theme park that includes an on-site water park and a full aquarium right next door called the Sea Life Aquarium.
- A theme park with two LEGOLAND hotels conveniently located just across the street.
- A theme park designed for children, featuring over 55 attractions and rides, including roller coasters, motion simulators, and small drop towers.
- A place filled with restaurants, shopping opportunities, and seasonal events.
LEGOLAND California Tickets
There are several different ticket options for LEGOLAND California. Keep in mind that prices are lower during the off-season (such as September) and tend to be higher during peak times, like Christmas, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and other busy dates.
The Waterpark is NOT included in the standard LEGOLAND theme park ticket. To access the waterpark, you need a Park Hopper option that also gives you access to the waterpark. The waterpark is only open during Summer.
- 1-Day Ticket: Starting at $89. Options to include access to the water park and/or the Sea Life Aquarium, functioning as a park hopper option.
- 2-Day Ticket: Starting at $144. Also includes the option to include Park Hopper features so you can visit the Waterpark or the Sea Life Aquarium on the same day.
- Annual Pass: Starts at $179 for LEGOLAND California only, with options to include the waterpark and Sea Life Aquarium.
- VIP Experience: A guided tour through LEGOLAND that costs $695 per guest.
- Build your Own Vacation Tickets: A special option that gives you a discount when you buy tickets and book a LEGOLAND Hotel. You get discounts on a 2-Day LEGOLAND/SEA LIFE Hopper Ticket.
- Sea Life Only ticket: Want to explore the Sea Life Aquarium located right next to LEGOLAND California? Tickets for the Aquarium cost $25.
Important Info About LEGOLAND California
Here is some important info about LEGOLAND California:
- LEGOLAND California is located about 70 minutes from Disneyland. It’s usually a good idea to buy your plane tickets about three to twelve months before your visit. This way, you can save money and still have plenty of time to plan your itinerary and even book restaurants and hotels several weeks in advance.
- LEGOLAND California is usually open from 10:00am to 6:00pm, but specific times vary per day and per date.
- LEGOLAND California is cashless and will only accept credit or debit cards.
- LEGOLAND California offers free-WiFi.
- You can rent strollers, wheelchairs, and ECVs inside LEGOLAND California.
- Standard Parking at LEGOLAND California costs $35, while Preferred Parking starts at $40.
- Since you plan on visiting LEGOLAND California, make sure to visit all other theme parks in the area as well, like Disneyland and Universal Hollywood.
- You can check a map of LEGOLAND California by following this link.
LEGOLAND California Fast Pass System
LEGOLAND California offers a Fast Pass system similar to Disney’s Lightning Lane and Universal’s Express Pass. At LEGOLAND, it’s called Reserve & Ride, and it starts at $35 per guest.
Much like Disney’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass, reservations are made one at a time, meaning that you must use or cancel your current reservation before booking the next. Eighteen rides are included in this service, including popular attractions like LEGO NINJAGO: The Ride and The Dragon.
LEGOLAND California Water Park
There’s a water park located inside LEGOLAND California, but you’ll need a separate ticket to access it. The water park features pools, water slides, and a lazy river, and you can easily spend an entire day here. The Waterpark at LEGOLAND California is actually bigger than the one in LEGOLAND Florida, offering more waterslides, splash areas and playgrounds.
My tip: get a 2-Day LEGOLAND ticket, and dedicate one of those days to the water park. Just keep in mind that the water park is only open during the summer and on select dates.
Sea Life Aquarium
Aquariums are always awesome, especially for kids to learn about marine life. The Sea Life Aquarium, located right next to LEGOLAND California, features over 350 different species and more than 5,000 individual animals.
Families can explore sharks, rays, seahorses, jellyfish, octopuses, and all kinds of fascinating sea creatures. There are also hands-on experiences that let kids interact with marine life in a fun and educational way.
Tickets to Sea Life Aquarium cost $25, and you can choose to bundle it with your LEGOLAND California ticket to save some money.
Where to Stay at LEGOLAND California
There are two LEGOLAND California hotels located right across the street from the theme park: the LEGOLAND California Hotel and the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. The Castle Hotel is newer and generally considered quieter, which helps explain why it’s a bit more expensive than the standard LEGOLAND Hotel. Both hotels are great, though, and packed with amazing LEGO-themed decor.
A great perk of staying at either LEGOLAND hotel? Free breakfast is included, something that’s surprisingly rare at theme park hotels. And no, the breakfast isn’t made out of LEGOs… thankfully. You also get a 30-minute early entry to the theme park, giving you a chance to enjoy some of the most popular rides before the gates officially open.
Here are the two hotels:
- LEGOLAND California Hotel: Prices start at $280 per night. Opened in 2013, this hotel features many rooms themed after LEGO and popular rides from the park. It also offers on-site restaurants and a heated resort-style pool. Self-parking is $30 per night.
- LEGOLAND Castle Hotel: Prices start at $315 per night. Opened in 2018, this hotel has rooms themed around princesses, knights, and wizards. It shares a pool and parking lot with the LEGOLAND California Hotel and also features on-site dining.
LEGOLAND California Hotel Perks
Here are the perks you get when staying at any LEGOLAND California Hotel:
- Free breakfast
- Free Wi-Fi
- 30-minute Early Entry
- Resort-style pool (heated seasonally)
- LEGO theming
- Kids’ own sleeping area with entertainment center, bunk bed and pull out trundle
- LEGO play and build areas in each room
- Interactive treasure hunt in each room
Best Times of the Year to visit LEGOLAND California
The best time of the year to visit LEGOLAND California will probably be whenever you can travel with your children. The good news is that LEGOLAND isn’t as packed as Disneyland or Universal, so even if you go during summer, you won’t find a crowded theme park during weekdays. That’s different from weekends or holidays, so plan accordingly.
Another thing you need to pay attention to is if you want to check out the waterpark. The LEGOLAND waterpark is close during winter, and is open only during Summer and during select dates.
Here are the best times to visit LEGOLAND California:
- Weekdays: Yes, LEGOLAND California is a great option on weekdays, even during summer. It doesn’t get as crowded as some of the more popular theme parks, and it’s rare to find a line longer than 20 minutes on a weekday. One exception? Holidays. If your visit falls on a holiday weekday, expect bigger crowds, and, if possible, plan around it. Wednesday is the best day of the week to visit LEGOLAND California.
- September: A fantastic month for most theme parks, and especially great for LEGOLAND California. The weather is usually dry, and crowds are very low since school is back in session.
- Mid March-May: From March through May, the weather is mild and comfortable, with minimal rain. During this time, the water park begins to open on select dates, making it a nice shoulder season to visit with lighter crowds.
