Everybody was kung fu fighting... and building with their favorite LEGOs
Let’s be honest: everyone has wanted to be a ninja at least once in their lifetime. Or a pirate. Or an astronaut. Or a multi-billionaire. Guess what? You can fulfill one of those dreams, for four minutes, at LEGOLAND! No, you won’t get to be Jeff Bezos, but you can throw on your favorite cloak, grab your imaginary shurikens, and get ready to become a ninja on LEGO NINJAGO The Ride.
NINJAGO is a dark ride that shares its DNA with WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure and Toy Story Mania, both found at Disneyland. You’ll board a four-person vehicle, put on 3D glasses, and then it’s time to battle enemies on massive screens and rack up points. The twist? You’ll be using only your hands, performing different motions that are better suited to different targets.
So, just like a ninja, it’s time to karate-chop your way up the leaderboard and become a Master LEGO Ninja for a day.
What we like about LEGO NINJAGO The Ride
You know what NINJAGO does really well? It’s incredibly easy to play, and it’s a perfect ride for kids aged 3 to 9. Since there are no plastic guns to deal with and your arms are your weapons, pretty much anyone can jump in without needing to understand any complicated rules. I won’t lie, you can totally just flail your arms around and still have fun. Sometimes, the funniest moments come from everyone in your ride vehicle going wild, waving their arms like they’re warming up for a breakdance competition.
Yes, the ride plays a lot like a video game, and there are even some design elements that make it more interesting than just a “move-your-arms-around” simulator. Different hand gestures trigger different elemental attacks, which are more effective against specific enemies. This isn’t Final Fantasy or the most advanced action RPG on the market, but at least it’s doing something new, and skilled players will definitely use unique strategies to chase the high score.
There’s a lot of action too, and unique setpieces and environments like lava rivers and snowy mountains. Guess what, guys?Use fire against the Ice Enemies and ice against the guys near the lava river. You also get to fight skeLEGOns and even a giant snake boss. Honestly, don’t worry too much aboint points, just have fun waving your arms around and laughing with your family.
What we don’t like about LEGO NINJAGO The Ride
Well, if I want to get technical, the ride does an okay job tracking your movements. There’s a sensor in each vehicle that monitors your arm motions to register your attacks, but it can be a bit spotty at times. That’s understandable, considering that, 1 - this is a theme park ride, not the latest game on your PS5, and 2 - these ride vehicles are used thousands of times a week. But like I said before, don’t stress about getting a perfect score. Just have fun doing the best Naruto impersonation you can. Sometimes the best strategy is to throw stars and fireballs like crazy, since it’s difficult to track your own attacks sometimes since the action can be so chaotic.
Another issue is that the ride vehicle can definitely feel cramped at times. Four guests sit side by side, and everyone needs room to move their hands around. This ride requires a lot of hand gestures, and things can get chaotic fast. You know what that means, right? You might be aiming at the skeleton in front of you, but you could also end up accidentally hitting Little Jimmy, who decided to sit right next to you. And no, Little Jimmy doesn’t yield any points. I do wish the ride vehicles were a bit larger to give you more freedom to move your arms around.
Conclusion
The objective of this ride is simple: have fun with your kids being a ninja, throw stars at random enemies, and share a good laugh. The set pieces are super chaotic, and the sensors don’t track your exact movements all the time, but that’s totally fine. You’re mostly here to wave your arms around in a fun motion simulator for children, and it delivers on that perfectly.
LEGO NINJAGO The Ride FAQ
Where is LEGO NINJAGO The Ride located?
You can find LEGO NINJAGO The Ride at LEGOLAND Florida. We can help you get there, by the way! Just click the Request a Quote button and we will reply as soon as possible.
Is there a height requirement to ride LEGO NINJAGO The Ride?
No, there isn’t, but guests under 48" must ride with a supervising companion who is 14 years or older.
Is LEGO NINJAGO The Ride good for children?
Yes! It’s a fun and chaotic motion simulator that most children will love.
Is LEGO NINJAGO The Ride scary for children?
Not really. It mostly features LEGO characters getting blown apart by ninja stars. There is a giant snake monster near the end, but it has a cartoonish look that keeps things light.
