• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Legoland Windsor

Visited Legoland the other week for the first time in a good few years, which meant I had three pretty major new dark rides to experience.

Ninjago

I actually really enjoyed this, but boy was it a work out! Took a little while to work out exactly how best to move your hands/arms, but really good fun once you got the hang of it. Can't say I noticed what the story was, as I was so focussed on getting a good score; I finished 400 points below 100,000!

Haunted House Monster Party

The main facade of the building is really good, but it is ruined somewhat by the huge box behind which houses the Madhouse. A real shame this could not be built in to the ground. As for the ride itself: solid. It's good fun but at the end of the day it is a Madhouse with no real pre-show. Still, I am sure it is even more fun for the kids!

Flight of the Sky Lion

Another dark ride in a big box structure, but I don't think it looked too bad at all from the outsite. Nicely presented and the lion is lovely. The queue did look pretty hideous but we got on the first cycle of the day (it had been down all morning) so we did not have to suffer in it (unsure if it even got a queue later in the day, the park was very quiet).

The ride itself is very good, a totally different take on a Flying Theatre experience which I enjoyed. It felt like more of an adventure than a fly over various locations and that worked really well. Some lovely characters in the ride also, Legoland are missing a trick here by not selling plushes of these characters!

Overall the park was looking very presentable. The Mia area really stands out as an area that was done on the cheap, which is a shame as the rest of the park is not like this at all. What I do enjoy about Legoland is all of the little details around the park, something you do not get often in Merlin parks.

Did the new Duplo coaster also, really not sure why it was one adult per row mind, seemed pointless. Also a shame that Legoland's Poppy Towers appear to be turned down somewhat compared with the one's at EP and Paulton's; seemed rather tame.

Worst part of our day was the food options - utterly dire. Makes Alton Towers look like a brilliant park for food! The choice we had was Burger Kitchen, Farmer Joe's Chicken (which had 3 adult options I think), Pizza Pasta or Rollover hot dogs from various outlets. Food was not served at the hotel until 4pm. Fish & Chips as well as the chicken skewer place by the Dragon were closed (off peak day so fair enough). However it would have been nice to have a food outlet open that offered something other than a burger or a pizza.
 
Legoland Florida have recently opened this new walk through attraction ‘Legoland Story’.

We know Merlin love to copy and paste Lego attractions to other parks. I think this would fit very well into the empty space in the Beginning that previously housed the Star Wars walk through at Windsor.

 
AT86 said:
Legoland Florida have recently opened this new walk through attraction ‘Legoland Story’.

We know Merlin love to copy and paste Lego attractions to other parks. I think this would fit very well into the empty space in the Beginning that previously housed the Star Wars walk through at Windsor.

Click to expand...

Technically this already exists in that building. Head upstairs of what was the Star Wars store and you'll see the History of Legoland, Model Displays and view into the Model Makers Workshop.
When the building first opened it extended downstairs and took up the whole building (with the section that used to have the Death Star in originally being the racers shop (it wasn't very big)).
There's no reason the downstairs couldn't be used for this again.
 
Sorry to bump, but on the subject of what was being talked about back in October, is the former Star Wars space actually in use at present? I certainly don’t remember a walkthrough-type attraction being there when I went in July, only the thing that @Tim describes.

The main reason I wanted to bump, though, was to ask; does Legoland have much in the way of development space left, or potential space where things could go if stuff was removed? I only ask because I was curious as to whether the park could install anything else major, or whether it’s too landlocked.

I do personally feel that the park could do with a new roller coaster that’s a bit more thrilling than anything they currently have; their current roller coaster lineup is quite tame, and also lower in scope, compared to the other Legolands.

As an example of the sort of thing I’m talking about, the recently announced Chinese Legolands seem to be containing at least one B&M family coaster each (both a B&M family invert and some form of B&M family launch coaster are being included in these, alongside the regular duo of Dragons), so I reckon a B&M family coaster, whether it was an invert or launch coaster, might fit Windsor nicely, myself.

I’d also quite like to see the Lego Factory dark ride from Legoland New York, personally, as I think that would be a great fit!

Does the park have any potential spaces where they could pull a new coaster or dark ride off?
 
Sorry to double post, but I've done a bit of examination of Legoland Windsor on Google Earth, and the park does look pretty landlocked besides an intriguing parcel I found between Miniland and Fire Academy.

From what I can tell, it's currently unoccupied, and according to Google Earth, the area spans 2,918 square metres/0.72 acres based on the polygon I highlighted, which is as follows:
Legoland-Windsor-with-plot-highlighted.png

And for some context, here's the area that the polygon encompasses, for some idea of what's currently there:
Legoland-Windsor-without-plot-highlighted.png

For some idea of scale, this is a similarly sized plot in square metres to the entire Duel building at Alton Towers, which including the shop spans 2,873 square metres. This does admittedly exclude Duel's cemetery queue line, as well as the wider Gloomy Wood area, but my point still stands.

In terms of other rides at Legoland; this is a similar size to the entirety of Lego Ninjago World (approx. 2,900 square metres; Ninjago's building alone is around 2,000), around twice the size of Haunted House's entire area including queue (approx. 1,400), just under twice the size of Laser Raiders (approx. 1,500) and 2.5 times the size of Atlantis including queue line (approx. 1,200).

Does this seem like a feasibly usable plot to you guys? And if so, what do you reckon could go there?
 
The park has plenty of places for expansion and development; to say that it is 'landlocked' is patently incorrect. Plus of course there are plenty of existing areas within the park that are due redevelopment, so I would imagine there's every possibility that new attractions could and will take the place of existing older items.
 
Islander said:
The park has plenty of places for expansion and development; to say that it is 'landlocked' is patently incorrect. Plus of course there are plenty of existing areas within the park that are due redevelopment, so I would imagine there's every possibility that new attractions could and will take the place of existing older items.
Click to expand...
What sort of attractions are you thinking of, out of interest?

Also, are there any other unoccupied areas for expansion besides the plot I highlighted, in your opinion?
 
Matt N said:
Sorry to double post, but I've done a bit of examination of Legoland Windsor on Google Earth, and the park does look pretty landlocked besides an intriguing parcel I found between Miniland and Fire Academy.

From what I can tell, it's currently unoccupied, and according to Google Earth, the area spans 2,918 square metres/0.72 acres based on the polygon I highlighted, which is as follows:
Legoland-Windsor-with-plot-highlighted.png

And for some context, here's the area that the polygon encompasses, for some idea of what's currently there:
Legoland-Windsor-without-plot-highlighted.png

For some idea of scale, this is a similarly sized plot in square metres to the entire Duel building at Alton Towers, which including the shop spans 2,873 square metres. This does admittedly exclude Duel's cemetery queue line, as well as the wider Gloomy Wood area, but my point still stands.

In terms of other rides at Legoland; this is a similar size to the entirety of Lego Ninjago World (approx. 2,900 square metres; Ninjago's building alone is around 2,000), around twice the size of Haunted House's entire area including queue (approx. 1,400), just under twice the size of Laser Raiders (approx. 1,500) and 2.5 times the size of Atlantis including queue line (approx. 1,200).

Does this seem like a feasibly usable plot to you guys? And if so, what do you reckon could go there?
Click to expand...
If we're talking yet more dark rides, I'd love to see the Lego Factory Adventure trackless dark ride come to Windsor. It looks fantastic. :)
 
Rick said:
How is it not landlocked ?

landlocked
/ˈlandlɒkt/

adjective
  1. (of a country or region) almost or entirely surrounded by land.
Click to expand...
In theme park terms, "landlocked" means that a park has no empty space available for expansion or new attractions. So Legoland technically isn't landlocked in those terms as there is substantial space available. :)
 
Rick said:
How is it not landlocked ?

landlocked
/ˈlandlɒkt/

adjective
  1. (of a country or region) almost or entirely surrounded by land.
Click to expand...
giphy.gif


For clarity, though I imagine the vast majority understood, it is landlocked in the literal sense. But in terms of development, and the ability to develop around the existing park, it is not


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Tbh Legoland windsor and its Neighbours dont see eye to eye and struggle for planning permission.

there last major coaster (Jungle Coaster) was removed largely due to the noise issue to locals from riders.

Its unlikely we will see another medium/large coaster approved/planned for this reason.
 
Rob F said:
Tbh Legoland windsor and its Neighbours dont see eye to eye and struggle for planning permission.

there last major coaster (Jungle Coaster) was removed largely due to the noise issue to locals from riders.

Its unlikely we will see another medium/large coaster approved/planned for this reason.
Click to expand...

there must be some way they can build a coaster though….
 
Legoland have given an insight into their future plans, with a planning application for a LEGO-themed indoor adventure golf attraction to be submitted shortly plus a holiday village consisting of 150 lodges. The resort have also said that a ‘new rollercoaster plan’ will be coming forward and other parts of the park will be refreshed. LINK

Like with Chessington and Thorpe Park’s developments, the London Resort is stated as a reason for these investments. I like privately-owned Merlin ;)

LEGOLAND Windsor plans to build a new adventure golf course by Spring 2023 amid delays to their holiday village development.

The famous theme park near the historic town has shared plans it will soon submit to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council to construct an indoor attraction for guests visiting the resort as well as those staying overnight to enjoy in the evening.

Councillors and residents sitting on the Windsor town forum heard the proposed addition will have up to three golf courses with different LEGO themes and branding.

An upcoming visitor attraction in Kent called London Resort could draw guests away from LEGOLAND and the theme park needs to “up its game”.

READ MORE: Windsor MP Adam Afriyie insists there will be no by-election

If approved, the golf course could be erected on one of the car parks to the west of LEGOLAND – but details are yet to be finalised.

David Pugh, consultation advisor to LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, said: “This is about attracting more people to the local area with a diversified offer [as] part of the wider holidays package.”

He also said a new “rollercoaster plan” will be coming forward and parts of the theme park will be “refreshed”.

13379154.jpg
A new mythical creature attraction was unvieled last year Image by J Hordle / INhouse Images

Back in 2018, the council approved plans for LEGOLAND to build a holiday village consisting of 450 lodges in the green belt for guests to stay overnight.

Drawings of the village show the units appearing to be built with materials to make it look like it was built by LEGO. The village has a woodland setting with large foxes and other wildlife statues built by LEGO bricks.

But the plans were delayed after the countryside charity Campaign to Protect Rural England went to the High Court in order to stop the development, believing the council did not take the appropriate examination of the scheme’s impact on ancient and veteran trees.

Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal dismissed the charity’s case. The group applied to the Supreme Court, the most senior court in the UK, but that was rejected.

READ MORE: Legoland Windsor hits back at green campaigners 'wrong' tree claims

With the final hurdle cleared, Mr Pugh said Legoland can now start implementing the first phase of the delayed plans, which includes building 150 lodges by 2024.

He said: “There’s been a lack of family-friendly accommodation that’s been identified in past visitor surveys and part of the holiday village is about providing that accommodation at a lower price point.

“Not just for guests who would be coming to LEGOLAND as part of that, but those families who can visit other attractions in the local area.”

The forum heard a link from the M4 to the resort is now “nigh-on impossible” due to environmental constraints and the existing access to the theme park from Winkfield Road will “remain the case indefinitely”.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top