Southern California How did Legoland become so popular?

[DodgerGirl]

Ever since it was opened in Carlsbad I have never ever figured out why or how Legoland became so popular and I can't understand how Legoland survives? Is it because Lego wanted to build a theme park to compete with the other Southern California theme parks or is Legoland trying to become like Disneyland or Magic Mountain? Because every time I have seen Legoland commercials I seem to think that Legoland wants to copy Disneyland because they always seem to offer deals every time especially during Christmas Halloween and the summer and I basically think Lego has started wanting to build more Legoland theme parks in other California cities in the years ahead. Another thing that Legoland did like Disney Parks and Universal Parks did is launch Legoland Resort Hotels and I cannot figure out how in the world these hotels make money? But when I have seen Legoland Youtube videos I think their main attractions are rollercoasters and they always seem to build and constantly develop new rides that are rollercoasters. And in the characters at Legoland they always have Emmet Brickowski and Wildstyle Lucy from The Lego Movie series as the star characters of Legoland. Why I think Legoland was made in the first place was to attract younger Lego fans and Legoland should develop a spinoff theme park for the teen and adult crowd in my opinion

 

[Mommb]

A trip to Legoland in Carlsbad is less stressful and less expensive than a trip to Disneyland. When I went with my kids 15-20 years ago, I was impressed with how it had a lot of attractions for young kids with much shorter lines than Disneyland. I didn’t like it as much because, at that time, there wasn’t much for older kids and adults, but my kids loved it. I would guess that the hotels succeed for the same reason as Disney hotels: they are conveniently located and themed.

 

[Disfamwa]

We are a huge Disney family and just did a 3 night 2 day stay at Legoland (stayed on site). My kids absolutely loved it, and the younger one asks at least once a week to go back to Legoland. It really is a great theme park for the under 10 crowd. It also was a super laid back and an easy theme park experience from an adult perspective—the closest hotel to park walk imaginable, included breakfast buffet, fun hotel activities, no need for any sort of skip the line program, and we didn’t need to wake up early for early entry! It was just a laid back, fun, and relatively inexpensive experience!

 

[blana]

Lego has had a theme park in Europe since 1968, and then began expansion from that original location. And I'm sure that they chose California for their first US park for similar reasons to the other parks you mentioned: good weather pretty much year round. And the deals hit about the same time as the other parks for similar reasons, too. Because those are the times when travel dips & they want to bring people in.

Beyond that, when my kids were young, they LOVED going to Legoland (been to both Florida & California). There were basically no rides they couldn't do and the lines were shorter than at Disney. It's great for the younger set!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I have no idea. We did not like it at all. My son is a huge Lego fan and it just didnt hit like Disney does.

 

[DodgerGirl]

Why I think they thought Legoland would become popular when it was first opened in Carlsbad was because I think Legoland was gonna expand to other states and cities and be the biggest theme park chain next to Sea World and Six Flags. Why they chose Carlsbad California as the place for Legoland i'll never figured out when they could've chosen Pasadena or even Sacramento for Legoland. But I think if there would be another Legoland to build in California the logical choice would be San Jose or San Francisco or San Mateo because those Bay Area cities do like amusement parks and a second Legoland in California would do great business there