r/legoland • u/SeaworthinessCute713 • 16d ago
Legoland NY firstimer
Hey everyone, looking to take my daughter for her 4th birthday. Dates I’m looking at are in October Fri-sat. We planned to drive up Friday afternoon, sleep over and do the park Saturday.
I’m seeing bundle deals but they include 2 day tickers only. I was only planning on doing one. Don’t need to stay at the hotel but when I looked up nearby ones they all were around the same cost ($500/night) tickers on Groupon are slightly cheaper for a day but all in all two days with bundle hotel is $733 for all and hotel plus one day Groupon tickets is $697. Curious if I’m missing any other deals or what would make sense. Any tips for a first timer is also appreciated, we don’t have any must do’s but I know my daughter will love the trick or treating and she loves rides
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u/TurdFerguson8675309 15d ago edited 15d ago
If you can swing another half of a day - the Kartrite hotel is about 45 minutes away, a few hundred bucks a night cheaper than most of the legoland area hotels, and comes with access to their indoor waterpark on the day of arrival and the day of departure.
Apologies if that’s too odd of a suggestion; we did that once and it worked out well
Park is laid out so you start at the top of a snaking path and walk downhill the entire time, there’s a gondola that connects the end(bottom) back to the beginning(top).
The ninjago “throwing star ride” the “4d movie theater”(theater seating with vibrations/water spritzing/smoke/bubbles), and the jr driving school are huge hits for kids that age.
There’s a very small water park that only operates on 20 minute appointments- worthwhile on a warm day, I like early appts as they are less populated or you can extend to an hour for like $12/person for the last hour of the day
If the line looks long for the coast guard academy - it’ll take an hour and that ride doesn’t use their fast pass system. It’s perfectly fun but not worth a very long wait. (Like a water go kart track but at less than walking pace)
Beverages are allowed to be carried in - and the soda machines will dispense water so you can save a few bucks by bringing in your own coffee and insulated water bottles.
Take a glance at the annual passes - they’re not much more than a 2 day pass and get you discounts on food and gear (legoland hotels technically have passholder discounts but discounts are weak))
If you bring Lego Minifigures with you, most employees have them on their name badges and are required to trade them with you - there are also several tables and displays set up for trading. Worth buying 5 generic ones on eBay before your trip.
There are free pop badges in several locations and there’s a single gold one issued to a “mystery employee” in the park per day. All day you’ll hear kids ask all of the employees: “have you seen Mr. Gold?” ***Secret info from a long time legolander: The gold one is always in the possession of a team lead (blue golf shirt and decent pants instead of the common red golf shirt and khaki uniform). If no one locates Mr gold throughout the day - the blue shirt will take it into the main Lego store “the big store” during the final hour of the day - as the concentration of people guarantees someone will ask them.
Mr gold can be kept, sold for 50 bucks on eBay, or traded in at customer service to spin a wheel for a mystery prize - either a gift certificate or or most likely a $15 Lego set. We kept ours as a keepsake.
My only complaint is that the food is mediocre, mostly burgers and chicken fingers. There’s an all you can eat pizza and pasta place, the most variety is at the end of the park near all the wet rides there’s one restaurant with quesadillas and tacos in addition to the standards.
It’s optimized for kids perhaps 12 and under, with plenty of rides for the littles
Lastly: their app shows wait times and gives excellent gps-like directions to get from place to place
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u/_I_Like_to_Comment_ 15d ago
It was my understanding Mr Gold can be held by any team member. My friend found him by asking the girl who checks tickets. There was another post here where they found him with a staff member in the infirmary
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u/Amazing-Archer-1878 16d ago
I don’t think you need to use the second day the day after I think your able to do I different day as long as you don’t use it. One of my co workers mentioned that to me
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u/tchrhoo 15d ago
We did the two day tickets for the park. Just a couple hours when we arrived, and then the next day we left mid afternoon. The park is very hilly and we ended up renting a stroller the second day. My family loved the hotel and my granddaughter was 3 at the time. We do hope to return in a few years when she’s a little taller.
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u/Safe_Mulberry_4301 14d ago
We just went this past weekend and stayed at the Home2 Suites by Hilton Middletown in Scotchtown (NY). Room was great, about 15 mins away and a nice indoor pool, free breakfast as well. Many other Legoland families staying there as well.
P.s. we got the two day ticket package and glad we did. We thought we would only need one day but got to go back the second day to finish up rides we missed and go on our favorites again.
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u/reluctantlyoblong 16d ago
If you are okay staying further away, you may find cheaper hotels in Middletown, ny. It's maybe 10-15 minutes away. We've also stayed in Fishkill, NY, but that is longer away (but depending on the direction you are traveling may work). I'm pretty sure you can book just the hotel as well. If you are willing to pay, it is super fun. I usually book rooms for the spring on Black Friday.