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Is the LEGOLAND Hotel in California Worth it?

Is the LEGOLAND Hotel in California Worth it?

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When my friends suggested that we do a big trip to LEGOLAND California with our preschoolers, I knew there was only one place I wanted to stay: The LEGOLAND Hotel!

See, I’ve been casually planning a trip to LEGOLAND California for the past two years.

I like to thoroughly research our family vacations and make sure we’re spending our time in the best possible way.

After hours and hours of reading blogs, hotel reviews, and asking everyone I knew about where to stay at LEGOLAND California, the answer was overwhelmingly the LEGOLAND Hotel!

We spent two nights at the LEGOLAND Hotel and I wholeheartedly agree!

Find awesome LEGOLAND California deals here.

Don’t have time to read a bunch of LEGOLAND blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting LEGOLAND with kids.

Where to Stay at LEGOLAND California

Want to Save Money at LEGOLAND?
Check out Get Away Today for the cheapest LEGOLAND packages that include hotel and tickets.

Here are a Few Reasons Why You Should Consider the LEGOLAND Hotel

It’s SO Close to the Park Entrance

When you’re traveling with toddlers and preschoolers, sometimes just getting to your destination is a struggle.

I knew the LEGOLAND Hotel had an entrance to the Park, but I had no idea it was literally AT the entrance!

The LEGOLAND Hotel is just steps away from the LEGOLAND California Park Entrance #legoland #legolandcalifornia #legolandhotel #familytravel
My son is lounging on the hotel patio and behind him is the LEGOLAND Park entrance. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

Not only was it helpful getting to/from the Park, but it also meant my husband could take our toddler back to the hotel for afternoon naps.

And it was nice to know we could swing by our room to grab more baby wipes, change shoes, or reapply sunscreen.

Coolest Hotel Lobby

As soon as you walk through the doors to check-in, you will feel like you are on vacation.

Photo of the lobby of the LEGOLAND Hotel in California, near San Diego #legolandhotel #legolandcalifornia #LEGO
This bicycle continually moves back and forth showcasing hundreds of LEGO Minifigures. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

Behind the front desk, you’ll see a large minifigure riding a bicycle with magnifying glasses for wheels that enlarge a wall of minifigures! It’s really impressive!

Photo of the LEGOLAND Hotel lobby with a huge LEGO play area. #legoland #legolandhotel #sandiego #carlsbad
We loved this seating area/LEGO pit in the hotel lobby. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

There’s a structure in the lobby where kids can sit and build with a vat of LEGO bricks. The best part (for parents) is the sign saying that they are frequently cleaned and the multiple hand sanitizer areas!

Plus, there’s a mini LEGO store that sells sets, minifigures, LEGO souvenirs, etc. And they even have over-the-counter medications.

Photo of the bathroom at the LEGOLAND Hotel in California #legoland #legolandhotel #bathroom #LEGO
This kid-sized sink is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

And while it’s not technically in the lobby, the restrooms on the main floor have a kid-size sink! My boys thought that was cool!

Insider Tip: Make sure to let them know if it’s your first time to LEGOLAND and you’ll get a cool badge!

The Adventure Theme Room is Super Kid-Friendly

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. Of course, it should be kid-friendly. I mean, it’s LEGOLAND.

But, the LEGOLAND Hotel really goes above and beyond when thinking about its guests. There’s even a kid-size peephole in the door! Check the latest rates and availability.

BATHROOM

I’m going to start with the bathroom. They are the first hotel we’ve ever stayed at that has a seat reducer on the toilet! It’s perfect for potty-training toddlers!

Photo of the LEGOLAND Hotel bathroom in the Adventure Theme Room #legolandhotel #adventureroom #legolandcalifornia #lego #bathroom
I was happy having a step stool and I was ecstatic with the seat reducer! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

They also have a portable step stool to make it easier for kids to wash their hands. My toddler toted that step stool all over our room so he could climb up and reach things!

KIDS SLEEPING NOOK

The Adventure theme room at the LEGOLAND Hotel feels like a suite because of this semi-private area for kids to sleep in.

Photo of the kids sleeping area at the LEGOLAND Hotel Adventure Theme Room in California #legolandhotel #legolandcalifornia #trundle #bunkbed
Yes, this bunk bed has THREE beds! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

It’s a set of single-size bunk beds with wall-mounted night lights for each bed. And families of 5 will love the trundle bed that can accommodate 3 kids!

There’s also a wall-mounted TV and a cool spinning game on the wall.

ROOM BONUSES

I’ve learned to not expect much in the way of amenities when we travel.

So, I was completely impressed to find complimentary Honest Kids juice pouches when we arrived!

The LEGOLAND Hotel offers complimentary Honest Kids juice pouches in each room #legoland #legolandhotel #honestkids #toddler
My toddler spotted the Honest Kids juice pouches as soon as he woke up! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

And they had hot chocolate K cups, in addition to coffee K cups and bottled water. What a fun treat for families!

Photo of the kids sleeping area at the LEGOLAND Hotel in California #lego #legoland #legolandhotel
The LEGOLAND Hotel provides LEGO bricks for kids to play with during their stay. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

My kids also were stoked to find a bin of LEGO bricks available for them to play with in the room!

It was nice to suggest they play LEGOs in their room while we got ready for the day!

And the LEGO Theme is Well-Done

I admit, when I first saw photos for the rooms at the LEGOLAND Hotel, I was worried it would be difficult for the kids to wind down because the rooms look so fun.

In fact, that’s the reason one of my friends decided not to stay there.

So, I was thrilled to enter our room and see that it’s not as “busy” as the photos on their website show.

Photo of the Adventure Theme Room at LEGOLAND Hotel in California #legoland #legolandhotel #adventureroom
The bed was very comfortable and easy to get solid sleep before hitting the Park. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

It makes sense that they would want to show off all the cool LEGO decor. And trust me, they did an amazing job decorating!

But, I’m here to let parents know that not every inch of the room has a LEGO theme.

When you are laying in bed in the Adventure Theme Room, the only LEGO stuff you’ll really see is some Egyptian-style art (with little LEGO minifigures in it) and a couple of small LEGO builds mounted high on the wall.

Photo of a parrot LEGO artwork found at the LEGOLAND Hotel in California #lego #legobuild
Each of these LEGO builds comes with a hefty price tag, so don’t even think about taking them with you! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

The kids’ area isn’t super crazy, either. My kids fell right asleep, even with all the lights on!

And if you open the shower curtain in the bathroom, you don’t see any LEGO stuff.

So, if you are worried that the theme will be distracting for your family, trust me when I say it’s not.

The Infamous Treasure Chest

One of my friends always stays at the LEGOLAND Hotel and she said a big reason is their treasure chest.

Photo of the Treasure Chest at the LEGOLAND Hotel in California #legoland #treasurechest #legolandhotel
My husband helps my son enter the secret code to unlock the Treasure Chest! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

See, each room has a locked treasure chest with a special LEGO surprise inside.

When you check-in, the staff member will give you a scavenger hunt checklist featuring objects found at the hotel.

This is a fun thing to do in the morning when waiting for the Park to open. Or a fun thing to do before bedtime.

It asks kids to answer questions about cute LEGO things in the lobby area.

We didn’t have a chance to do it the first night and so we found double the items when we opened it the second night.

Our kids were stoked to get 2 LEGO minifigures and 3 LEGO masks!

Insider tip: If the code doesn’t work or you totally forget to do it and your kids are begging to open the treasure chest, you can call the front desk for the code 🙂

Tons of Hotel Amenities Geared for Families

As a mom of little kids, my family is always forgetting to pack something when we travel.

So, I got a little too excited when I saw that I could talk to guest services to get a razor or toothbrush set!

And had my toddler not been able to handle sleeping in a “big kid” bed, we could have gotten a Pack n Play sent up to our room.

Another cool feature is guests can just text housekeeping 24/7 to get extra towels, pillows, blankets, etc. As someone who hates talking on the phone, this made my day!

FOOD-RELATED AMENITIES

The LEGOLAND Hotel has a microwave available on the first floor. But, you can also request one for your room!

This is perfect if you want to heat up baby food or your kid will only eat specific foods.

While the LEGOLAND Hotel has room service (score!) they also have a To-Go menu.

Amazing Breakfast Buffet

When you stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel, you also get a complimentary breakfast.

Don’t worry, it’s not your standard hotel continental breakfast. Those are always underwhelming.

Photo of the breaskfast at the LEGOLAND Hotel in California #legolandhotel #familytravel
Our family loved the assortment of breakfast food options (even though my son’s plate doesn’t reflect that!) Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

Here at the LEGOLAND Hotel, they have lots of hot food items (like cornbeef hash, scrambled eggs, an omelet station, pancakes, french toast, bacon, sausage, grits, oatmeal, etc) plus fresh fruit, cereal, pastries, bagels, etc.

They even have a whole buffet dedicated just for kids. My kids liked the french toast sticks, tater tots, and waffles!

Oh, and they have a section with all kinds of yogurt and JELLO parfaits! Both boys devoured the yogurt!

Photo of kid-size fruit smoothies at the LEGOLAND Hotel in California #smoothies #legoland #legolandhotel
These kid-friendly smoothies may be the most brilliant idea ever! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

But, the best part is that they have already portioned, dairy-free fruit smoothies! This was a huge hit with my kids both mornings!

And I loved that they had a milk-dispensing machine so my kids could drink as much as they wanted (which is a LOT!)

FYI: For our first morning, I sent my husband down to breakfast with the kids so I could get ready in peace. He tried to bring me back something, but they wouldn’t let him bring a bowl or utensils. Totally makes sense for a buffet, but just wanted to let you know!

You Can Drink Wine While the Kids Play

Speaking of drinking, the LEGOLAND Hotel lobby is the place to be for Happy Hour!

In the afternoon/evenings, the Mini’s Lounge serves wine and beer and parents can relax in the comfy chairs while watching their kids play on the giant LEGO Castle!

Photo of the Castle in the lobby of the LEGOLAND Hotel in California #legolandhotel #LEGOcastle #kidfriendlyhotel #familytravel
My kids played here in the mornings and evenings while my husband and I kicked back! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

This is also where staff members come to do their Adventure Storytime. So, your kids are fully engaged and entertained and you can sit back and enjoy!

Brick’s Character Dinner Buffet

While we didn’t experience this character dining this trip, it’s on my list for the next one.

Located at the same place as the continental breakfast, Bricks Character Dinner Buffet is a fun option for dinner without leaving the hotel.

The menu sounds pretty good with an array of soups, salads, carved meats, etc. And they have a “Just for Kids Buffet” to satisfy the pickiest eaters.

And parents of toddlers will love that kids ages 2 and under eat free!

Not only is it a convenient place to eat, but there are also several LEGOLAND characters (like Adventurers, Pirates, Royalty, Jesters, and Knights) who appear as part of the entertainment.

Kids will love being able to sing and dance with their favorite characters!

Free Hotel Entertainment

Since the Park closes fairly early, it’s great to continue the fun back at the hotel for their nightly entertainment.

Make sure to grab an entertainment schedule when you check-in so you don’t miss out on character meet and greets, model building, Hero training, kids improv, and more. Check the latest hotel rates.

Here’s what we saw in October:

ADVENTURE STORYTIME

Adventure Storytime featured mini-dance parties, lots of audience participation and was fabulous!

AWESOME ARCADE

Yes, that’s the official name! This is a new addition to the LEGOLAND Hotel and it’s open from 8 am to 10 pm.

BRICK BOOGIE

If your kids like dancing as much as mine, head to the LEGO Room for nightly dance parties!

SWIMMING POOL

Our room overlooked the pool area and it was really cute! Had we stayed one more day, I think we would have done a whole pool day!

Photo of the swimming pool at the LEGOLAND Hotel in Carlsbad, CA #legoland #legolandhotel #carlsbad #california
Don’t you just want to lay out by this pool and read a book? Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

It’s a zero-entry, heated pool that’s great for kids of all ages. They even have LEGO floating bricks so you can build in the pool!

You can rent a cabana and take advantage of their pool-side food and drinks for an awesome SoCal vacation.

They also offer Swim-In Movies sometimes, so check when you go!

DISCO ELEVATOR

Yes, I’m including the elevator in my list of free entertainment. As soon as the doors close, disco lights come on and the music gets everyone grooving!

WHOOPIE CUSHION CARPET

My son has been trying to explain this to all his friends, but no one seems to understand. So, I will attempt to describe it.

Photo of the Whoopie Cushion carpet at the LEGOLAND Hotel in California #legoland #legolandhotel #LEGO
Jump on this spot and it will make it sound like you are “tooting!” Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

There’s an area on the carpet in front of the elevator on the main floor where people can jump on a picture of a whoopie cushion and it will make a “tooting” sound.

My boys (and husband) thought this was hysterical!

Early Access to LEGOLAND Park

Another reason our family wanted to stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel is that they offer early access into LEGOLAND Park. I know early park access has been a huge perk when we’ve stayed at Disney hotels.

Photo of the entrance to LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, CA outside of San Diego #legoland #legolandca #legolandcalifornia
Avoiding lines is ALWAYS a good idea! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

When we went in October, early access started at 9:30 am and LEGOLAND opened at 10 am.

On the first day, we used this time to exchange a few tickets and figure out where to rent a double stroller before meeting up with friends at the other end of the Park.

On the second day, we quickly rented the stroller and went on several rides before the Park opened!

Insider Tip: After entering the park, head LEFT and show your wristbands to go on a few rides before the park opens.

LEGOLAND Hotel Deals

We specifically went in October to take advantage of the Kids Free San Diego program. While that didn’t help us with the hotel cost, it did save us some money on Park tickets.

I’ve also seen deals pop up on Travelzoo and Groupon.

Click here to check current LEGOLAND Hotel deals.

Where to Stay at LEGOLAND California FAQs

What accommodation options are available at LEGOLAND California?

LEGOLAND California offers two unique, LEGO-themed hotels on-site: The LEGOLAND Hotel and the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel, each with themed rooms and interactive features.

What amenities are included in the LEGOLAND hotels?

Both LEGOLAND hotels offer themed rooms, interactive play areas, swimming pools, entertainment by the hotel staff, and a free breakfast buffet. Each hotel also offers easy access to the park with a separate entrance for hotel guests.

Are the LEGOLAND hotels kid-friendly?

Absolutely, the hotels are designed with kids in mind, featuring LEGO-themed rooms, treasure hunts, and nightly children’s entertainment.

Are there other places to stay near LEGOLAND California?

Yes, there are several family-friendly hotels and resorts in the nearby Carlsbad and San Diego area, offering a range of accommodations to suit different budgets and preferences.

Do the hotels offer special packages for the theme park?

Yes, both the LEGOLAND Hotel and LEGOLAND Castle Hotel often offer packages that include accommodation and park tickets, which can provide savings compared to purchasing separately.

What is the best age for LEGOLAND?

LEGOLAND parks are primarily designed for children between the ages of 2 to 12 years old, with rides, attractions, and exhibits catering to this age group.

Is 13 too old for LEGOLAND?

While some of the attractions may seem geared toward younger children, a 13-year-old who enjoys LEGO, likes interactive experiences, and doesn’t mind less intense rides might still find LEGOLAND enjoyable. In addition, if the 13-year-old has younger siblings, it can be a fun place for the whole family to spend time together.

Is the LEGOLAND Hotel Worth it?

Our family really enjoyed staying at the LEGOLAND Hotel. The rooms are set up perfectly for families, with separate sleeping areas for the kids.

Since the park closes fairly early, it’s nice to enjoy all the amazing entertainment options at the LEGOLAND Hotel. Plus, their character meals are pretty cool!

If you’d like to stay here, check out the latest rates and availability!

Love this LEGOLAND Hotel review? Find out how to save money at LEGOLAND California, tips for visiting LEGOLAND with toddlers, LEGOLAND packing list, Disneyland vs LEGOLAND, best hotels near LEGOLAND, 13 Ways to Visit LEGOLAND on a Budget, and my top LEGOLAND tips for families

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Megan

Saturday 20th of October 2018

This looks like so much fun for the whole family! I love Lego and didn't even know this existed xx

marciecheung

Sunday 21st of October 2018

It's such a fun hotel, especially if you love LEGOS!

Helen Neale

Saturday 20th of October 2018

Wow, such a detailed post that would be so helpful to plan a great trip to Legoland. Loving the pictures so much.

marciecheung

Sunday 21st of October 2018

It's definitely a cheery place to stay!

Preet

Saturday 20th of October 2018

What a fun place to stay and relax with the jids. And the good thing about this is it was near at the park. This could be helpful for my trip here nextmonth.

marciecheung

Sunday 21st of October 2018

Oh, you'll have a blast! My post about tips for LEGOLAND will be up next week!

Christa

Friday 19th of October 2018

This looks like such a great family trip! I love the themed rooms and the supply of LEGO. Gonna add this to our growing list of places to take the kids.

marciecheung

Sunday 21st of October 2018

Move this to the front of your list!

Queen Tourmaline

Friday 19th of October 2018

This looks like so much fun. I want to go! Thanks for the awesome pics and review.

marciecheung

Sunday 21st of October 2018

We all had a really fun time here!

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