Lego Mindstorm and Hero Factory are just a few of the feature areas within the park’s excellent Imagination Zone
It’s really only as you’re browsing the
shops that you’re reminded of the park’s role as a brandland for Lego. It’s a mark of the integrity of the Lego brand and Merlin’s use and interpretation of it that this thought doesn’t intrude on your day. Even as this realisation dawns, you still
feel fortunate to be able to get access to such a great range of toys and special items which can’t be bought anywhere else.
CYPRESS GARDENS I wandered into the Garden Shop part way through my visit and found a collection of Cypress Gardens gifts and merchandise which looked as though it had been left over from the park’s previous life. After striking up a conversation with the
shopkeeper, I discovered that the Cypress Gardens were still alive and well and hid- ing towards the back of the Legoland site – something I genuinely hadn’t noticed or understood up to that point. Whether a deliberate decision was
made to soft pedal this part of the park, or whether the Lego elements dominate to such an extent that the Cypress Gardens just don’t jump out in all the excitement is hard to judge, but I felt it would have been easy to have completely overlooked the gardens. The fact that, when I fi nally found them, I only saw four other people during my wanderings, confi rmed the view that more could be done to bring them to the attention of guests.
AM 1 2012 ©cybertrek 2012
The Imagination Zone gives children the opportunity to play with the latest Lego
THE STAFF I took every opportunity to talk to the people working in the park and, without exception, they were positive and excited to be there. They also said they felt lucky to be working for Merlin. Comments included ‘I meet people from
all over the world – it’s exciting to come to work’ and ‘I love working with the children when they’re having such a great time’.
WHAT’S THE SCORE? Experience
Staff
Cleanliness Toilets
Value for money Overall experience
Several had been out of work for sometime before getting jobs at the park and their remarks did seem genuine – they had no idea I was there to write a report. The staff were extremely helpful and professional and took the initiative in most cases.
MY EXPERIENCE I had a great day out and thoroughly enjoyed the park. It’s been beautifully fi tted out and it’s interesting to see an attraction with such a European feel in the middle of Florida, which up to this point, has been dominated by US-themed operations. From overheard comments, I felt some
of the US visitors were a little bemused by the European vibe, but they still seemed to be having a great time. The concept of a park which is entirely focused on younger children and family interaction is a novelty for Orlando and one which I’m certain will be a great success. There are plans to develop hotels on
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the site to move towards the creation of a full-blown resort. Once these are in place, along with the waterpark, it will represent an even more compelling offer for the par- ents of children under 12. I’d say congratulations to Merlin and Nick
Varney for a savvy investment and a job well done and good luck with phase two. ●
Liz Terry is editor of Attractions Management Email
lizterry@leisuremedia.com Twitter @elizterry
Read Attractions Management online
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