Imagine Giza made of Legos, with thrill rides. Meet Land of Adventure.
A half-million new Legos will soon be unveiled in Legoland California -- with thousands more of the colorful little plastic bricks arriving later this summer.
On Monday, the Carlsbad theme park opens its latest attraction, the Land of Adventure -- an Egyptian-themed area that features new rides, play spaces and 75 original Lego-clicked creations.
“These new Lego designs are some of the coolest I’ve seen,” says Lego master model designer Bill Vollbrecht, who was a key designer and the only person in the history of the world (probably) who has been paid to interpret ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics into the language of Lego.
Vollbrecht describes some of the new Lego additions: mummy relics, a 16-foot-tall pharaoh and a full-size camel -- complete with handler -- that allows kiddies the chance to climb onto its saddle while grown-ups snap photos.
“There’s going to be plenty of surprises for kids of all ages,” continues Vollbrecht, rattling off new rides that include an interactive desert jeep expedition, mini prop planes and bouncing scarab beetles.
The Land of Adventure is the opening act of a $20-million double-header from Legoland owner Merlin Entertainments. This summer, Sea Life Aquarium debuts right next door. This separate, 36,000-square-foot attraction will feature real aquatic critters like sharks, sea horses and octopuses swimming in and around Lego submarines and scuba divers.
Ready to give the Land of Adventure a test-drive is 10-year-old Ryan Powers from San Diego, who’s read about the new area online. “It sounds so cool!” he exclaims, adding that the indoor temple ruin ride sounds “incredible.”
When told about the Pharaoh’s Revenge play area where adults and kids can shoot thousands of foam balls at each other, Powers is momentarily silent. “Oh man,” he finally says. “This is gonna be fun!”
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LAND OF ADVENTURE AT LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA
WHERE: 1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad.
WHEN: Opens 10 a.m. daily. See website for complete hours.
PRICE: One-day pass: $59 adults, $47 children
INFO: (760) 918-5346; www.legoland.com
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