During California’s Shutdown
It’s nearly the end of summer 2020, and California’s theme parks remain closed due to the state’s shutdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic. LEGOLAND Park in California, like all the state’s theme parks, is temporarily closed. However, Miniland U.S.A. and The Big Shop opened on August 13th. Want to visit LEGOLAND’s Miniland? Entry is free for Pass Members, Hotel guests, and everyone who spends $25.00 (or more) in The Big Shop. We took a visit to LEGOLAND Miniland, USA. Let’s check it out!
Know Before You Go
- The Big Shop and Miniland USA are open Saturdays -Thursdays 10 AM – 4 PM, and Fridays 10 AM – 6 PM.
- Entry is free for Pass Members, LEGOLAND Hotel guests, or if you spend $25 (or more) in The Big Shop.
- No food or beverages are available for purchase inside LEGOLAND Park.
- State and local health and safety expectations are in place, including wearing a mask and practicing social/physical distancing.
- Hotel specials are available if you’re interested in a staycation (Carlsbad, CA).
Our Visit on August 22, 2020
We headed up to Carlsbad on our motorcycle from our home in San Diego on Saturday morning. After a patio breakfast at the 101 Café in Oceanside, we arrived at the LEGOLAND parking lot a little after 9:30 AM. Most of the guests waiting for The Big Shop and Miniland to open were staying at the hotel. However the line wasn’t too long – approximately 5 or 6 families – and then the gates opened.
A LEGOLAND security guard took a quick temperature check at the main entry. After going through the gates, we proceeded to The Big Shop. Before entering The Big Shop, a team member warmly welcomed us. He also requested we use the provided hand sanitizer. Floor markings reminded about social/physical distancing. LEGOLAND is making sure it’s safe to play and stay.
The Big Shop
In the middle of the shop, the top three builds from the show LEGO Masters that aired on Fox in early 2020 are on display.
3rd Place: “The Peacock and the Monkey” – Built by Sam Hatmaker (Los Angeles, CA) and Jessica Ewud (Redding, CT)
Runner Up: “Artopia” – Built by Boone Langston (Troutdale, OR) and Mark Cruickshank (Oregon City, OR)
Winner: “Treasure of the Griffin” – Built by Amy and Tyler Clites (Brandenton, FL)
We are LEGOLAND Pass Members, so didn’t have to buy anything in order to see Miniland. However this did not stop us from bringing a couple LEGO treasures home with us. After we finished shopping, we headed to Miniland. At The Big Shop’s exit, if you’re not carrying a LEGO shop bag, a team member requests to see either a hotel room key or an annual pass to proceed to Miniland.
Miniland USA
The park is temporarily closed. Guests can only access the Miniland USA part of LEGOLAND. Throughout Miniland, hand sanitizer stations are available and there is signage to remind folks about social/physical distancing. In Miniland, we noticed that any place with a button to push had a hand sanitizer station in super close proximity.
The Star Wars section of Miniland closed in early January 2020 and temporary fences block off that area. As LEGOLAND Pass Members, this was not our first visit to Miniland. We spent about 20 minutes walking around and enjoying the beautiful morning.
“Travel from coast to coast in minutes as you visit iconic cities built entirely of LEGO!”
LEGOLAND website/social media
If you visit, be sure to check out the latest addition to Miniland – a tribute thanking all essential workers.
After seeing Miniland, the park exit is back through The Big Shop. Temporary low fencing and signage block access to other areas of the park.
At The Big Shop, a LEGOLAND team member requests that you use hand sanitizer before you enter again. We headed back to the main gates and team members thanked us for coming.
Staycation at LEGOLAND Hotel
The LEGOLAND Hotel opened in mid-July and special offers are available now through August. Book your stay and enjoy LEGOLAND’s lowest summer rates. TripAdvisor rates LEGOLAND Hotel in the Top 5 for “Hotels for Families in the U.S.”. LEGOLAND Castle Hotel is in the Top 10.
Find more information on what is open and what is not on the LEGOLAND website. As we left, we noticed the posters announcing that the new area called The LEGO Movie World is now scheduled to open in Spring 2021. This area was supposed to open in 2020 and we’re looking forward to it! We’re also eager for the return of full-park operations at LEGOLAND, including Granny’s Apple Fries (so delicious!)…
Will you be visiting LEGOLAND soon? What parts of LEGOLAND do you miss? Looking forward to hearing from you in the comments! Like & Follow my Facebook page for mini posts.
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