Legoland Florida Opening 2011
Legoland Florida will be the biggest Legoland Park ever opened and will
offer a unique mix of more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, including
spectacular Lego models and other interactive elements for the whole family
to enjoy together.
Central Florida will be home to the world's largest Legoland by the end of
2011, Merlin Entertainments Group said Thursday.
The park, which is planned for the former site of Cypress Gardens, is
expected to include between 40 and 50 main attractions. In addition to
Lego's signature attractions -- such as kid-powered rides and giant Lego
brick models -- some of Cypress Gardens' top draws are expected to stick
around. The historical gardens will stay intact, according to Nick Varney,
Merlin's chief executive officer.
Merlin said it plans to keep the popular Splash Island Waterpark operating,
although it will be a separate, ticketed admission. Cypress Gardens' water
ski shows and one of its two wooden roller coasters will probably be
integrated into the new Legoland as well, Varney said.
The details of Florida's newest theme park were announced at a news
conference this morning that was attended by government and tourism
officials, including Florida Governor Charlie Crist. Officials hailed the
capital investment -- which Crist said would be hundreds of millions of
dollars -- and the fact that the park will create more than 1,000 jobs.
The Florida park is Legoland's second U.S. location, after Legoland
California in Carlsbad, Calif. The addition of a Legoland in the Sunshine
State is part of a broader push into the U.S. for Merlin.
"We see it as a big development market for us," Varney said. Lego, Varney
said, "is without question one of the strongest brands in the world."
Merlin did not provide attendance projections for the Florida park, but said
its other Legolands draw between 1.5 million and 2 million people a year.
Posted: 22 January 2010
Source: Orlando Sentinel
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