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LEGOLAND California Essential Tips for First Time Visitors

Last Updated on January 19, 2025 by Polly Dimitrova

LEGOLAND California theme park is a dream come true for LEGO fans of all ages. Located at the heart of Carlsbad, LEGOLAND is only a short drive away from San Diego, California, which makes it a fabulous choice for a fun day trip or even at extended family vacation. Planning a trip to LEGOLAND might be overwhelming, especially for those juggling multiple children of different ages. Your mind is probably already filled with questions about the tickets, the rides, accommodation options, age limits, etc. Keep reading as we share the best tips for first time visitors to LEGOLAND, California below!

Plan Ahead


Planning ahead of time and being fully prepared before you even step foot in LEGOLAND California is the first and most essential step for first time visitors. From getting your tickets in advance to downloading a map and making a wish list of attractions to ride, below we are covering the 5 most essential tips part of the Plan Ahead Stage.

Get Tickets in Advance

First things first – get your tickets in advance and skip the line at the gate! Make sure to head to LEGOLAND California calendar page, pick your dates and take advantage of the online discounted rates. One day tickets purchased online start from $79 per person, which is significantly cheaper than $129 at the gate.

Note: Keep in mind that the park does not generally offer a discount rate for children. So everyone above the age of 2 years old pays the same amount. We visited two months before our son turned 2 years, so he got free access.

Note: If you are local to the area, getting the annual pass to LEGOLAND could be extremely beneficial since it gives you early entry, unlimited park access, free parking and other discounts.

Buy a Two Day Ticket

There is only a small price difference between the one-day and two-day tickets, so we strongly recommend getting 2-Day Tickets. With more than 60 rides, the park is absolutely huge and it can get slightly overwhelming even for an adult.

We made a few mistakes on our first day, but we quickly learnt from them, so we were better prepared for our second day. We already knew, which rides our son liked and were worth the wait, so we only did these the second time around. Knowing that we are going back, also allowed us to take breaks and leave slightly earlier before our little one got way overtired.

Note: If you buy a 2-Day Ticket, you need to return back to the park within 3 days of your first visit.

You Can Also Book Your LEGOLAND Tickets below:

Arrive Early

A little secret that not everyone knows about is that LEGOLAND California’s turnstiles actually open 30 minutes to an hour before the official opening at 10:00 AM. Arriving early can be extremely useful to get ahead of the crowds, have shorter wait times, and allow you to experience the park before it gets too busy. We also strongly recommend visiting on a week day when there are less crowds.

Check the Height Requirements

One of the most essential LEGOLAND tips for first time visitors traveling with children is the height requirement. While there are some rides, which do not have any age or height requirements, the vast majority of attractions in the park have a restrictions starting at 34″. Make sure to check their height requirements and plan accordingly if traveling with smaller children.

Get the App

I generally do not like getting additional apps on my phone, but I have to say the LEGOLAND California app is absolutely great and can be a huge help when planning your visit. It gives you a list of all the rides and their height requirements, and you can easily add the ones you like to your wish list the night before you visit. Once the park is open it also give you the wait time for each attraction and how far away it is. You can use the interactive map to pick your destination and explore the park. Getting the App is one of the best tips for first time visitors to LEGOLAND California.

Book Your LEGOLAND Tickets Below:

LEGOLAND Store

Once You Arrive


Once you have taken all the above steps and you have a full plan in place, you need to think about your day of fun at LEGOLAND California. Below we are sharing 5 essential tips to help you once you arrive inside the park.

Visit the SEA Life Aquarium Too

If you are not a local, you might have not realized that the SEA Life Aquarium is actually part of LEGOLAND. Many prefer to skip it and allow themselves to have more time to explore the rides inside LEGOLAND, but we truly enjoyed the aquarium too. One of the best tips for first time visitors is to head straight to the SEA Life Aquarium as early as possible on your second day at LEGOLAND. As it is quite small, it quickly gets crowded. We were some of the first people to enter and had a great time, as our son ran around to look at the fish and turtles.

Note: Keep in mind that strollers are not allowed inside SEA Life Aquarium. You will have to leave it by the entrance. We spent slightly less than an hour and allowed our little one to enjoy as much as he wanted.

Stay Hydrated and Fuel Up

Make sure to bring your own water bottle and small snacks. You will find numerous water fountains spread across the park, so you can easily refill your water bottle. Saving a bit of money on the little snacks, that your kids will inevitably ask for after all the running around and playing, is also a good idea. There are various dining options, but similar to other theme parks the food is only average and highly overpriced. Since LEGOLAND is now cashless, make sure to bring a credit or debit card to make your purchases inside the park.

Skip the Lines With Reserve ‘N’ Ride

Spending the day at LEGOLAND California can be quite costly. There is absolutely no need to feel like you need to pay even extra to skip the lines with Reserve ‘N’ Ride, but it is an option for those who would like to. Our best advice is to aim to do the rides you are most excited for first and as early in the morning as possible. If your plan is to hit them all, though, you might need to reserve ride times with Reserve ‘N’ Ride to shorten the wait times, especially on more popular rides with longer wait lines.

Bring a Change of Clothes and a Towel

Bringing a change of clothing is not a novelty to parents with small children. One thing that I was not prepared with the first time around, though, was a towel. Since, I did not fully plan ahead, I did not realize there is a small splash area inside LEGOLAND. My son loves water and before I realized it he was standing under the water mist (yes, even in a cloudy day in October). Weather in California is pretty mild all year round and even if you are visiting during the “winter” you might be gifted with a warm sunny day, good enough to allow your children to play in the splash area. During our second visit, I even brought a toddler swim shirt in addition to a beach towel and he spent close to 30 minutes having fun in the water. Brining a change of clothes and a towel is an absolute must for first time visitors to LEGOLAND.

Start at the Back

Starting at the back is a fantastic option if you are arriving a bit late, especially on the weekend. If you immediately feel overwhelmed by the crowds just head straight to the very back of the park. People tend to congregate closer to the entrance and many of the rides at the beginning have extensively long wait times. The DUPLO Little Dino Trail, for example, is one of the first attractions you see once you enter. It also has no height limits, so many families with multiple children immediately join the line. We made that same mistake on our first day in LEGOLAND and it was only after I downloaded the LEGOLAND app while in line, when I realized this ride has the longest wait time in the entire park! Starting at the back is one of the most essential tips for first time visitors to LEGOLAND as it can save you tons of time!

My son and husband at the Carousel in LEGOLAND California

Find More Tours and Activities in Carlsbad, California below:

More Tips


  • Bring your own stroller instead of renting one inside the park. Little ones get tired quickly and might not make the entire day on foot.
  • Parent Swapping can be extremely beneficial for families with multiple children and especially little ones who do not meet the height requirement for a ride. The entire family can wait in line and then inform the operator you would like to use Parent Swap. One of the parents can ride with the tall enough child, while the other parent stays with the smaller one. Once the ride is over, parents can immediately swap without having to wait in line again. Excellent option if your older child enjoys a particular ride and would like to do it more than once!
  • Miniland USA is overrated in my opinion. Yes, you can see famous cities and landmarks recreated out of LEGO bricks, but I did not personally understand the hype around it. I actually thought our 2-year-old son would be more interested into it, but he quickly realized that none of it was “real”, so we only quickly walked through this section of the park.
  • Minifigure Trading can be awesome for little kids. Bring your old mini figures and look for an employee (Model Citizen) with a badge with minifigures fixed onto it. Check if they have a Minifigure you would like to have and trade with them. You can also find various Minifigure Trading Spots around the park.
  • There is more to LEGOLAND just the rides, especially if you are visiting with smaller toddlers, who do not meet the height requirements. Our 2-year-old son loved “free playing” at the DUPLO Play area. The Ninjago Training Camp looked fantastic as well for slightly older children.

2-Year Old Favorite Spots and Rides inside LEGOLAND


  • LEGOLAND Express
  • Cargo Ace
  • DUPLO Little Dino Trail
  • DUPLO Playtown
  • Coast Cruise
  • Dino Outpost
  • Ferrari Build & Race Area
  • Queen Watevra’s Carousel
  • SEA Life Aquarium
  • Explorer River Quest

Note: Our son was just under 2 years old when we visited LEGOLAND so he did not meet the height requirement for quite a lot of the rides.

My son enjoying the splash zone at LEGOLAND California
Miniland Legoland in LEGOLAND California and the best tips for visiting LEGONLAND California

FAQ


What is the best time to visit LEGOLAND California?

Definitely try visiting during the weekday to avoid the massive crowds. Late spring and summer is the peak season for tourists in the San Diego area. Planning a trip in fall or winter is an excellent choice, as the lines are a lot shorter, but the weather is equally pleasant for a day of fun at LEGOLAND.

The park also offers a wide variety of events throughout the year, though, so make sure to check their calendar!

Where is LEGOLAND, California and how to get there?

Located in the town of Carlsbad, LEGOLAND is only a 40-minute drive away from San Diego. You can simply rent a car and take the I-5 North before getting off at Canon Road and simply following the signs. There are numerous parking lots, which quickly fill up. The earlier you arrive the closer you will be to the entrance. Keep in mind that parking is $25 per vehicle per day.

Taking the public transport is also an option. You can take the COASTER train from San Diego, get off at Carlsbad Poinsettia Station and take an Uber from there.

Where to Stay near LEGOLAND California?

LEGOLAND Hotel and LEGOLAND Castle Hotel are the two options on-site. Besides being right next to the entrance, guests also get free parking, unique themed room, family LEGO activities and more.

We lived in Oceanside at the time (a 20-minute drive away), so LEGOLAND was a fun family day trip for us. As locals, we strongly suggest staying in a nearby hotel in Carlsbad or Oceanside and taking extra time to explore the nearby towns as they have so much to offer!

How Long do I need in LEGOLAND, California?

Covering approximately 50 ha with more than 60 rides, the LEGOLAND theme park is huge. I strongly recommend 2 days to allow you to fully experience the park. We definitely made some mistakes on our first day, but quickly learnt from that and we were better prepared for the second day. Visiting with a toddler, we also made sure not to overtire him too much and we were able to leave a bit earlier.

Is LEGOLAND California suitable for smaller children?

Yes, Yes and Yes! We visited when our son was slightly less than 2-years-old. There are various rides we could still do together as a family and he also loved “free playing” around the park. Just make sure to check the height requirements before you visit the park!

Let me know in the comments below if you have any other questions about visiting LEGOLAND, California.

Best Tips for First time visitors to LEGOLAND California

6 Comments

  • Vanessa Marquette

    Great tips! I love how you covered everything from tickets to dining and rides—super helpful for first-time visitors. I’d love to take my nephew here.

  • Em

    Great article! Starting at the back is a great tip for any theme park, not just Legoland. I’ve never thought of that before but will definitely do it now!

    • Polly Dimitrova

      Yes it did not come to my mind on our first day at LEGOLAND when we made quite a few mistakes as first time visitors, but definitely learnt from our mistake for the second one.

  • Chelsea Messina

    I received my first set of Legos for the holidays this year. It was a bunch of plants, I had no idea they even made stuff like that. So I put all the little Lego succulents together and put them over by my real plants.

    • Polly Dimitrova

      I love the Lego Plants – I have a bouquet of yellow ones, mainly sunflowers and such and I have it in a small vase on my desk. They make me smile every day and the best part is I never have to worry about watering them! ahhaha 😀

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