1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad, California, United States | (888) 962-8097
Located inside LEGOLAND resort at park entrance
Guests get early access to park
Unique Lego decor and play areas
Themed rooms are kid-approved
Large outdoor pool with private cabanas
Buffet restaurant, bar/cafe, and snack lounge
Treasure hunt and welcome goodies for kids
Nightly children's entertainment and games
24-hour fitness center
Free breakfast buffet
Tickets to theme park not included in rates
Resort fee that includes valet parking and Wi-Fi
Loud, busy place with kids running wild
Some cleanliness issues
Almost every inch of LEGOLAND California
Hotel is a Lego experience, from the character visits at the free breakfast, to the daily Lego building
contests, to the nightly entertainment in the lobby's castle. Access to the amusement park isn't included in the rate, but guests do get early morning
access, allowing them to beat the crowds. Rooms have fun adventure, pirate, or kingdom themes, and all have separate kids' rooms with bunk beds. This property caters to parents with two- to 12-year-olds, so guests should be prepared for the noise and occasional messes that can accompany so many children. Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel next door lacks all the
official Lego allure, but it's a suitable alternative for those looking to spend
half as much on their lodging and still be within walking distance to the theme
park.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A LEGOLAND you can sleep in, with Legos and affiliated characters all around
More than just a convenient place to rest near the park, a stay at the hotel is like a 24/7 Lego life. Upon arrival, a brightly-colored clock
tower complete with a giant green dragon made of tiny plastic bricks tells you
what time it is -- it's LEGO time, all the time here. Inside, a kind of Legosandbox awaits filled with thousands of the tiny bricks along with the children who
are playing with and stepping on them. Behind the front desk, a wall of 5,000
Lego figures make up a colorful mosaic. A life-sized Lego
figure rides back and forth on a bike with magnifying glasses for wheels so
interested parties can get a better look. In summary, Legos are everywhere. Two-dimensional depictions of characters are featured prominently throughout the hotel, especially on the carpets. Real plastic Legos sit in small light boxes embedded into the floors and there's a long continuous trail under clear plastic that winds throughout the property. Many Legos are scattered underfoot by children who removed them from play bins.It's paradise for kids and any dedicated fans of the brand, while fun and playful enough to win over some others. This is not the place, however for a couple's retreat or a business meeting, and though everyone is here to visit the adjoining theme park, admission is not included in the hotel's rates. Though well-maintained, any property with this volume of children eating and playing will have some lingering stickiness, and those sensitive to cleanliness issues should be forewarned.
Location
In Carlsbad, adjacent to LEGOLAND theme park and near golf course
Within
the resort grounds at the entrance of LEGOLAND, the hotel is ideally located
for a visit to the theme park. The venue is also close to Carlsbad Flower Fields as
well as Crossings Golf Course, both on either side of the resort, and it's about a 12-minute drive to downtown Carlsbad's shops and restaurants. This seaside community
came into the spotlight when LEGOLAND California opened in 1999, but it is
still a fairly quiet place close to several beaches, golf courses, and lagoons.
It’s about a 40-minute drive to downtown San Diego, and over 90 minutes to Los
Angeles International Airport.
Rooms
Three types of themed decor, bunk beds, and buckets of Legos
The 250
rooms here all have the same layout -- a small kids’ room with bunk beds and a
larger bedroom for adults -- but their decor comes in three distinct Lego styles
depending on which of the three floors they're on. First-floor rooms continue
the trend set by the hotel's dragon and castle playground, with a kingdom theme
heavy on heraldry, knights, and magic. Ivy creeps down the stone-walled
wallpaper, with regal bedding and unfurled banners declaring "Ye Olde
Adults Keep Out!" The second-floor rooms are pirate themed, designed to
feel like the inside of a ship with carpets that look like a wooden deck strewn
with treasure and wayward sea creatures. Eye-patch wearing Lego characters
brandish booty and sabers amid walls decorated with skulls and crossbones. The
third floor features "Indiana
Jones"-inspired adventure themes, with room decor loaded with lost artifacts,
snakes, and Egyptian hieroglyphics. Beyond that, there are premium units for each category with a more thorough theme decor, but the standard rooms already lay
it on thick. Each room has a mini-fridge, coffeemaker, and bucket of Legos
for families to play with.
Features
Outdoor pool, many children's activities, free breakfast, and disco elevator
The entertainment starts upon arrival, with a brief treasure hunt
where kids uncover clues that end in obtaining a key to the treasure chest in
every room, with a Lego prize inside. The castle in the lobby doubles as a playground
by day and a light entertainment venue at night, where staff members lead
activities and performances. There are also daily building contests where kids
get the chance to explore their blossoming architectural skills. LEGOLAND characters
greet newcomers and make regular visits to on-site meals, including
the free breakfast buffet at Bricks Family Restaurant.Mini's Lounge has coffee and snacks as well as
to-go options, and Skyline Cafe is moderately more adult-friendly with a full
bar. The heated outdoor pool has soft Lego bricks that float and the hotel plays seasonal “Dive-in Movies” on the sun deck. Little
details stand out too, with whoopee cushions incorporated into floors and
elevators that turn into dance parties with spinning lights and disco music,
making an already unique hotel more memorable for its youngest guests.
