Enjoy a respite from the hustle and bustle of your theme park adventures with a stay at the LEGOLAND Beach Retreat. Set alongside a small lake near Legoland Park, the resort is laid out in sets of cozy coves, a collection of bungalows that ring a central play zone. These brightly colored buildings appear to be made of supersized Legos. We loved the beautiful dimensional parrot Lego sculpture and Lego-styled surfboard that sits out front.
But I’m getting ahead of the story; our Resort experience began while we were still in our car as we were first welcomed at the resort gate for their drive-through check-in.
We were able to collect room keys and resort map along with general overview before we parked. Parking is located near the main building, so we could’ve stopped by for a snack before heading to our room, but we opted to unload the car first.
Our room in Shark Suit Guy’s Cove had a lovely view of the nearby lake from our patio. Additionally, the cove layout allowed me to relax in the patio chairs or even in the room with the curtains open and have eyes on my little dude at the playground.
The bungalows are side by side hotel mini-suites. Upon entry, you’ll find the large main sleeping area with king bed, TV and a smaller secondary room separated by a curtain with a bunk bed and trundle.
We were delighted by the large dimensional Lego sculptures found on the walls. My little dude immediately started identifying the various figures or Lego set creations he owns that were featured in the large wall murals.
After examining the large Lego beach scenes, my little dude made his way past the curtain to the smaller “kids” room and discovered the provided Duplo box and began creating. They are free to enjoy during your stay.
Since the two units are not connected with a pass-through door, we found them more soundproof than an average hotel room, which is much appreciated given their higher occupancy and hard floors.
The main bedroom is equipped with the room’s TV, a small fridge and single cup coffee maker along with a couple of nooks for hanging clothes and a few drawers. We were very impressed by the floor space of the main room. We were able to bring a pack ‘n play into the room for my little nephew easily.
The bathroom is a great size. Plenty of room help littler ones towel off before heading into the main room. But, for larger occupancy setups like this, I’m a big fan of the split bathroom design that isn’t found here. However, many design touches showcased a desire to meet the needs of their younger clientele and were appreciated — a morning newspaper highlighting Legoland events and offering Lego themed stories, lower hooks in the bathroom, a built-in toilet seat adapter for small ones, a night light option in the main room and, in the second room, USB outlets only rather than electrical sockets.
The center of the Legoland Beach Retreat’s activities are found beneath its red & white striped lighthouse icon. Inside, you’ll find the info desk, their gift shop, the Palm Tree Traders with Lego sets, Legoland souvenirs and a few sundries. Just beyond the giant Lego sandcastle — that you are invited to build upon — is Sandy’s Castle Restaurant, a buffeteria that offers the complimentary all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast in the morning with eggs, bacon, tater tots, a wide array of fruits and cereals, pastries and more. There is also a moderately priced dinner buffet with a variety of Caribbean inspired dishes such as mahi, mahi, jerk chicken, plantain tostones, fajitas, peel and eat shrimp, noodle salad, watermelon salad, and child-friendly fare like chicken tenders and macaroni & cheese.
At their adjacent full-service bar you can enjoy a variety of wines by glass or bottle, a selection of 12 draft beers and a variety of signature cocktails.
Back outside, you’ll find the resort’s pool with white sand play area perfect for sandcastle creations, primary colored chaises, bean bag toss supplies and a wooden playground. The pool staff includes not only safety positions such as lifeguards but also staff who actively seek to engage the kids in various poolside activities as well. Kids can enjoy dance parties, bean bag toss, and more. Even though the air was chilly when we visited, the pool temps kept my little dude comfortably in the pool even after the sun set. Once again, a set of Lego blocks (that are soft and float) were available offering another opportunity to create. There are even periodic “Master Builder’ competitions using the soft large bricks.
If you’re seeking a poolside snack or food items during midday (12 p.m to 4 p.m.), stop by the Bricks Beach Bar for a variety of quick eats such as wings, nachos ($10), flatbreads ($10-12) and a variety of sandwiches including a portobello, shrimp po’boy or burger. You can even order a 16” cheese pizza for $13 or topped pizzas like Pepperoni, Veggie or Hawaiian for $14.50.
Legoland Beach Retreat is less than a mile from the Legoland theme park and regular complimentary shuttle service is offered. In addition, Legoland Beach Retreat guests receive Bonus Brick Time (entrance 30 minutes prior to park open). The bungalow design helps spread out guests and aids in cutting down on the kinetic frenzy can often be a part of a resort hotel. We greatly enjoyed the freedom of space. I’m thankful it wasn’t raining (which does happen often in Florida) as our walks from car to room or room to dining wouldn’t have been quite as pleasant (or dry). On the other hand, unlike other Central Florida resort hotels in close proximity to a theme park, we were also near a supermarket and non theme park/hotel dining options such as Wendy’s, Taco Bell and the family restaurant, Perkins.
The Legoland Beach Retreat does an excellent job of showcasing their signature product, Lego. The dimensional figures that decorate the spaces around the Resort ignited his imagination and when our vacation was over he incorporated some of those techniques in his designs at home.
My little dude described it as a hotel where you can feel like a minifig. He really enjoyed the idea of living in a space created with oversized Lego pieces, like stepping into his Lego sets.
The Legoland resort will host LEGO Star Wars Days (May 6th & 7th and 13 & 14) and LEGOLAND Knight Lights (every Saturday and Sunday in July along with Tuesday, July 4th)
Nightly room rates for Legoland Beach Retreat start at $135 (plus tax and resort fee) and vary by season, date and availability. LEGOLAND annual pass members can receive a 10% discount year-round.
