Premium Pass Member's are invited to attend an exclusive, limited capacity Preview of the New LEGOLAND® Water Park! The special preview day is Saturday May 19th from 10AM to 5PM and all you need to attend is a valid Premium Pass for every member of your party.

The one and only entrance to LEGOLAND Water Park is through LEGOLAND Florida. Enter the park and make your way to LEGO® City then up the hill and pass the Flying School. A limited number of lockers are available at the water park, so you don't have to store everything in The Beginning.

Want to join in the fun, but don't have a Premium Pass? There's still time to purchase or upgrade from one of our existing pass levels and come play on the Premium Pass preview day.

This is a limited capacity, exclusive event, so if you plan on attending, you will want to arrive early!

Please note that due to the family nature of the LEGOLAND Water Park, all guests are required to wear proper swim wear. Swim wear that is revealing or otherwise inappropriate for this environment is prohibited and may result in removal from the LEGOLAND Water Park. Swim wear with exposed zippers, buckles, rivets, or metal ornamentation are not permitted.

Learn more about Water Park rides and attractions, including newly added age and height limits, on Florida.LEGOLAND.com.

The LEGOLAND® Water Park has been designed for families with children ages 2 to 12 with six fantastic zones including the LEGO® Wave Pool, Twin Chasers, Splash Out, the Joker Soaker, DUPLO® Splash Safari and the Build-A-Raft lazy river. This new attraction will add hours of fun water play to an already full day, making LEGOLAND Florida a multi-day destination experience for vacationers. It also adds additional value to our Premium Annual Pass.

A variety of ticket options are available for guests who want to explore the LEGOLAND Water Park on their vacation:

• Guests already at LEGOLAND Florida may access the water park with a $12 per-person upgrade ($3 for children under 3) to a single-day ticket. 
• Premium Pass holders receive unlimited seasonal access to the water park along with 12 months unlimited access to LEGOLAND Florida. Premium Passes are $179 for adults and $149 for child/senior. Premium Pass Members will get exclusive access to the Water Park at a special preview day on May 19th. Upgrade today to be one of the first to experience the new LEGOLAND Water Park.
• AAA members can also get a sneak peek at the LEGOLAND Water Park prior to Grand Opening, when they purchase a special Preview Ticket for an exclusive AAA Preview Event on May 20, 2012. For more information visit http://autoclubsouth.aaa.com/ or speak to your local AAA Auto Club South Branch.
• For the family that likes to plan ahead, LEGOLAND Florida combo tickets that include the water park are now available online. When purchased online, a one day Water Park combo ticket is $87 for adults and $77 for children ages 3-12 and seniors 60+ and $3 for children under 3. A two day Water Park combo ticket is a small increase to $97 for adults and $87 for children ages 3-12 and seniors 60+.

Please visit our website to purchase tickets.

Finally, be sure to download our new Park Operating Hours Calendar for 2012 with a second page that lists the Water Park days and hours of operation. Please note: water park hours may vary from the schedule of the LEGOLAND park and certain restrictions apply.

We look forward to continually evolving LEGOLAND Florida and hope you'll come and join us as we officially open the LEGOLAND Water Park on May 26th.

Although LEGOLAND® Florida is still relatively young as a theme park, there are already some regular questions we get from first time visitors. One of these is “How much time do we need to see everything?” This is a great question, especially for people who are detailed planners. The answer will vary based on any number of factors: park operating hours, weather, age/number of kids, and Park attendance.

We've found that many families can experience the Park in one day, especially if they get there right when it opens and stay through closing. If you find that one day isn't enough adding a second day to your trip is just a $15 upgrade. When the Water Park opens in May we highly recommend a second day, which will also take the pressure off of seeing all of LEGOLAND in one day and will allow you time to re-visit your favorite attractions.

TIPS ON SEEING THE PARK IN ONE DAY:

• Get to the Park 20-30 minutes before opening so you can find a parking spot, get slathered up with sunscreen and packed up into the stroller. We highly suggest buying your tickets online in advance, this saves time!
• Stop at The Market in The Beginning once through the turnstiles to load up on some snacks and waters so you don’t have to make multiple snack stops throughout the day. The Market offers a wide variety of healthy and tasty snacks including Cheerios in cups for the little ones, various gluten free options and delicious coffee drinks for parents.
• Save shopping for the end of the trip at The Big Shop and The Studio Store. You can also take advantage of the Package Pick-up Service. Make your purchases at any one of our retail locations and then pick them up at the Package Pick-up area at the Front Gate as you leave the park. Please allow two hours between purchase and pickup.
• Get a show guide when you first enter the Park as show times can help map out your day. The Big Test is a must see for first-time Park goers and Battle for Brickbeard’s Bounty can only be found at LEGOLAND Florida.
• Allow time in the afternoon to study all seven cities in Miniland USA. There are hundreds of little vignettes to tickle your funny bone or awe and inspire you. Looking for a few quieter moments? Take a stroll through the historical Cypress Gardens.
• Plan ahead. Measure your kiddos ahead of time and read our website to know ahead of time which rides and areas of the Park are geared more for your kids’ age ranges. If you have more adventurous kids, we suggest heading to the back of the park in the morning to ride our "pink knuckle" attractions before the larger crowds arrive mid-day.
• Don't forget to stop for a leisurely stroll in Fun Town and enjoy some Granny Apple Fries or a tasty treat from Sunny's Scoop Shop.

We hope that helps you get a good start on your adventure through LEGOLAND Florida.

As the Horticulture Manager at LEGOLAND® Florida Nigel Dunning is responsible for keeping the park looking beautiful. General Manage Adrian Jones is proud to say it's the most beautiful LEGOLAND Park in the world and much of that is owed to Dunning's expertise. In fact, the minute we knew we would have stewardship of the historical Cypress Gardens and adjacent properties, we hired Nigel for the job.

With Earth Day and Arbor Day coming in the same week, it was a good time to sit down with Nigel and ask him some tips you could use at home in your garden.

First, tell us a little about yourself
I grew up loving the fact that I could plant something and it would develop into something magnificent. Imagine putting one little seed into the ground and watch it turn into a giant Oak tree over the years.  I have been working with the green industry for 33 years in just about all the USDA zones that are on the map and I love each and everyone of them.

What are some of the best varieties of annuals to plant this time of year?
This time of year a few of the best annuals to plant would be Marigolds (they have many new kinds), also red and blue Sylvia burst with color. SunPatiens are full of energy and color. They grow large for an annual so they can fill up a flower bed quickly.

If I wanted to plant a tree for Earth Day/ Arbor Day, what species would you recommend?
I would plant Live Oak. They are one of the most majestic trees I have ever seen in my time as a Landscaper. They always have character in the structure not to mention the value in shade here in Florida.

How do you know when it is time to refresh your garden?
When I see a garden that lacks in buds or flowers or no shine it is time to bring it back to life with a seasonal flower change. There are other symptoms to look for also. The plant no longer seems to fill the area that they once did or if it is insect ridden. Look for insects such as aphids and scale insects.

What do you recommend to do with old plant material when you replace it?
Compost is a great solution for old plant material. They also have plenty of good products on the market to help manage this process. Starting a compost pile is easy. You need to keep it moist at all times, if it drys out all the micro organisms will die and the break down of product will stop. It is also important to turn the organic material often.

What kind of plants can I use in my yard that are safe around children?
Most fruit trees are a great choice and kids love to eat the fresh fruit that come from THERE trees. Orange trees are easy in this region. If you have a little more experience try the Florida peach tree.

What are some activities that kids can help with around the garden?
I have watch my kids grow up and from when they were very young I will always remember them picking the vegetables out of the garden putting some in the basket and eating some as they went along the rows.

We'd like to send a big thank you to Nigel! You can find more of Nigel's expertise and planting ideas for your garden inside the Fresh From Florida Greenhouse next time you visit LEGOLAND Florida. If you have any questions you'd like us to ask Nigel for our next Q&A please leave a comment on this post.

Showing its commitment to conservation and stewardship of the historic botanical gardens it inherited, LEGOLAND Florida has been awarded the Outstanding Project award from the Florida Urban Forestry Council. The award is shared by Morris Architects/MorrisTerra and ValleyCrest, LEGOLAND Partners who helped the park take shape.

The ceremony took place under the giant Banyan tree in historic Cypress Gardens, but the award goes much further than just the restoration of the botanical gardens. While care was made to leave as many trees right where they were, over 200 plants and trees that would have otherwise been destroyed were preserved and relocated during the park's construction.

Beyond conservation, the benefits of this program help to make LEGOLAND Florida the most beautiful LEGOLAND Park. We hope you agree.

Update: We're now accepting LEGO® model "pink knuckle" roller coaster cars uploaded to our Facebook profile as well.

LEGOLAND® Florida (@LEGOLANDFlorida on Twitter) is home to four "pink-knuckle" roller coasters -- LEGO® Technic, Coastersaurus, Flight School, and The Dragon. These coasters provide just the right mix of anticipation and thrill for families of all ages. In fact, many of our guests enjoy their first ever roller coaster adventure while exploring LEGOLAND.

The Dragon Coaster is found in the park’s Castle Hill zone and offers a hilarious, behind-thescenes view of life within the enchanted LEGOLAND Castle. Guests soar on the indoor/outdoor steel coaster and encounter a massive fire-breathing dragon along the way.

Land of Adventure is where families will find Coastersaurus, a thrilling wooden coaster that curves and dips in and around a life-sized LEGO brick dinosaur.

XTreme Zone is the most “intense” part of the park and where the “pinkest” coaster resides. Here courageous youngsters and daring adults will brave the LEGO TECHNIC Test Track Coaster and harness the power of acceleration, braking and maneuverability as they race a lifesize LEGO TECHNIC vehicle along a wildly twisting track.

The park’s final coaster – Flight School – is located in LEGO City and uses a suspended track to let kids experience the thrill of flight. LEGO City is a scaled-down town created just for youngsters and is also home to Driving School where kids drive their own cars and are rewarded with a commemorative driver’s license.

To celebrate our roller coasters, we're asking our friends on Twitter to build their own LEGO model of a roller coaster ride vehicle capable of holding a LEGO Minifigure. Upload a picture of your creation to Twitter, give it a title, and include @LEGOLANDFlorida and the hashtag #PinkKnuckle to share with our online fans.

Everyone who uploads a photo will be eligible to be chosen as one of our honorary LEGO Model Builders -- an honor which includes a prize package to assist in your next LEGOLAND Florida adventure. You'll enjoy using your LEGOLAND tote bag, beach towel and water bottle at the LEGOLAND Water Park, at the beach, or even just in your backyard.

The promotion runs now through May 20th. Upload as many photos of your LEGO roller coaster car model as you want, but only one entry is required for your chance to be selected. On May 20th, we'll choose one of the honorary LEGO Model Builders to receive 2 free one-day park passes to LEGOLAND Florida and the LEGOLAND Water Park (subject to operating schedule).

The April 14th Winter Haven Hospital Foundation Citrus Classic 5k run/walk attracted over 700 fitness enthusiasts and LEGO® fans to LEGOLAND® Florida for an early morning run. It was the first ever run held inside LEGOLAND Florida.

Participants started in the parking lot then dashed into and around the park. The course took them through every zone including the historic Cypress Gardens, Miniland USA and then back to The Beginning for the finish line.

The winner of each age division took home a lovely medal, but the winners of four overall classes were eligible to take home a trophy too. Trophy winners were:

• Female Overall Winner Emily Nabong with a time of 20:30
• Male Overall Winner Jonathan Hulzebos with a time of 17:02
• Female Masters Winner Rhonda Fosser with a time of 22:35
• Male Masters Winner Kevin Johnson with a time of 19:32

We'd like to congratulate all the runners for showing such great spirit during the run and a big thank you to the volunteers who made the event possible. All proceeds from the event went to benefit the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation which provides philanthropic support to Winter Haven Hospital, the Regency Center for Women & Infants, and many other non-profit organizations in the community.

More great photos in our Facebook album!

Time to get those bathing suits out of the closet. It's now less than two months until the LEGOLAND® Water Park officially becomes the newest addition to LEGOLAND® Florida. This week, we called on a friend of the LEGO City Volunteer Fire Department to help us with a very important addition to the wave pool – water! Our firefighter friend helped us pump more than a half a million gallons of H20 into the LEGO® Wave Pool.

The first wave pool in any LEGOLAND Water Park will be home to gently rolling waves sure to please splashers young and old. Meanwhile, the rest of the water park attraction is currently under construction from DUPLO® Splash Safari to Joker Soaker.

Key areas of LEGOLAND Water Park attraction include:

• LEGO Wave Pool – Families can catch a gentle wave or simply cool off in this perfectly sized wave pool where the waves are just big enough for all ages to enjoy
• Build-A-Raft River - Families can imagine, design and build a unique LEGO vessel and set afloat on a maiden voyage around the 1000-foot-long lazy river, set amongst playful LEGO Friends, flowering vegetation and palm trees
• Twin Chasers – Friends ride tubes 375 feet down an intertwining pair of enclosed water slides before plunging into a refreshing pool below
• Splash Out – The thrill seekers of the family can ascend to the tallest point of the water park attraction and choose from one of three unique slides, then speed down a 60-foot drop and “splash out” into the water below
• Joker Soaker - A fun, interactive playground with various lengths, heights and types of slides that offer something different for every member of the family. Guests can wade in the surrounding pool and be surprised with a torrential spill from a 300-gallon bucket
• DUPLO Splash Safari – Toddlers will rule at this water play area with shorter slides and interactive, larger-than-life DUPLO creatures

Admission to the water park attraction is included with an all-new LEGOLAND Premium Pass, which offers 12 months admission to LEGOLAND Florida and seasonal access to the LEGOLAND Water Park for just $179 for adults and $149 for child/senior. Single-day LEGOLAND Florida guests may upgrade to a water park attraction ticket for an additional $12 per person (children under 3 are $3). The Premium Pass is now available for purchase at www.LEGOLAND.com or AAA Auto Group branches.

LEGOLAND® Water Park opens to the public on May 26, 2012. See you there!

The newly introduced LEGO® Friends - Olivia, Andrea, Stephanie, Emma and Mia - hosted a great weekend of fabulous fun at LEGOLAND® Florida. Girls were invited to participate in the first-ever, LEGO Friends Weekend where they could enjoy live entertainment, games and activities.

The weekend celebrated girls and their personal individuality, just like the LEGO Group’s newest line of construction toys. Along the way, guests experienced the "That's So You Fashion Show" presented by Saks Fifth Avenue and Posh Day Spa, danced until they dropped, and made friends and memories that will last a lifetime.

Get ready for a LEGO® adventure like no other in our video tour of the most beautiful LEGOLAND® park in the world - LEGOLAND® Florida. This 150-acre family theme park is geared to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12 and ultimate LEGO fans. This video will take you on a tour of the park to discover the more than 50 rides, shows and attractions that are contained in the 11 zones of the park.

Come play your part at LEGOLAND Florida. Don't forget LEGOLAND Water Park opens on May 26th, 2012.

If you love LEGOLAND Florida, share this video with family and friends who may be unfamiliar with the park. Also, please sure sure to subscribe to our YouTube and Facebook channels as we continue to celebrate all that is LEGOLAND!

Plan your adventure at http://florida.legoland.com/