Complete Coverage: Land of Adventure at Legoland California

Construction crews continued to work on the finishing touches of Legoland California’s four-attraction Land of Adventure themed area in advance of an employee preview on March 7 and public grand opening on March 10.

During an advance tour today of the Carlsbad kiddie park’s newest land, I walked through the 10-scene Lost Kingdom Adventure dark ride as workers tested laser blasters on 80 targets, adjusted black lights and touched up florescent paint.

Near the front entrance to the 3½-minute dark ride, crews erected a 16-foot-tall, 300,000-Lego-brick pharaoh model. Hieroglyphic panels in the loading area use an ancient symbolic alphabet to spell out the ride rules: no flash photography, keep arms and feet inside the vehicle, no food or drink, secure all loose items. (Height requirement: 36 inches to ride, 42 inches unaccompanied.)

With terrific thematic scenery throughout and plenty of pop-up surprises, the dark ride looks like a winner, exceeding expectations raised by early concept-art renderings.

Elsewhere in the new land, ride operators tested the twin Beetle Bounce towers, a gentle-drop ride that features seating for children and adults. I was thrilled to see the “parent” seats, having watched with frustration from the sidelines at other theme parks as my 7-year-old daughter, Hannah, enjoyed similar rides. (36 inches to ride.)

Nearby, Cargo Ace stood ready and waiting. The plane ride travels around an oval overhead track, with the eight planes generating slight centrifugal force as they swing out on the tight turns. A Lego model of pioneering pilot Amelia Earhart greets riders at the ride entrance. (36 inches to ride unaccompanied.)

Elsewhere, crews rushed to lay the foam cushion floor in the Pharaoh’s Revenge ball play area — crossing their fingers the flooring would dry within 24 hours before employees and their families show up for the preview.

Complete Coverage
> Legoland to add Land of Adventure
> Sneak peek: Legoland’s first dark ride
> Inside Legoland’s Lost Kingdom of Adventure
> First look: Lost Kingdom of Adventure dark ride vehicle
> Video: Legoland’s new dark ride

Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the
Los Angeles Times Funland blog: www.latimes.com/funland.

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

[Photo: Legoland California]

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 10:11 pm by Brady MacDonald and is filed under Family & Kids, Legoland, San Diego, Theme Parks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.