Welcome LEGOLAND New York To The Catskills

LEGOLAND New York is a playful version of the plastic brick theme park that successfully reflects its urban locale. Our family, like many in the tri-state area, is glad it chose the Catskills for a new park.

LEGOLAND New York Resort is just two hours’ north of the city in the Hudson Valley. Although it’s smaller, it feels more sophisticated than its older siblings in Florida and California. That’s because, like its big city feeder markets, the park is a melting pot of people, creativity and innovative ways to have fun together.

Each of its seven themed Lands features LEGO-brick rides, the artistic wonders of Master LEGO Builders and outdoor recreation on a variety of LEGO-craft. Anyone traveling with youngsters 2 to 12 will enjoy leaving behind the wired, Type A New York mindset for this welcoming world.

Our family, ranging in age from 75 to 6, only spent 24 hours there. Yet, we all agreed the whole weekend would be better. When everyone is having so much fun, time flies!

LEGO City Makes LEGOLAND New York a Winner

City dwellers especially love LEGO City and its urban services. In this land, the Coast Guard Academy relies on LEGO-patterned speedboats to teach young pilots. The Driving School puts ages 3-5 and 6-12 on two different tracks so they can practice taxi evasion skills.

At the Fire Academy, kids mount fire trucks made of LEGOs, propel them forward manually and practice shooting water at target “fires.” If only we’d brought some LEGO minifigures to trade with others, LEGO City would have felt like Herald Square.

Active Families Stay Busy at LEGOLAND New York

You don’t have to be a native New Yorker to have fun. Anyone who has spent hours with kids trying to find the right bricks will feel in sync with the environment. Just as our Ninja-costumed nephew fit right into Ninjago Land, we used jujitsu moves to fight virtual bad guys on Ninjago the Ride. From the Ninja Training Camp, we hiked out to their nature trail to the maze near the LEGO Castle.

Many rides require physical input to become part of the story. We hauled ourselves up by rope to win the Tower Climb Tournament and used bodily force to maneuver our Rogue Rider “jetskis.” The LEGO Factory Adventure Ride uses computer animation to shrink guests into LEGO minifigures. It is a gentle ride, as you’re buckled into swirling, slow-moving cars at the center of fast-moving swirling imagery.

At LEGOLAND New York, Miniland — that birds-eye view of a better world built from LEGOs  –has a strong focus on New York state. In addition to a display about the park’s home in the Catskills, each of the city’s five boroughs is featured in miniature. Kids are entranced as they wander past interactive elements near the White House, move West across the Grand Canyon and watch traffic cross the Golden Gate Bridge.

What’s New at LEGOLAND New York

LEGOLAND New York is new as theme parks go. Like our kids, it has matured since its 2022 opening. Enjoy the best views on the new Minifigure Skyflyer ride, which transports guests from the top to the bottom of the 150-acre theme park

Another top addition is the Water Playground. The water park and splash zone features a fun themed climbing structure with a 318-gallon dump bucket. Families cool down with four water slides and can build and race their own LEGO boat. It opens Memorial Day to Labor Day depending on weather.

The LEGO DUPLO Peppa Pig Playground showcases the cheeky little piggy who lives with her younger brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Watch the live Peppa & George Puppet Show on stage, climb through Peppa’s Treehouse Playscape, and help build Grandpa Pig’s LEGO sandcastle.

Staying at the LEGOLAND New York Hotel

LEGOLAND has a lot of attractions within 150 acres of Hudson Valley hills. If you can afford it, we recommend staying overnight at the LEGOLAND New York Hotel to spread out your visit. The LEGOLAND New York Hotel, like the theme park, is fully accessible. A hearty breakfast buffet, included with rates, fuels day two.

A LEGO pirate ship, climbing structure and pit of bricks dominate the lobby. Other hotel facilities include an arcade, gift shop, tiny laundromat and fitness room, and an unheated outdoor pool. The 250 themed rooms decorated with 2D and 3D LEGO figures have a coffeemaker, minifridge and two TVs. Most have a queen bed, two bunk beds in a separate alcove and a bathroom with tub and shower. There are 17 suites accommodating up to seven guests with a sleeper sofa. Three family suites sleep nine with an additional set of bunk beds.

Choose to sleep in the Kingdom, Pirates, Ninjago, Harry Potter or LEGO Friends suites. Our Kingdom themed room was heavy on crowns and knights. And don’t ignore the creature guarding your treasure chest. An in-room scavenger hunt provides the key to open it.

Best yet, the hotel continues the day’s entertainment with a pajama dance party led by counselors. Relax; there’s no need to lose sight of the kids. The Brick’s Family Restaurant and bar are strategically located within close view of the activities. Despite the cacophony of music and ecstatic children, we city folk found the scene refreshingly peaceful.

Fall Fun at Halloween Themed Brick-or-Treat Party

We attended the LEGOLAND New York Brick-or-Treat Monster Party. From late September to Halloween, the park turns autumnal with piles of pumpkins, hay bales and Halloween décor. Unlike many parks, guests of all ages are welcome to wear  Halloween costumes. Pose with the world’s largest LEGO pumpkin. Made of 600,000 standard LEGO bric

LEGOLAND Experiences and Special Events

LEGO fans ages 2–12 and their families discover special events on most weekends. In addition to the Halloween themed season, favorites include:

Holiday Bricktacular: LEGOLAND New York’s signature Holiday events, transforming the Park with seasonal décor, shows and food. Holiday theming starts late in November through New Year’s. Then, the park closes until spring of next year. (Meanwhile, the LEGOLAND Hotel stays open to accommodate New York City families looking for a place where kids are happy, entertained and safe.)

LEGO Festival: Weekends from early May to June, a child’s first festival experience features five immersive zones, two million extra LEGO bricks, new costume characters and new LEGO models.

Master Model Builder Experience: Open daily, see Master Model Builders at work as they design, build and maintain the more than 15,000 LEGO models in the Park.

Red, White & BOOM: Celebrate the Fourth of July with extended Park hours, special activities and a one-of-a-kind firework show over Miniland.

Trip Planning Details for LEGOLAND New York

Here are my tips to help you get the most out of your LEGOLAND New York visit.

• LEGOLAND staff are attentive and helpful – all are big fans and love helping out.
• Guests with mobility challenges can rent stand-up electric conveyance vehicles or wheelchairs for the day at the entrance.
• The park is a Certified Autism Center, accredited by IBCCES. They provide trained staff, sensory guides, quiet rooms, and low sensory areas throughout the park to serve guests with autism and their families.
• All rides and attractions are very safety conscious. Several require participants to be 34” or taller and to ride with adults if under 44”.
• While parents have more fun than babies in strollers, even infants are in for a treat at the well-staffed DUPLO Baby Care Station. 
• Getting there is easy with green options. LEGOLAND New York is about two hours north of Manhattan by Coach USA bus from the Port Authority. Families with vehicles will make the 60-mile trip in 1.5 to 2 hours.