Preview: New LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas brings theme park-style fun indoors

in Entertainment, Events, Food, Merchandise, Theme Parks

While LEGO and theme park fans await the opening of LEGOLAND Florida in October 2011, a new LEGOLAND experience will soon be making its debut a few states away in Texas. It’s the new LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth, located at the Grapevine Mills Mall.

Opening tomorrow, March 30, 2011, this newest LEGOLAND Discovery Center packs theme park-style excitement into an indoor environment, mixed with educational opportunities – and plenty of brick-building fun. The Dallas/Fort Worth location is the second LEGOLAND Discovery Center in the United States, with a third being constructed in Atlanta.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

LEGOLAND Discovery Center locations offer a similar, but not the same, form of entertainment as a LEGOLAND theme park. The new Discovery Center in Texas features rides, movies, and many LEGO models, but in a smaller space than a LEGOLAND theme park. Of course, this smaller space is still rather large and it’s indoors, which means this LEGO experience can be enjoyed in the comfort of air conditioning.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

While LEGOLAND Florida is still very much under construction, the new LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas provides some similar attractions to what will be expected in Florida’s new theme park, such as rides and “4D” movies.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center map in Texas

Kingdom Quest is an interactive laser ride, in which guests join the Good King’s army, climbing aboard a
chariot for a battle against the evil skeletons and giant trolls.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

DSC_039LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas7

LEGO Studios – 4D Cinema is home to 3D movies plus an additional in-theater dimension full of wind, rain, lightning, snow and other surprise features. Movies shown here include Bob the Builder 4D, Spellbreaker 4D, and LEGO City: A Clutch Powers 4D Adventure.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

Also similar to what’s to come in LEGOLAND Florida are MINILAND, LEGO City, DUPLO Village, and an Earthquake zone, though the specific details, decorations, and features found in Texas differ greatly from what will ultimately arrive in Florida.

MINILAND in the new LEGOLAND Discovery Center offers a cityscape view of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex featuring the area’s iconic landmarks, reconstructed from nearly 1.5 million LEGO bricks and featuring special lighting and movement.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

DUPLO Village is where the smallest LEGO fans can safely play with large bricks.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

But the new LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas also offers plenty of unique features of its own.

Inside Merlin’s magical potion room at the new LEGOLAND Discovery Center, guests can ride Merlin’s Apprentice, on which they will go round and round, while pedaling as fast as they can to help Merlin
conjure his magic.

The Build & Test zone allows guests to build and race cars, timing them to the hundredths of a
second.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

Girls will enjoy the LEGO PrincessParlor featuring tall towers, colorful pink rooftops and elegant arches.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

These are just a few highlights of the many activities, exhibits, and areas within the LEGOLAND Discovery Center. And, of course, there are plenty LEGO bricks, kits, and even exclusive collectibles to purchase and take home.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

Guests can easily make a day of the LEGOLAND Discovery Center, even dining in the LEGO Café, featuring tea, coffee, snacks, full hot and cold meals, and complimentary newspapers.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

LEGOLAND Discovery Center officially opens tomorrow, March 30, 2011, at the Grapevine Mills Mall. More information, including ticketing, can be found on their web site.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas

More photos of the new LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Texas:
(All photos by Ben Rebstock.)

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