Ultimate Guide to Surviving LEGOLAND New York

So you've decided to venture into the magical realm of LEGOLAND New York, where building blocks come to life, and you're ready to take on the madness of theme park lines and chaos with your little ones. Fear not, brave parents! As seasoned LEGOLAND veterans (i.e. annual passholders every year since 2020) we've got the inside scoop on how to make the most of your visit.

Saving on LEGOLAND Tickets

If you're on a budget, keep an eye out for ticket deals. The daily admission ticket prices are variable (slightly cheaper on weekdays and off-season) and there are often 2 for 1 promotions where you get a second visit for free.

If you think you'll visit at least 3 times in one year, the annual passholder tickets are definitely worth considering. Flashing that membership card will get you in park retail, dining, and hotel discounts. Not to mention discounted or free parking – prepaid standard parking is $30 a day! The highest level pass has no blackout dates and grants you access to 30 other Merlin attractions in North America including Lego Discovery Centers, SEA Life Aquariums, and Madame Tussaud's. These are all great options during off season, although LEGOLAND New York has special opening dates year round so you may just want to keep coming back for events like Brick-Or-Treat and Holiday Bricktacular.

Get tech savvy: Before you hit LEGOLAND, make sure you've got the LEGOLAND mobile app locked and loaded. Link those tickets to the app, reserve your visit date, and bam! Easy-peasy access at the park gates, plus annual pass at the ready for sweet discounts around the park (cha-ching!). And let's not forget the perks of having showtimes, ride closures, and estimated wait times at your fingertips. Embrace the power of the app!

Other Ways to Save

• Bring your own water bottles and refill them for free at any of the Coca-Cola refilling stations or water fountains throughout the park. If you purchase one of the commemorative cups, you can get free refills at these stations all day long.
• Pack a lunch or pick up some food before arriving. You can save a decent chunk of change by not eating overpriced theme park fare.
• For Popcorn lovers there are also commemorative buckets you can purchase and bring back for discounted refills on your next visit (your mileage may vary on this, we've seen differing accounts on LEGOLAND Fans page).
• Skip the digital photo pass. It is only $30 per day, and could be worth it for a special occasion, but we rarely purchase the photo package here. It allows you to download ride photos and photos taken by professional photographers, but in all our visits I have only occasionally seen one photographer at the entrance. For character greets around you are encouraged to use your own camera to snap a photo.

Avoiding the Gift Shop Tax

There are many spots around the park meant to separate you from more of your hard earned dollars. Aside from the gift shops at the end of every signature ride, you'll also be running the gauntlet past carnival games, caricatures, and face painting. A trick that works for us is to offer the kids ONE purchase from the Big Store ($30 or less) on the way out on the LAST day of our visit. Our other go-to techniques to escape theme parks without hemorrhaging money are, "You can take a picture with it and then put it back on the shelf" and "I'll add it to your Birthday/Christmas list on Pinterest."

Conquering the Rides with Less Wait

Time your visit: The easiest way to avoid lines is to go on a weekday or skip peak July and August summer vacation months. If that isn't possible, the next best thing is to go to the park early on a Sunday. The park is at its most crowded on Saturdays, with waits sometimes exceeding two hours for the premiere rides!

Go your own way: Don't make the rookie mistake of following the herd and standing in line for ages at the carousel right when the park opens. Instead, head straight down to LEGO City through the central hub. If you entered the park right at opening, you can usually walk on to LEGO Factory and Ninjago with no wait.

Slow Moving Lines: Another ride that is best to hit first thing in the morning is the Coast Guard Academy. Because it is a slow loading, slow ride, the line just continues to build throughout the day. We call this the Peter Pan's Flight of LEGOLAND. By 11am, it's not unusual for the wait to be over an hour, and no, it is not worth that kind of wait! Merlin's Flying Machines, the Junior Driving School, DUPLO Express, and the Brick Party Carousel also have deceptively slow moving lines.

Divide and Conquer: So, you've got multiple adults with you? High-five! Utilize the divide and conquer method. One grown-up can stand in line while the other lets the kids loose at the playgrounds or free build areas nearby. Pirates has the Shiver Me Bricks pirate ship playground, Ninjago has Ninja Training Camp play areas, and Bricktopia has the air conditioned Build & Test. This won't work so well for rides with lines that snake around on the inside. Those judgmental looks from other families can be lethal, or at least make you feel like a guilty line-jumper.

Toddler Time at Bricktopia: Asking a hot, tired toddler to wait in line for half an hour or more is generally a losing proposition. Luckily, the toddler rides in Bricktopia tend to have shorter lines later in the day as the crowds disperse to other parts of the park.

See It to Believe It: The ride wait times reported on the app are NOT frequently updated. Our experience has been that most rides will get up to 15-20 minute wait times while the app still reports 5-10 minutes, and likewise later in the day there will be times when the wait time is overstated.

Keep Refreshing that App: While the estimated wait times may not be accurate, the reported closures usually are. Often the best time to get on a popular ride is right after they’ve reopened. These closures happen more often than you might expect, especially with popular rides like Ninjago, The Dragon, and LEGO Factory.

LEGOLAND Fast Pass: Have more money than time? You can purchase Reserve 'N' Ride virtual queuing for a cool $119 per person to skip the line 1 time for each eligible ride for the day. Alternatively, certain rides you can also pay $22 to skip the line once. Ninjago, Lego Factory, The Dragon, and Splash Battle all have this individual "One Shot" deal.

This article contains affiliate links to products I feel good about endorsing, meaning I may earn commission from qualifying purchases. Check disclaimers for more info.

Water Playground Tips: Splash Your Way to Coolness

Save your spot: Reserve your water playground time starting at 7am. Slots fill up and may not be available once you're in the park, especially the popular afternoon times.

20 Minute Countdown: You only get 20 minutes in the splash park, so plan accordingly.

• Have the kids wear their swimsuits to the park.
• Arrive 10 minutes before your session and reapply sunblock while waiting your turn to enter.
• Bring a towel and dry change of clothes for after your water playground session.

Expect the bathrooms near the water playground (both on LEGO City side and Pirates side) to have lines and crowds with people changing before and after their session. Why did they put the changing rooms inside the gated area? We may never know.

Other Ways to Keep Your Cool: The pirate rides, Splash Battle and Rogue Riders, are perfect for those kids who like to get soaked and wild. For those who are a bit sensitive about being splashed in the face, the misters along the Miniland pathway and between Ninjago and Castle areas are great additions to the park.

The LEGOLAND New York park has added quite a bit more shade and overhead fans over the last couple of years, but cooling towels and handheld fans are nice to have if you visit during the peak summer months.

For the Little Builders

Ah, the budding architects in the family! If your kiddos are more into LEGO-building than high-speed thrills, don't fret! LEGOLAND New York has got you covered.

In Bricktopia, the air-conditioned Build+Test is like a cool oasis for your little master builders - a rare find in this LEGO wonderland. Wander just past Bricktopia, and you'll stumble upon three huts brimming with LEGO Dots waiting for your artistic kids to show their stuff.

And hold onto your bricks - there's a Builder's Guild in the Castle, City Police Building in LEGO City, and the shiny new Build-a-Boat next to the Water Playground. These spots are sure to keep your little architects' creative minds buzzing.

If your mini LEGO geniuses crave some guided builds, the Creative Workshop in Bricktopia awaits. Sign up when you arrive, and let the LEGO magic unfold! Just a teeny warning, though: like us, timed sessions might not be your jam. Because, hello, who likes pressure of running across the park with toddlers in tow to make your appointed time?

Where and What to Eat

While we avoid the overpriced park food like the plague, we admit LEGOLAND does have some unique offerings worth calling out.

• If your kids like pasta and pizza, you may get good value out at the Brickolini's Pizza & Pasta buffet.
• The Loaded "KFC" Waffle Cone at Ninja Kitchen (Ninjago) is a unique twist on Korean Fried chicken.

• The Burrito Bowl at Everything Taco (Pirates) is plentiful and filling.
• Granny's Apple Fries (LEGO City). These hand battered, crispy & golden-brown apple fries, with caramel dipping sauce and whipped cream are not to be missed.
• Ice cream can be found in several spots around the park in the summertime, but if you're seeking soft serve, you'll want to head to Wizard's Frozen Wonders (Castle).
• Get Your Drink On: For the grown-ups, draft beer or canned adult beverages can be found at Jester's Fare beverage and snack cart (Castle) and also Brickbeard's Food Market (Pirates). Taking the edge off your family trip will set you back $13-15 a pop, but cheers to supply and demand economics, right?

Tips for Kids with Special Sensory Needs

Theme parks can definitely be a mixed bag when you have a family member with sensory sensitivity. Fortunately, LEGOLAND Resort is now a certified autism center. Here are some special accommodations that you will find at the park.

• A complete sensory guide to all the attractions at the park. The sprawling Miniland is always a favorite for our sensitive kiddo. He loves searching for all the "hidden" special LEGO that change throughout the year.

• Need a breather? Seek refuge in the quiet room in the DUPLO Family Care Center (LEGO City).
• Enjoy the Show without the Tears. The back row in the Palace Cinema 4D theater has been converted to be sensory friendly. Guests seated in this row won't be sprayed by water or experience any of the other potentially startling added effects.
• Assisted Access Pass is available for guests with special needs. Visit Guest Services to enable this option for your party. Once activated you will be able to to do virtual queuing for one ride at a time through the Reserve-a-Ride portal.

So there you have it! Your ultimate guide to conquering LEGOLAND New York like the master builders you are. Enjoy the ride (literally and figuratively) and may everything be AWESOME!