We just go back from the grand opening of the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel in California and I am so excited to share all the reasons you will want stay there, even if you splurge for just one night! We were invited to the media preview event which means we were one of the first royal guests to stay at the LEGOLAND California Caste Hotel.
LEGOLAND California Hotel
With the opening of the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel, there are now two official LEGOLAND California Hotels to choose from. We stayed at the original LEGOLAND California Hotel a few years ago with the boys and had a blast, so we jumped at the chance to check out the new LEGOLAND Castle Hotel before it opened to the public.
LEGOLAND Hotel Benefits
Both the original LEGOLAND and LEGOLAND Castle hotels offer a variety of benefits to guests staying at an official hotel. As a parent, the location and early entry benefit are my two personal favorites reasons why families will want to stay at a LEGOLAND Hotel. Both LEGOLAND hotels are located steps away from the main entrance of LEGOLAND California. In fact, LEGOLAND California visitors have to walk up past the hotels on their way from the parking lot to LEGOLAND.
LEGOLAND California is located just steps from LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
LEGOLAND Early Entry
In our experience, LEGOLAND Hotel guests are granted access to select rides and attractions, 30-60 minutes before it opens to the public. The early entry time varies seasonally, so check with the front desk at check-in for specific details. You can take advantage of early entry on both your check in and check out dates, so if you are only splurging on one night at a LEGOLAND hotel, you can still get early entry on two days (assuming you have park tickets for both days). Early access to LEGOLAND is available to all guests with valid park admission and an active room key.
LEGOLAND Early Entry Attractions
We’ve experienced Coastersaurus, Safari Trek, and LEGO Ninjago World during early entry in the past. Once the rest of the park opens up, it’s best to book it to your top ride priorities before lines get too long.
The Queen greets you in the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel Grand Hall (Lobby)
LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
The LEGOLAND Castle Hotel opened officially to the public on April 27, 2018. From our past experience at the original, I expected extreme LEGO and Castle theming and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a super themed hotel full of LEGO surprises throughout the property.
Fun Features in the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
Don’t miss these fun LEGO features that everyone can experience. These features are located in the hotel lobby, restaurant and other public spaces within the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. Even if you aren’t staying at the hotel, you can pop in and take a look at these fun LEGO models and surprises.
- LEGO Wizard and Magical Chandelier
- Knock-Knock Joke Door
- Lenticular LEGO Pictures
- A dungeon with a secret opening
- LEGO Throne
- LEGO Character Meet & Greets
- Snoring Knight and many more LEGO Models throughout (2,100)
- Slide into Grand Hall
- LEGO building Activities and more fun in Dragon’s Den Restaurant
Guests are greeted by a Wizard and a magical chandelier as soon as they enter the lobby. Below him is a LEGO pit kids can play in while their parents check in. You’ll also find a slide and dungeon in the lobby area for kids to entertain themselves.
Head towards the elevator in the lobby and you will find a fun LEGO throne you can sit on, Lenticular LEGO pictures, and the knock-knock joke door.
LEGO Models Everywhere
There are 2,100 LEGO models throughout the hotel. Most of the LEGO models are located within the 250 hotel rooms but quite a few are available in public spaces. In fact, the Queen greets you from her balcony as you enter the lobby and head up to the 2nd floor to find a snoring knight LEGO model.
One of two thousand LEGO models at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
Head towards the Dragon’s Den Restaurant and find more lenticular LEGO Pictures and fun LEGO building activities inside the waiting area of the restaurant. You will also find LEGO models in the courtyard, pool area and near the hotel entrances.
LEGO Lifeguard and real lifeguards are on duty at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel Pool
LEGOLAND Castle Hotel Amenities
I’m happy to report that the LEGOLAND Castle offers a laundry room on site. The lack of a laundry room was one of my pet peeves about the original LEGOLAND hotel when we stayed there 5 years ago. I guess I wasn’t the only guest who felt they should have a laundry facility available for crazy kid mishaps.
LEGOLAND Castle Hotel Gift Shop
The hotel also offers a gift shop, a concierge desk, room service, valet and self-parking, fitness center, daily housekeeping and electric car-charging stations.
Free Breakfast at LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
I am also thrilled that the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel offers a free breakfast just like the original LEGOLAND hotel. A free breakfast is something I typically look for when booking a hotel, although I wouldn’t usually expect a free breakfast at an official theme park hotel.
Extensive free breakfast buffet at the Dragon’s Den Restaurant.
The LEGOLAND Castle Hotel free breakfast is not a skimpy continental breakfast either. A complimentary breakfast buffet with custom omelets is served at the Dragon’s Den restaurant. My favorite and most unexpected option was sliced avocados.
LEGOLAND Castle Hotel Rooms
The entire hotel is extremely LEGO themed with LEGO models and fun surprises around every corner. The LEGOLAND Castle Hotel offers three theming options: Knights & Dragons, Royal Princess, and Magic Wizard. My boys loved the Knights & Dragons room we stayed in but I toured all the room options and any of them would be fun to stay in.
Kids area includes their own tv with kid-friendly channels and LEGO bricks for building
All rooms include a separate area for kids with a bunk bed and pull out trundle and an entertainment center. Adults get their own flat panel TV and a King size bed. Each room includes a mini-fridge and coffee maker as well. Suites with a pull-out sofa sleeper are available and accommodate up to 7 people.
Sitting area in a suite
LEGOLAND Hotel Treasure Hunt
LEGOLAND Castle Hotel Scavenger Hunt
Just like at the original LEGOLAND California Hotel, kids enjoy a treasure hunt in their room complete with LEGO surprises. Complete the scavenger hunt (provided at check-in) and you will learn the code to unlock the treasure box in your room. The scavenger hunt resets every night, so if you stay for more than one night, you get a new treasure each night!
Knights and Dragons Room
Knights and Dragons Room at LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
Guests will defend the King’s Castle and help protect the King’s treasure form the approaching bad Dragon Knights and their fire-breathing dragons.
The illuminated stained glass picture above the king bed was my favorite feature in our room. The dragon lego model standing guard over the king bed was a close runner-up. The kid’s area has a shooting star feature on the ceiling, so the kids get a special light show too.
Royal Princess Room
Royal Princess Room at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
Little princesses may demand to sleep in the adult bed when they see how beautiful it twinkles in the dark!
The Princess is no damsel in distress and she uses the help of the jester to prepare to sneak into the tournament and compete with the knights!
Magic Wizard Room
Magic Wizard Room at LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
The light up headboard is a really fun feature of the Magic Wizard Room.
Full of curious potions, spell books, wants and magic mirrors, kids can use their imagination to believe their help is needed to protect these treasures and keep them safe from bad Wizards or Dragon Knights.
LEGOLAND Castle pool
LEGOLAND Castle Hotel Pool
I was slightly disappointed with the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel pool. It features a zero-entry pool, a few water features and floating LEGO bricks so it’s fun enough for most kids. I just expected it to be super themed like the rest of the hotel. There is also a hot tub for adults to relax in at the end of the day. If you are looking for more LEGO themed water action, spend a day at the LEGOLAND California Water Park.
LEGOLAND Castle Hotel Entertainment
Large playground in the Royal Courtyard at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
I was most surprised by the Royal Courtyard and entertainment offered nightly. Right off the Dragon’s Den Restaraunt is the Royal Courtyard where guests can spend their evenings at the pool, watching a movie on the large outdoor screen, playing on a huge playground, or watching nightly entertainment like a play, musical or other interactive show.
LEGO Movies run all day and evening in the Courtyard at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
LEGOLAND Castle Dining
There are two dining options at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel, the Dragon’s Den Restaurant and Bar and the Castle Pool Bar and Grille. Like I mentioned before, the Dragon’s Den Restaurant offers a free hot breakfast buffet for guests. We also ate dinner there one night and found it sufficient. I didn’t love the food options at dinner but it’s a fun environment for kids with entertainers and LEGO Models.
Don’t wake the sleeping dragon in the Dragon’s Den Restaurant
It’s also open to the public, not just hotel guests. So if you aren’t staying at the hotel, stop by and have a meal and experience some LEGO fun. The Castle Pool Bar & Grille was not open during our stay but will offer signature smoothies, blended drinks, sandwiches, and salads.
LEGOLAND Castle Hotel Review
Overall we really enjoyed our stay at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. We usually stay off site which is one way to save money at LEGOLAND but I would splurge again (at least for one night) to take advantage of the hotel benefits and really fun LEGOLAND Castle features like the Royal Courtyard. My kids could have played there all day, plus we didn’t get a chance to swim in the pool yet!
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Disclosure: The LEGOLAND Castle Hotel invited us to stay one night during the media preview. As always, all experiences and opinions are my own.
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