LEGOLAND Florida Resort announced that its new movie-themed expansion would debut March 27, marking the Winter Haven theme park’s biggest financial investment and largest expansion since its original opening in 2011.
The announcement represented a major milestone for the park, which had been gradually expanding since its 2011 opening on the site of the former Cypress Gardens. LEGO Movie World was positioned as the park’s answer to the growing demand for immersive, IP-driven attractions at regional theme parks across the country.
What LEGO Movie World Included
The 80,000-square-foot expansion featured three new rides, each designed to bring elements from The LEGO Movie franchise to life:
- Unikitty’s Big Rise — A whimsical ride themed around the energetic, rainbow-colored character from The LEGO Movie. This attraction appealed particularly to younger visitors with its bright colors and gentle movements.
- An airborne couch ride — A spinning attraction that simulated flying through a LEGO construction site, combining motion with themed storytelling.
- A water feature ride — A boat-style ride featuring characters from The LEGO Movie 2, including Emmet, Wyldstyle, and the new characters introduced in the sequel film.
“The rides truly capture the whimsical fun and quirky nature of the popular LEGO movies,” LEGOLAND Florida’s then-general manager said in a release announcing the expansion.
A Major Investment in Central Florida
The LEGO Movie World expansion was notable for being one of the largest single investments in LEGOLAND Florida’s history. It reflected a broader trend among regional theme parks investing heavily in brand-name intellectual property to compete with the major parks operated by Disney and Universal.
The timing of the announcement coincided with the February 2019 release of The LEGO Movie 2, creating a coordinated marketing push across both the film and theme park industries. This kind of cross-promotion between LEGO films and LEGO parks had proven successful for the brand in other markets.
How This Fit Into LEGOLAND Florida’s Growth
The announcement came just weeks after LEGOLAND revealed plans for a new five-story, pirate-themed hotel set to open in spring 2020. Together, the hotel and Movie World expansion signaled a major growth phase for the Winter Haven park, which had been steadily expanding its footprint and attractions lineup since opening.
Today, the attractions originally announced as part of this expansion are fully operational and remain popular with guests. The area has since been incorporated into the broader park experience, with subsequent additions continuing to expand what the resort offers families visiting Central Florida.
Visiting LEGOLAND Florida Today
LEGOLAND Florida has continued to evolve since this 2019 announcement, with new rides, seasonal events, and area expansions added in the years since. If you are planning a visit, check the current lineup of park areas and attractions for the latest on what is open.
For the full experience at LEGOLAND Florida, consider purchasing tickets in advance through an authorized reseller to take advantage of available discounts.
This article covered the original January 2019 announcement of LEGOLAND Florida’s Movie World expansion. The expansion opened as announced and the rides remain operational today.
