WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — It all started with a brick.
Now, 10 years later, everything is awesome at Legoland Florida.
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The popular toy company Lego transformed the former Cypress Gardens theme park after it closed in 2009 into a 145-acre family-friendly theme park based on Lego characters, playsets and more.
See photos of Legoland in the gallery below:
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As part of its 10-year anniversary, Legoland is having a party-packed month that will feature the opening of a new attraction, a birthday celebration and more.
On Friday, families are invited for the “brick-tastic” birthday bash that will include party-packed play moments, surprise character appearances, pop-up entertainment and more.
READ: Here’s when Peppa Pig Theme Park opens at Legoland Florida
Legoland has also built the biggest Lego birthday cake ever, standing at more than 20 feet tall, to commemorate its 10th birthday that will be on display through the end of the year.
The park’s famous Granny’s Apple Fries restaurant will be serving Apple Fries Cupcake on Oct. 15 only.
Also on Friday The Legoland Story will open at the park. The new attraction will immerse Lego lovers in the ever-evolving theme park experience and how Legoland theme parks were built. The Legoland Story will also include interactive elements and plenty of photo-worthy displays, including an original ride vehicle from the Cypress Gardens ride Triple Hurricane.
READ: Lego to remove ‘gender bias’ from products
Also on Friday, the all-new Legoland Coffee Co. will open. Its menu will include flash-chilled iced coffee and breakfast items.
Also on Friday, Legoland’s iconic Miniland will reopen with its new shade structures.
READ: LEGO unveils 9,090-piece Titanic block set, its largest ever
See a timeline of Legoland’s major milestones below:
- The theme park is on the site of the former Cypress Gardens theme park, which closed in 2009. Portions of Cypress Gardens can still be found throughout Legoland.
- On Jan. 15, 2010, Merlin Entertainments announced it would build a Legoland theme park on the former Cypress Gardens property.
- Legoland Florida officially opened on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011. Legoland Water Park, formerly the Splash Island water park, opened the following May.
- Major park expansions over the years include: The World of Chima in July 2013, Heartlake City in June 2016 and Lego Ninjago World in January 2017. The world’s first theme park area themed after “The Lego Movie” opened in March 2019.
- The first onsite hotel, Legoland Hotel, opened in May 2015. Legoland Beach Retreat opened in April 2017 followed by The Pirate Hotel in spring 2020.
- Legoland now has 14 sections and more than 50 rides, shows, attractions and restaurants across 145 acres.
- The next major milestone at Legoland will come in 2022, when the Peppa Pig Theme Park opens on the property and will include several rides for the whole family. This week it was announced that the theme park will officially open on Feb. 24.
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