11 Things You'll Want to Know Before Your Legoland Trip

First things first, do not compare Legoland to Disneyland. Do not expect Legoland to be anything like Disneyland. If you do, you will immediately be disappointed. Disneyland is a magical place unlike any other, and while everything is awesome at Legoland, it, and really any other theme park that I've been to, can't compare. So don't.

There are now two hotels directly outside the entrance to Legoland: Legoland California Hotel and the recently opened (and visibly newer) Castle Hotel. Staying at either location gets you early access to rides within the park that don't open to the public until later in the morning.

Being just steps away from the gates also allows you to be front and center for the opening ceremony each morning, when a life-size Lego figure (in our case, Ninjago Kai) chooses one child from the crowd to help officially open the park for the day.

Chances are you won't get out of Legoland without at least one souvenir, but the good news is that inside the park just might be the place to make your purchases! I talked to a Model Citizen at one of the multiple merchandise stores in the park, and they confirmed a rumor I'd heard — some of the Lego sets are actually less expensive there than at outside retailers. He didn't reveal more specifics, but at the very least, this tip made me feel better about the multiple boxes of Legos we left with.

In addition to the main attraction, Legoland boasts a small aquarium and a sizable water park, plus the two hotels at the entrance, making it even more of a destination. You could certainly spend two full days exploring, but in my opinion, everything can be easily enjoyed in less.

We arrived on a Thursday afternoon, and after playing with Legos in the hotel lobby, we checked out the Sea Life Aquarium, then headed to dinner at the hotel, and finished the night watching movies in the hotel pool. The next morning, we were some of the first to enter the park, where we rode rides, enjoyed the attractions, and ate lunch before spending a few hours at the water park that afternoon. We wrapped up the trip with a quick dinner and a little more play time back at the hotel. We were in and out in 28 hours, and it felt like plenty of time.

If you're bringing toddlers or even kids who aren't so into rides (like my own), there are plenty of other attractions that allow you to avoid lines and keep them entertained.

Fun Town has play structures and Duplos to play with, Heartlake City greets you with a free splash pad, there's a rock-climbing wall in Ninjago World (pictured above), and little ones can dig for fossils in the sand on Explorer Island.

You'll find play areas stocked with Legos throughout the park, and if you're like me, you'll probably have a hard time keeping your kids from getting sidetracked by them as you walk between attractions.

Even if you're not a former Lego fanatic like myself, you'll be impressed by the Lego creations throughout the park, many of which are stationed in Miniland USA. You can spend a good amount of time strolling through the tiny replicas of famous cities including San Francisco, New York, and Las Vegas. Just know that the buildings have been baking in the sun for years now, so they do look a little old, but they will still blow your mind.

We visited on a Friday in July and were pleasantly surprised by the crowds inside the park. Ride wait times were totally manageable (though we didn't hit any of the bigger rides), and bathroom lines were almost nonexistent. But it was a completely different story inside the water park, where it was absolutely packed and slightly chaotic.

I preferred the calmer vibes of the park, but the water attractions were a huge hit with the kids. Much like inside the regular park, there was a lot to do that was geared toward younger kids, which meant the adults didn't have to even bring bathing suits to let the kids enjoy the play areas.

They make it easy to go between the park and the water park with changing areas, drying stations, and even a store full of swimwear and towels if you forget your gear. Keep in mind the water park is actually inside Legoland, so you're required to have a ticket to Legoland first, which you can upgrade to include entrance to the water park for an additional $30.

You can grab the usual churros and cheeseburgers, but there's also a really delicious BBQ buffet in Castle Hill with seasoned chicken wings, veggie sides, and cornbread. And nearby, you'll find the park's most famous treat: Granny's Fried Apples, which are basically apple pies in french fry form — and not to be missed!

Plus, there are plenty of healthy offerings at smaller kiosks like fruit and veggie pouches, carrot sticks, and even Little Duck Organic snacks. Be prepared, though; many of the dining spots don't actually open until 11 a.m., which is a long time to wait if you've been looking for cold water since 9 a.m.

Another important note: alcohol flows freely at Legoland (which you might be pretty happy about after you've been surrounded by Lego madness for more than a few hours). The Legoland Hotel has a bar in the lobby, they serve drinks by the pool, and the theme park even offers craft beer.

Legoland was actually created for kids between the ages of 2 and 12. That's a short window that you don't want to miss if your little one is into Legos at all. I'd even argue that 10 would be an appropriate cutoff.

The rides are smaller, slower, and less exciting, and the attractions really are geared toward littler ones. Legoland even has a full guide for what to do with 2-year-olds at the park.

Most of the Model Citizens working in the park and at the hotels have minifigures on their name tags, and they're yours to take! If you bring a minifigure, you can trade with any Model Citizen and do it as many times as you like. And if you forget to bring your own, there are (obviously) plenty of opportunities to buy new ones throughout the park.

My son loved checking out the figures on everyone's badges, and it was good practice for his normally shy self to approach the Model Citizens and ask to trade multiple times throughout the day.

Only one theme park can be called the "happiest place on Earth," but that doesn't mean Legoland isn't awesome in its own way. They'll give you special pins to commemorate your birthday or your first visit, and when you're wearing one (like my son was for his fifth birthday), the Model Citizens go out of their way to mention it — one even gave him her minifigure without a trade!

The front desk at the hotel replaced a minifigure that we'd lost — at no charge — and shared the tip that there are microwaves near the ice machines on each floor of the hotel if you want to reheat leftovers. The lifeguards inside the water park were super helpful about getting nervous kids down the water slides, and the Model Citizens made sure every interested child got to take a picture with the life-size Lego characters throughout the park.

Plus, the women's bathrooms were stocked with free tampons, and there was a baby care room to make nursing, diaper changes, and even pumping easier and more comfortable. Everything is awesome, indeed.