Hey everyone, Blake here, back with another review for my website – The Virtual Reviewer. A while back, we visited the Legoland Discovery Center in Dallas, and let me tell you, it was quite an adventure.
My wife Patty had found a Groupon deal for discounted tickets, so we decided to take our kids, John (14) and Jenette (12), for some family bonding time. We’re all big Lego fans but had never been to one of the indoor Lego play centers before. When we pulled up to the gigantic Grapevine Mills mall where it’s located, the kids’ eyes lit up. Even I’ll admit I was super excited to jump into the world’s biggest box of Legos!
Buying Tickets
The Groupon voucher made getting our tickets at the counter a smooth process. One thing I’ll note is I wish we had bought them online in advance instead – the woman told us it can get really crowded, especially on weekends, so having an entrance time pre-selected is best to avoid long waits. Good to know for next time!
They gave each kid a little activity booklet with puzzles and games to solve, which I thought was a nice touch. You collect stamps at each area and can trade them in for a poster at the end. There’s also an app you can download to enhance the experience that I wish we had known about beforehand. More preparedness failure on Dad’s part!
Rides and Attractions
Getting into the center itself was awesome — there are larger-than-life Lego sculptures and columns everywhere! The kids making noises of awe and wonder is one of the best parts of being a parent if you ask me.
We started out watching a little video tour of how Legos are made at the factory. But honestly, it was a bit boring. The kiddos were straining against their seatbelts, ready to dive in! Thankfully, up next was Kingdom Quest, a family laser ride to save a princess that was an immediate hit. It’s similar to Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters at Disney. I was the top scorer, much to John’s dismay – Dad still has the skills! My competitive nature may have taken over a bit. Whoops! Patty and Jenette beat us though, with their sister power.
After that, we checked out the Lego Racers zone, where you can design your own car and test it on ramps. The creativity was cool, but I will admit to getting a little anxious at my precious creations being smashed to bits by hyper kids! Guess it’s all part of the experience. The DUPLO village area was perfect for younger kids, making me nostalgic for when mine were toddlers.
Other highlights were the amazing Miniland recreating Dallas landmarks like the Cowboys’ stadium entirely in Legos, which must have taken some serious man-hours. We also loved the Lego Friends Heartlake City, Ninjago City Adventure play zones, and the 4D cinema show with water spray and wind effects. Super fun times all around! I will say the forest ranger pursuit pedal car ride got repetitive after a few laps.
Downsides
While we enjoyed Legoland overall, I do have a couple of critiques. As expected, it’s expensive. Our Groupon definitely saved money, but even then, I winced at the totals. For example, the VR experience and green screen photo studio cost extra on top of admission. Most activities are included, but they get ya with the add-ons!
The food options also left much to be desired. The cafe offerings were overpriced and mediocre quality, in my opinion. I know it’s a captive audience, but c’mon. We ended up leaving to get a decent lunch at the mall’s food court.
Another downer was how worn and faded some of the equipment looked. The foam missiles and guns for example were torn up and gross. Kind of kills the fun when things don’t work right. Along those lines, the staff monitoring didn’t seem to care much either. I witnessed some definite rule-breaking with zero consequences, like bigger kids plowing little ones over or hogging turns.
Finally, it wasn’t made very clear beforehand that adults have to be accompanied by kids at all times. Made me feel like some kind of weirdo! They should advertise those monthly adult night events more. I’d be down to return for a 21+ nerd party.
The Verdict
At the end of the day, I’d say our Legoland Discovery Center experience earns a solid A-. While expensive, it delivered plenty of entertainment and quality family time. Our kids were utterly exhausted by the end from pure fun overload!
My inner child felt nostalgic surrounded by so many Legos – it truly captured that creative magic I remember from epic building sessions in my youth. I’ll never tire of seeing the amazement on my little ones’ faces when encountering new adventures. This place was a blast overall, despite some operational hiccups.
I do wish it was more affordable and had better food options. The ticket pricing seems rather steep, in my opinion, but I understand the overhead with staffing, equipment costs, etc. However, they’d get more business if lower. Maybe offering special promos like that Groupon more often would help draw budget-conscious customers like us.
Regardless, I’d recommend Legoland Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth for families looking for a memorable indoor activity. It makes a fun birthday party or rainy day destination. Just plan accordingly with online tickets, packed snacks/meals, comfy walking shoes, and an open imagination! Building awesome memories one Lego at a time.