Winter Haven | Legoland Florida Theme Park

[SkyDiveJunkee]

Merlin is also making a presence in Orlando with the I-Drive Live development, and it was just announced yesterday that the developer associated with the project has bought the adjacent Wyndam Resort property and plans to turn that into a shopping destination (along with further Merlin attractions). Merlin has stated that it will provide shuttle bus service to Legoland from a to be determined location in Orlando -- I think we can assume they will shuttle directly from its new attractions on I-Drive (the Orlando Eye, etc.).

[HeartofFlorida]

Thanks for the info. I completely forgot about that.

[FlaNatv]

With legoland opened does anyone know if SR60 will be widened from Yeehaw junction to Indian Lake Estates. It was needed anyway for getting from Tampabay to the Palm Beach area.

[sam06pr]

I was skeptical about the project from the beginning because of the location. But I guess right now I think that it has a higher chance of succeeding. Merlin did a wonderful job with promoting and working with the state and city to help this be a success. They put in good money to re-do the park and re-use some of the already existing attractions. The shuttle from Orlando to Winter Haven = Brilliant and easy! Many people so far have said it has been great and I just hope it is a total success at the end of the yr and for yrs to come

[FLAWDA-FELLA]

Not sure how true it is, but I heard the regular admission price was around $75-80 bucks for a one-day ticket!!

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by FlaNatv

With legoland opened does anyone know if SR60 will be widened from Yeehaw junction to Indian Lake Estates. It was needed anyway for getting from Tampabay to the Palm Beach area.

Oh GOD I wish this would happen but I can't say this will occur before 2030. It's listed in the 2030 Transportation Improvement Plan on Polk's Transportation site. It listed SR 60 as being widened to 4 lanes from Indian Lake Estates to The Polk/Osceola line but I'm not sure when (if ever) the road will be widened in Osceola county. This has been needed for decades. That has to be the most awful stretch of 60.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by sam06pr

I was skeptical about the project from the beginning because of the location. But I guess right now I think that it has a higher chance of succeeding. Merlin did a wonderful job with promoting and working with the state and city to help this be a success. They put in good money to re-do the park and re-use some of the already existing attractions. The shuttle from Orlando to Winter Haven = Brilliant and easy! Many people so far have said it has been great and I just hope it is a total success at the end of the yr and for yrs to come

I must say I was apprehensive (and to a degree still am) having seen Cypress Gardens, Circus World, Boardwalk & Baseball, and Cypress Gardens (part 2) all go down. Overall I'm impressed with the commitment that Merlin has made in the area in a short time and look forward to the future.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by FLAWDA-FELLA

Not sure how true it is, but I heard the regular admission price was around $75-80 bucks for a one-day ticket!!

Free - Ages 0-35 months
$65 - Ages 3-12/60+
$75 - Ages 13-59

They've got to recoup that $100+ million investment somewhere.....

[Butterfield]

It's nice to see that part of Cypress Gardens is being kept as it was, including traditional Southern belles. I'm guessing you can't visit this separately though!

[Lakelander]

I purchased annual passes a few months ago. I'm planning to take my sons there next week, right after little league football season ends. As for their investment in Cypress Gardens, I've always thought they'd be a success. They are one of the few in the business that have the money, niche product and history to pull off such an endeavor. My question is will Winter Haven properly take advantage of the economic engines heading its way (ex. Legoland and the CSX hub)?

Personally, I'd like to see them develop an I-Drive Live style concept in Winter Haven. Preferably, within walking distance to Legoland or them taking over the proposed Landings development and running water taxis between Legoland and proposed development on Lake Lulu.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

I purchased annual passes a few months ago. I'm planning to take my sons there next week, right after little league football season ends. As for their investment in Cypress Gardens, I've always thought they'd be a success. They are one of the few in the business that have the money, niche product and history to pull off such an endeavor. My question is will Winter Haven properly take advantage of the economic engines heading its way (ex. Legoland and the CSX hub)?

Personally, I'd like to see them develop an I-Drive Live style concept in Winter Haven. Preferably, within walking distance to Legoland or them taking over the proposed Landings development and running water taxis between Legoland and proposed development on Lake Lulu.

We'll see. I'm glad Winter Haven is moving in the right direction but the mindset is still not where it needs to be. Remember, this is the same city constructing a downtown parking garage instead of a multi-use structure. As for The Landings, I'm not convinced that deal will ever make it off the ground with the recent setbacks and the unresolved "issues" surrounding the developer.

[FlaNatv]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

...them taking over the proposed Landings development and running water taxis between Legoland and proposed development on Lake Lulu.

I did hear a news report that mentioned Water Taxis from the Landings project. It's amazing how far you can travel through the chain of lakes.

[FlaNatv]

Also I was thinking about How the WH Amtrak station is blocks away from The Landings project. I wonder how Amtrak can get in on the mix with Legoland, the Landings the boat Taxi, etc...

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by FlaNatv

Also I was thinking about How the WH Amtrak station is blocks away from The Landings project. I wonder how Amtrak can get in on the mix with Legoland, the Landings the boat Taxi, etc...

Great idea which means it probably won't materialize past your post.

[Lakelander]

^Yes, great idea. The Amtrak station literally is right behind the former fertilizer plant site, which is a part of the Landing's tract. The canal between Lakes Lulu and Shipp isn't that far away either. That idea has a lot of merit, which means it probably won't happen.

[HeartofFlorida]

Source: The Ledger

WINTER HAVEN | Legoland Florida’s add-on water park — set to open in 2012 — will have six attractions, will cost $12 to add to a standard Legoland ticket and will open before summer 2012, park officials announced today.

They hope that the water park will help turn Legoland into a multi day attraction, according to Legoland spokeswoman Jackie Wallace.more...

More: http://www.theledger.com/article/201...p=all&tc=pgall

[FLAWDA-FELLA]

Cool, seems like Central Florida will have more waterparks per capita than anywhere else in the world.

[LexISguy]

Any recent pics of Legoland.

[ThatFloridaDude]

I wish Legoland was in Orange County.

[HARTride 2012]

I've noticed that Legoland is running commercials for its water park. Anyone know of a date as to when the water park will open?