Even for families who don’t have special needs children, it can be really tough to do theme parks with kids! So, if you aren’t a special needs family, still stick around! There are some tips here to make EVERYTHING AWESOME on your next trip to LEGOLAND® Florida for all families!
We are SO thankful to LEGOLAND® Florida for hosting us! We experienced all of the wonderful things at their parks and had an AWESOME time making it memorable as a special needs family!
Online Tickets Once you’ve decided that you want to take your family to LEGOLAND®, it’s best to purchase your tickets online, in advance! You won’t have to wait in line to purchase and the tickets will be available on your mobile for the gate attendants to easily scan! Should you have to purchase your tickets the day of, there are building stations in the queue area at the front of the park to occupy children! Just make sure to keep a good eye on them since the lines can get a bit jammed certain times of the year and the build stations are below eye level!
Hero Pass The most important thing you should do when entering the park with your special needs child is to head STRAIGHT to Guest Services upon entering! Do not skip, do not pass go, do not even collect $200! DON’T MISS OUT on this awesome service that LEGOLAND® offers for those with special needs! A Hero Pass grants you access to “the front of the line.” However, you won’t be heading to the FRONT of the line, you will enter the ride through the exit, show the ride attendant your pass, and they will let your special needs child and the rest of your party onto the ride before those in the regular queue line! This is SUCH a life saver for us, especially if there is a longer line that extends past covering or shade! To receive your Hero Pass, head to the Guest Services area of the park and let them know you need a daily Hero Pass. No paperwork needed!
About the Hero Pass: A blue pass with the special needs person’s name on it with a number indicating your party size. The Hero Pass allows immediate boarding for your first ride and if the disability access line is too long (rarely), you may ask for a return time instead of waiting in line! Of all our visits to the park, we have never waited more than the time of the ride itself to complete for the group before us, before we could get on.
Misters Col gets the most irritable in theme parks when he’s hot! LEGOLAND® has done a super job at installing water misters and squirters all over the park! Most are even large enough for ur entire family to cool down under at once! They’re free and a great way to keep from a meltdown mid-park! Keep a lookout for these as your traveling from attraction to attraction!
Sensory Areas LEGOLAND® offers many services throughout the park, specifically for kids with special needs. You can view “social stories” which show an illustrated, step-by-step walkthrough of every theme park ride and show, so guests won’t be surprised by periods of darkness, loud noises, bright lights or other elements that often can be frightening or overwhelming! Check this out while you’re at Guest Services! You may also be excited to know that in the Annual Pass, First Aid, and Baby Care facilities, designated “quiet rooms” are a place for quests on the Autism Spectrum and their families to take a break from the park if they need. Weighted blankets, Noise-cancelling headphones, squishy toys, and building tables are only some of the complimentary resources available for you to use! Need a break while at the Water Park or if you’re near the back of LEGOLAND®? Head to Guest Services in the LEGOLAND® Water Park! (Must have a ticket to the Water Park to enter!)
Ask a Model Citizen Employees, AKA Model Citizens, are trained after hire to assist families of individuals on the Spectrum for most situations. If you have a question, are in need of assistance, or just want directions in the park with the quickest route or a path with less crowds, don’t hesitate to ask a Model Citizen!
Don’t Forget!
If you have a handicap pass, please bring it along to receive parking in the disability area of the parking lot! You may end up parking in the back of the lot if you don’t have this!
Snacks and water! You are allowed to bring any special snacks and drinks into the park if you have special requirements! If you don’t have time to pack or run out of snacks throughout the day, the restaurant locations in the park do try their hardest to accommodate special dietary needs!
Minifigures! This is a MUST for each of our visits! Don’t forget your mini figures to trade with cast members in the park!
Headphones, sunglasses, etc. Fireworks are awesome but, be prepared with anything you may need to help your child enjoy the experience to their fullest!
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