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LEGOLAND Florida Grand Opening, Full Coverage Including Opening Celebrations, Rides, LEGO Miniland and More – Photos and Video

Hi everyone!

We attended the LEGOLAND Florida Grand Opening festivities, which included 2 days of events. The first day was a media day, and we arrived at LEGOLAND Florida (below, left) in the morning for the Grand Opening Celebration. LEGO mascot Buddy and his pal Max join a young girl as she drives a LEGO car in front of guests (below, right). Please click HERE for our previous coverage of LEGOLAND Florida including the original announcement including early models and renderingd that never made it into the finished park.

 

Kjeld Kristiansen (below, left), grandson of LEGO founder Ole Kirk Christiansen arrives with the 50th million brick – a gold brick – to complete LEGOLAND Florida. General Manager Adrian Jones holds up the Lego brick before placing it on a LEGO octopus (below, right)

 

Video #1 – LEGOLAND Florida, Grand Opening Celebration 10/14/11 Full Presentation, Media Preview Day – This is the Grand Opening Celebration presented to the media just one day before the official Grand Opening of Legoland!

LEGO figures are scattered around the park, including this tourist with a young girl (below, left). She seems to have found plenty to shop for! A LEGO film crew stands ready at the Studio Store (below, right). The LEGO director on the left seems very familiar.

 

Children can receive a special LEGO brick at the LEGO Factory, which is a short store that explains how bricks are made “from factory to finish” (below, left). We were very impressed with MINILAND, which has many different areas – including California, Las Vegas, New York City, the Daytona International Speedway and more – all intricately designed with LEGO bricks (below, right).

 

The Luxor hotel is one of the many hotels recreated for the Las Vegas area of MINILAND (below, left).  There are even fountains and moving vehicles included! The New York Skyline looms in the back, and New York is actually represented twice – both as its own area (below, right) and within the Las Vegas display.

 

Video #2 – LEGOLAND Florida MINILAND California: Hollywood, Chinatown, San Francisco, Hollywood Bowl – LEGOLAND Florida has many amazing and detailed Miniland areas! This one is California, and it includes the Hollywood Bowl, San Francisco and Chinatown. We’ll have many more of the Miniland areas up soon!

Pirates! You will never forget that word once you’ve seen the LEGOLAND Florida ski show, Battle for Brickbeard’s Bounty (below, left). The show is aimed more in theme for kids, but everyone can enjoy the professional aspect of the water skiing (below, right).

 

Video #3 – LEGOLAND Florida Ski Show, Battle for Brickbeard’s Bounty 10/14/11 Media Preview Day – LEGOLAND Florida is open! This pirate-themed ski show is part of the fun.

Crowds gathered on opening day to enter the gates of LEGOLAND Florida, as Buddy dances to some tunes (below, left). General Manager Adrian Jones (below, right) spoke just a little before letting guests know it was time to open the turnstiles!

 

Jones flips the switch on a giant LEGO brick (below, left) and confetti shoots from cannons into the air, and over the crowd (below, right). LEGOLAND Florida is now officially opened!

 

The Brunner family from Lake Mary, Florida was the first family to enter the park. Kevin Brunner (below, right) talks with reporters before they were taken to get complimentary one-year LEGOLAND Florida annual passes. Guests enter through the turnstiles (below, right).

 

Video #4 – LEGOLAND Florida, Grand Opening Day Celebration 10/15/11 Includes First Family – LEGOLAND Florida officially opened today! Guests were entertained prior to being let into the park, here is the grand opening.

LEGO deer stand in front of a waterfall that had changes very little from the Cypress Garden days (below, left). One of my favorite attractions in the park is the LEGO City Boating School (below, right). I found it to be a charming throwback to the early day’s of Disneyland.

 

The boats are free floating, and kids or adults can enjoy driving them (below, left). The boats don’t always arrive back in the order they left in, we ended up spinning the boat around a few times just to test them. LEGO displays (below, right) are part of the scenery while driving the boats.

 

Video #5 – LEGOLAND Florida, LEGO City Boating School, Full Ride Through – This is the Legoland Florida Lego City Boating School, we rode twice during the media preview day!

Project X Technic Test Site (below, left) is a wild mouse roller coaster similar to Goofy’s Sky School at Disney California Adventure. This ride was originally named LEGO TECHNIC Test Track Coaster (as in LEGOLAND California) and even listed as such in the opening day guide map. I wonder if the change has anything to do with the Epcot attraction of the same name but I find Project X to be a fitting inside Disney reference. Guests enter into the cars (below, right) before speeding around the tracks – all with a beautiful view of Lake Eloise!

  

We enjoyed the AQUAZONE Wave Racers attraction (below, left), where we spun around in these LEGO jet skis and tried not to get blasted by water cannons (below, right).

 

Video #5 – LEGOLAND Florida, AQUAZONE Wave Racers Ride, Opening Day 10/15/11 – LEGOLAND AQUAZONE Wave Riders attraction at LEGOLAND, Florida! It was busy for much of opening day, but we rode in the morning and found the ride to be a lot of fun.

A new Cypress Gardens sign (below, left) went up on the official opening day of LEGOLAND Florida. The gardens are very similar to before (below, right), although a portion of it is fenced off, hopefully to be opened again as well someday!

 

The LEGO Ford Explorer that we shared a video of is now sitting in front of the Ford Driving School (below, left). The Driving School is a great way for young guests to learn the rules of the road before setting out in a LEGO car (below, right). There is no track, just like at the Boating School.

 

Video #6 – LEGOLAND Florida, LEGO CITY, FORD Driving School 10/15/11 Opening Day – Kids get to drive at LEGOLAND Florida! These kids learned the rules of the road before setting out on the course. There is a smaller course for younger children, this one is for kids between 6 and 12.

A Medieval LEGO henchman (below, left) stands at the entrance to Lego Kingdoms. I found a couple of LEGOLAND princess walk around characters and had my photo taken with each separately (below, right).

 

The Land of Adventure includes the Lost Kingdom Adventure attraction, which will remind guests of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin with a dose of the Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland (below left and right). LEGOLAND calls it an “Egyptian themed dark ride”.

 

The Safari Trek (below, left) allows guests to ride a safari vehicle past life-size LEGO animals, including these elephants (below, right). The Elephant will sometimes squirt you as you drive by.

 

Video #7 – LEGOLAND Florida, Land of Adventure, Safari Trek Full Ride 10/15/11 Opening Day – This is one of the rides at LEGOLAND Florida, Safari Trek in the Land of Adventure!

We enjoyed our days at LEGOLAND Florida and look forward to another day coming up soon (below, left). Kids enjoyed playing on the Welcome sign (the stage was still set up on the other side) on opening day, confetti still lingered on the ground after the park closed (below, right).

 

We were given a LEGOLAND Florida Grand Opening sticker with a purchase we made (below, left) and as we exited, a commemorative ticket – souvenir only, not valid for theme park admission- that shows we were there for the Grand Opening (below, right). We can’t wait to return again next week!

 

For many more great photos, please check out MouseSteps latest update Coming Soon!

Get ready for Halloween (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party’s 2003 – 2010 Available) 2011 Edition Available Now!

Jeff Lange’s Trick or Treat 8 (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2011)

Jeff Lange presents this all-new DVD from the 2011 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World!

Featuring: Br’er Rabbit’s Laughin’ Place Candy Patch, The Headless Horseman, Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, Happy HalloWishes Fireworks, Villains Dance Mix and Mingle, Not So Scary Party Scenes, Haunted Mansion at Midnight and more!

Running Time: 66 min

For more information

or to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Trick or Treat vol 1 – 8 (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties 2003-2011) – Click HERE

Halloween Time at Disneyland (Mickey’s Halloween Party 2010)

Jeff Lange’s Disneyland Trick or Treat (Mickey’s Halloween Party 2010)

Jeff Lange presents this all-new DVD from the 2010 Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland!

Featuring: Spooky Halloween Party Scenes, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade, Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy, Halloween Screams – A Villainous Surprise in the Skies Fireworks, Haunted Mansion Holiday and more!

Running Time: 66 min

For more information

or to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Halloween Titles (Including Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties 2003-2011) – Click HERE

All New Summer Releases – Disneyland Summertime 2011 and Magic Kingdom Summertime 2011

Jeff Lange’s Disneyland Summertime 2011

Join Jeff Lange as he brings the magic of Disneyland into your home with “Jeff Lange’s Disneyland Summertime 2011″!

Featuring the following 2011 summertime favorites: Entrance Scenes, Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean with Blackbeard, The Magic, The Memories and You! plus BONUS: “Magical” A Fireworks Spectacular!

Running Time: 66 min

For more information or

to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available

Jeff Lange’s Magic Kingdom Summertime 2011

Celebrate the summer of 2011 in style, as Jeff Lange brings you the newest offerings from Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom!

Featuring the following 2011 summertime favorites: Entrance Scenes, Haunted Mansion Interactive Queue, Haunted Mansion Ride, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Magic, The Memories, and You! plus BONUS: Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky Fireworks Spectacular !

Running Time: 66 min

For more information or

to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange’s Magic Kingdom Summertime 2010 (Featuring SpectroMagic, Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Show, Main Street Electrical Parade and more!)

Celebrate Spring – Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2011:

Jeff Lange Experiences: Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival 2011

Celebrate spring at one of Disney’s most anticipated events of the year: The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2011.

Experience these unique panoramic displays throughout Epcot’s Future World and all around World Showcase!

Running Time: 64 Min

For more information

or to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange Experiences: Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival 2010, Jeff Lange Experiences: Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival 09, Jeff Lange Experiences: Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival 2008

Recent Releases – Frontierland Classics, Adventureland Classics and Liberty Square Classics:

Jeff Lange Remembers: Frontierland Classics

Take a trip back in time to experience classic Walt Disney World “Frontierland” attractions. This fifth volume in the series features the following: Splash Mountain (1992), Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade (2006), Country Bear Jamboree (1992), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (1997), Tom Sawyer Island (2006) and more!

Running Time: 65 min

For more information or

to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange Remembers: Fantasyland Classics

Also available

Jeff Lange Remembers: Adventureland Classics

Take a trip back in time to experience classic Walt Disney World “Adventureland” attractions. This fourth volume in the series features the following: Adventureland Tour (1992-1997), Jungle Cruise (1993), Enchanted Tiki Birds Tropical Serenade (1992), Pirates of the Caribbean (original version including Barker Bird 1992), Pirates of the Caribbean (1997) and more!

Running Time: 66 min

For more information or

to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available

Jeff Lange Remembers: Liberty Square Classics

Take a trip back in time to experience classic Walt Disney World “Liberty Square” attractions. This third volume in the series features the following: The Hall of Presidents (Original Version – 1993), Mike Fink Keel Boats (opening day attraction – 1992), Haunted Mansion (original version – 1992), Haunted Mansion Bonus Ride (my final recording of the original version with some special surprises – 2006)!

Running Time: 66 min

For more information or

to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange Remembers: Tomorrowland Classics

Epcot Center Historical DVDs – Available Now:

For fans of classic Epcot Center, I present my Epcot Center Historical Collection!

Click on any cover for more information

Holiday Treat 2010 DVD – Available Now:

Jeff Lange’s Holiday Treat 2010 (Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2010)

Seasons Greetings from Jeff Lange! Celebrate the holidays with this new DVD featuring the 2010 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World.

Features yearly favorites such as: “Cinderella’s Holiday Wish (Castle Lighting)“, “Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade“, “Holiday Wishes Fireworks – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season“, “Celebrate the Season Show“, Very Merry Party Scenes, and much more!

Running Time: 66 min

For more information or

to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Walt Disney World Vintage Footage:

Jeff Lange DVD Presents: Bob Welbaum’s Walt Disney World 1986 DVD

 

Jeff Lange turns back the clock to 1986, where you will experience Walt Disney World through the eyes of Disneyana documentarian Bob Welbaum. This incredible vintage footage includes select narration from Mr. Welbaum, who shot this video before recording was commonplace.

Walt Disney World 1986 contains clips from the following: Walt Disney World Resorts, Original Disney Shopping Village, Epcot Center, Discovery Island, Magic Kingdom, Seven Seas Lagoon and much more!

Running Time: 65 Min

For more information

or to purchase this item, please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange Remembers: Fantasyland Classics and Jeff Lange Remembers: Tomorrowland Classics

Disneyland Vintage Footage (5 Volumes Available):

Jeff Lange Remembers Disneyland Classics Vol 5

Jeff Lange takes you on a trip back in time to experience classic Disneyland attractions. This fifth volume in the series features the following:

Aladdin’s Royal Caravan (1993), Disneyland Railroad(1992) including the burning settlers cabin, Big Thunder Ranch and more, Beauty and the Beast Show (1993),Pinocchio’s Daring Journey (1993), Alice in Wonderland (1993) andFantasy in the Sky Fireworks (1993)!

Running Time: 66 Min

For more information or to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange Remembers: Disneyland Classics Volume 1 – 4.

Click here to browse the JeffLangeDVD store.

As always, if you want to request a future DVD idea, Photo Memory topic or comment on anything, just drop me a line at suggestions@JeffLangeDVD.com.