Last week we were invited out to Legoland California to check out their yearly tree lighting ceremony, this year being done by actress Lacey Chabert. While we weren't able to really get that close to the ceremony itself, we did have an amazing time, as well as being able to spend about an hour or so in the park prior to it's closing. 

Got to finally ride Deep Sea Adventure (which is really great) and enjoy one of my favorite theme park treats. 

Written by Gregg Condon

Cancer Organization City of Hope Receives $10,000 on Chabert’s Behalf From the Family Theme Park

CARLSBAD, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2021) – Fireworks filled the sky and snow fell onto the crowd as Lacey Chabert, the star of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas’ new original movie, “Christmas at Castle Hart,” helped Santa pull the switch to light the LEGO® Christmas tree during the 19th annual tree lighting ceremony officially kicking off Holidays at LEGOLAND® California Resort.

Chabert, best known for her award-winning role as Claudia Salinger in “Party of Five,” her role as Gretchen Wieners from “Mean Girls,” and from her roles in more than 26 Hallmark Channel movies, spent the day enjoying the Park’s festive holiday décor before heading to LEGOLAND California’s famous 30-foot tall LEGO Christmas tree created from 245,000 green DUPLO® bricks for the evening’s festivities. Prior to pulling the switch that turned on more than 11,000 twinkling LED lights, Chabert was presented a special LEGO ornament and guests were treated to a first look of the Park’s new Build and Race attraction opening in 2022 and a preview of Chabert’s upcoming Hallmark holiday movie.

At the ceremony, LEGOLAND California Resort donated $10,000 on Chabert’s behalf to the Department of Pediatrics at City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment organization near Los Angeles. Not only does City of Hope provide children and adolescents with leading-edge treatments for cancer or blood disorders, but its scientists also conduct innovative research to bring the treatments of tomorrow to children who need them today.

The annual tree lighting ceremony is part of the Park’s winter celebration, Holidays at LEGOLAND California Resort. Guests can feel the LEGO cheer from Nov. 20 through Jan. 2 with twinkling lights, holiday treats and live entertainment! New this year, the annual holiday celebration will feature a jolly new show in Fun Town: Mrs. Claus’ Gingerbread Bakery! Guests can giggle and cheer as Mrs. Claus and her gingerbread helpers bake sweets for the elves. Kids and families can also boogie on down with the Hip Hop Elf Dancers and Holiday Brass Band as they perform new and classic Christmas jams that will be sure to put everyone into the holiday spirit! Guests wanting to snap the perfect holiday card photo can pose with life-size LEGO models of Santa and his reindeer or with their favorite costume characters which include LEGO Santa, LEGO Toy Soldier and LEGO Gingerbread Man. Families can ring in 2022 with San Diego’s biggest Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party on Dec. 31. All Holidays activities are included with regular Park admission. For information, visit: LEGOLAND.com.

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STEVENSVILLE, MD – Ride Entertainment, the Gold Standard in the attractions industry for safety, sales and support, is excited to announce Palindrome, a one-of-a-kind Gerstlauer Infinity roller coaster for Cotaland in Austin, Texas. The ride is expected to debut in late 2022.

Named after a word, phrase or sequence that reads the same backwards as forward, Palindrome will feature a 95-foot vertical lift hill, 51 m.p.h. top speed, two inversions and a vertical “hopstall” before riders experience the ride again, only backwards. It will be the first Infinity shuttle roller coaster built by Gerstlauer in the United States.

“Working with a new facility like Cotaland has been an absolute pleasure,” said Ed Hiller, CEO and Founder of Ride Entertainment. “Both Gerstlauer and our own Installations team look forward to seeing those first riders take their inaugural runs on this incredibly unique roller coaster.” 

​“We are thrilled to be able to bring the first Infinity shuttle coaster to the United States,” said Siegfried Gerstlauer, Managing Director of Gerstlauer Rides GmbH. “Guests riding Palindrome are in for a truly special experience aboard the newest icon of Cotaland.”

Palindrome is currently being manufactured by Gerstlauer in their Münsterhausen, Germany factory. The coaster will be assembled by Ride Entertainment’s expert Installations division.

About Ride Entertainment: For over 20 years, Ride Entertainment has been the global leader for industry innovation and customer satisfaction in the attractions industry. Founded as a sales company focused on bringing the best thrill rides in the world under one roof, the company has expanded to serve every sector of the industry, including sales, service and operations. Visit RideEntertainment.com to learn more.

About Gerstlauer Rides GmbH: Founded in 1981, Gerstlauer has grown into one of the attraction industry’s leading manufacturers, producing some of the world’s most iconic roller coasters and thrilling attractions. It’s diverse and extensive product portfolio includes: Launched Coasters, Spinning Coasters, Bobsled Coasters, the “beyond-vertical” Euro-Fighter, Family Roller Coasters, Ferris Wheels, small and medium-sized Family Rides, and customized roller coaster trains. Visit Gerstlauer-Rides.de for further information.

CARLSBAD, Calif. (November 9, 2021) – LEGOLAND® Parks, a global leader in family entertainment, and Ferrari, the world’s most recognizable luxury sports cars brand, announced the world’s first LEGO® Ferrari “Build and Race” interactive attraction is coming to LEGOLAND® California Resort in spring of 2022. Featuring a life-size Ferrari F40 model developed by the LEGO® Group, Build and Race puts guests in the driver’s seat as they make their way through the “garage” to the “racetrack” using their creativity and imagination to build, test and race their own LEGO Ferrari.

“Ferrari is renowned for manufacturing cars unique in terms of performance, innovation and design, setting the standard for luxury and excellence within the automotive world. We have millions of young guests who can be inspired from this to create their own unique cars in this one-of-a-kind testing and racing facility,” said LEGOLAND California Resort President Kurt Stocks.
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“We are excited to build upon our existing relationship with the LEGO Group by combining our leading brands within this transformative entertainment attraction. The Build and Race experience has been designed to engage with both Ferrari and LEGO lovers of all ages, aligning with Ferrari’s strategy to reach out to its younger fans,” said Director of Location Based Entertainment & Esports for Ferrari Annabel Rochfort.

Build and Race features three zones designed to be interactive and inspiring. A LEGO pit crewmember will greet guests as they enter the attraction, sharing Ferrari fun facts, race history, and showcasing themed LEGO race gear and awards. Once inside the garage, guests have the opportunity to sit in a life-size Ferrari F40 model developed by the LEGO Group and have their photo taken. The journey continues as guests get to tap into their creativity and build their own LEGO Ferrari car to race at one of three racetracks which include the test zone, steering test track and speed test track. Each track offers guests different obstacles, challenges and a chance to clock in the fastest time. A DUPLO® build zone offers younger guests the chance to drive their imagination and design their own creation out of bigger bricks as well! LEGO minifigure mechanics and crew members will prompt build inspirations throughout the entire experience.

Finally, once guests have customized their vehicles, raced them through the obstacles and heard the engines roar, they will be able to create a custom digital Ferrari race car. Guests can digitally scan their vehicle and further customize their Ferrari along with their minifigure racing driver. Once complete, the cars are digitally projected on a LEGO racetrack based on Pista di Fiorano (a private racetrack owned by Ferrari mainly for development and testing purposes) and guests can compete with other cars digitally for the fastest race lap!
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Build and Race will be included in the price of admission to LEGOLAND California Resort. For LEGOLAND California Resort ticket prices, operating schedule and additional information, visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call 760-918-LEGO (5346).
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LEGOLAND® California Resort includes LEGOLAND® California, SEA LIFE® aquarium, LEGOLAND® Water Park, LEGOLAND® Hotel and LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel. All are geared for families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. At LEGOLAND California, you’ll find more than 60 rides, shows and attractions including the new LEGO® City: Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride where guests experience more than 2,000 real sea animals including real sharks, rays and tropical fish. SEA LIFE aquarium is home to more than 5,000 living creatures and incorporates LEGO® models into a child’s voyage to the depths of the ocean featuring play zones, fun facts and quiz trails. LEGOLAND Water Park features more than seven slides, sandy beaches and the unique Build-A-Raft River plus Pirate Reef and LEGO Legends of CHIMA Water Park comprising
 
10 acres of water fun! The nation’s first LEGOLAND Hotel features 250 rooms, all themed either as pirate, adventure, kingdom, LEGO® Friends and LEGO® NINJAGO™! North America’s first LEGOLAND Castle Hotel features 250 rooms, fully themed as Knights and Dragons, Royal Princess and Magic Wizard.  For more information, visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO (5346).
 
About Merlin Entertainments
Merlin Entertainments is a global leader in location-based, family entertainment. As Europe's number one and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin operates more than 135 attractions, 21 hotels and six holiday villages in 24 countries across four continents. Merlin’s purpose is to deliver memorable experiences to its millions of guests around the world, through its iconic brands and multiple attraction formats, and the commitment and passion of its employees. 
 
See www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information and follow on Twitter @MerlinEntsNews.