Pros
- Located inside LEGOLAND resort at park entrance
- Guests get early access to park
- Unique Lego decor and play areas
- Themed rooms are kid-approved
- Large outdoor pool with private cabanas
- Buffet restaurant, bar/cafe, and snack lounge
- Treasure hunt and welcome goodies for kids
- Nightly children's entertainment and games
- 24-hour fitness center
- Free breakfast buffet
Cons
- Tickets to theme park not included in rates
- Resort fee that includes valet parking and Wi-Fi
- Loud, busy place with kids running wild
- Some cleanliness issues
Bottom Line
Almost every inch of LEGOLAND California Hotel is a Lego experience, from the character visits at the free breakfast, to the daily Lego building contests, to the nightly entertainment in the lobby's castle. Access to the amusement park isn't included in the rate, but guests do get early morning access, allowing them to beat the crowds. Rooms have fun adventure, pirate, or kingdom themes, and all have separate kids' rooms with bunk beds. This property caters to parents with two- to 12-year-olds, so guests should be prepared for the noise and occasional messes that can accompany so many children. Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel next door lacks all the official Lego allure, but it's a suitable alternative for those looking to spend half as much on their lodging and still be within walking distance to the theme park.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Fitness Center
- Internet
- Pool
Oyster Awards
Scene
A LEGOLAND you can sleep in, with Legos and affiliated characters all around
More than just a convenient place to rest near the park, a stay at the hotel is like a 24/7 Lego life. Upon arrival, a brightly-colored clock tower complete with a giant green dragon made of tiny plastic bricks tells you what time it is -- it's LEGO time, all the time here. Inside, a kind of Lego sandbox awaits filled with thousands of the tiny bricks along with the children who are playing with and stepping on them. Behind the front desk, a wall of 5,000 Lego figures make up a colorful mosaic. A life-sized Lego figure rides back and forth on a bike with magnifying glasses for wheels so interested parties can get a better look. In summary, Legos are everywhere.
Two-dimensional depictions of characters are featured prominently throughout the hotel, especially on the carpets. Real plastic Legos sit in small light boxes embedded into the floors and there's a long continuous trail under clear plastic that winds throughout the property. Many Legos are scattered underfoot by children who removed them from play bins.
It's paradise for kids and any dedicated fans of the brand, while fun and playful enough to win over some others. This is not the place, however for a couple's retreat or a business meeting, and though everyone is here to visit the adjoining theme park, admission is not included in the hotel's rates. Though well-maintained, any property with this volume of children eating and playing will have some lingering stickiness, and those sensitive to cleanliness issues should be forewarned.
Location
In Carlsbad, adjacent to LEGOLAND theme park and near golf course
Within the resort grounds at the entrance of LEGOLAND, the hotel is ideally located for a visit to the theme park. The venue is also close to Carlsbad Flower Fields as well as Crossings Golf Course, both on either side of the resort, and it's about a 12-minute drive to downtown Carlsbad's shops and restaurants. This seaside community came into the spotlight when LEGOLAND California opened in 1999, but it is still a fairly quiet place close to several beaches, golf courses, and lagoons. It’s about a 40-minute drive to downtown San Diego, and over 90 minutes to Los Angeles International Airport.
Rooms
Three types of themed decor, bunk beds, and buckets of Legos
The 250 rooms here all have the same layout -- a small kids’ room with bunk beds and a larger bedroom for adults -- but their decor comes in three distinct Lego styles depending on which of the three floors they're on. First-floor rooms continue the trend set by the hotel's dragon and castle playground, with a kingdom theme heavy on heraldry, knights, and magic. Ivy creeps down the stone-walled wallpaper, with regal bedding and unfurled banners declaring "Ye Olde Adults Keep Out!"
The second-floor rooms are pirate themed, designed to feel like the inside of a ship with carpets that look like a wooden deck strewn with treasure and wayward sea creatures. Eye-patch wearing Lego characters brandish booty and sabers amid walls decorated with skulls and crossbones. The third floor features "Indiana Jones"-inspired adventure themes, with room decor loaded with lost artifacts, snakes, and Egyptian hieroglyphics. Beyond that, there are premium units for each category with a more thorough theme decor, but the standard rooms already lay it on thick. Each room has a mini-fridge, coffeemaker, and bucket of Legos for families to play with.
Features
Outdoor pool, many children's activities, free breakfast, and disco elevator
The entertainment starts upon arrival, with a brief treasure hunt where kids uncover clues that end in obtaining a key to the treasure chest in every room, with a Lego prize inside. The castle in the lobby doubles as a playground by day and a light entertainment venue at night, where staff members lead activities and performances. There are also daily building contests where kids get the chance to explore their blossoming architectural skills. LEGOLAND characters greet newcomers and make regular visits to on-site meals, including the free breakfast buffet at Bricks Family Restaurant.Mini's Lounge has coffee and snacks as well as to-go options, and Skyline Cafe is moderately more adult-friendly with a full bar. The heated outdoor pool has soft Lego bricks that float and the hotel plays seasonal “Dive-in Movies” on the sun deck. Little details stand out too, with whoopee cushions incorporated into floors and elevators that turn into dance parties with spinning lights and disco music, making an already unique hotel more memorable for its youngest guests.
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Scene
A LEGOLAND you can sleep in, with Legos and affiliated characters all around
More than just a convenient place to rest near the park, a stay at the hotel is like a 24/7 Lego life. Upon arrival, a brightly-colored clock tower complete with a giant green dragon made of tiny plastic bricks tells you what time it is -- it's LEGO time, all the time here. Inside, a kind of Lego sandbox awaits filled with thousands of the tiny bricks along with the children who are playing with and stepping on them. Behind the front desk, a wall of 5,000 Lego figures make up a colorful mosaic. A life-sized Lego figure rides back and forth on a bike with magnifying glasses for wheels so interested parties can get a better look. In summary, Legos are everywhere.
Two-dimensional depictions of characters are featured prominently throughout the hotel, especially on the carpets. Real plastic Legos sit in small light boxes embedded into the floors and there's a long continuous trail under clear plastic that winds throughout the property. Many Legos are scattered underfoot by children who removed them from play bins.
It's paradise for kids and any dedicated fans of the brand, while fun and playful enough to win over some others. This is not the place, however for a couple's retreat or a business meeting, and though everyone is here to visit the adjoining theme park, admission is not included in the hotel's rates. Though well-maintained, any property with this volume of children eating and playing will have some lingering stickiness, and those sensitive to cleanliness issues should be forewarned.
Location
In Carlsbad, adjacent to LEGOLAND theme park and near golf course
Within the resort grounds at the entrance of LEGOLAND, the hotel is ideally located for a visit to the theme park. The venue is also close to Carlsbad Flower Fields as well as Crossings Golf Course, both on either side of the resort, and it's about a 12-minute drive to downtown Carlsbad's shops and restaurants. This seaside community came into the spotlight when LEGOLAND California opened in 1999, but it is still a fairly quiet place close to several beaches, golf courses, and lagoons. It’s about a 40-minute drive to downtown San Diego, and over 90 minutes to Los Angeles International Airport.
Rooms
Three types of themed decor, bunk beds, and buckets of Legos
The 250 rooms here all have the same layout -- a small kids’ room with bunk beds and a larger bedroom for adults -- but their decor comes in three distinct Lego styles depending on which of the three floors they're on. First-floor rooms continue the trend set by the hotel's dragon and castle playground, with a kingdom theme heavy on heraldry, knights, and magic. Ivy creeps down the stone-walled wallpaper, with regal bedding and unfurled banners declaring "Ye Olde Adults Keep Out!"
The second-floor rooms are pirate themed, designed to feel like the inside of a ship with carpets that look like a wooden deck strewn with treasure and wayward sea creatures. Eye-patch wearing Lego characters brandish booty and sabers amid walls decorated with skulls and crossbones. The third floor features "Indiana Jones"-inspired adventure themes, with room decor loaded with lost artifacts, snakes, and Egyptian hieroglyphics. Beyond that, there are premium units for each category with a more thorough theme decor, but the standard rooms already lay it on thick. Each room has a mini-fridge, coffeemaker, and bucket of Legos for families to play with.
Features
Outdoor pool, many children's activities, free breakfast, and disco elevator
The entertainment starts upon arrival, with a brief treasure hunt where kids uncover clues that end in obtaining a key to the treasure chest in every room, with a Lego prize inside. The castle in the lobby doubles as a playground by day and a light entertainment venue at night, where staff members lead activities and performances. There are also daily building contests where kids get the chance to explore their blossoming architectural skills. LEGOLAND characters greet newcomers and make regular visits to on-site meals, including the free breakfast buffet at Bricks Family Restaurant.Mini's Lounge has coffee and snacks as well as to-go options, and Skyline Cafe is moderately more adult-friendly with a full bar. The heated outdoor pool has soft Lego bricks that float and the hotel plays seasonal “Dive-in Movies” on the sun deck. Little details stand out too, with whoopee cushions incorporated into floors and elevators that turn into dance parties with spinning lights and disco music, making an already unique hotel more memorable for its youngest guests.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Best Rates
Amenities
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Air Conditioner
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Cabanas
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Cable
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Concierge
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Dry Cleaning
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Fitness Center
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Internet
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Kids Allowed
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Laundry
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Pool
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Poolside Drink Service
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Room Service
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Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
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Supervised Kids Activities
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.