Last week, we got a sneak peek of the brand-new LEGOLAND Discovery Center that officially opens today at the Plymouth Meeting Mall in Philadelphia. While there's already a North Jersey convenient LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Westchester, NY, this one gives South and Central Jersey parents a chance to get some major hands-on LEGO time, too. We spent a fun morning checking out every last detail at the new center. Here are our other favorite features:
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LEEZA HERNANDEZ
1. The Philadelphia Skyline
This LEGO cityscape is phenomenal and huge. Wee love the attention to detail: From the construction crew that’s working on the new Comcast building to the subway that travels beneath the city. Independence Hall is filled with historically accurate details. And the University of Pennsylvania's LEGO campus allows your little ones to race crew boats across the water while your big kids will love the football fans inside Lincoln Financial Field, aka the home of the Eagles. It took 1.5 million bricks to create, and if you hang around long enough, you can watch it change from day to night.
2. The LEGO Creativity Room
There are plenty of play tables and areas for the kiddos to create with LEGO bricks, no matter how big or little they are. There are sections filled with cars they can race, pirate flags to made with DUPLO blocks and a LEGO Friends mini Heartlake City. But our favorite building section is in the Creativity Center, where kids can take 25-minute classes taught by a master builder.
3. LEGO 4D Cinema
Look, we're a sucker for these no matter where they are, and so are the kids. So pop on your 4-D glasses and enjoy LEGO characters on the big screen while the kids try and grab for bubbles, avoid rain and immerse themselves in other interactive surprises.
4. Pirate Adventure Island
Grab your little landlubbers and set them free (socks required) in this soft climbing pirate-themed spot! They'll love the jungle gym theme, too.
5. Ninjago Laser Maze
Does your kid have what it takes to be a ninja? Do you? Give it a whirl as you try and get through this laser maze without touching the lights. Don’t be deterred. hink Mission: Possible.
photo courtesy LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER PHILADELPHIA
6. The Imagination Express
We saved the best for last… even though it’s the first thing you'll get to do when you enter. This interactive ride (don't worry, it's not scary!) gives kids the chance to pick up magic wands and interact with video screens to complete an adventurous quest before letting them out inside the Discovery Center. It's so adorable that they’ll want to wait in line to go on at least once or twice more.
A fun way to spend a few hours, Legoland Discovery Center is priced at $19 per person if you order tickets in advance online. Want to see it before you go? Watch our video tour below.