LEGOLAND® Water Park Receives Industry Innovation Award From World Waterpark Association!

CARLSBAD, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2010)  –  Today in San Antonio, TX at the world’s largest gathering of water attraction professionals and development experts, the World Waterpark Association honored LEGOLAND® Water Park with the prestigious Industry Innovation Award!

The Industry Innovation Award is judged based on how the organization has set itself apart from others in terms of moving the industry to a new or higher plane. “The Worldwater Park Board of Directors considers new services, techniques and attractions and how those offerings help advance the industry in some way to keep it fresh and inspired,” said Gina Kellogg with World Waterpark Association.

The world’s first LEGO® themed Water Park opened in May and builds on the mission of LEGOLAND® California with interactivity, imagination and fun and is geared specifically for families with children ages 2 to 12. “The fact that our Water Park is LEGO themed and geared toward young children and their families is what truly separates LEGOLAND Water Park from any other water park in the world,” said General Manager of LEGOLAND California Resort Peter Ronchetti. “I’m glad to say the reaction has been very positive and despite the rather untraditional summer weather and continuing economic stress in the market, we have had a very strong season and will be once again reporting record attendance numbers for LEGOLAND California Resort this year.”

Design of the 5.5 acre Water Park began more than 18 months ago after guest surveys indicated that a water park would be a very popular addition to LEGOLAND California Resort. The $12 million investment is the largest expansion in the history of
LEGOLAND California.

The most unique features include Build-a-Raft River where guests customize rafts using soft LEGO bricks before floating down an 850-foot-long lazy river; the Imagination Station, where kids can build bridges, dams and cities out of DUPLO® bricks and test them against the flow of water; Aqua Tune, a musical fountain where kids conduct their own water symphony with the touch of their hand and the Water Fall which dumps 500 gallons of water down from a 45-foot-tall LEGO themed tower.

Other key attractions at LEGOLAND Water Park include Orange Rush, a family tube slide where up to four people can ride together down a 312-foot-long curving track on an 11-foot in diameter half pipe; Twin Chasers, two side-by-side enclosed red tube slides that stretch nearly 130 feet, Splash Out, an open body slide that invites guests to slide 240 feet and “splash out” into the water below;  Joker Soaker, a fun interactive platform in the wade pool where kids can aim water cannons at each other as a LEGO jester model tells jokes and pours 350 gallons of water down upon them; DUPLO® Splash Safari, a water play area designed especially for toddlers with three small slides and interactive DUPLO creatures including an alligator, polar bear and an elephant; and Kid Creek, a mini lazy river built with younger kids in mind.

LEGOLAND Water Park is located at the north end of LEGOLAND California adjacent to Fun Town with the entrance located between the Factory Tour and the Adventurer’s Club. LEGOLAND guests can upgrade their Park tickets to include LEGOLAND Water Park for $15. Geared for families with children ages 2 to 12, the Water Park will be included in the price of Water Park Hopper tickets and Resort Hopper tickets which include SEA LIFE Aquarium as well. Water Park admission will also be included in Resort Memberships. To learn the latest Water Park news, see photos and video, visit www.LEGOLAND.com.  To find out more about World Waterpark Association, visit www.waterparks.org.