LEGOLAND® California Kicks Off Summer with Wild Splash Zoo Opening

CARLSBAD, Calif. (May 27, 2011) – A wall of soft LEGO® bricks spelling out “Splash Zoo” came crashing down at LEGOLAND® California today as two dozen toddlers from military families rushed in to the newest area at LEGOLAND Water Park. The toddlers, who have parents based at MCAS Miramar, were invited to help the family theme park kick off Memorial Day Weekend with the opening of Splash Zoo, an interactive water play area designed especially for children ages 1 to 3.

“We talk a lot about heroes here at LEGOLAND California - it is a great honor to have some real life heroes and their families here with us today,” said Peter Ronchetti, General Manager of LEGOLAND California Resort during the ceremony.

The military families had the Water Park to themselves for nearly an hour before it opened to the public. Splash Zoo features interactive spray pads, fountains, a teeter totter and giant interactive DUPLO® animals. The lion, polar bear, giraffe, zebra and penguins in Splash Zoo are scale replicas of the animals in the popular LEGO DUPLO Zoo product line. Each animal has a unique interactive element where children push buttons or turn levers to splash and spray water.

“We listen to feedback from our guests and one thing we heard a lot from the moms in particular was they wanted more activities for their young children,” Ronchetti said as he described the inspiration for Splash Zoo, which was designed by Park Project Designer Lindsay Burroughs.

LEGOLAND Water Park is the world’s first LEGO themed Water Park and opened last summer. It includes 7 slides, the Build-A-Raft River, Imagination Station and DUPLO Splash Safari. Memorial Day Weekend marks the official start of summer at LEGOLAND Water Park which will be open seven days a week now through Sept. 5. LEGOLAND Water Park is a $12 upgrade from LEGOLAND California tickets and is included in the price of Resort and Water Park Hopper tickets. For more information, find us on FaceBook or visit www.LEGOLAND.com.