New Attraction Builds On A Secret That Makes Legoland NY So Special

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — With just a few hours before the gates open for the season, the team of Master Model Builders are huddling in the lobby of the Legoland New York Resort hotel. There are deadlines approaching, unexpected complications to address, and engineering issues to discuss.

But first, there is time for play.

For grownups, it's easy to get a little star-struck by Legoland Master Model Builders. They are, after all, bringing childhood dreams to life for a living. The dozens of kids, who are flocking to the makeshift tables covered in a multi-colored sea of Legos, aren't impressed with dream-job resumes — they are peers at play sharing a fundamental language.

"I like what you did there," Legoland Master Model Builder Dan encourages an excited Lego enthusiast. "I think I saw another brick like that somewhere over here."

The quiet moment, shared between an expert and the excited youngster, is made all the more impressive by the joyful commotion of the surroundings as opening day approaches. "Pirate Captain Brickbeard" is showing off his dance moves, a DJ has just announced that the floor is lava, and Lego-filled moats are teeming with kids plotting to storm the Lego Castle.

These small, but significant, moments surrounded by outsized excitement are something of a signature of what is fast becoming one of the Hudson Valley's biggest attractions.

"No matter how many times you visit, there's always something new to discover," Legoland New York's Lauren Truskowski told Patch. "You never know where you might find something you never noticed before. The park is always growing and changing."

That is something the amusement park in Goshen shares with its Hudson Valley home. While the big attractions and the world-famous city to the south get all of the attention, it's the small moments and the hidden treasures that make the region unique.

This season, Legoland has unveiled its new Lego Duplo Peppa Pig Playground. The "real-world play experience" brings the world of the beloved (and sometimes charmingly rude) preschool series to life. The 13,000-square-foot playground lets young fans of the animated series explore Peppa's house, hop into Daddy Pig's red car (and honk the horn), set sail on Grandpa Pig's boat and have loads of fun in Peppa's Treehouse, with the intention of making both parents and kids feel like they've stepped into a giant Lego Duplo toy box.

But, with a big star like Peppa Pig on board, will those small, quiet moments that make Legoland so unique still be a part of the experience? The designers behind the project took pains to make sure the answer is a resounding "yes." As one might expect from a playground inspired by Peppa Pig, the play space is brightly colored, boisterous and rowdy; it is also built with accessibility for all in mind. Tucked behind the Pig family house is a "quiet room," complete with sensory elements, for kids who might feel momentarily overwhelmed by the excitement in the fast-moving world of Peppa Pig.

In fact, Legoland has a knack for making big attractions feel like personal experiences.

See Also:

• Legoland New York's New Model Builder Is Local
• Legoland New York Resort Now A Certified Autism Center
• Building Memories At Legoland 1 Brick At A Time

The Legoland Driving school lets kids as young as 6 years old get behind the wheel of their very own (and very real) Lego car, learn the rules of the road, and even earn a Legoland driving license. Letting kids drive while parents are kept at a respectful distance seems absolutely bonkers — it's also the most fun a certain 7-year-old I know has ever had.

In 2023, Legoland New York was recognized as a Certified Autism Center. The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards trained all resort staff in best practices to serve guests with autism and their families.

Even while Legoland strives to make the small quiet moments last a lifetime, it still creates plenty of big moments, from Dragon Coasters to multi-million-dollar interactive rides. Even the dining rooms, where Lego characters are up to all kinds of mischief (like delivering hot Lego soup on a skateboard) that leaves Lego banana peels and Lego pies everywhere, make the park sometimes feel bigger than life.

But, if there's one thing that Legoland does better than anywhere else — it's small.

Even the smallest children can feel like giants strolling through Miniland, where every building is built entirely by hand by Legoland Master Model Builders. Every structure is built at 1:20 scale. It takes millions of Lego bricks to make up the scenery and skylines. In fact, according to Legoland, there are more than 22,231,368 Legos used (with more being added every day).

Like "Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper, new stories emerge with every glance. There is a new self-guided Miniland scavenger hunt each month.

If Legoland has added to the mystique of the Hudson Valley, the park wouldn't be the same without the rolling landscape that surrounds it. The popular Granny's Apple Fries and Miniland's Goshen replica are fitting nods to the region.

"In the fall there are plenty of reasons to visit the Hudson Valley, and there's a lot going on," Truskowski said. "A lot of people will stay at the hotel, visit Legoland, but also explore the area as a big part of the trip."

Perhaps Legoland New York Resort should have been named "Legoland Hudson Valley Resort," but who needs top billing anyhow?

Legoland New York Resort is located at 1 Legoland Blvd., in Goshen. Find more information here.