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Legoland Carlsbad California water-themed expansion 'Pirate Shores' now open
Has anyone been to Legoland lately and tried out the new Pirate Shores?
Water-themed play land opens at Legoland
Friday, July 21, 2006
Last modified Thursday, June 22, 2006 1:44 AM PDT
Water-themed play land opens at Legoland
By: ALEXANDRA DELUCA - For the North County Times
CARLSBAD ---- Summer began with a splash at Legoland California on Wednesday morning with the opening of the theme park's newest area, Pirate Shores.
The nearly 3-acre play land features four water-themed attractions: Splash Battle, where visitors ride in pirate ships equipped with water cannons; Treasure Falls, a mini-flume log ride with an almost 12-foot plunge; Soak-N-Sail, a shipwrecked vessel with more than 60 interactive elements; and Swabbies Deck, a play area for younger children featuring dozens of sprinklers and fountains.
"I truly believe that Pirate Shores will be the hit of the summer," John Jakobsen, the Carlsbad theme park's president and general manager, said at Wednesday's grand opening ceremony.
As Jakobsen was about to christen the bow of the ship Wednesday with a champagne bottle constructed out of Legos, a band of pirates brandishing swords and sabers "kidnapped" him, much to the delight of the children in the audience.
The children, many of whom were invited guests from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad and the Pilgrim Baptist Church of Los Angeles, howled with laughter as Jakobsen re-emerged dressed in full pirate regalia and was unceremoniously doused with water from a 600-gallon bucket perched atop the Soak-N-Sail attraction.
But Jakobsen didn't get to have all the fun: After the ceremony, the children swarmed the Soak-N-Sail attraction, squirting each other with water cannons, slipping down water slides and splashing through sprinklers.
Suddenly, the 600-gallon bucket of water at the top of the play structure overturned, dumping a deluge of water onto the gleeful children below. The scene repeated itself all afternoon: a giant whoosh of water, followed by squeals of delight could be heard at two-minute intervals throughout the day.
"I thought if you were on the platform you wouldn't get wet," said 12-year-old Dylan Bradshaw as she wrung out her red Boys & Girls Clubs T-shirt after the surprise soaking.
Still, Dylan said she didn't mind getting wet because the water felt good.
"It's kind of warm ---- it's not really cold," she said.
Ý"It's like, this huge thing of water comes down and you get soaked," said Eddie Griffin, 12, as he headed back for more. "It's so fun!"
Over at Swabbies Deck, the scene was much more serene as parents and babies splashed in shallow pools of water and curious toddlers explored the gentle water spouts gurgling up from the ground.
ÝCarlsbad residents Barbara Nelson and Hilary Panne watched as their children frolicked amid the fountains. The women said they came to the park with their children, who ranged in age from 1 to 6, specifically for the opening of Pirate Shores.
"We just wanted to check it out," said Panne. "This is much better than I thought."
"Our kids are in love with pirates," said Nelson, who said she liked that Pirate Shores offered activities for children of all ages.
Both women said they would definitely be back again.
"Instead of going to the beach, sometimes we'll come here," said Panne.
Pirate Shores cost $10 million to build and increases the park's size by 10 percent, Legoland officials have said. It is the 13th new attraction the park has added in the past 2 1/2 years, and is the largest expansion at Legoland California since it opened in 1999.
Water-themed play land opens at Legoland
Friday, July 21, 2006
Last modified Thursday, June 22, 2006 1:44 AM PDT
Water-themed play land opens at Legoland
By: ALEXANDRA DELUCA - For the North County Times
CARLSBAD ---- Summer began with a splash at Legoland California on Wednesday morning with the opening of the theme park's newest area, Pirate Shores.
The nearly 3-acre play land features four water-themed attractions: Splash Battle, where visitors ride in pirate ships equipped with water cannons; Treasure Falls, a mini-flume log ride with an almost 12-foot plunge; Soak-N-Sail, a shipwrecked vessel with more than 60 interactive elements; and Swabbies Deck, a play area for younger children featuring dozens of sprinklers and fountains.
"I truly believe that Pirate Shores will be the hit of the summer," John Jakobsen, the Carlsbad theme park's president and general manager, said at Wednesday's grand opening ceremony.
As Jakobsen was about to christen the bow of the ship Wednesday with a champagne bottle constructed out of Legos, a band of pirates brandishing swords and sabers "kidnapped" him, much to the delight of the children in the audience.
The children, many of whom were invited guests from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad and the Pilgrim Baptist Church of Los Angeles, howled with laughter as Jakobsen re-emerged dressed in full pirate regalia and was unceremoniously doused with water from a 600-gallon bucket perched atop the Soak-N-Sail attraction.
But Jakobsen didn't get to have all the fun: After the ceremony, the children swarmed the Soak-N-Sail attraction, squirting each other with water cannons, slipping down water slides and splashing through sprinklers.
Suddenly, the 600-gallon bucket of water at the top of the play structure overturned, dumping a deluge of water onto the gleeful children below. The scene repeated itself all afternoon: a giant whoosh of water, followed by squeals of delight could be heard at two-minute intervals throughout the day.
"I thought if you were on the platform you wouldn't get wet," said 12-year-old Dylan Bradshaw as she wrung out her red Boys & Girls Clubs T-shirt after the surprise soaking.
Still, Dylan said she didn't mind getting wet because the water felt good.
"It's kind of warm ---- it's not really cold," she said.
Ý"It's like, this huge thing of water comes down and you get soaked," said Eddie Griffin, 12, as he headed back for more. "It's so fun!"
Over at Swabbies Deck, the scene was much more serene as parents and babies splashed in shallow pools of water and curious toddlers explored the gentle water spouts gurgling up from the ground.
ÝCarlsbad residents Barbara Nelson and Hilary Panne watched as their children frolicked amid the fountains. The women said they came to the park with their children, who ranged in age from 1 to 6, specifically for the opening of Pirate Shores.
"We just wanted to check it out," said Panne. "This is much better than I thought."
"Our kids are in love with pirates," said Nelson, who said she liked that Pirate Shores offered activities for children of all ages.
Both women said they would definitely be back again.
"Instead of going to the beach, sometimes we'll come here," said Panne.
Pirate Shores cost $10 million to build and increases the park's size by 10 percent, Legoland officials have said. It is the 13th new attraction the park has added in the past 2 1/2 years, and is the largest expansion at Legoland California since it opened in 1999.
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