Legoland Packed With Fun for Kids

The new Legoland Discovery Center Atlanta will captivate children and bring out the kid in adults.

Youngsters, primarily aged 4 thorugh 12, will have a ball at the attraction, which opens March 17. At a sneak preview Sunday, moms, dads and grandparents also enjoyed the rides, Lego displays and Miniland, which gives an exciting replica of Atlanta landmarks, constructed out of 1 million Lego bricks.

"I think it's fantastic," said Heather Dewberry of Buckhead, who brought her 7-year-old and 5-year-old twins  to the event. "There seems to be something for every age. It holds their attention for a long time. They want to do it again."

Along with the Miniland, the brightly colored attraction has the Lego Friends Heartlake City, where kids can build their own microphone and perform on a karoke stage; the master builder academy; the factory tour, where exhibits show how Legos are made; the Lego City construction site; a racing car area; a studio with 4D cinema; the Duplo village for younger kids; and the Kingdom Quest and Merlin's Apprentice rides.

The Kingdom Quest ride goes through a dark tunnel, allowing kids, and adults, to shoot at monsters and bad guys. A couple of moms Sunday said it was a bit scary for younger kids. The Merlin's Apprentice lets family members twirl through the air on propeller-driven airplane devices.

The $15 million, 35,000-square-feet attraction, placed in Phipps where the food court used to be, also has a cafe and a store with Lego products. Special themed rooms are available for birthday parties.

Marketing manager Jonathan Giles said it's best to buy tickets online, which "guarantees entrance to the attraction."

Tickets are $19 for adults and $15 for children, but Legoland, owned by Merlin Entertainment, offers online specials as well as annual passes.