Three Acre Water Park Officially Opens to Public May 24!

CARLSBAD, Calif. (May 23, 2014) –  Recently named the number one theme park for families by Parents Magazine, LEGOLAND^® California Resort expanded once again today with the grand opening of the LEGO^® Legends of Chima™ Water Park presented by Cartoon Network™! The new water park opened in style as celebrities, players from the San Diego Padres and community VIPs walked the “green” carpet before enjoying the new three-acre water park with their families.

General Manager of LEGOLAND California Resort Peter Ronchetti welcomed guests as they lined the Lion Temple Wave Pool which is guarded by an 18 foot high LEGO^® lion arch created out of 260,000 LEGO bricks. “Since LEGOLAND Water Park opened in 2010, our guests have been asking for more,” said Ronchetti. “This Chima Water Park has such incredible theming and so many awesome interactive features, I’m excited for our guests to experience it and expand their day here at the Resort.”

Having a game tonight didn’t stop San Diego Padres players Rene Rivera, Everth Cabrera and Ian Kennedy from splashing in the 250,000 gallon Lion Temple Wave Pool and enjoying some family time. The wave pool spans over 13,000 square feet, is filled with 250,000 gallons of water, is designed for families with young children and is based on the popular series on the Cartoon Network and the LEGO Group’s newest hit product “Legends of Chima.”

“As a long-standing partner with The LEGO Group, we are excited to extend this collaboration to the LEGOLAND park in California,” said Scott Thomas, vice-president of marketing, Cartoon Network. “It’s dazzling to see the World of Chima come to life, and kids who enjoy the show and its characters can now be a part of the entire experience this world has to offer.”

Mt. Cavora, the iconic “floating” mountain, is the heart of Lion Temple Wave Pool soaring 40-feet high releasing 400 gallons of water every minute for guests to splash about and enjoy. The floating mountain, known for providing the great energy source “CHI” to eight animal tribes in Chima, is 23-feet tall, 13-feet wide and weighs more than 11,000 pounds.

Mayim Bialik of “The Big Bang Theory”, former “Baywatch” actress Gena Nolin, Jadon Sands from “The LEGO Movie”, Xolo Mariduena from “Parenthood” and several other celebrity guests enjoyed their day splashing in Cragger’s Swamp, sailing boats in Build-A-Boat, racing LEGO chariots in Speedorz Arena and just relaxing at Rhino Beach.

Cragger’s Swamp is an interactive water play area at LEGO Legends of Chima Water Park that includes three slides and more than 50 interactive water features. This hands-on area invites guests to ride water slides, blast water cannons and jets and slide through the head of a massive crocodile.

Following in the unique interactive play experience introduced with Build-A-Raft River at LEGOLAND Water Park, Eglor’s Build-A-Boat gives children the opportunity to use their creativity and bring their imaginations to life as they build their own boat out of LEGO bricks and race against their friends. At Speedorz Arena, guests race Speedorz through unique obstacles and cheer on each other. Speedorz are LEGO chariots that the animal tribes use as vehicles to get around, and, of course, race!

LEGO Legends of Chima Water Park is included in the cost of admission to LEGOLAND Water Park. For ticket prices, operating schedule and additional information, visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call 760-918-LEGO (5346).

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com) is regularly the #1 U.S. television network in prime among boys 6-11 & 9-14. Currently seen in 97 million U.S. homes and 194 countries around the world, Cartoon Network is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for kids and families. In addition to Emmy-winning original programming and industry-leading digital apps and online games, Cartoon Network embraces key social issues affecting families with solution-oriented initiatives such as Stop Bullying: Speak Up and the Move It Movement. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

LEGOLAND^® California Resort includes LEGOLAND^® California, SEA LIFE^® Aquarium, LEGOLAND^® Water Park and LEGOLAND^® Hotel. All are geared for families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. At LEGOLAND California, you’ll find more than 60 rides, shows and attractions including LEGO Star Wars™ Miniland Model Display, Pirate Reef and Dino Island.  SEA LIFE Aquarium is home to more than 5,000 living creatures and incorporates LEGO^® models into a child’s voyage to the depths of the ocean featuring play zones, fun facts and quiz trails. LEGOLAND Water Park features more than seven slides, sandy beaches and the unique Build-A-Raft River. The nation’s first LEGOLAND Hotel features 250 rooms, all themed either as pirate, adventure, or kingdom plus more than 3,500 LEGO models throughout the three-story hotel. For more information, visit  www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO (5346).

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS plc is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment. Europe’s number one and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates 100 attractions, 10 hotels/3 holiday villages in 22 countries  across 4 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its almost 60 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 20,000 + employees.

Merlin has twenty attractions and one hotel in North America  – including two stunning LEGOLAND Resorts – LEGOLAND Florida with its theme park, water park, and LEGOLAND California theme park with water park, SEA LIFE Aquarium and themed hotel; Madame Tussauds celebrity wax attractions in New York, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and Hollywood; LEGOLAND Discovery Centers in Chicago; Dallas/Fort Worth; Kansas City Missouri; Atlanta, Georgia; and Westchester, New York; Toronto, Canada; and SEA LIFE Aquariums in Phoenix, Arizona; Kansas City, Missouri; Dallas/Fort Worth; the Mall of America in Minneapolis and Charlotte – Concord – underlining the company’s position as the world’s biggest global aquarium operator.  Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.