Peppa Pig is coming to LEGOLAND—with a brand-new first of its kind theme park! Your kiddo can spend the day with their fave characters, see live shows and explore interactive attractions. The Peppa-themed park is set to open inside the LEGOLAND Florida Resort on Feb. 24, 2022!
Even though the Winter Haven, Florida attraction is part of LEGOLAND, it’s a separately ticked theme park. Guests can buy Annual Passes to the Peppa Pig Theme Park as a standalone membership or as part of an inclusive pass to LEGOLAND Theme Park, LEGOLAND Water Park and other available Merlin Entertainment attractions.
What can expect from the Peppa Pig park? Mark Fisher, Group Chief Development Officer, Merlin Entertainment, said in a press release, “As one of the world leaders in location-based entertainment we are delighted to be creating this first-ever theme park dedicated to the wonderful world of Peppa Pig. We have already had great success with our immersive Peppa Pig World of Play attractions both here in the US and in Asia.”
Fisher continued, “Working with our partners at Hasbro, we are excited to be taking the next step in creating this fully immersive theme park, which will bring to life even more of the sights, sounds and experiences that family audiences know and love so much from Peppa’s world. It’s guaranteed to be a truly memorable day out for families and something to really look forward to visiting.”
Visit the Peppa Pig Theme Park website here for more details and to sign up for email updates!
We’ve bid a sweet farewell to summer days lazing poolside, endlessly adjusting goggles and dodging water gun streams. But cooler temps doesn’t mean water play needs to completely disappear with the sun. Spend your hibernating months next to palm trees at one of Chicago’s indoor water parks. There are great climate-controlled options located a short drive from the city. Read on to see which ones you should visit when you need an escape.
Great Wolf Lodge — Gurnee
Main Attraction: Let’s be honest, the real thrill for kids when it comes to Great Wolf Lodge is the pools . . . and the 80,000-square-foot indoor pool and outdoor pool with cabana area has no chance of disappointing. This signature attraction at every Great Wolf Lodge includes Fort Mackenzie, a multi-level interactive water fort treehouse with a massive tipping water bucket, Crooked Creek winding lazy river, Slap Tail Pond wave pool, toddler water features, and the River Canyon Run, which is a 476-foot-long family raft ride with a raft elevator that does all the heavy lifting for you.
The Thrill Factor: This park is perfect for families who have kids that vary greatly in age, because there is absolutely no way you'll hear complaints of boredom. The slides offer high-speed water fun that will entertain older kids for hours.
Family Appeal: In addition to the water play, you'll find a variety of entertainment options including Great Wolf Adventure Park, a full-service family entertainment center featuring a ropes course, family bowling, mini-golf, rock wall and a 24-hour arcade. Kids that like brain-powered activities will dig MagiQuest, the brand’s exclusive live-action adventure game where guests scour the resort using magic wands to uncover relics and runes needed to defeat dragons and goblins.
Main Attraction: Parkie the Pelican is a toddler slide to remember (tots glide right out of his mouth!). But that's not the only thing that makes this waterpark cool. Ideal for all ages—and great for day trips—it has two water slides, a zero-depth entry pool and tumble buckets. The indoor park is half the fun; in summer, the outdoor park opens up and has a beach-like vibe.
Thrill Factor: You can enjoy mellow adventures in the shallow pool, or go zipping down the curvy tube slide, so this thrill is yours for the taking.
Family Appeal: Big without being overwhelming, this is a great waterpark for grade-schoolers. And if you enjoy Parkie, the pelican-shaped water slide, you'll flip out when the real Parkie character walks around the park (he's known to make impromptu appearances).
Main Attraction: This Yukon-themed waterpark is a bit smaller in scale but still big on fun. The Ranger Station is just right for kids who can’t yet swim but still love to splash and play in the water and the wave pool is always a blast for swimming kids. The not-so-fast family slide means your whole crew can hop on a giant tube and enjoy the ride together.
Thrill Factor: The water attractions are thrilling enough, but the resort also includes a mini-golf course and an arcade with more than 60 games.
Family Appeal: If you plan on staying the night, opt for one of the resort’s vacation villas, which have all the conveniences of home, including sleeping accommodations for up to nine, kitchen and dining areas, and even a cozy fireplace and whirlpool tub.
COVID Update: The Water Works is open at this time. Please call ahead and inquire about the availability of specific features.
Main Attraction: An aquatic playground in every sense of the word, Water Works is a great pit stop for families that don't want to trek out further for the big waterpark resorts. You can get a piece of everything here, from a kiddie area with tube slides and water chutes, to a diving pool and a rapid water channel.
Thrill Factor: Climb to the top of a castle, where a red slide sends you on a plunge-tastic drop into the blue. It's steep -- but nothing a strong swimmer can't handle.
Family Appeal: The water playground is shallow, bubbly fun. Little ones won't be able to tear themselves away from the fountains that form a gurgling ridge on one side. Parents especially love the beach-like gradual entry to the pool.
505 N. Springinsguth Rd., Schaumburg; Online: parkfun.com
Community Recreation Center at Heritage Park - Wheeling
Main Attraction: What's that lounging aside the pool? It's Petie the Polar Bear, the mascot of this Wheeling Park District oasis. Toddlers can slide down Petie and land in a zero-depth leisure pool. The four-lane lap pool is great for impromptu swimming lessons or burning off energy.
Thrill Factor: This is a smaller waterpark, meant for an afternoon of relaxed family play. Along with the toddler slide, there is a lazy river. The absence of big slides, water jets and dump buckets means activity here is always at a reasonable level of calm.
Family Appeal: As a quickie escape, this spot is a hit. The five-and-under crowd loves padding around the walking pool, from which a rainbow structure rises. There is also a deck observation area for parents that prefer to look on rather than dive in. Oh, and they have a family locker room, which is always a bonus when moving with tots in tow.
Main Attraction Climb, swim or slide down Moose Mountain Falls, the main attraction at this spot, located just across the border in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, less than two hours from Chicago. Perhaps the biggest draw here is the Tiny Timbers area, which is ideal for kids ages 3-6 due to its swings, slides, spouts and mushroom waterfall. The main activity pool has a rope climb and a water basketball court. A lazy river snakes around the entire waterpark.
Thrill Factor: This park is designed with kids ages 10 and under in mind, so the thrill is usually pretty chill. There are two single and double tube slides, which are just right for kids of any age with swim skills.
Family Appeal: The adjacent Timber Ridge Lodge is designed for families: One- and two-bedroom suites are available, so parents can relax and watch a movie in the living room area while the kids are nestled in bed. Plus the waterpark and lodge are located within the Grand Geneva resort complex, and you can not only enjoy splashing around the waterpark but also skiing, skating, sledding and horseback riding in the winter, golf in the summer, and spa time year 'round.
Delayed by COVID, the opening of the brand-new indoor waterpark Great Wolf Lodge in Manteca has been eagerly awaited by families all around the Bay Area. Just an hour’s drive from the Bay Area, Great Wolf Lodge is the ultimate water park experience that families have been looking for. For the month of October, a Howl-O-Ween celebration with trick-or-treating, a monster dance bash, arts and crafts and more will get the kids in the Halloween spirit. With 500 hotel rooms and suites, your family can wake up and be on a water slide in no time! We explored it all to give you the inside scoop and (spoiler) the only negative was having to pry the kids away to go home!
The Water Park
Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge’s main attraction is their indoor water park that is heated to a balmy 84F year-round. Admission is included in your hotel stay with access beginning at 1 p.m. the day of check-in. Fort Mackenzie, the multi-level water play structure, greets your family at the entrance with its multiple slides: toddler-appropriate slides on the lower levels and higher, longer slides for the more adventurous up top. A 1,000-gallon tipping bucket dumps its contents every three to four minutes so be sure the kids stand right underneath for the full effect!
Christine Lai
The multi-rider raft slide River Canyon Run bonds the entire family in a thrilling and twisting wet journey while Wolf’s Tail plummets its riders down a vertical 20-foot free fall when the floor drops out from underneath. Once your heart rate returns to normal, relax in the lazy river, wave pool, activity pool, zero-depth toddler splash area, oversized resort-style outdoor pool (can we say ‘pool’ one more time?) or one of the many other water/tube slides.
Things to know: -Lifejackets are available and highly recommended for children 42” and below -The Watering Hole, with its strategic location, serves adult beverages and slushies. If you’re like me, you will cycle between here and Dunkin’. -The water park was least crowded about one hour before closing (at 7 p.m.)
The Adventure Park
Great Wolf Lodge
If your crew is ready for a break from the water park, fun is also to be had on dry land! Great Wolf Lodge boasts an exclusive, live-action-adventure game called MagiQuest in which participants wander the lodge using a wand to join tribes, befriend magical creatures and defeat the enemy. A mini version is also available for younger players five and under.
Christine Lai
At the center of the adventure park is a multi-level rope course that is suspended above a mini-golf course because...why not? The Ten Paw Bowling alley with its shorter lanes and smaller balls means even the shortest of bowlers can get in on the action after they mine for gemstones at Oliver’s Mining Co. Add a visit to the arcade and Build-A-Bear workshop to complete an epic day any kid will rave about.
Things to know: -Attraction passes bundle the activities to save money -Free activities also abound! Story time, mural shows, family yoga, late-night dance parties, arts and crafts and character appearances by (friendly) wolves Wiley and Violet occur throughout the day. Check the daily schedule for times/locations -It takes on average three hours to play one game of MagicQuest but can be continued at a later time -Camp Howl is located inside Build-A-Bear and offers a quiet respite for coloring and reading from the hubbub -We found the Adventure Park to be the least crowded between the hours of 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Time to Eat
Great Wolf Lodge
All this activity will surely work up an appetite and Great Wolf Lodge has options galore with nine different eateries. Feed your pack pizza from Hungry as a Wolf or stop by Freshwoods Market for grab ‘n go premade meals. Conveniently located within the water park, Timbers (burgers, hot dogs and chicken tenders) and Buckets the Taco Bus means you can order and eat while still swimsuit-clad.
Christine Lai
Barnwood serves up locally sourced craft cocktails and shareable plates and your pack’s sweet tooth can be satisfied at either the Great Wolf Candy Company or Wood’s End Creamery where your hardest choice (after which flavor) is a cup or a cone?
Things to know: -Pre-purchasing a dining package will help with savings -Use their mobile app to order for contactless dining -There is a Costco next door. Just sayin’.
Time to Sleep
Great Wolf Lodge
When it's time for the pack to curl up for the day, Great Wolf Lodge offers a variety of lodging arrangements that can be divided into three main categories. The standard Family Suite sleeps between four and five with two queen beds and a pull-out couch. Themed suites provide a separate sleeping area for kids complete with wall paintings, murals and bunk beds. Premium suites offer the most spacious accommodations with at least two bedrooms or adjoining rooms sleeping between eight and 13 guests. Any of the accommodations will guarantee that your family will awaken refreshed, ebullient and ready to do it all over again!
Great Wolf Lodge 2500 Daniels St, Manteca Online: greatwolf.com
—Christine Lai
Editor’s note: This trip was sponsored by Great Wolf Lodge, but all opinions expressed here belong to the writer.
As the Founder of Zovargo, a zoo that brings animals to you—I have had the honor of sharing our animals with thousands of children over the years and I’ve seen a lot of parties. And while some are over-the-top, most are successful for the reasons listed below. So if you’re thinking of adding animals to your next special celebration, here are the things to consider to make your party the happiest celebration yet.
1. Location, Location, Location
Having animals at your party will certainly be an exciting, if not, the most exciting part of your party. Try to avoid parks and busy public locations because you don’t want other children from the playground to drop into your party. It’s distracting from your special event, and can be challenging for the animal handlers because they have to keep track of which children are part of your party or just drop-ins. Choose a private location, like your home, but also make sure there’s enough space for the guests to spread out and be comfortable.
2. Animal Selections
While picking the animals is sometimes the most fun part of planning your animal party, keep in mind which animals the children will really enjoy. And while it’s hard to stray away from impressing your own friends, remember—it’s a kid’s party, not an adult party. Experts that are bringing the animals have lots of experience. Trust me on this and listen to their suggestions! The animal handlers know their animals, and they know what species works best for different age groups. So many times I have had people request the “largest animal you have” for a toddler party. This never works out well as tiny people are scared of large animals. Listen to the experts and go with what you know your child will love!
3. Look for a Unique Experience
The days of traditional petting zoos are fading as more people become aware that lots of tiny people trampling around a corral of animals isn’t the perfect idea of a party. This is old-school and is unsafe, unsanitary, and stressful for animals. Zoos like Zovargo, travel to you and bring enough staff to provide a safe experience that is manageable and highlights each special animal one at a time.
It’s also helpful to look for places that offer a special experience with the animals instead of just an opportunity to pet them. For example, who can say they’ve shaken the hand of a duck? This is just one type of extra-special experience that will leave some lasting memories for the children and your guests.
4. Manage Your Wild Guests
Plan ahead for late arrivals. To do this, have your guests arrive 30-60 minutes ahead of the animal program start time. As the animal handler, we have had to delay our start for late guests more times than I can count. While this is not a problem, consider that the animals are sitting in crates just waiting for their time with the children. They may have traveled an hour (or hours) to get to your party already and then we all wait which is unfair to everyone. Another party tip? Mind the adult chatter. Yes, it’s a party, and parents sometimes like to let loose, but be mindful that adult chatter can cause a distraction from the animal program forcing the animal presenters to have to speak louder than the parents so the kids can hear. To prevent this, I suggest having an “adult area” if some parents want to catch up while the children are entertained.
5. Avoid Too Many Activities at the Same Time
Usually, the animals are the main attraction, but sometimes there are five other activities happening at the same time! Be mindful, that booking other services like face painting, magicians, caterers, and jumpy houses are all great, but be careful with scheduling too many things. You don’t want to waste money by giving a small group of kids too many things to do while at your party. It’s sometimes best to have one main attraction or activity, and let the kids play the rest of the time. As one of “the animal people,” it’s always a let-down when kids hear pizza has arrived, then they quickly run off to eat. Be mindful of distractions like this and keep a schedule in mind to be considerate of the people you’re booking for your celebration.
6. COVID Considerations
It’s nothing new to consider doing a virtual party, but a ZoomFari virtual animal party takes things up a notch! There are many zoos that offer virtual animal celebrations. Zovargo offers the reasonably-priced ZoomFari virtual party that allows guests to see animals literally eye-to-eye. This type of party can unite family from all of the world and provide everyone a unique experience together.
I'm a conservationist, animal-lover, and I wear many hats! I'm the Founder of Zovargo and with that comes responsibilites for animals, for our clients and for our team of amazing educators and animal handlers!
You may have heard the rumors: Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort are no longer offering Fast Passes and we’re here to tell you: it’s true. But while the free service won’t be offered anymore, Disney is not leaving us hanging!
Coming this fall you’ll be able to access the new Disney Genie service! The digital service not only helps you create a fun-filled itinerary but it’s also complimentary (please, and thank you). Keep scrolling to find out all the details!
Disney’s video covered a ton of important details so let’s break it down. First, Disney Genie fits right into the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps so you don’t need yet another app on your already cluttered phone. You’ll be able to indicate your must-ride attractions, fave food and interests that include your can’t miss character experiences.
Once you load in your deets, Disney Genie will help guide your day by suggesting ideal times to head to attractions, when to get on restaurant waiting lists and wait times. It will also adjust throughout the day as crowds ebb and flow. No more walking across the entire park to find out the princesses have gone on a lunch break!
photo: Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort
If you are still craving that front-of-the-line experience, guests will have the option to use the Disney Genie+ service and make up to two individual attraction selections to skip the line. Both of these are paid options.
Disney Genie+ service will be priced at $15 per ticket per day at Walt Disney World Resort and $20 per ticket per day at Disneyland Resort. This service gives you the chance to pick the next available time to arrive at certain attractions and experiences by using the Lightning Lane entrance. Like the old Max Pass, guests can only make one selection at a time, throughout the day. Additionally, you’ll also be able to access Disney parks-themed audio experiences and photo features like augmented reality lenses (Walt Disney World only) and unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads from your day at Disneyland Resort.
For attractions not included in Disney Genie+ service, park goers will be able to schedule a time to arrive at up to two super popular = attractions each day using the Lightning Lane entrance. Depending on the park, attraction and day, the price will fluctuate for this service.
After a year of park closures and the cancellation of annual passes, Disneyland Resort has finally shared the details of its new passholder program! The Magic Key Program has arrived and its a new take that offers plenty of variety for families.
Officially going on sale Aug. 25, Magic Key brings four pass options that resemble those under the former program. The biggest change is that the theme park reservation system will be integral to every pass going forward.
photo: Courtesy of Disney
There’s much to digest in the infographic above but in a nutshell, guests will all have the option to make at least two reservations at a time and get discounts on food, beverages and merchandise. Missing from the old program is notably the Photo Pass which gave guests access to all their attraction photos.
Another big change is that while monthly payment options still exist, they will only be available to California residents. The Imagine Key monthly payments will only be available to Southern California residents.
Additionally, the programs do not guarantee the ability to park hop daily like in years past. Park guess who want to park hop will need to make sure that reservations are available at the park they want to start the day at. If they are, hop away! If there is only availability at one park, then guests will spend the entire day there. Availability is shown on the reservation calendar when guests go to make their park plans and reservations.
The new program is a welcome announcement for park enthusiasts and Southern California natives who often use the Disneyland Resort as their afternoon playground. While the changes do away with old perks, they continue to offer magic in brand new ways.
You can learn even more about the new program at the Disney Parks Blog.
When it comes to Disney magic, we can never have enough. And thanks to a brand new series, uber fans can finally get a glimpse at how their favorite park attractions came to be.
Produced by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Brian Volk-Weiss, Being the Attraction takes viewers on a 10-episode journey through the creation of some of Disney’s most iconic rides. Want to see how the Haunted Mansion was filled with ghosts? Or how the castles became central to Disney parks? The new show tackles it all.
The 10 episodes will cover The Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Star Tours, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, the Castles, the Disneyland Hotel, “it’s a small world,” Trains, Trams, Monorails and The Hall of Presidents.
Behind the Attraction debuts only on Disney+ on Jul. 21.
––Karly Wood
Feature photo: Courtesy of Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution
Finally, we’ve got something to look forward to! Mark your calendars for June 14 as the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Bay Area is opening to the public. The ultimate indoor LEGO® playground for families will take up residence at the Great Mall in Milpitas and we’ve got the full scoop on what you can expect when you visit (including some awesome Bay Area-specific builds that you can check out!).
As the first of its kind in California, the long awaited LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area originally delayed its April 2020 opening due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following local and state capacity and safety regulations, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area will have enhanced cleaning measures implemented throughout the day to clean and sanitize the attraction, including high-frequency touchpoints, play areas, and LEGO® bricks.
California’s first LEGOLAND Discovery Center is comprised of more than 31,000-square-feet of interactive and educational attraction space geared towards children ages 3–10 and their families. Dubbed the ultimate indoor playground, its range of educational and interactive experiences includes themed build stations, master classes, an Imagination Express train ride, an earthquake table, a 4D cinema, special party rooms for birthdays and other celebrations, a café and a LEGO retail shop.
In MINILAND you can explore and interact in miniature LEGO replicas of the Bay Area’s most loved landmarks built from over 1.5 million LEGO bricks. Mischievous mini-figures can be found hiding throughout MINILAND, as guests spot the ghosts at the Winchester Mystery House, take in the views of the Golden Gate Bridge, or score a touchdown at the local football stadium.
Get Your Tickets: Single-Day Admission Passes are available for purchase online starting at $23 per person. Annual Passes are also available for purchase through the LEGOLAND Discovery Center’s website. Annual Pass holders receive unlimited access to the attraction for 12 months and benefits including café, LEGO® Shop and birthday party discounts and invites to exclusive events. The Annual Passes pay for themselves in less than three visits.
The day has finally come! Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure is now open!
After a year-long delay due to Covid, the Avengers are ready to assemble at their new home. Red Tricycle got into the new land a day early and got all the details on attractions, character experiences and of course, food. Keep scrolling to see all the details!
The new home of the Marvel Universe superheroes lies on the old site of Bug’s Land, adjacent to Radiator Springs. Guests can enter next to the Guardians of the Galaxy attraction or across from the Grizzly Run waterfalls.
The wide-berthed campus means plenty of space to oogle at the hundreds of tiny details and catch a prime view of Spider-Man literally swinging around, not to mention the Quin jet atop HQ.
The sprawling campus also means plenty of options for interacting with your fave Marvel character. While health and safety protocols are still very much in place, and you may not actually get a hug from Loki, you can still spy plenty of heroes at HQ, the Sanctum or hanging around the Worldwide Engineering Brigade, known as WEB.
When it comes to attractions, every member of the family will want to snag a spot in the virtual queue for WEB SLINGERS, the brand new ride and the first to feature Spider-Man. Pop on a pair of 3D glasses, then get your webs slinging on this interactive ride where you need to help Peter Parker take down the ever-multiplying Spider Bots!
There are plenty of tasty options for food and drinks at the new campus. For sit-down dining, check out the Pym Tasting Kitchen, where we have personally sampled everything on the menu and can attest: it’s all delicious!
The best part? The oversized portions make it great for sharing. Adults can also get beer, wine and beer cocktails next door at the Pym Tasting Lab, where you can also watch the magic of a reverse tap fill your beer from bottom to top.
There are two additional food carts that offer Shawarma and dessert options, all of which have plenty of Avenger film inspiration.
While the Avengers Campus boasts only one new attraction, the brand new space is the first of its kind to bring the Marvel Universe together. Take your time taking in all the detail, enjoying the best food the resort has to offer and getting as close as possible to your heroes.
Top three things parents with younger kiddos need to know?
Wear lots of sunscreen. Since the campus is on the newer side, you won’t find a ton of shade from mature trees. The hot California sun knows no bound on warm days!
Be aware that the vast Marvel universe contains some bad guys. There will be times when scarier characters like Taskmaster will battle your heroes, which could be a little dramatic.
WEB SLINGERS will operate like Rise of the Resistance, where guests must use the Disneyland app to get a spot in a boarding group. No boarding group = no riding! Be sure to try for a spot at 7 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Whenever you get the chance to visit, tell the Avengers we said hi!
After a year-long delay, Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure is finally opening! Before the land officially opens to the public on Jun. 4, you can get a sneak peak at the opening ceremony today.
Tune in at 8:15 pm PT tonight, Jun. 2 for a unique glimpse at the campus, in addition to special guests turning out for the big day. You can view on YouTube, Disneyland’s Facebook and Twitterpages and the Disney Parks Blog Facebook and Twitteraccounts.
photo: Chloe Rice/Disneyland Resort
The ceremony will feature a dedication of the new campus and get everyone excited about joining forces with the Avengers. Parkgoers will soon be able to hang out with their fave heroes, feast on brand new menu items and experience the first ride-through attraction featuring Spider-Man at a Disney park.
Don’t forget to catch the ceremony tonight at 8 p.m. PST!