A day at LEGOLAND Florida and an overnight at the new Pirate Island Hotel, just a short 45 minute drive from Orlando, was a fun and safe getaway for my LEGO-loving family.
The hotel is only 130 steps (yes, they’ve been counted!) from the entrance to the LEGOLAND Florida Theme Park. Safety measures are in place around the hotel to make your stay safe. Those measures included plentiful hygiene stations, masks requirements in public spaces, contactless check-in and extra signage to help the flow of hotel traffic.
When You Arrive
The Pirate Island Hotel shares a lobby with the LEGOLAND Hotel so don’t look for a separate entrance. Hotel parking is free, which is great because parking costs $23 per vehicle at the theme park. You’ll check in at the self-service kiosks, which automatically spit out your room keys and information. There’s a staff member close by in case you need help.
Related: What to Know About Visiting the LEGOLAND Florida Resort
The Room
When we opened the door to our room, the kids noticed the treasure hunt right away. They ran through the room working to crack the code to open the treasure chest to see what was inside. They were excited to snag their mini LEGO pack and snacks from the chest.
The room designers didn’t miss a thing with the space being entirely pirate themed. LEGO movies are available 24/7 on both room TVs. The kids have their own private space with a bunk bed and LEGO building area. Another fun feature is the in-room Alexa with prompts to get Alexa in a pirate mood. The girls also loved the “secret camera” channel on the TV where you could watch the LEGO characters sneaking around different parts of the hotel.
Related: Review of the LEGOLAND Beach Retreat
Free Master Builder Workshops
This class is a must for young LEGO lovers. The classes are free for resort guests, led by a LEGOLAND Master Builder. They’re currently set up to be socially distanced and masks are required.
The Master Builder hands out LEGOS and the class follows along building while the Master Builder’s handiwork is projected on a big screen.
KidTripster Tip: Slots for these classes book up quickly so sign up at the front desk upon check in or call ahead before your visit. If you don’t book ahead, there’s a chance you can slide into the class by taking a “no show” spot.
Related: Become a Ninja at LEGOLAND Florida
The Food
Our dinner was at the Shipwreck Restaurant, with an ambiance keeping in theme with our pirate experience. The restaurant serves a three-course family style meal including salad, choice of two platters for your family to share and a chocolate chip cookie skillet dessert. There’s even a plant-based platter if you prefer that option.
For breakfast, we were back at Shipwreck for a spread that made my breakfast loving kids very happy. Everything again served in skillets with choices to add additional skillets and fresh fruit. Breakfast is included for anyone staying at the resort! That’s always a win.
KidTripster Tip: Reservations book up fast for dinner and breakfast (even though breakfast is included) so make sure you secure a spot at least a week in advance of your trip.
Amenities
The pool is heated, which makes it comfortable year-round. The Pirate Island Play Area (adjacent to the Smugglers full bar) hosts family activities every evening like Buccaneer Bingo, Create-Yer-Talk Interactive Storytime and my kids favorite Argh Ye Smarter Than a Pirate Trivia. There are character meet and greets in the shared LEGOLAND hotel lobby on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
We didn’t make it to mini golf, but the course is right on property as well as a walking path along a gorgeous lake.
We’ve now stayed at all three LEGOLAND Florida properties including the Beach Retreat and the LEGOLAND Hotel and now the Pirate Island Hotel. The Pirate Island Hotel followed suit with that “next level” attention to detail. Everywhere you turn in the hotel, there’s something else to look at or notice. There’s artwork that takes on a new form when you look at it from a different angle and characters built into the walls and themed cuisine and interactive elevators. Creativity is sparked from every direction no matter your age!
Amanda Keefer is a mom and travel junkie having worked in the travel industry for 10 years and jumping at the chance to explore destinations near and far. She can be found at Produce for Kids developing recipes and hosting The Healthy Family Project podcast. The perfect marriage of food and travel!
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