Dubai: Legoland Dubai officially opened on Monday, welcoming thrill-seekers and fans of the cult Danish brick-based toy.
At 10am, as the curtain rolled back after an onstage countdown from officials and a marching brass band, an excited crowd flocked through the park entrance.
Only around three quarters of the 40 or so rides and attractions were open on the first day — but that did not seem to deter visitors, who marvelled at the park’s scaled-down Lego brick monuments at the air-conditioned Miniland dome.
“It’s very good, and interesting for babies and kids,” said Irina, a Ukrainian tourist, whose two sons, aged nine and eight, ran around near a 17-metre high Burj Khalifa, built from 439,000 Lego bricks.
The tower, which took Lego staff over 5,000 hours to build, also features a miniature fountain show — complete with lights and music — at its base.
“You can see so many of the seven or eight wonders,” said Lini, an Indian expat, standing with her husband near a 280,000-Lego brick replica of the Taj Mahal.
“It’s so creative, and even for kids,” said Lini, who brought along her two daughters, aged seven and one. “Seeing it now they will be more enthusiastic to play with their Lego.”
The replicas include Dubai International Airport, complete with runway and jets, as well as a cutaway of the terminal showing Lego figures shopping at the duty-free shops and lining up to board planes.
Other replicas included a large section of Shaikh Zayed Road in Dubai, complete with traffic and a working metro train, and the Deira clock tower. The Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque, made from 536,292 bricks, stood nearby.
Other Lego replicas include the Great Pyramids of Giza, complete with Sphinx, made from 540,792 bricks.
Hefty costs
Legoland Dubai is the seventh park worldwide based on the block-building toy range, and the first one built in the Middle East.
The park is part of the Dubai Parks and Resorts complex, which at 30 million square feet covers an area more than six times larger than Vatican City.
Built with the region’s steaming summers in mind, many of Legoland’s rides and attractions are shaded.
The park’s restaurants also have indoor areas. There are also five snack stands serving ice cream and drinks.
However, visitors on a tight budget may want to eat before leaving home. A simple chicken meal at the Fried Chicken Co, styled like a 1950s American diner, will set you back Dh50.
An Italian-style buffet, offering unlimited pizza, pasta and salad for Dh75 per adult and Dh45, proved more popular.
There’s also a 355-seat indoor cinema showing 3D Lego movies. Added effects include snow, smoke, wind and rain pumped into the auditorium.
Nearby, the Legoland Water Park, which has multiple water slides, a wave pool and river, will open on November 15.
Fresh from his ride on a scaled-down firetruck at the Junior Driving School, four-year-old Jacob looks happy. “I like it,” he said.
But his mother, Mitch, a Filipina housewife, complained that on top of paying for an annual pass, they had to pay Dh80 for a shaded parking space. “They should provide parking for Legoland customers,” she said.
“It’s not written on the annual pass that we purchased.”
Junaid, an Indian expat, waits with his wife while his three sons, aged 12, 8 and 6, focus on building Lego cars at one of the park’s indoor sections.
“They are a great fan of Lego,” he said, with a resigned smile.
COST: Tickets for Legoland cost Dh295, while children under the age of three go free.
An annual pass, which allows you to go for an unlimited number of times, costs Dh765, and includes a 10 per cent discount on dining and shopping.
VIP passes cost Dh6,995 per year, but allow you to go to the front of the line for rides, get better discounts and have your car valet parked
TIMINGS: The park is open all year, from 10am to 6pm.
PARKING: 10,000 spaces are available. Shaded spaces cost Dh80 per day, while uncovered spaces cost Dh50.
LOCATION: Dubai Parks and Resorts, just off Shaikh Zayed Road, close to the border with Abu Dhabi.
Riverland
People who don’t like Lego – or dread the thought of stepping barefoot on one of the bricks — can instead visit Riverland, which also opened on Monday.
Situated at the centre of the park complex, Riverland features an area for concerts and festival, as well as several themed districts by the shores of an artificial river. One street, a boulevard of palm trees and neon signs, is designed to look like 1950s America.
Another district resembles a 1600s-style French town with faux chimneys and rustic-looking stonework.
With marble-looking minarets and gushing fountains, another district looks like Mughal-era India.
Riverland is free to enter.
For tourists and even residents who wish to wake up close to the rides and restaurants, the mega-park also has a Polynesian-themed resort hotel, Lapita, with 503 rooms. Lapita will open on November 15.
Close by, Bollywood Parks will open on November 15. The Hollywood-themed Motiongate will open on December 16.
