WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Get ready to grab your pirate crew and head to Legoland Florida Resort.
Beginning Jan. 12, families will board one of 10 small boats and set sail on the theme park’s all-new adventure, Pirate River Quest.
On Wednesday, a select number of media were invited out to the theme park to get a first look at the new attraction. While out on the ride, captain-driven boats will navigate small groups of families through the natural passageways of Lake Eloise and the iconic Cypress Gardens.
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“So these were originally the Cypress Gardens boat rides, the canals that have been vacant since we’ve taken over the old Cypress garden site back in 2011. For the first time, we’re being able to go its back, but with a twist of LEGO humor,” said Rex Jackson, Managing Director of Legoland Resorts North America. “We think it’s gonna be a multi-generational ride. We know a lot of families that come to visit Legoland Florida Resort that have grandparents, parents and kids. We know they’ll have some grandparents that are visiting that rode the same waterway, but now they get to share that experience with their grandchildren who are excited about the LEGO story that they get to be a part of.”
The story of Pirate River Quest revolves around the lost treasure of Captain Redbeard.
During the roughly 20-minute boat ride, guests will try to spot pieces of the lost treasure and return it to the Captain’s treasure chest, located near the rear of each boat. During the adventure, families will encounter a variety of exciting sequences that tell the tale of a rowdy LEGO pirate crew, a troop of mischievous monkeys, scary spiders and even the fearsome kraken.
“This is an all-new story,” said Kelly Hornick, head of Legoland Florida marketing and communications. “We wrote this story specifically for this attraction, and it balances existing LEGO characters and then also a brand new Lego character, Calico Jade. She is our fierce female pirate. We love having some strong girl power as part of the storyline. We brought her into Legoland Florida a few years ago (when) we opened Brickbeard’s Water Sports Stunt Show.”
Building on its list of other attractions, Pirate River Quest will be accessible for guests with disabilities. The attraction has two boats that will be able to load people in wheelchairs.
Pirate River Quest is opening before the resort welcomes back one its popular events, Pirate Fest Weekends. Starting on Jan. 21, families will enjoy pirate-packed days of play, including exclusive character meet-and-greets, exciting entertainment, LEGO builds and specialty food.
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