LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan Opens at Great Lakes Crossing

Representatives from local government, Merlin Entertainments, media outlets, Lego clubs, and school groups – as well as Rochester Media – had the chance for a sneak peak at this new Great Lakes Crossing attraction.

LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Michigan opens to the public for the first time on Friday, March 25. The attraction is the 8th LEGOLAND Discovery Center in North America, the 14th globally and the 100th Midway attraction for Merlin Entertainments.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan is a 32,000 square-foot indoor attraction featuring fun and exciting LEGO themed rides, including Kingdom Quest and Merlin’s Apprentice, a 4D Cinema that brings favorite LEGO characters to life, numerous themed build and play areas, and the highly anticipated MINILAND exhibit that displays beloved local Detroit landmarks made from LEGO bricks.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan is different from the LEGOLAND theme parks with which you might be more familiar. We are an indoor attraction featuring a range of interactive experiences, including: hands-on play areas, a 4D cinema, classes led by our experienced model builders, two LEGO rides, special birthday party rooms and MINILAND — the venue’s signature re-creation of landmark locations and buildings throughout Metro Detroit, made entirely out of LEGO bricks.

“It has been a long and exciting journey leading to our grand opening, and we are grateful for the support we’ve received from the metro Detroit community,” said Hayley Anderson, general manager for LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan. “We are excited to give local children the unique opportunity to be immersed in a whole new colorful world of creativity, learning and imagination at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan.”

LEGOLAND Discovery Center admission hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturdays and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sundays. The Discovery Center remains open for 2 hours after last admission. They recommend visitors allow for 2-3 hours to experience everything. All tickets are $23.50 for age three and older. Children under three are free. Annual passes are $75 per person and the LEGOLAND + SEA LIFE (Michigan Only) annual passes are $120 each. Other options, such as family passes, groups, and adult only evenings can be found on their website.

Kids rule at LEGOLAND Discovery Center so all adults 18+ must be accompanied by a child aged under 18 to gain entry to this attraction. We invite adult fans of LEGO to our dedicated adult night events once a month, more information can be found on our website.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan Features 10 interactive play zones:

• Kingdom Quest: An interactive laser ride where visitors will journey into the depths of a medieval castle and zap various targets to help save the princess
• LEGO Racers: Build & Test Zone: Visitors can build their own racing car and time their creations on the speed test track
• LEGO Studios – 4D Cinema: Guests will be on the edge of their seats as an incredible action adventure unfolds in 3D before their very eyes. The film comes to life in the fourth dimension as flurries of wind, rain, lightening and even snow burst into the auditorium
• MINILAND: The venue’s signature re-creation of landmark locations and buildings throughout Metro Detroit, made entirely out of LEGO bricks
  • MINILAND was built out of more than 1 million bricks
  • It took a team of 20 expert LEGO model builders approximately six months to create MINILAND
  • MINILAND contains more than 50 models of iconic area landmarks and hundreds of LEGO figures
  • Every five minutes MINILAND completes a day to night cycle, with the models illuminated as appropriate
• DUPLO Farm: Large LEGO DUPLO bricks are made for small children with big imaginations and the DUPLO farm is a great place for the younger members of the family
• Earthquake Tables: Visitors can build their own LEGO skyscrapers and see if it can survive the shaking earthquake stimulating tables
• LEGO City: Soft play area for kids themed as a Fire Academy and Police Station
• Creative Workshop: Throughout the day, guests can learn from our master builders through creative workshops. Each workshop lasts approximately 25 minutes and teaches a new LEGO building skill
• Lego Friends: Help Olivia, Emma, Stephanie, Mia and Andrea build some of their favorite things to add to Heartlake City
• Merlin’s Apprentice: The faster you pedal around the higher you go, can you reach the skies and become Merlin’s top wizarding apprentice
  

  Build and Test at LEGOLAND – photo by Michael Dwyer

  

  Build and Test at LEGOLAND – photo by Michael Dwyer

Other Attraction Features include:

• Minifigure Trading: The LEGO® minifigure is the largest population in the world. Guests who bring their minifigures when they visit can trade them with any of our team members
• Factory Tour: The 360 degree projection factory tour hosted by Bertie and Bonnie teaches guests how raw plastic is turned into finished LEGO bricks, ready to be turned into anything that can be imagined
• Celebration Rooms: Birthdays or other special events can be booked in one of the celebration rooms
• The LEGO Café: Guests can wind down with hot and cold food, snacks and coffee or tea
• The LEGO Shop: Visitors can find all the very latest LEGO products that are available, as well as some exclusive LEGO items
  

  MINILAND Detroit – photo by Michael Dwyer

  

  MINILAND Detroit – photo by Michael Dwyer

In addition to local government and community leaders, the grand opening celebration featured students from Grant Graham Elementary School, members of LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan’s Creative Crew and Bertie, the LEGOLAND Discovery Center mascot, who burst through a wall of LEGO brick to the delight of the audience. The program featured remarks by Anderson and the following:

• Johnny Campbell, Merlin Entertainments Director of Midway New Openings North America
• Steve Berlow, General Manager of Great Lakes Crossing Outlets—The Taubman Company
• Bill Bohde, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Matthew A. Gibb, Deputy County Executive, Oakland County
• Kevin McDaniel, Mayor of Auburn Hills

Visit the website for http://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/michigan for all the details.

Facebook at www.facebook.com/legolanddiscoverycentermichigan

Read about the Opening of SEA LIFE Michigan and about Benson the Sea Turtle.