Spring break is right around the corner. If you are staying in town and looking for some fun activities to get everyone out of the house, look no further than SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City! Recently, the KCMB team was given a sneak peek at the new exhibits in both attractions, and they did not disappoint! (Check out the video here!)
LEGOLAND Discovery Center
The LEGO Movie Days weekend events celebrate the release of The LEGO MOVIE 2. In addition to the regular, super-fun activities, there are special happenings from now until March 30. We explored it all, and yep, everything is awesome! (See what I did there…?)
• All of the KCMB kids (and parents) were excited to meet Wyldstyle! During these weekend events, meet Emmet, Wyldstyle and maybe, just maybe, a new character from the film! You can have your picture taken with these movie stars during the character meet and greets.
• We went on a scavenger hunt, looking for Emmet’s friends in Miniland! This really kept everyone engaged, trying to see how many characters we could find hanging out near the mini Kauffman Center, Union Station, Arrowhead Stadium, and other mini places around KC. All throughout the room, there were cries of “I see MetalBeard!”, and “Who’s found Unikitty?”
• My kids were fascinated with the new Stopmotion Studio! You can actually make your own Lego movie scenes! The kids used iPads to take pictures of Legos, which were then looped together to make a mini movie. Now my kids do this on their tablets at home.
• Throughout the weekend, guests work together to build a Lego Movie mystery mosaic. This is on the wall, near the Kingdom Quest ride. I kept finding myself wandering over there and adding a few new pieces, in hopes of figuring out the picture.
LEGOLAND includes a family restroom, baby changing facilities, stroller and wheelchair and access and most importantly – a cafe with all kinds of caffeinated treats.
KCMB Mom Tip: The mosaic uses tiny Legos. Make sure your toddlers don’t help themselves to a handful from the large container.
SEA LIFE Aquarium
The new Sea Turtle Rescue Center is officially open to the public! It will be a permanent addition to the aquarium, and we couldn’t wait to get face-to-flipper with their first resident, Shawny! (Check out the video here!) Shawny was rescued by the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, GA, after being found in the wild with a severely injured right flipper that required amputation. Shawny is feeling right at home here in KC – enjoying green peppers and back scratches from his animal care team. Along with seeing Shawny, visitors can learn about the threats that wild turtles can encounter. Adults could look over the top of his tank, and little ones could peek through the window on the side. He seemed to like looking at us too – he stuck near the window so everyone could say hi!
Along with seeing Shawny, here are some other highlights of the aquarium:
• The interactive rock pool exhibit allows you to touch some amazing creatures, such as starfish, sea urchins, and snails! This is great for guest of all ages, and my 7 year-old finally decided she was ready to brave it! A SEA LIFE employee is there to answer any questions and give you all. the. facts! Mom tip – take advantage of the bathrooms near this exhibit. You won’t find more bathrooms or water fountains for a while.
• Stingray Bay is so cool! The floor-to-ceiling tanks allow you to see so many beautiful stingrays, fish, and a few sharks. One of the stingrays is about 300 pounds! Mesmerizing!
• There are underwater ocean tunnels and tanks that make you feel like you are literally swimming with the fish! You could hear the excited cries of kids and adults when stingrays swam right over our heads! I took a thousand too many photos.
• The kids loved Doodle Reef. They created their own virtual sea creature and watched it come to life on a screen within a live display. So fun!
LEGOLAND Discovery Center and SEA LIFE are in the same building at Crown Center. Save money by ordering tickets online, buying a combo pass for both experiences in one day. Both attractions open at 10 a.m. daily.
KCMB Mom Tip: Be aware that you will exit both exhibits through the gift shops. I suggest prepping your kids ahead of time – either telling them they can’t have all the things and letting them choose one thing for a certain dollar amount, or making a run for it with your children in tow. The struggle is real – we go through this every time we visit.
Both LEGOLAND and SEA LIFE have so much to see, that it is easy to make a day of it. We’ve been about three times, and we always want to go back. Add this to your Spring Break bucket list if you’re staying in town this year.
