CARLSBAD – The force is with Legoland California as it announced plans to add more Star Wars models to its theme park for 2017.
The newest model will be of the Star Destroyer Finalizer, as seen in “Star Wars-The Force Awakens.” It will land at the theme park in March 2017, according to general manager Peter Ranchetti.
“It’s been the most popular area,” he said.
Ronchetti added that it will be larger than the model of the Death Star, which is currently the largest in the Star Wars Miniland area, and that there will be other scenes added from the latest Star Wars movie.
“When we bring LEGO and the Star Wars film franchise together, it’s just a magical formula,” he added.
Another addition for 2017 will be replacing some of the knight’s and castle-themed rooms in the 250-room Legoland California Hotel with a new theme based on Lego’s Ninjago series of characters.
But those fascinated by the times of yore will eventually get a new hotel themed to that era as the resort plans to break ground on a new 250-room Castle Hotel in 2017, with an opening slated for 2018.
Ronchetti said the hotel is sold out during peak seasons, so the decision was made to offer another Lego-themed hotel based on the popular knight’s and castle theme.
“Within that theme, there are a whole lot of sub-themes…there’s a lot we can do with it,” he said.
Legoland is enlarging its waterpark too, with a new water slide called “Surfer’s Bay.” The 100-foot long slide is targeted for kids 2-12. They will slide down mock surfboard-style mats on their stomachs, through a waterfall, before splashing down at the feet of their waiting parents, according to Ronchetti. It will open in 2017.
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