Legoland New York Brings Two New Coasters to the Empire State

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originally posted on 10/1/2021

Photo: Ric Turner. View full-sized image.

After several years of construction and delays caused by the pandemic, the newest Legoland park opened in Goshen, New York, on July 9. Located about 70 miles north of New York City, the park covers a hillside that splits the park into two distinct levels. Guests enter at the upper level where the Legoland Hotel, Brick Street, Ninjago World and Bricktopia are found. This area is home to a unique attraction at the park, a brand new trackless dark ride called Professor Brick’s Factory Adventure Ride. During the tour, augmented reality shows riders transformed into Lego mini figures that resemble the people in the car and mimic their movements. Now that guests are made of Lego bricks, it’s time for them to be put into a box and sent to an excited customer for play time.

Professor Brick’s Factory Adventure Ride is a signature attraction unique to this park.
Photo: Ric Turner. View full-sized image.

Photo: Ric Turner. View full-sized image.

Photo: Brian Watts. View full-sized image.

In the lower section of the park are the Pirates, Lego City and Castle sections, the last being home to the park’s two coasters. Dragon’s Apprentice is a Chance family coaster with the same kid-friendly layout found at Hersheypark, Dollywood and Rye Playland. Dragon is the park’s bigger thrill ride, and while casual observers might mistake it for the Vekoma Dragon coasters at the Legoland parks in Florida and California, this one is a Zierer Force 5 model, which is the first of its kind in North America. The ride starts as a dark ride, depicting life in the castle with an animated dragon climax, before a pinch wheel lift hill initiates the outdoor gravity section.

Dragon.
Photo: Alex Rigsby. View full-sized image.

Dragon’s Apprentice.
Photo: Brian Watts. View full-sized image.

The heart of every Legoland is Miniland where unique and humorous recreations of world landmarks and famous buildings — all constructed from Lego bricks — can captivate guests for hours. Of course, New York City is well represented with the Freedom Tower, Brooklyn Bridge and even the New York World’s Fair. Chicago, San Francisco, Hollywood and Las Vegas are also well represented, including working fountains in front of the Bellagio. The layout of this Miniland is not the typical format. Rather than seeing a cluster of models in one area, guests discover each of the models along a long winding path that connects the upper and lower sections of the park.