Legoland Florida gears up for fall opening

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — Legoland Florida planners say they are counting on the well-known brand name to draw families to the new theme park when it opens south of Orlando in October.

Being built on the old Cypress Gardens site in Winter Haven, the park will be the largest of the five Legolands around the world and a 45-minute drive from Orlando attractions.

General Manager Adrian Jones said Wednesday on a preview tour that the park will incorporate as many as 50 million of the familiar plastic bricks in attractions geared toward children ages 2 to 12. It will also retain botanical gardens and the famous water ski show from Cypress Gardens, which was one of Florida’s first theme parks.

Legoland has not yet announced a firm opening date.