Five Key Insights for Staying at the New Pirate Island Hotel at Legoland Florida

Editor's note: The Pirate Island Hotel stay was provided by Legoland Florida as part of a media event; however, all views expressed are solely those of the author.

As a resident of Florida with a six-year-old daughter, I've explored numerous theme parks in Central Florida. Yet, I've never opted for an on-site hotel stay, favoring a longer drive for larger (and more budget-friendly) accommodations instead.

Recently, I had the chance to shift this pattern during my stay at Pirate Island Hotel, the latest addition to Legoland Florida's lodging options. This hotel opened amid the pandemic on June 1, 2020, and during a recent media event celebrating a new water stunt show, I enjoyed a night just a stone's throw from the park entrance.

Now, I truly understand the enticing benefits of being so close to all the excitement.

Here are five essential details to consider about this new hotel if you're planning a visit.

The convenience is unbeatable

It's no wonder that Pirate Island Hotel is an excellent choice for visiting Legoland, as it is located right outside the main entrance. I even put the assertion to the test that it’s only 130 steps to the park — and I counted 129 steps from the hotel’s front door to the turnstiles.

This straightforward walk is made easier by a dedicated pathway for hotel guests, complete with its own metal detector, allowing you to bypass the general security line for non-hotel visitors coming from the parking area. Although there was a brief wait around 10 a.m. when the park opened, we were able to get through relatively quickly.

Parking is complimentary for hotel guests (typically $23 per day for park visitors) and it's also covered, ensuring your car stays cool upon departure.

Keep in mind that Pirate Island Hotel shares its building with Legoland Hotel, featuring a common check-in area. After obtaining your room key, simply walk back towards the main entrance, and you’ll spot the Pirate Island wing on your right.

It's not just about the park

While the hotel’s location is perfect for visiting Legoland, there are many other activities to keep you entertained on-site. For my Lego-enthusiast daughter, a standout experience was the master builder workshop she participated in. These sessions are complimentary for registered guests and take place daily at 2:30, 3:30, 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30, but reservations can only be made after checking in at the resort — and spots can fill up quickly, especially for the 5:30 session (the park closes at 5 p.m.).

I was initially worried about the popularity of these workshops and the possibility of crowded spaces lacking social distancing. However, I was relieved to find that the tables were well-spaced to ensure parties remained apart. After about 20 minutes, my daughter was overjoyed with her flower box and watering can — both hers to take home, complete with printed instructions for recreating it later.

The Pirate Island Play Area also featured nightly entertainment, including bingo and storytime, although the start times didn’t align with our schedule.

Guests can take advantage of the heated pool and a large water slide (we forgot our swimsuits, so we missed out), and there are several common areas stocked with Legos for building — though we opted out due to COVID-19 concerns.

Lastly, there's a nine-hole mini-golf course available for $8 per person, along with a pleasant boardwalk that runs alongside Lake Elouise.

This area features picnic tables and a fire pit, perfect for enjoying s'mores in the evening.

There’s nothing typical about the standard rooms here.

When I travel with my family, I appreciate having a dedicated space for my daughter in our accommodations—whether it's a separate bedroom or a living area with a pullout sofa. This need for space is why we've moved many of our lodging choices to vacation rentals over the past few years. Spending hundreds of dollars per night for a standard hotel room where she’s right on top of us isn’t my idea of a relaxing getaway.

If you share this sentiment, you’ll absolutely appreciate the room layout at Pirate Island Hotel. While they aren’t huge, the rooms offer a distinct area with bunk beds and even a separate trundle bed to fit an additional child.

While there's no door separating the children's section from the main sleeping area, it still provides a useful degree of separation.

Moreover, the kids' area is equipped with its own television and a variety of Legos for play (we made sure to disinfect these with Lysol before our daughter had her fun).

The decor is understandably tailored for kids, yet even adults will be impressed by the Lego masterpieces that decorate the walls.

The child-friendly features are impressive.

In addition to the distinct sleeping area, the room was filled with numerous kid-centric elements, demonstrating the thoughtful design aimed at making these accommodations family-friendly.

For instance, the bathroom included a toddler toilet seat cleverly built into the lid ...

... along with a step stool to help kids reach the sink with ease.

The room also came equipped with a pair of Alexa speakers that even offered some fun suggestions for kids, such as:

• "Alexa, tell me a bedtime story."
• "Alexa, play some pirate tunes."
• "Alexa, share a pirate joke."

(Sidebar: I definitely asked the last one, and Alexa responded: "Where do pirates send their taxes?" "The I, Arrrrrr, S." I found it hilarious. Seriously, I laughed a lot.)

However, the highlight for kids was the in-room treasure hunt, which was also guided by Alexa.

Alexa helped my daughter search for the answers to four questions hidden around the room, confirming when she found the right ones. Once she entered the numbers into the combination lock on the safe door, it opened to reveal a stash of "treasures" — including juice boxes, eye patches, Lego characters from the movie series, and a book.

It was a delightful and imaginative way for her to interact with the room's features and take home some great keepsakes.

Enjoy all-you-can-eat dining in a (mostly) COVID-conscious manner

Upon discovering the hotel's "family-style" breakfast and dinner, my inner skeptic wondered if this was just a euphemism for "buffet" — something I'm typically wary of, especially amid a global pandemic.

To my surprise, "family-style" actually meant that entire skillets were brought straight to our table, offering all-you-can-eat meals without the shared utensils and serving stations typical of a buffet.

Plus, the food itself was quite delicious.

Dinner is priced at $28 for adults and $13 for children, which includes bread and butter, a mixed-green salad, an entree platter (with sides), and a dessert. We chose the "Pirate Platter" — featuring a delightful assortment of brisket, pulled pork, spare ribs, smoked sausage, baked beans, and a variety of sauces. It also came with mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and roasted vegetables.

Our family of three was more than satisfied with just one serving, although we could have requested more at any point.

Dessert features a warm chocolate chip cookie baked in a skillet, topped with vanilla ice cream, drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauces, sprinkled with Heath bar pieces, and even comes with an edible pirate sail.

Soft drinks were included with the meal, and adult beverages were available for an extra charge.

Breakfast was served in a similar manner and is complimentary for all hotel guests.

Our server mentioned that this dining approach was part of the property's original plan, even prior to the pandemic. It's a change I hope to see adopted more widely instead of traditional buffets.

It's important to note that the restaurant is entirely indoors, so if you're cautious about indoor dining due to the pandemic, it may not be the best choice. However, masks were mandatory, tables were spaced apart, and the ceilings were high. Without a buffet line, there was minimal movement within the room.

Bottom line

We had an excellent stay at Pirate Island Hotel. Its prime location, just steps from the park, is certainly a big draw, but there are many other features of the property that make it appealing for families. With well-appointed standard rooms, a variety of kid-friendly services and amenities, and great dining options, this hotel should definitely be on your radar if you're planning a visit to Legoland Florida.

For those true Florida fans (like my wife) who fondly recall the days of Cypress Gardens, you'll be delighted to know that the latest attraction pays tribute to the park's glory days — featuring a pirate-themed water-skiing stunt show set against the stunning backdrop of Lake Eloise.