We had an exclusive preview of the brand-new Legoland New York Resort — and it's fantastic

This summer, everything at New York's latest theme park is set to be "fantastic."

After a long wait, the Legoland New York Resort is finally set to open this summer, just an hour's drive from New York City.

When the park opens (the owners haven't disclosed the exact date, only that it will be phased throughout the summer), this 150-acre destination will offer every imaginable experience for Lego enthusiasts. This includes a gentle roller coaster for young ones, a ninja-themed area, a castle, and a driving school.

Although the park is located in Goshen, New York, close to the city and its suburbs, Legoland aims to encourage visitors to stay overnight at its themed 250-room hotel. Why limit your visit to just a day when you could enjoy a night or two?

One-day tickets are available online for $72, while annual passes will cost you $230.

This will be the third Legoland park operated by Merlin Entertainments in the United States, joining locations in California, Florida, and six other parks worldwide. The New York park is roughly the same size as its Florida counterpart and about 20 acres larger than the one in California.

Additionally, it is set amidst 350 acres of undeveloped land at the base of the Catskill Mountains.

This week, TPG was among a select group of media representatives invited for a hard hat tour of the attraction, which is still under construction. Workers were actively engaged in planting trees, testing rides, and pouring concrete.

The theme park is designed for children aged 2 to 12, but any Lego enthusiast will find it truly fantastic! (Alright, that’s the last pun from "The Lego Movie.")

Details regarding the summer opening are still limited, but the Legoland team has confirmed that season passholders who bought their passes back in 2019 will be the first to enter the park.

The hotel is anticipated to open simultaneously with the park, although the Lego City and Lego Pirates-themed areas will be the last to debut at a later date.

In line with COVID-19 precautions, guests can expect reduced capacity, an online reservation system, digital tickets, cashless transactions for all purchases, and an app for ordering food and beverages.

The nearby hotel features four types of themed rooms (Pirate, Kingdom, Lego Friends, and Lego Ninjago), each equipped with its own distinct sleeping area.

Although we couldn’t peek inside, you can check out the new Pirate Island Hotel at Legoland in Florida for a glimpse of what to expect.

In New York, the hotel features a heated pool, evening entertainment for children, and an in-room scavenger hunt with Lego rewards. Rooms will also include Google Nest voice assistants that can help with ordering extra towels, arranging room service, or narrating engaging bedtime stories. Check-in will be contactless through kiosks or an app—meaning no need for front desk personnel.

The hotel, still under construction, is visible in the photo above and is just a short walk from the main entrance. Rates have yet to be announced.

But now, let’s return to the park.

The New York resort will debut the innovative Lego Factory Adventure Ride. This latest "experiment" from Professor Brick takes guests on a whimsical tour through a Lego factory. Utilizing facial recognition technology, the ride captures details like hair and shirt color to create a digital "Minifigure" representation of each rider. (And indeed, there’s a similar feature at the gift shop where you can design your own custom Lego.)

Scattered throughout the park are 15,000 Lego models made from 30 million Lego bricks. The dinosaur greeting visitors at the entrance is crafted from 182,000 bricks alone. Additionally, there’s a musical fountain—constructed from Legos, naturally—that plays different melodies when motion sensors detect guests standing before its various sections.

The park is crafted as a massive loop, linking its seven themed areas. These include:

• Brick Street: Upon entering, guests walk beneath a distinctive archway into a realm that looks as though it’s constructed from Lego bricks.
• Bricktopia: "A realm without rules, where visitors can build whatever they dream up." This area also hosts the Lego Factory Adventure Ride.
• Lego Ninjago World: Here, budding ninjas can learn the ancient art of Spinjitzu. Guests start at a training camp and then progress to Lego Ninjago: The Ride, where they assist in defeating the Great Devourer using only their hands.
• Lego Castle: This area features the Dragon, the signature roller coaster of Legoland, designed for a child's first coaster ride. For younger adventurers, there’s also Dragon's Apprentice.
• Lego City: A vibrant urban landscape populated by "Minifigures," home to the Driving School where kids can earn their official Legoland driver’s license.
• Lego Pirates: This area invites "young buccaneers to seek adventure." With attractions like Splash Battle, Anchors Away! and Rogue Riders, guests can anticipate some splashtastic fun.
• Miniland: The centerpiece of every Legoland park, Miniland showcases a sprawling display of animated, interactive Lego cities from around the nation. New York’s Miniland will highlight iconic landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Yankee Stadium, and Citi Field.

As previously mentioned, Lego City and Lego Pirates will be the final areas to open. Below are some images of these lands captured from higher up in the park's Bricktopia section.

At last, there’s the gift shop—referred to here as The Big Shop. Conveniently situated near the exit, this spacious store offers all the Lego merchandise you could wish for. Since it's easy to swing by on your way out, you can leave toys, stuffed animals, and Lego bricks behind while enjoying the park.

Legoland New York may not be the largest or most thrilling amusement park, but it excels in its themed experience across all attractions. For those traveling in the Northeast who prefer driving over flying to a theme park, it’s a fantastic addition to the area.

We’ll definitely come back when the park opens and share our thoughts on whether it truly is the best Legoland yet.