One of my favorite stops during one of our trips to LEGOLAND^® California is, believe it or not, a retail shop called Brick Brothers. Located in the backside of the Park in Fun Town, Brick Brothers, which should more aptly be called, “Adorable Surfer Kid Clothes,” features typical Southern California casual beach wear for all sizes from baby to adult, from two major brands, Quicksilver and Roxy.

I, for one, have an unhealthy affinity for the Roxy brand (unhealthy for my pocket book), proof of which is the fact that my three year old says things like, “Oh mom, you can’t wait to see this,” and “wow, this is darling,” pointing at the newest floral cuteness on the kid racks.

For the past few weeks, Brick Brothers has been undergoing some refurbishing, and has now re-opened its doors with a whole new look. Quicksilver and Roxy are still the main two brands, but now they are launching a unique LEGOLAND branded apparel line that compliments the Roxy & Quicksilver brands.  Plus now, the store is easier to navigate through (it was a bit tight before, especially for strollers) and has a lighter more open feel to it.

If you’re a sucker for the “little wahine look" or if you’ve forgotten to pack bathing suits and water shoes from home, be sure to make a pit stop at Brick Brothers on your next visit to the Park.

P.S. If you’re a pass member you get 10% off your purchase. Score!

Brick regards,
Model Mom Mary

The LEGO^® brand is one of the most beloved toy brands for kids, parents and even adults without kids (just ask the AFOL – Adult Fans of LEGO) all over the world, and has a special place in the lives of many children who have been diagnosed on the autism spectrum. The linear, colorful qualities of the toy itself, combined with the methodical process of following an instruction manual to assemble the pieces together has been found to be appealing to children who have autism, or other similar neurological disorders. As a result, socially developed therapy programs which include the use of LEGO bricks are being established around the country.

I connected with mom blogger, Jean "Stimey" Winegardner, who writes about the autism spectrum and her eight-year-old son Jack.
 
"Jack has been interested in LEGO from a really young age. I think it is wonderful for him because he uses his imagination and it develops his fine motor skills. Building LEGO sets also helps develop direction-following skills, which is wonderful. Jack built the Millennium Falcon after Christmas this year almost entirely by himself. It was a huge accomplishment, which both he and I recognized. LEGO does a great job of making seemingly complicated construction seem simple and step-by-step, which is great for kids who might have trouble following a series of directions."

In interviewing several local Carlsbad moms, I discovered that LEGOLAND® California and SEA LIFE™ Carlsbad Aquarium are also particularly impactful to children who are on the autism spectrum.

A local resident and good friend, Marcy, says her son Austin finds SEA LIFE Carlsbad Aquarium to be soothing, as long as it's not too crowded, and that some of the hands-on, collaborative areas, like the sand-castle building in SEA LIFE or the DUPLO building area in the Water Park, are great places for him to work on his social development since they involve not only building on an individual level, but also working with other children to make a collaborative model.

One local military mom and blogger, Lily Ashley, wrote a piece about her family’s experience at SEA LIFE, quoting her son, “Mommy, I LOVE it here, this is MY dream come true.” She went on to write that, “his ADHD and anxiety were completely under control that day.  The water is his zone, staring at the sea animals for hours is so therapeutic for him.”

For another local mom, Charity, her son “Bubba” was fascinated with LEGO products from an early age and was only recently diagnosed, in his teen years, as being on the spectrum. She says that he would spend hours in the LEGOLAND California building rooms and that his anxious, erratic behavior that typically accompanied trips to theme parks was non-existent while in those LEGO building rooms.

Also, LEGOLAND California Resort has implemented a new policy of providing exit passes to families with children who have autism. Please see Guest Services upon your arrival to the Park.

Brick regards,
Model Mom Mary

Many first-time guests at LEGOLAND® California are surprised to find out that the Park not only offers a wide variety of rides and attractions but that there are also a multitude of live entertainment options as well. All of them showcase musical numbers and involve some level of audience participation.  Back in 2002 I was the Entertainment Supervisor so I am quite partial to the entertainers in the Park. I can also perform the entire “Put the wet stuff on the hot stuff” routine in my sleep (if you don’t know that reference be sure to see The Big Test on your next visit).

Now that summer is around the corner, the Entertainment Department is gearing up for several new shows and double the amount of performances per day, which means that it’s AUDITION TIME!

So . . . CALLING ALL SOCAL RESIDENTS, THESPIANS, AND GLEEKS: Dust off your best monologues and jazz hands and come on down for an audition.

Auditions are by appointment only so check out the audition page at www.LEGOLAND.com/auditions for details on submitting your headshots + resumes and for a breakdown of characters.

If you’re not in the area and/or not a performer, then be sure to check your show guide upon entering the Park on your next visit to see all entertaining entertainment!

Brick regards,
Model Mom Mary

A question that pops up frequently from families that are visiting LEGOLAND® California for the first time is “How much time do we need to see everything?” This is a great question, especially for people who are detailed planners like I am. There is no definitive answer because of the following variables: Park operating hours, weather, age/number of kids, and Park attendance.

Typically, families can get through the Park in one day, especially if they get there right when it opens and stay through closing. To fit in the Water Park and/or SEA LIFE™ Carlsbad Aquarium, I highly recommend a second day, which will also take the pressure off of seeing all of LEGOLAND in one day and will allow you time to re-visit your favorite attractions.

TIPS ON SEEING THE PARK IN ONE DAY:
• Get to the Park 20-30 minutes before opening so you can find a parking
spot, get slathered up with sunscreen and packed up into the stroller. I highly suggest buying your tickets online in advance, this saves time! www.LEGOLAND.com/tickets
• Stop at The Market in The Beginning once through the turnstiles to load up on some snacks and waters so you don’t have to make multiple snack stops throughout the day. The Market offers a wide variety of healthy and tasty snacks including Cheerios in cups for the little ones, various gluten free options and delicious coffee drinks for parents.
• Save shopping for the end of the trip since The Big Shop, though I will warn you that it gets pretty crowded in there at closing time. Another option is to shop throughout the day (my favorite store is Brick Brothers) and utilize their package pick-up service so you don’t have to lug the bags around all day.
• Get a show guide when you first enter the Park as show times can help map out your day. The Big Test is a must see for first-time Park goers.
• Measure your kiddos ahead of time and take a glance at the following blog posts to know ahead of time which rides and areas of the Park are geared more for your kids’ age ranges (i.e. for families with younger kids 6 and under, I suggest starting to the left when you enter the Park but for families with kids over 6, I suggest going to the right).
o 36 is the Magic Number
o 5 Activities for the Whole Family
o 10 Things to Do When You’re 10
o What To Do When You’re 2

Since we go to LEGOLAND California fairly frequently, I am always focused on something healthy to eat (I can’t use the “theme park” excuse four times in a month). Having worked “on the inside” years ago, I know that the Food and Beverage Department always has healthy eating options at the top of their priority list, so no matter what area of the Park you find yourself in, you will be able to find something either low calorie, gluten free, vegetarian and/or vegan.

Here is a list of my favorite things to eat at the Park that don’t involve anything fried and are easy on the waistline.
1) Salad bar at Fun Town Market. This salad bar has a ton of fresh vegetables plus cottage cheese and a variety of prepared salads.
2) Grilled Salmon at the Upper Deck Sports Café – Get your Omega-3 fix while your kids play at the LEGO brick play tables.
3) Grilled fish burrito at the Beach Front Grill – Fish burritos are a Southern California staple and are a perfect meal in between splashing and tubing around the Water Park.
4) Signature Caprese Panini at Garden Restaurant – My mouth just watered as I typed that. I love this sandwich.
5) Fresh Fruit Cups at Ocean Journeys Café – These are a perfect treat for everyone in the family. Get your daily dose of fruits for the day and then any other desserts you may indulge in throughout the day won’t be as guilt-inducing.

Other healthy dining tips:
• Salads can be ordered at Brickolini, Fun Town Market, Garden Restaurant, Sports Café, Ocean Journey Cafe and Knights' Table
• Healthy snacks are available at The Market. Stop by when you first enter the Park to get your stash for the entire day.
• Vegetarian and gluten free options at most venues. If you don’t see an option on the menu, just ask and they will do their best to accommodate your needs!

Happy Dining and brick regards!
Model Mom Mary

I get a lot of emails from parents who are wondering if their child is too young for the attractions at LEGOLAND® California. I don’t think any age is too young since the Park has so much to look at, even for babies, but the fun takes new heights, literally and figuratively, once a kid reaches 36” tall. Though some rides have no height restrictions, thirty-six inches is the magic number for kids to really be able to ride a lot of the rides.

Here are the Top 8 Things You Get To Do When You Reach 36”:

1.     Coastersaurus
2.     Sky Patrol
3.     Flight Squadron (height minimun for this ride is actually 34”)
4.     Captain Cranky's Challenge
5.     Splash Battle
6.     Cargo Ace
7.     Beetle Bounce
8.     Dune Raiders

There are of course a ton of other things they can do that their shorter counterparts can do, like the LEGOLAND Express, DUPLO Playtown, Fairytale Brook, Safari Trek and all the fun splash pad areas in DUPLO Village, Pirate Shores and of course the Water Park. 

PLEASE NOTE:  Park employees (MCs) who work the rides are very strict on enforcing the height (and age when applicable) requirements for the safety of your children. Trust me, even I tried to weasel my little one on the Coastersaurus before she was tall enough, but it’s for everyone’s own good.

QUICK TIP: measure your children before going to the Park so you can prepare them ahead of time that they might not be able to ride every ride.

Brick regards,
Model Mom Mary

I’m not gonna lie. The hair on my arms is standing straight up as I write this post because things with claws give me the heebie jeebies. But as a mom, rapidly nearing my 40’s, I am determined to tackle my fears head on. So, with that in mind, I am going to be first in line at the new CLAWS exhibit opening up this week at SEA LIFE™ Carlsbad Aquarium.

The CLAWS exhibit will feature a whole new educational presentation and a mechanical claw that guests can maneuver.  Also, kiddos will be allowed to get up close and personal with creatures like Japanese spider crabs, coconut crabs, fiddler crabs, lobsters and nephrops. Getting me there to this exhibit will be one thing but actually getting me to participate in the interactive touch display that allows guests to feel the shell textures of different crabs is going to be an entirely different thing. Stay tuned for how I do.

In the meantime, check out the videos below about the new exhibit, and wish me luck!

Brick regards,
Model Mom Mary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BPvNYkJbwE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnuBwwOtsxM

There are people who love the LEGO® brand and then there are people who LOVE the LEGO brand. If you or your kids fall into that category of “major LEGO enthusiast,” then there are a few attractions at LEGOLAND® California that you must see.

1) LEGO Factory Tour – Inside this attraction located in Fun Town, you can learn all about the history of the LEGO brick and how they are made. Automated machines simulate the making of the brick from the little beads of ABS plastic and will fascinate even the youngest of enthusiasts.

2) Model Shop – After learning how the bricks are made at the Factory Tour, get a first hand look at how professional model builders make masterpieces from the bricks. Depending on what time of day you stop by, you will get to see any number of model builders hard at work, either creating, fixing, or rehabbing various models for the Park (Side note: Don’t they have a cool job? Click here to read a Q & A with one of the Park’s top builder’s Gary McIntire).

3) Build & Test – The third step after learning all about the LEGO product is to put that knowledge to the test, literally. At Build and Test in the Imagination Zone, kids can build a variety of LEGO contraptions with cars and then race them around tracks. The competition is stiff so be sure to bring you’re A game!

4) LEGO Club House – This venue is currently under renovation but will soon open to the public as a place where families can use computer techonology to build anything imaginable. If can think it, you can create it. You will also be to display your LEGO work of art on the wall for other Park guests to admire. This is also an awesome place to shop for any size, shape, or color LEGO brick that your heart desires. Stay tuned for a special blog post describing all the fun features of the all new LEGO Clubhouse.

Brick regards,
Model Mom Mary

At the beginning of January, I wrote a post about the newly-released, LEGO^® friends. Since writing that post, my daughters have used their chore money to buy two sets each and we’ve purchased at least five others for various birthday party gifts in the past month. The screams and giggles when they open their new LEGO friend sets are a clear sign that LEGO hit the mark with this new toy line.

For years LEGO has tried various product lines such as Belville and Clickits, to increase their reach with the world’s kids. Of course little girls have loved LEGO bricks over the years, but LEGO Friends is a great addition to the toy line. My girls and I have had a blast following along with the instruction manuals, creating imaginary scenarios with Stephanie, Emma, and Olivia.

Hot tip for LEGOLAND Resort Pass Members: If you buy your LEGO Friends at one of the Park retail shops, you can use your 10% discount, which will be a lower rate than almost anywhere else.

Brick regards,
Model Mom Mary

The three little words, “Mommy and Me,” were on my lips a lot when my daughters were first born. We attended Mommy and Me yoga classes, Mommy and Me music classes, and Mommy and Me book readings. Now that my girls are a bit older, the Mommy and Me programs are not as frequent, but that is about to change. SEA LIFE™ Carlsbad Aquarium has just developed a new program called Mommy and Me Under the Sea, geared for kids ages 2-5. Yesterday I had the opportunity to preview this program and I am beyond excited to start this activity with my kids in February.

Here’s how it works: You pick a day, either a Tuesday or a Wednesday, and pick a time slot, 9:30am – 11:00am, 11:45am – 1:15pm or 2:00pm – 3:30pm. Each class day will have a specific topic, assigned in advance. The kids will participate in activities, crafts, and games that geared to help both fine and gross motor skills, all while educating them about the ocean blue. Kids and parents alike will walk away with fun facts and a new appreciation for life under the sea.

The sessions will be limited to ten kids so the instructor can really engage with each child. Though the classes are geared for ages 2-5, older or younger siblings are invited as well. And of course, even though it’s called Mommy and Me Under the Sea (because who doesn’t love good alliteration?), dads are welcome too!

The cost for a four-week session is $35.00 for one kid and $45.00 for two. And Resort Pass Members can upgrade for only $20.00 a session. Check out the SEA LIFE site for more details and info.

Brick regards,
Model Mom Mary