Best Time to Visit Legoland California

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Not every time of year is pleasant for visiting Legoland in California. The park is in Carlsbad, just a short distance from San Diego, California. That area of Southern California can be uncomfortably hot during the Summer months.

During the Winter months, it’s windy and rainy. Selecting the best time to visit Legoland California can significantly impact the enjoyment of your visit.

Pro Tip: Before you dive into this post, grabbing the LEGOLAND Map from the LEGOLAND Official Website may be helpful.

Beat The Crowds At Legoland

The idea for this blog post originated from our first visit to Legoland, which took place over the Fourth of July Holiday, during the height of summer and vacation season. We just returned from our second visit, in March, and it was a day and night difference! So I had to share our experiences from the two trips.

That said, besides the temperature differences between summer and spring, the crowd sizes were also drastically different.

Understandably, the summertime crowds were pretty intense. That, paired with high temperatures and a lack of shade, made our visit miserable. On a side note, the crowds at Disneyland, California Adventure, and Universal Studios were both worse than those at Legoland.

After much convincing from our 8-year-old son, we decided to go back during Spring Break. My son’s birthday is in March, so this was a birthday present. We stayed 4 days and 3 nights at the Legoland Castle Hotel.

The day we arrived, which was a Wednesday in late March, the park was almost empty. The longest wait for a ride was about 15 minutes, for the popular LEGO Technic Coaster, Emmet’s Flying Adventure, and the parent-dreaded yet kid-loved LEGO NINJAGO: The Ride.

For most of the rides, we could walk right in and wait for the current ride to finish so we could get on. Wait times were just around 5 minutes.

Is The Reserve & Ride Pass Worth It?

UPDATE as of September 2025: The prices of the Reserve & Ride passes have increased! The Regular pass is now $45, the Deluxe is $65, and the Ultimate pass is $110.

Remembering our previous visit and the 2-hour wait for The Royal Joust (yes, I know, that’s CRAZY), we decided to purchase the Deluxe Reserve & Ride passes for every day we were at the park. But to be honest, we didn’t need them at all. We cut off around 5-10 minutes of wait time per ride on the first day, and on the busiest day (Friday), we may have cut off 15-20 minutes. So, definitely not worth the $55 per person, per day price tag (prices as of 2025). We are a family of three, and we went to the park for two days, so the total was $330 just for the Reserve & Ride Passes.

If you go in the summer months between June and August, definitely invest in the Reserve & Ride Passes. We have not been, but I also heard that Legoland gets pretty busy during the Holiday/Christmas Break. The Reserve & Ride passes come in three different tiers: Express, Deluxe, and Ultimate. For more information on these options, click the links provided in the above text.

Levels of Reserve & Ride options:

Express Pass: Cuts wait time by 25% and costs $35 per ticket per day (as of 2025)

Deluxe Pass: Cuts wait time by 50% and costs $55 per ticket per day (as of 2025 – that is the one we purchased)

Ultimate Pass: Cuts wait time by 90% and costs $100 per ticket per day (as of 2025)

Note the Ultimate Pass costs $100 when purchased in advance and $135 if purchased at the park.

The Express Passes do not include admission to Legoland; you must already have tickets. You can also mix and match the passes per day. So, if you are there during the week and the weekend (when it is typically much busier), you can purchase the Ultimate pass for Saturday, Sunday, or a Holiday and purchase the cheaper passes (or skip them altogether) on less busy days, such as Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. However, if you go in the Summer, it is 3 months of “Holiday” level crowds and higher prices, so getting the Reserve & Ride add-on is essential.

The rides included in the Express Passes are the most popular, best rides that the kids (and adults) love. All three levels of Reserve & Ride Passes include the same rides. As of 2025, these are the included rides.

Click here for a list of all LEGOLAND California Rides and Attractions.

Best Time To Explore LEGOLAND Resort Hotels

It is worth it if you have not stayed at the LEGOLAND Resort! Stay at one or the other, or both at least once. Many perks come with booking a room or suite within Legoland. Of course, the price tag is not low, so be prepared for sticker shock.

LEGOLAND In-Room Treasure Hunt

One of our favorite things was doing the famed LEGOLAND scavenger hunt! Answer all the questions correctly, and you get the lock combination to unlock a special LEGO set in the in-room LEGO safe. There are two identical sets in the safe, in case you are travelling with two kids.

Spoiler alert: Shhhh, click this link to find out the code!

Don’t even attempt the scavenger hunt in the morning hustle and bustle. The entire hotel is in chaos as hungry people rush to breakfast between 7 AM and 10 AM.

The park closes between 5 PM and 6 PM, depending on the time of year. So there is a rush to leave the park starting around 4:30 until a bit past 6 PM. And where do all these folks head to? You guessed it, dinner at either the Castle or the LEGOLAND Hotel. Needless to say, it’s pure insanity around dinnertime! With hungry kids, exhausted parents, and a day’s worth of excitement!

The best time for the scavenger hunt is around lunchtime. We were shocked at how empty the Castle and Hotel were between about Noon and 2 PM. The perfect time to go on a hunt and take some photos without strangers photobombing!

Hotel Pool and Play Areas

Both the LEGOLAND Hotel and the Castle Hotel have playgrounds and play areas, both inside and outside. They also have beautiful, LEGO-themed pools. Of course, there’s also the Legoland California Water Park!

The play areas were not that busy, and the arcade was actually relatively empty most of the days.

At LEGOLAND California, pool hours vary from season to season, but you can expect the pool to open between 7 and 9 AM and close between 8 and 10 PM. The pool is outside, but it is heated to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Guests under 48″ must wear official U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, which are provided. Please leave your pool toys, floaties, and pool noodles at home, as they are not permitted.

We didn’t go into the pool but walked over to the area to check it out. We visited when the weather wasn’t warm, and after dinner, the pool was not busy but not empty either. On extremely hot days, the pool may be bustling, so I suggest visiting during park hours to avoid crowds.

The Castle Hotel has an outdoor theater and plays movies for the kids. It was busy but not too bad right after dinner, and the movie they were playing was a LEGO movie, I can’t remember which one, but something like the LEGO Batman movie. This area wasn’t that busy in the evening. Even if it gets busy, most of the kids are just sitting quietly and watching. QUIETLY – which is a rare occurrence at Legoland.

If you haven’t been to Legoland California since the Summer of 2024, get ready to boogie all night long at Brick Boogie! This kids-approved nightclub has excellent music, dancing, and lights. The party happens every night between 6 and 9 PM. Get them dancing and partying to tire them out before bedtime. Genius!

Need a little time away from the kids? The fitness center for the adults was basically empty the entire time we were there. So feel free to catch a quick workout before the kids wake up or after they go to sleep.

Medical, Disability, and Sensory Needs

Not really “best time to visit” related, but we have been to Legoland and other resorts/amusement parks, and never had any medical issues except this last time we went to Legoland, and my son had two bad nights. So, I never thought about how medical emergencies or other medical needs are handled until this very last time, so I thought I would mention this here.

You can click the link here to learn more about some of these options directly from Legoland. I do not have experience with these; I only have experience with the CVS Vending Machine (Similar to Pharmabox).

My son had a nasty allergies one night, so bad he was sneezing and his eyes were red and watery, he couldn’t sleep at all. The next night, he had awful “growing pains” probably from overuse – he was running full speed all day at Legoland park! Both times, I was beyond thankful for the CVS vending machine at the main level of the LEGOLAND Hotel (where we were staying). They have basic medicine such as Benadryl, Tylenol, cough medicine, first aid items such as Neosporin, and personal care items such as toothpaste. The vending machines carry items for kids and adults. The prices are comparable to a pharmacy/store – there is a slight markup, but it wasn’t ridiculous.

There are a couple of these in the park that I know of; there are two or more inside the park, and one at the Legoland HOTEL.

The outdoor ones, I didn’t see but one is located across and around a corner from the Pizza and Pasta Buffet, and the other one is near the entrance, I think. I didn’t actually see that one, but noticed it mentioned online.

The one at the Legoland HOTEL is located on your way to the elevators to take you to your room (near the restaurants).

If you know of any other locations, feel free to drop me a comment below and tell me about them! (Images of outdoor CVS vending machines courtesy of cuteculturechick on Threads).

Best Time To Chow Down

Make reservations whenever possible and plan your meals. When traveling with toddlers and young children under six, always have snacks and drinks on hand.

Dining Inside The Park

The lines for food and drink inside the park are long during the summer. I mean SUPER LONG, so don’t wait until kids go from hungry to hangry. Plan and make reservations well in advance, whenever possible.

There are many options from chicken, waffles, pizza, burgers, and ramen to my son’s favorite… churros! When we visited in the summer, we waited for 30 minutes to order some chicken strips and fries. We had to wait another 30 minutes to receive our food. The pizza place was so packed we didn’t even bother. We tried the burger place only to be told they SOLD OUT of burgers and only had sides like fries and chips! And the churro stand had a 20-minute line (which my son said was worth it). The churros were such a hit with my 8-year-old that he said he would rather have churros than ride the Technic Coaster! So definitely give the churro stand a try, but be ready to hit the bathroom to wash up after enjoying the cinamony sugary sweetness (with hot fudge!).

During peak times, I observed that the restaurants near the front of the park and those near the popular rides were very crowded. As you traversed the park towards the Deep Sea Adventure, Pirate Shores, and Miniland USA areas, the little food stands and restaurants were a bit less crowded. We had good luck at Granny’s Apple Fries. Although personally, I was hoping to try the Ramen place, maybe next time. Many options, close together, can be found around Castle Hill.

Alternatively, when we went in late March, the lines for food inside the park were not bad at all! But some of the places were closed or had limited hours, assuming there weren’t many people.

In conclusion, if you go in the off-season, expect some of the food vendors to be shuttered, but the lines at the restaurants and food stands should be a lot shorter. If you visit during the busy summer season, everything will be open, but be prepared to wait in line for a while. So plan before the kids get too hungry.

When we went during the summer, either my husband or I would stand in line while the other parent and son went on rides. We ended up eating our chicken strips and fries in line for the Royal Joust (which had a 2-hour wait!).

Insider Secret:  There is a Karl Strauss Restaurant and Brewery within walking distance of Legoland. Definitely worth a try, the prices are much more reasonable than Legoland restaurants, and there’s a lot of kid-friendly options and adult beverages for the parents! You can thank me later!

Dining Inside The Hotels

You can dine at the LEGOLAND Hotel and Castle Hotel regardless of whether you are staying there or not. If you book a room at the resort, breakfast is included in the rate. If you are visiting, you have to pay to eat there for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Cost for breakfast, if you are not a hotel guest, is about $18 for adults, $13 for kids (as of 2025). For dinner, you can order off a menu or get the buffet, which is about $38 for adults and about $22 for kids 12 and under. Kids under 2 eat free. (Prices as of 2025).

Because the crowds are pretty gnarly for breakfast, I highly recommend you make reservations. Lunch is not that busy at all. On the contrary, dinner is hectic and attracts many diners who were at the park but not staying at the resort. Reservations are highly recommended, and they are super easy to make via OpenTable!

We had a tasty lunch with friendly and quick service at the LEGOLAND Hotel Skyline Cafe. They had nice food options and a full bar for the adults.

Breakfast is probably the most hectic meal at the hotel. It is available from 7-10:30 AM, and the crowds arrive early! If you are staying at the resort, you can enter the LEGOLAND Theme Park ONE hour BEFORE it opens to the public. Understandably, all the hotel guests want to eat breakfast early and rush inside the park before it officially opens. Note that not ALL the parts of the park are open to hotel early birds. Some parts are still closed and roped off.

Between the time the restaurant doors open until about 9 AM, it is PACKED. The closer you get to park opening hours, the less busy the dining areas are.

Whether you are dining in the park or at the hotels, the lines EVERYWHERE were truly insane in the height of Summer! But MUCH more reasonable during the off-season. The prices, however, were high throughout the year, so bring your own snacks! Plus, “healthy” options are few and far between. If you have dietary restrictions, it might limit where you can eat.

Best Times to Catch a Show at LEGOLAND

When we were at LEGOLAND in the heat of the summer, there seemed to be character meet and greet, skits, shows, and musical performances all over the place.

The temperatures reached 90 degrees (probably hotter in the sun). Which made me think about those actors in the costumes, they were true professionals even in the unbearable heat!

When we returned in March, it seemed the shows were either not running or had a minimal schedule.

Note that character meet and greets are not as plentiful as in Disneyland. There are just a few “Lego” characters walking around. There are nightly meet and greets at the Hotels, which are convenient after dinner and before bedtime. Those are typically a bit more laid back and lots of fun!

Think Outside The “Brick”

Legoland has quite a fantastic water park that is open seasonally. Typically, expect it to be available starting in late March through the Summer, but check their calendar to make sure! That area of the park is usually not as busy, but it can be a lot of fun when temperatures are high.

The Water Park can be accessed only with a regular Legoland Theme Park Ticket (or a Resort Hopper Ticket).

The other area of the park is the Sea Life Aquarium. It is a wonderful experience! One of the best aquariums we’ve been to (and we have visited almost every aquarium in California). Simply stunning and low on crowds year-round.

The good news is that you can purchase Sea Life Aquarium tickets with or without Legoland Theme Park tickets, which lowers the cost and can be a great experience, especially for younger kids or kids who enjoy marine life and sea creatures. This was an excellent option for a friend of ours whose child doesn’t like amusement park rides.

The Best Time To Visit Legoland Is…

Whenever you have free time from work and your kid is out of school!!!

Okay, okay, that’s not what you want to hear, but when little ones are of school age and you have to work (or even if you are a stay-at-home parent), you always have to work around the school schedule (unless you homeschool, I suppose).

My son attended private school from pre-k until second grade; his school vacations and random days off didn’t coincide with the public schools or other private schools, which gave us more freedom to avoid traveling during peak vacation times. So if that is the case for your family, perhaps look into Legoland during times when not every school is out for break.

If your family lives outside the US, try to schedule vacations that coincide with your country’s holidays and breaks when US kids are still in school.

Try to plan vacations at the very beginning or at the very end of the break. Each school has its own schedule that might be a week or a couple of days offset from other schools. We did a vacation one year right after my son’s school ended, and it was pleasant. His school ended on a Wednesday, and we left for vacation on Thursday. Talking to some friends, their kids’ schools were still in session at the time, so we had the benefit of smaller crowds.

Another thing that might help plan a less crowded vacation is taking advantage of those lesser-known holidays that not EVERYONE has off. Federal holidays are required in the federal and financial sector, so many private sector workers and not all schools get them off. A couple of holidays that come to mind are Juneteenth, Martin Luther King Jr Day, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

December break can also be offset between different school districts. I know when my son was in private school, they got almost FOUR weeks off from December to January! I also know that some public schools let out a bit early, or if they let out later in December, they are out for a few days in January. So plan around them! YES, the weather will be a little cooler, and yes, the water park might be closed, but I personally enjoy some cooler weather much better than 90+ degree California heat. Even if the crowds are a bit more in late December, at least the weather will be more pleasant.

Also, I don’t know if this is common, but my son’s public school ALWAYS has a teacher enrichment day on Halloween, and sometimes one day before and after Halloween, so they do not have school around then. In my opinion, it’s like that, so the poor teachers and administrators don’t have to deal with crazy Halloween costumes and hyped up on candy kids at school! During Halloween, Legoland hosts its popular and super-fun Brick-or-Treat event, so it’s definitely worth checking out!

All in all, if you can only go during the busiest times, prepare, get the fast pass, take a deep breath, and don’t take things too seriously.

Best and Worst Times to Visit Legoland

Check out the “Is It Packed?” website, which is also a helpful and somewhat amusing resource, to see how the crowds at your favorite destinations, including Legoland, are at a specific time.

Of course, we can’t avoid people or crowds, so go whenever and wherever you (or your child) want!