01-21-2010, 07:02 PM
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 | Ultimate Member | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: 26 Miles From WDW!
Posts: 3,283
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| Legoland Comes To Florida!
This park will only be about 12 miles from my house!  Quote:
Winter Haven, Florida -"It was love at first sight," says Nick Varney, CEO of Merlin Entertainments about Cypress Gardens when he visited the park in November 2008.
More than a year, later the second largest attraction company in the world is the new owner of the 73-year-old theme park. Cypress Gardens will become Legoland Florida.
"At the heart of Legoland is playful learning, hands-on learning, minds-on engagement," explains Varney.
During an unveiling of the new park, Florida Governor Charlie Crist spoke of the benefits for the area, "The difference is jobs, jobs, jobs. One thousand new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars invested in Central Florida."
See Also: Will Legoland Florida have roller coasters made of Legos?
Merlin Entertainment officials say they picked this area for several reasons: Florida is the number one family destination, its beautiful weather, and market tests show Legoland will do well here.
Varney say Cypress Gardens offers many resources already in place. Theme park officials plan to keep the water park and the 32-acre botanical gardens, making it a unique feature to Legoland Florida.
"I can assure you anyone concerned about Cypress Gardens' gardens, they are very safe in our hands," says Varney.
Bob Gernert, executive director of Winter Haven's Chamber of Commerce, says the sale of Cypress Gardens is just what the community needs. "I think it restores a bit of confidence in the future," says Gernert. He adds, "We believe they are tuned into the new generation and know how to melt with the needs of the old generation and we can be proud of it."
Merlin has four other Legoland theme parks in the world, including one in southern California. Varney says Legoland California has been picked the best them park for children in North America for six straight years.
Legoland theme parks are usually about 100 acres big. When completed, Legoland Florida will be the largest at 3,000 acres. The park is expected to open by the end of 2011.
Ticket prices have not been set, but theme park officials say in California, the price is set at about the same as the Sea World in the area.
| Legoland Florida will be largest in the world | Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota | WTSP.com 10 Connects
I'm thrilled that they are keeping the gardens. They really are beautiful.
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