It was a major press launch with a difference – a space-themed experience that will be the biggest thing in the history of the big LEGOLAND resorts here in Florida and in California. “Get ready for lift off!” they insisted, and we were, indeed, blasted into orbit by what they are building.
We had known, of course, that a dramatic new development was on the cards for both parks next year after the March announcement of a “first-of-its-kind” indoor coaster for the space formerly occupied by the Flight School coaster in the Florida park and a new area in California’s.
But that was all they would tell us at that stage, with CEO of British parent company Merlin Entertainments, Fiona Westwood, admitting: “As we prepare to unveil this exciting new attraction designed, co-created and imagined by the amazing creative team at the LEGO Group and the unmatched talent of our Merlin Magic Makers, we hope the mystery and anticipation adds to awesome thrills to come.”
Well, the “mystery and imagination” certainly conjured up some creative thoughts on what we might see, from under sea adventures to epic moon journeys. But the mystery has now been revealed, and we can confirm that we WILL be heading into space for a thrilling 2026 voyage of discovery. Or, as the Florida park announced in their big reveal, “Get ready for lift off! LEGOLAND Florida Resort – operated by Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in branded entertainment destinations – is charting a course for an out-of-this-world adventure with a brand-new, space-themed experience.”
If that was the broad announcement, the details were even more intriguing. This groundbreaking indoor coaster, which “blasts off into an imaginative LEGO galaxy,” promises to be the most technologically advanced attraction the two resorts have ever created, brought to life by Merlin’s global team of designers and engineers in collaboration with the LEGO Group.
Blake Boyter, the Senior Project Manager of Merlin Magic Making, insisted: “This is more than just a ride, it’s a fully immersive mission that starts the minute guests enter the building. From lift off to landing, the result is LEGOLAND Florida’s most ambitious attraction to date – built for explorers big and small.”
The ride will also be a four-part adventure and, more importantly, a land in its own right, including a special area for those not tall enough to ride the coaster itself. Guests can prepare for a journey into a classic brick-built galaxy, where passengers from past, present and future worlds will travel together into an all-new LEGO space.
Here’s how the new area will be presented in what they are calling Space Port 885:
It will all start with the Queue Experience. The journey begins before take-off with a covered, story-driven queue area inside the Space Port, inviting families to engage, imagine and prepare for launch whatever the weather (which is always a bonus in humid Florida).
Next up is the “Ultimate Indoor Coaster Experience,” with guests invited to buckle up for an indoor coaster that propels riders into an interactive LEGO space adventure from launch pad 855 (named in homage to one of the original 1979 LEGO Space Scooter sets, which was number 885 – 886 in California). It marks the first new coaster to open inside LEGOLAND Florida since the resort’s debut in 2011, and the first in California since Coastersaurus in 2004.
Of course, by Florida theme park rules, every ride has to end up in the gift shop, and here it will be the Orbital Outpost, a themed retail shop packed with stellar souvenirs, space gear and LEGO sets to commemorate your mission. California’s version will also feature “galactic grub and gear,” where there will be food and drinks in addition to their themed retail shop.
Finally, in both there will also be the DUPLO TOT Spot, a “junior astronaut training zone,” where little explorers ages one to four can jump, crawl and play in a shaded, soft-surfaced area featuring DUPLO bricks, vehicles, characters and a photo op, with nearby seating for grown-ups.
Construction began two years ago and Florida’s version is located in the northernmost corner of LEGO City. More details will be revealed as the 2026 launch approaches at both resorts, marking the biggest ever single in-park investment in each resort’s history, with more than $90million being spent across both locations to bring these thrilling coasters to life. The experience will blend the creativity of LEGO building with an exhilarating storyline and new ride technology that aims to deliver a unique experience for families with children ages two to 12.
Entry to the new space-themed section will be included with general park admission, which also now includes the super-cute SEA LIFE Florida aquarium we reported on last month. For more information about LEGOLAND Florida, see the AttractionTickets.com ticket section on this link and for California, see this link.
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