Mr Tin Field is a correct AFOL – that’s Grownup Fan of Lego earlier than you assume I’m being impolite. One among his high causes for having youngsters was so he would legitimately play with LEGO once more. So, it wasn’t too troublesome persuading him we should always hop throughout the border from Oman for a keep on the LEGOLAND Dubai Lodge.
Me? I’m not such an enormous LEGO fan. It by no means grabbed me as a baby. However, with a observe up keep booked on the QE2 lodge nearer to Downtown Dubai, I used to be pleased to go alongside for the trip.
On this assessment of the LEGOLAND Dubai Lodge I’m going to share what the youngsters and AFOL in our household thought, plus the expertise for non-AFOLs like me. As a result of, let’s face it, LEGO followers are going to like staying proper within the brick, I imply thick, of it regardless.
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Our keep at LEGOLAND Dubai Lodge
We booked our LEGOLAND Dubai Keep and Play deal in the course of the Easter college holidays.
Included was our Journey fully-themed room (I’ll go into the room choices in a bit), buffet breakfast every day and entry to one among three Dubai Parks and Resorts parks for every evening of our keep.
We set off from Muscat tremendous early, crossed the border with out a lot faff (we’re Oman residents), skirted across the again of the town getting glimpses of the Burj Khalifa via the haze and arrived at Legoland Dubai in time for a late lunch.
After we lived in Devon in South West England we by no means contemplated staying at LEGOLAND Windsor*, regardless of it being about the identical journey time because it was for us right here within the Center East. We’ve modified!
Arriving at LEGOLAND Dubai made me want we’d made the trouble earlier. Whilst a non-AFOL.
Our women have been beside themselves once they noticed the lodge. We’ve by no means stayed wherever fairly so ‘themed’.
Themed rooms at LEGOLAND Dubai
There are 5 room ideas obtainable: Journey, LEGO Mates, Kingdom, NINJAGO and Pirate. They’re situated on totally different flooring with hallways which might be adorned with the identical theme.
The LEGO Mates and NINJAGO rooms are the most costly.
Normal themed rooms can sleep as much as 5 folks. They’ve a King-sized mattress, bunk mattress and pull out mattress below the bunks.
Inside every theme you’ll be able to improve to a fully-themed room (with extra decorations) or a collection which sleeps as much as eight folks with a King-sized mattress, bunks and couch mattress.
Our Journey fully-themed room
We determined to e-book an Journey fully-themed room because it reminded us of our 10 day tour of Egypt the earlier Easter. The worth distinction between this and a baseline Journey themed room was about £20 per evening.
If the youngsters we excited once we arrived on the lodge, they have been beside themselves as we took a trip on the disco elevate and used our wrist bands to unlock our room.
By the best way, the wrist bands are tremendous helpful. They meant we didn’t want to fret about leaving the room with out the important thing.
LEGO theming
Whilst a non-AFOL, I used to be impressed with our room. It regarded precisely prefer it did within the photos on the LEGOLAND Lodge web site.
The furnishings and fashions have been good and there didn’t seem like a lot put on and tear. The lavatory is the one place there isn’t any LEGO ornament however the whole lot else was brick-tastic from ground to ceiling.
The women made fast work of the in-room treasure hunt, liberating their small LEGO units from the protected and setting about making them whereas we unpacked.
They then discovered the Duplo field.
Household room format
The format of the LEGOLAND lodge rooms is fairly distinctive within the Center East. Most lodges that say their rooms accommodate households don’t supply everlasting beds for the youngsters. Households of 4 or extra should all pile into the King measurement, request or deliver additional beds, or e-book two rooms.
We largely discover ourselves doing the latter as the ladies are nicely into their pre-teen years.
At this lodge there are bunks for the youngsters with an additional roll out mattress beneath to sleep as much as three kids and a King measurement for the adults. These are separated by a brief hall off which yow will discover an open hanging area and the door to the lavatory.
In themed and absolutely themed rooms the lavatory as a walk-in bathe, sink and bathroom. There are baths within the household suites.
Meals on the LEGOLAND Lodge
The buffet breakfast within the lodge’s Bricks Household Restaurant was included in our Keep and Play package deal. The meals on supply was actually good with a spread of cold and warm worldwide dishes and, to the ladies’ delight, doughnuts and frozen yoghurt.
We discovered one of the best time to reach was at 8am. The LEGOLAND park doesn’t open till 10am and Motiongate is even later at 11am, so we have been consuming nicely earlier than the push.
We additionally ate lunch within the Bricks Household Restaurant on two days. That is al a carte and, to be sincere, a bit dear for fairly primary meals. However we’ve discovered that’s the case with most locations within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) international locations.
Children meals value greater than £10 and grownup meals have been between £12 and £20 every.
We made the error of pondering the meals within the lodge could be cheaper than the LEGOLAND theme park however after wanting the costs in each locations we may have saved cash within the park.
One other place to eat within the lodge is the Skyline Lounge. I believed this could be on the roof just like the title suggests, nevertheless it’s truly on the other facet of reception to the principle restaurant. Skyline serves the identical menu because the restaurant.
The distinction is that this appears like a extra grown up area with a bar, excessive tables with bar stools, couch seating and fewer ‘in your face’ LEGO theming. It’s gentle reduction for non-AFOLs. Though I’d have been far more enthusiastic about it if it had been a roof bar.
There’s a cheerful hour (purchase two chosen drinks and get one free) every day from 12pm to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm.
Alternate options to consuming on the lodge
If you wish to discover various and even cheaper locations to eat we suggest taking a brief stroll or taxi trip to Dubai Outlet Village the place yow will discover eating places in addition to discounted designer manufacturers. We received pizza and mushy drinks at Papa Murphy’s for about £30 for the 4 of us.
Riverland can also be simply exterior the lodge grounds. This huge leisure area with buildings impressed by Fifties North America and seventeenth Century France has eating places, bars and small points of interest lining a artifical river.
I say small, however yow will discover the world’s largest camel sculpture and the world’s largest outside inflatable assault course right here.
It’s all very Dubai!
We went to Riverland for dinner one night and, whereas the costs have been additionally very Dubai, the meals was good. We ate at The Keg which is modelled on a conventional Irish pub with wooden panelling and a tiled bar.
There have been a lot of different choices, however this one pulled us in as a result of we’re lacking Sundays down the pub within the UK.
The theme parks
We had three parks included in our three evening Keep and Play deal: LEGOLAND Dubai, the LEGOLAND Water Park and Motiongate.
Once I was wanting Dubai Parks and Resorts on Google Maps I hadn’t realised fairly how shut the LEGOLAND Lodge was to all of those.
I used to be nonetheless none-the-wiser once we arrived as we didn’t see a lot driving in the direction of the lodge and our room was going through the elaborately adorned frontage. So it was a little bit of a shock once we walked out the again entrance, handed the pool and there they have been.
It takes lower than two minutes to depart the lodge grounds and stroll to the doorway of each LEGOLAND Dubai and the water park.
Motiongate is a bit additional away however nonetheless solely a ten minute stroll.
LEGOLAND Dubai
We determined to begin our theme park tour with LEGOLAND figuring out that our women have been on the high finish of its audience. Our technique was to work as much as the joys rides at Motiongate the next day.
We’d not been to a LEGOLAND park earlier than so can’t examine them, however for those who’re an everyday who hasn’t been to Dubai but, it has 40 rides in comparison with LEGOLAND Windsor’s 55. Apparently the location can also be a lot smaller, which is definitely a bonus in Dubai as you wish to minimise the quantity of strolling you do within the warmth.
It was the primary time we’d been to a theme park the place we knew the youngsters would be capable of go on all of the rides. In truth some have been a bit too tame for them. This mixed with the non-existent queues meant we solely spent three hours wandering via the park’s six zones.
Our favorite rides have been The Dragon, Submarine Journey, Rescue Academy and the Misplaced Kingdom Journey. These have been a bit extra thrilling for older youngsters.
We additionally hung out wanting on the large fashions in MINILAND and making race vehicles within the Construct & Check expertise.
If we had youthful youngsters I’m positive we’d have spent extra time within the numerous indoor and outside play areas, and on among the decrease key rides.
Nevertheless, solely spending half the day right here meant we had loads of time to go to LEGOLAND Water Park within the afternoon.
Tip: purchase a few the memento drinks bottles on the park entrance. These can be utilized for bottomless refills round LEGOLAND Dubai and the Water Park on the day you buy them.
They value 79 AED (about £17.25) every or 69 AED (about £15.05) if you purchase two or extra. We shared two between us and received greater than our cash’s price of juices and mushy drinks. You want the liquids within the warmth!
LEGOLAND Water Park Dubai
We had a fantastic afternoon right here, spending two and a half hours using flumes, tubes and rafts.
There’s additionally a wave pool, a lazy river full with bricks and the good Joker Soaker water playground. In addition to 20 water points of interest there’s a lot of solar loungers out and in of the shade.
For me, as a non-AFOL this was much more enjoyable than the theme park.
Motiongate
The following day we moved onto the biggest Hollywood themed park within the Center East with rides and points of interest primarily based on motion pictures by the DreamWorks Animation, Columbia Photos and Lionsgate studios.
We’s seen among the rollercoasters from the Legoland Water Park the day earlier than, which gave us a heads up about how totally different they’d be.
Total, we had a fantastic day at Motiongate. It was well-worth saving a complete day for it. There have been a great deal of the large thrill rides that we craved after LEGOLAND and the movie set staging was good.
There have been additionally just a few queues regardless of it being a weekend within the Easter holidays.
In addition to the rollercoasters and movement simulators for older youngsters and adults there have been loads of enjoyable issues to do for youthful kids.
The Smurfs Village has a decrease key rollercoaster, play zones and exhibits and there are mild points of interest with characters little ones will recognise within the Dreamworks Animation Zone.
A few of our favorite rides have been within the Lionsgate and Columbia Photos areas. We haven’t launched the youngsters to movies just like the Starvation Video games or Zombieland but however that didn’t cease them having fun with these excessive adrenaline rides.
We spent seven hours doing 17,000 steps across the Motiongate and got here again to the Legoland lodge exhausted.
How do these Dubai theme parks examine to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi?
We visited Yas Island final 12 months so have been evaluating it with Dubai as we went. Had been LEGOLAND Dubai, the water park and Motiongate pretty much as good as Warner Bros Studios, Yas Water Park and Ferrari World on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi?
No.
The Dubai Parks are a bit older so – usually for this area – they don’t have the largest, quickest or most excessive tech rides.
At Motiongate just a few of the rides and cafes have been shut and I seen some transferring components within the tour-type rides have been damaged.
An enormous bonus was that foods and drinks was less expensive in Dubai than within the Yas parks.
We’d positively think about going to Motiongate once more if we have been again in Dubai, whereas we’d not hassle with LEGOLAND. However loads of that’s to do with the age of our youngsters.
Actions on the lodge
Our early breakfast routine meant we, I imply the youngsters and AFOL, received to play with LEGO within the lodge foyer. When you’ve stayed at a LEGOLAND Lodge elsewhere you’ll be acquainted with the LEGO pit within the foyer space the place you’ll be able to go freestyle together with your creations.
We additionally spent loads of time right here on the finish of our days. I’m undecided who loved that the majority.
On the Dubai lodge there’s additionally a big citadel play body within the foyer and rooms the place you’ll be able to e-book a inventive workshop for you and your little ones.
The vigorous leisure crew have been additionally on the go within the afternoon and evenings, taking part in video games with anybody who nonetheless had vitality after a full on day on the parks. They noticed us within the Skyline Bar one night and roped within the women for a sport of charades whereas Mr Tin Field and I loved a beer.
All this offers the lodge extra of a resort really feel, so even for those who aren’t going to the parks you recognize the youngsters will likely be entertained.
The pool at LEGOLAND Dubai Lodge
The pool is small and shallow with a roped off toddler space and enormous LEGO bricks you’ll be able to play with within the water. There’s additionally a splash park with water jets.
There are just a few cabanas and a restricted variety of solar loungers which you’ll seize on a first-come-first-served foundation. There’s additionally a small bar promoting drinks and snacks.
When you come to this lodge to chill out by the pool I feel you’d be disenchanted. It was busy and discovering someplace to take a seat was troublesome. However with the LEGOLAND Water Park only a brief stroll away they don’t really want to promote this space.
Tip: if you’re in your technique to the water park the lodge pool is the place you choose up your towels. In any other case you’ll must lease one on the water park.
How lengthy do it is advisable to keep at LEGOLAND Dubai Lodge?
We initially booked 4 nights pondering that we would wish a full day at every of the theme parks and the LEGOLAND Waterpark.
Nevertheless, after chatting with associates who had already been, they persuaded us that we may do the LEGOLAND theme park and waterpark in sooner or later.
And our expertise was this was simply doable.
There have been only a few queues for any of the points of interest regardless that it was Europe’s Easter college holidays. Nevertheless, the truth that Eid was additionally arising meant that loads of locals have been travelling. So I don’t know if Dubai Parks and Resorts are all the time as quiet as they have been for us.
Anyway, we have been very glad we modified our reserving to 3 nights. It could have been troublesome to entertain our 11 and eight-year-olds in LEGOLAND for longer than three hours, so a visit to the water park within the afternoon made for a enjoyable day.
We would have liked the second full day for Motiongate, which had much more for our women to do.
You probably have youthful kids then you definately may wish to take issues at a slower tempo. Three nights could be supreme for doing two of the Dubai Parks and Resorts theme parks, however for 3 parks you may wish to add an evening.
The place is LEGOLAND Lodge in Dubai?
LEGOLAND Dubai Parks and Resorts is a forty five minute drive alongside the coast south west from Dubai Worldwide Airport, so you’re fairly a distance from Dubai’s principal points of interest just like the Burj Khalifa.
If you wish to see this and Downtown Dubai we’d suggest relocating. We did precisely this and stayed on the QE2 Lodge for the second half of our Dubai metropolis break.
Summing up our LEGOLAND Dubai Lodge assessment
For non-AFOLs, overlook about all of the LEGO stuff, it is a good household lodge. The rooms are genuinely designed for households and provides area for each adults and youngsters to chill out after busy days.
The leisure crew have been actually enthusiastic and we actually rated the breakfast buffet. The al a carte costs have been a bit a lot, however as I discussed earlier you could have different choices shut by.
By way of the situation, the lodge is the proper place to remain for the theme parks – you can not get any nearer which takes all of the faff out of the start of the day and getting again to the lodge if you’re all working out of steam.
The mixed lodge and theme park offers are good worth for those who intend to do a couple of park. And with entry to Motiongate included within the offers you don’t should overload on LEGO the entire time.
For LEGO followers, the theming is actually spectacular and makes this an additional particular place to vacation.
So, you don’t should be a LEGO fanatic to remain on the LEGOLAND Dubai Lodge. However for those who do have a fan in your loved ones you’ll make their 12 months by reserving.
Disclosure: this submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks marked with *. When you click on on one among these and make a purchase order I’ll earn some fee. This doesn’t have an effect on the worth you pay.
