Legoland Malaysia Resort
Legoland Malaysia Resort is Malaysia's first international theme park, which opened in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia on 15 September 2012 with over 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions. It is the first Legoland theme park in Asia and sixth in the world upon its establishment.[2] The official opening of Legoland Malaysia was made by Sultan Ibrahim Ismail, Sultan of Johor on 22nd of that month.[3]
Location | Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia |
---|---|
Coordinates | 1°25′30″N 103°37′38″E |
Theme | LEGO |
Operated by | Merlin Entertainments |
Opened | 15 September 2012[1] |
Operating season | Year-round |
Area | 76 acres (310,000 m2)[1][2] |
Attractions | |
Total | 20 |
Roller coasters | 3 |
Water rides | 2 |
Website | www.legoland.com.my |
Status | Operating |
History
Groundbreaking for the theme park was held on 2 December 2009, hosted by site developer Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB).[4] Site operator Merlin Entertainments had signed an agreement with IIB to build Legoland Malaysia in December 2008.[5] Merlin signed another agreement with LL Themed Hotel SdnBhd to develop and build the Legoland Hotel in April 2012.[6]
Besides the Legoland Malaysia theme park, other resort attractions include Legoland Water Park (opened in 2013), which is a Lego-themed water theme park, and The Legoland Hotel (first half of 2014), a Lego-themed hotel, which is also the first to open in Southeast Asia. The hotel was built under a management agreement between the Company and LL Themed Hotel SdnBhd, a joint-venture company owned by Destination Resorts and Hotels Sdn Bhd and Iskandar Harta Holdings Sdn Bhd.[7]
The cost of Legoland Malaysia and the water theme park was RM720 million, while The Legoland Hotel cost RM190 million.[8]
When Legoland Malaysia opened in 2012, it targeted 1.5 million visitors[9] and expected to generate more than RM100 million in the first year of its operation.[8] In September 2017, Legoland Malaysia Resort appointed global digital marketing agency VML to handle all aspects of digital marketing.[10]
According to reports, In November 2017, Legoland Malaysia Resort launched the world's first Lego virtual reality roller coaster.[11]
Layout
Themed areas and key locations within Legoland Malaysia Resort |
Legoland Malaysia is divided into several major areas, each featuring attractions sharing a common theme. Starting from the entrance (themed The Beginning) on the park's eastern edge and proceeding clockwise, they are Technic, Kingdoms, Imagination, Land of Adventure, and City; in the centre of the park is MINILAND.[12][13] NINJAGO World was added to Land of Adventure in 2016. The Water Park was opened on 21 October 2013, on the park's southeastern edge, as the largest LEGOLAND water park in the world and requires a separate admission fee;[14] the SEA LIFE Malaysia aquarium was officially opened on 28 June 2019 near The Beginning and also requires a separate admission fee.[15]
The Beginning
The Beginning includes the park's welcome sign, admission ticket sales and entrance gates, and several shops specializing in LEGO bricks and sets, LEGO-themed merchandise, and visitor supplies. There are also several restaurants and snack stands in this area.
Technic
The Technic-themed area includes some of the fastest rides in the park.[16]
Attraction | Added | Mfr. | Image | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aquazone Wave Racers | 2012 | Includes 4 water cannons arrayed around the twin circle tracks for spectators to splash water on the 12 riders.[13] | ||
The Great LEGO Race | 2017 | Mack Rides, Samsung (headsets) | World premiere of the first LEGO-themed virtual reality roller coaster; guests wear VR headsets. Later installed in 2018 at Legoland Deutschland and Legoland Florida.[17] | |
LEGO Academy | 2012 | |||
LEGO Mindstorms | 2012 | Robot design workshop.[13] | ||
Technic Twister | 2012 | Teacup-style ride. Capacity is 60 riders at a time in 12 teacups.[13] |
Kingdom
The medieval-themed LEGO Kingdom is at the park's southwestern end.[18]
Attraction | Added | Mfr. | Image | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Castle Stage | 2012 | Capacity is 500 visitors per show.[13] | ||
The Dragon | 2012 | Capacity is 600 riders per hour on two separate dragon-themed trains. Maximum speed 60 km/h (37 mph)[13] | ||
The Dragon's Apprentice | 2012 | |||
The Forestman's Hideout | 2012 | Playground with a treehouse theme.[13] | ||
Merlin's Challenge | 2012 | High-speed carousel, 48 visitors at a time.[13] | ||
The Royal Joust | 2012 | 20 horses, single riders.[13] |
Imagination
The Imagination area includes the Build and Test Centre, where visitors participate in an interactive attraction to build houses, cars, skyscrapers, etc. After building then you can test them out on the earthquake table. The area also includes the Kid Power Towers attraction, a Zierrer junior drop tower ride where visitors pull a rope to propel their vehicle seat upward to the top of tower; once they let go of the rope, they drop down the tower.[13] This area also includes DUPLO-themed attractions for younger visitors.[19]
Attraction | Added | Mfr. | Image | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Build & Test Centre | 2012 | |||
DUPLO Express | 2012 | 5-carriage miniature train, 10 riders at a time.[13] | ||
DUPLO Playtown | 2012 | Child-size city playground.[13] | ||
Kid's Power Tower | 2012 | 200 visitors per hour; 9 metres (30 ft) ascent.[13] | ||
LEGO Studios | 2012 | "4D" movie adventure, accommodates 500 visitors per showing.[13] | ||
Observation Tower | 2012 | Capacity is 1,000 visitors per hour; observation platform is 41 metres (135 ft) above ground level.[13] |
Land of Adventure
Land of Adventure is designed to evoke the late 1800s and early 1900s, emphasizing the exploration of ancient civilizations by colonial powers.[20]
Attraction | Added | Mfr. | Image | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Beetle Bounce | 2012 | 4.6 metres (15 ft) tall drop ride.[13] | ||
Dino Island | 2012 | Log flume "canoe" voyage featuring a 12-metre (39 ft) waterfall drop. 3,000,000 litres (660,000 imp gal; 790,000 US gal) of water in total.[13] | ||
LEGO NINJAGO The Ride | 2016 | Triotech | Interactive dark ride, using motion-sensing technology.[21] | |
Lost Kingdom Adventure | 2012 | Sally Corporation | Interactive (shooting) dark ride; capacity is 1,000 visitors per hour.[13] | |
Pharaoh's Revenge | 2012 | Play area.[13] |
City
The City area is designed as a miniature town with attractions and rides controlled by children.[22]
Attraction | Added | Mfr. | Image | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Boating School | 2012 | Accommodates up to three riders per boat.[13] | ||
Driving School | 2012 | Maximum speed of cars is 6 km/h (3.7 mph); guests have full control.[13] | ||
Junior Driving School | 2012 | Reduced speed, single-pedal control for younger drivers.[13] | ||
LEGO City Airport | 2012 | |||
LEGOLAND Express | 2012 | Capacity is 60 visitors at a time.[13] | ||
Rescue Academy | 2012 | Includes police and firefighter-themed vehicles.[13] | ||
The Shipyard | 2012 | Playground. |
Miniland
Each LEGOLAND park contains a Miniland; the one at Malaysia reproduces iconic buildings and areas from Asia on a 1:20 scale. The reproduction of the Petronas Towers at Miniland Malaysia stand nearly 10 metres (33 ft) high and contain more than 500,000 LEGO bricks.[13] In total, almost 30 million bricks were used over three years for the initial construction of Miniland.[23] Miniland also includes two fictional areas: one themed for pirates, and another themed for Star Wars; the Star Wars exhibit was removed in 2019.[24]
Country | Added | Closed | Image | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | – | Featuring model of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque. | ||
2012 | – | Featuring model of Angkor Wat. | ||
2012 | – | Featuring models of The Forbidden City and Great Wall of China. | ||
2012 | – | Featuring model of Taj Mahal. | ||
2012 | – | Featuring model of Pura Tanah Lot. | ||
2012 | – | Featuring model of Patuxai. | ||
2012 | – | Separate areas for Kuala Lumpur (featured models include Jamek Mosque, KLIA, Maybank Tower, Petronas Towers, Sultan Abdul Samad Building), Putrajaya (Perdana Putra, Putra Bridge, Putra Mosque), and Johor Bahru (Dataran Bandaraya Johor Bahru, Istana Bukit Serene, Larkin Stadium, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, Sultan Ibrahim Building). | ||
2012 | – | Featuring model of Karaweik. | ||
2012 | – | Featuring model of Bolinao, Pangasinan. | ||
Pirates | 2012 | – | Fictional scenes based on the Strait of Malacca. | |
2012 | – | Featuring models of The Fullerton Hotel, Merlion Park, Riverside Point, and Singapore Flyer. | ||
Star Wars | 2014 | 2019 | Fictional scenes from the films; removed after Disney acquired intellectual property licence. | |
2012 | – | Featuring model of Wat Arun. | ||
2012 | – | Featuring model of Hội An. |
Water Park
The water park area includes more than 20 water slides and 70 LEGO models; it incorporates attractions from other Legoland water parks, including Build-A-Raft (a lazy river with platforms to attach soft LEGO-like bricks) and Joker Soaker (a wading pool with a bucket that periodically showers guests with 350 US gallons (1,300 l; 290 imp gal) of water).[14]
Sea Life Aquarium
The first admissions to Sea Life were part of a preview weekend held 7–8 May 2019 for season pass holders.[25]
Retired attractions
Attraction | Years | Mfr. | Image | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Project X | 2012–17 | Wild Mouse roller coaster, 15 turns.[13] Each car holds four riders; maximum elevation is 18 metres (59 ft).[16] Replaced in 2017 by The Great LEGO Race. |
Roller coasters
Name | Manufacturer | Model | Opened | Status | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dragon | Zierer | Family | 2012 | Operating | [26] |
Dragon's Apprentice | Zierer | 190 | 2012 | Operating | [27] |
Great Lego Race | Mack Rides | Wilde Maus | 2012 | Operating | [28] |
Public transportation
Legoland Malaysia Resort is easily accessible by bus and taxi.
Bus No. | Destinations |
---|---|
CW7L | Hotel Ramada Medini ↔ Tuas Link MRT station (Singapore) via Legoland Malaysia Resort |
LM01 | JB Sentral ↔ Terminal Gelang Patah via Legoland Malaysia Resort/Mall of Medini |
IP01 | Larkin Sentral (Medan Selera Johor) ↔ Puteri Harbour via Legoland Malaysia Resort/Mall of Medini |
IP02 | Puteri Harbour ↔ AEON Bukit Indah Shopping Centre via Legoland Malaysia Resort/Mall of Medini |
IP03 | Puteri Harbour ↔ Rumah Iskandar Malaysia via Legoland Malaysia Resort/Mall of Medini |
FC2 | Forest City (Johor) ↔ AEON Bukit Indah Shopping Centre via Legoland Malaysia Resort/Mall of Medini |
References
- "Asia's first Legoland to open on Sept 15". New Straits Times. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
- "Legoland, Johor". Tourism Malaysia. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- "PM: Legoland Malaysia to be catalyst for development". The Star. Malaysia. 22 September 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- "LEGOLAND Malaysia Groundbreaking Ceremony Ensures the Continued Development of Iskandar Malaysia" (Press release). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 2 December 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012.
- "The LEGOLAND Malaysia Journey thus far..." (PDF) (Press release). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2012.
- "Joint venture signed to build Asia's first LEGOLAND® Hotel" (PDF) (Press release). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 24 April 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2012.
- "First SEA Legoland Hotel for Nusajaya". The Sun Daily. 25 April 2012. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- "Legoland Malaysia dishes out variety of Halal foods". New Straits Times. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- Legoland Malaysia targets 1.5 million visitors "Legoland Malaysia targets 1.5 million visitors" Check
|url=
value (help). Channel NewsAsia. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2012. - Tan, Janice. "LEGOLAND Malaysia picks VML for digital marketing duties". Marketing Interactive. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- "Legoland Malaysia Resort to launch the world's first Lego Virtual Reality roller coaster in Nov". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- "Awesome Awaits: About Legoland Malaysia Resort". Legoland Malaysia Resort. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- "LEGOLAND® Malaysia Attractions" (PDF). Legoland Malaysia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2014.
- "Media Backgrounder" (PDF). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2015.
- "SEA LIFE Malaysia is now officially open at LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort" (Press release). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- "LEGO® Technic: High speed rides and high tech LEGO®" (PDF). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2014.
- "LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort's virtual reality roller coaster "The Great LEGO® Race" officially launches" (Press release). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- "LEGO® Kingdom: Where legends come to life in LEGO®" (PDF). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2014.
- "Imagination: Where LEGO® knows no limits" (PDF). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2013.
- "Land of Adventure: A daring journey into ancient LEGO® worlds" (PDF). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2014.
- "The First LEGO® NINJAGO™ The Ride in Asia comes to Malaysian Shores" (Press release). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- "LEGO® City: A LEGO® world where children really take control" (PDF). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2014.
- "Miniland: Asia in LEGO® Bricks" (PDF). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2014.
- "Visit the LEGO Star Wars Miniland Model Display at LEGOLAND as We Bid it Farewell!" (Press release). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- "SEA LIFE Malaysia is Set to Open on 9th May 2019" (Press release). Legoland Malaysia Resort. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- Marden, Duane. "Dragon (Legoland Malaysia Resort)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- Marden, Duane. "Dragon's Apprentice (Legoland Malaysia Resort)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- Marden, Duane. "Great Lego Race (Legoland Malaysia Resort)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 28 January 2019.