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LEGOLAND Construction Right on Track
By GARY WHITE
THE LEDGER
Officials say the Winter Haven attraction is set to open in 99 days
WINTER HAVEN - The countdown toward the opening of LEGOLNAD® Florida has passed
the 100-day mark.
As of today, just 99 days remain until the attraction’s scheduled first day,
Oct. 15, at the former Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven.
Construction is on track, and hiring is in high gear, LEGOLAND Florida
spokeswoman Jackie Wallace said Thursday.
“We have construction workers hard at work six days a week,” she said. “Every
single day the park looks completely different. Sidewalks are being poured;
pavers are being put down. It’s an incredible process.”
Wallace said construction is proceeding in all 10 zones of the park. She said
several rides have been fully installed and are now being tested.
Among the rides now in place at the 150-acre property are The Royal Joust, the
LEGO Technic Test Track Coaster and the Aquazone Wave Racer. Wallace said tracks
are in place for several roller coasters, though the cars have not yet been
installed.
About 500 construction contractors work at the LEGOLAND site on a typical day,
Wallace said.
In addition, new elements of the park’s showcase, Miniland USA, are arriving
each week, Wallace said. Miniland USA will feature miniature replicas of famous
buildings and monuments made from millions of Lego bricks. Wallace said much of
the New York City section is now in place.
The park has been overwhelmed with applicants for its front-line jobs, Wallace
said. LEGOLAND Florida began posting openings for “Model Citizens” on June 1,
and Wallace said more than 6,000 people have applied since then.
She said LEGOLAND has so far hired 245 of the approximately 800 front-line
workers it plans to add before the opening date. Wallace said new hires will
begin training and orientation in mid-August.
LEGOLAND Florida announced Wednesday on its Facebook page that it will offer
preview dates for annual pass holders before the grand opening. Wallace said
details will come later.
The Facebook announcement also said a free child ticket will be offered for the
opening weekend with the purchase of an adult single-day ticket. Quantities of
those tickets are limited.
LEGOLAND Florida has generated excitement, but so far that hasn’t yet translated
into many reservations, according to one local hotel manager.
Bob Rogers, manager of the Winter Haven Days Inn, said his staff is fielding
many inquiries about LEGOLAND. He said guests have plucked up more than 200
LEGOLAND brochures from the hotel’s lobby, yet so far few people have made
reservations for the period around Oct. 15.
Days Inn, a partner in LEGOLAND Bed & Brick Preferred Hotel campaign, has a link
on the park’s website. Rogers said the link has produced about 50 hits.
“We at the hotel are expecting in August we’re going to see reservations start
coming in,” Rogers said.
Mark Jackson, director of Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing, said the
agency is gearing up for increased marketing of LEGOLAND. One example, he said,
is the agency will soon promote LEGOLAND on billboards along interstates in
Florida.
Jackson said his agency is also coordinating with LEGOLAND to bring
international travel writers in to tour the park. He said his organization, in
conjunction with the University of South Florida Polytechnic, has lined up a
First LEGO League robotics competition to be held next May at LEGOLAND.
TheLedger.com
-end of report-
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