Insiders Look at LEGO NINJAGO World at LEGOLAND California

It's coming! Are your Spinjitsu moves ready? 

On May 5, 2016 LEGOLAND California will officially open LEGO NINJAGO World!

Last week the kids and I headed down to Carlsbad to for the media preview

and to put our Spinjitsu training to good use against the Great Devourer and his

minions on the all new LEGO NINJAGO The Ride.

As you enter LEGO NINJAGO World through the amazing paifang (arch)

 you'll be greeted by LEGO Master Wu -who is anxious to help you to begin your training 

and help the other LEGO ninjas in their battle against The Great Devourer.

P.S. If you don't know who the Great Devourer is, he's a giant snake that

is responsible for Lord Garmadon turning evil and is even worshipped by

the Serpentine people (another antagonist of the ninjas).

Then, it's time to ride LEGO NINJAGO The Ride!

You'll enter into the ninja temple and will be greated by Master Wu,

Kai, Jay, Cole and Zane. You'll have the chance to demonstrate your ninja skills

by using your hand gestures (no hand held device needed!) to battle all the

LEGO NINJAGO villains - including the dreaded Great Devourer!

The Maestro technology which the ride uses, takes your hand gestures and

creates an amazing intuitive experience by just reading the movements of your hands.
(Follow this link to my YouTube channel to see the ride in action!)

You collect points for your battle efforts throughout the ride and your

scores are displayed on your carriage in front of you, as well as on the board

as you exit the ride. You'll be able to see how you place within the riders of

your vehicle, as well as how your carriage placed between the others that are

experiencing the ride at the same time you are. Our car placed 1st every time!

Heat, smoke and wind are incorporated throughout the adventure, giving you

the ultimate 4D experience.

 

Although NINJAGO The Ride is the main feature of the new NINJAGO WORLD,

there are four other interactive attractions that are designed to test your creativity,

agility, balance, and speed to help you train to become a ninja.

My kids love Kai's Spinners where they could spin and twirl while testing their balance.

You can watch JT trying Kai's Spinners on my YouTube channel! 

The other attractions include Cole's Rock Climb, Jay's Lightning Drill

and Zane's Temple Build.

While your at NINAGO World, don't forget to eat at the Ninja Kitchen.

The LEGOLAND chefs have put a fun ninja twist on Asian street food and

created Banh Mi Vietnamese sandwiches on fresh baked baguettes.

You have your choice of crispy pork belly, lemongrass chicken, or baked sweet

chili tofu. I had the pork belly and it was delicious! If sandwiches aren't your thing,

or even if they are, then I suggest you try the steamed Bao Buns, also with the

same choice of meats. JT and Grace loved the pork belly on the Bao Buns.

There are 22 new LEGO models within NINJAGO World and they are amazing!

My kids wanted to get their pictures with all the ninjas and I even tried to share

my food with Cole, but he must have been full, because all he gave me was some

nasty side eye. There are guardian dragons, swords of the four elements, and a 500 pound

model of Nya and Zane that is created out of 73,600 pieces and took four model builders

550 hours to build!

There is also the NINJAGO Monastery that stands more than 9 feet tall

and is made of more the 850,000 LEGO bricks. The monastery sits in the center

of NINJAGO World for everyone to enjoy. We used it as the backdrop for our

picture with Master Wu.

My favorite was the NINJAGO dragon! He has a wing span of more than

7 feet and is made of more than 48,000 LEGO bricks! It took Master Builders

more than 200 hours to construct! I love the bright colors and the impressive

wing span as he perches upon the giant rock.

You'll also want to catch some pictures with the NINJAGO characters

in front of the LEGO shields representing each element. We grabbed ours with

Kai and he thought JT's NINJAGO shirt was really cool. I had to agree! 

We had a blast at LEGO NINJAGO World and can't wait to get back

to LEGOLAND California and ride NINJAGO The Ride again! We each

came in first place, so we have to get back there and settle who the best ninja

in the family is. NINJAGO World is located to the right, as you enter the

 LEGOLAND gates and is directly behind Imagination Zone.

LEGO NINJAGO World opens on Thursday, May 5th so head to

LEGOLAND California ASAP and test your prowess at a ninja and

let me know which you like better - the Banh Mi sandwich or the Bao Buns!