The LEGOLAND California Resort, which consists of LEGOLAND California Theme Park, SEA LIFE Aquarium, and their Water Park, can be an unforgettable destination for kids of all ages with disabilities. Featuring both gentle and thrilling rides, activities, water play, and brick building in the beautiful town of Carlsbad near San Diego, there is something for everyone at LEGOLAND California!
(Thank you to Undivided's Adriana Roze for all the photos throughout this guide!)
To prepare for your visit and for the most up-to-date information on ride accessibility, wait times, show times, and park hours, download the LEGOLAND California app from Apple or Google Play.
Brick building: LEGOLAND is full of stations to, you guessed it, build LEGO! For many of our brick-obsessed kids, that alone makes it worth the trip. Most of the building stations provided have benches at different heights, making it easy for a variety of ages and wheelchair users to access the fun. Some stations are even built with flowing water features for extra sensory input.
Minifigure trading: If you have a collector in your family, you could spend the entire day on a trading hunt for minifigures. “Trading Posts” are situated in varying shops in the park, and Model Citizens (employees) have minifigures attached to their name tags, ready to trade. Make sure to bring some minifigs from home for maximum trading power. It’s a great social skills challenge to help your child walk up to other people and engage in a trade!
Playgrounds: LEGOLAND is not just about rides. There are many areas where kids can get their proprioceptive input by climbing, spinning, and wandering through cool play structures. Look for these when everyone is feeling dysregulated, and you’ll soon be refreshed.
Stay hydrated: Speaking of refreshment, summers can be very hot. Head to the Pirate’s Cove area for some splash pad play to cool down (and maybe make a stop at the churro cart while you’re at it).
Sensory needs: The park and its environs can be extremely loud. If you have a child who has auditory defensiveness, bring some noise-dampening headphones or ask for some earplugs from First Aid and plan lots of breaks into your day.
SEA LIFE Aquarium: Consider a few hours here for a cool and quiet escape from the park. For the animal experts in your group, this aquarium has a fun and manageable array of delightful sea creatures to observe, and there are even touch pools for tactile input.
LEGOLAND California offers a program called Assisted Access Pass (AAP) to ensure everyone can enjoy the fun regardless of mobility, cognitive, or sensory challenges.
Who's eligible?
Anyone with a mobility or sensory issue that might make standing in line difficult can use an AAP. That includes guests with autism, cognitive or physical disabilities, as well as expectant mothers and seniors.
How to get an AAP
When you first enter the park, the Guest Services office is on your right. Check in with an employee (aka Model Citizen) to discuss your child’s needs, and they will issue you an AAP pamphlet at their discretion, which is your child’s pass for the day. The AAP accommodates six people total, including the individual for whom the pass is requested.
The AAP doesn’t guarantee instant access to the rides, but it helps significantly decrease wait time in lines by providing wait times comparable to the chosen ride’s current standby wait time.
How to use your child's AAP
Pick any ride and enter through the Reserve & Ride entrance or at the ride's exit. A Model Citizen will check your AAP and hand-write a time for your next ride that can be used at any ride.
But wait, there's more! AAP isn't just about rides — you can also use it for shows, attractions, and other areas including the SEA LIFE Aquarium and LEGOLAND California Water Park (additional fees required if you don’t have a Hopper ticket).
In addition to downloading LEGOLAND California’s mobile app and familiarizing yourself with their system, there are a few other things you’ll want to know before you start your trip.
Wheelchairs and Electric Convenience Vehicles (ECV)
Rentals are available at Minifigure Market located inside the gates on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not accepted. Guests may also bring their own wheelchairs and ECVs. Wheelchairs and ECVs cannot be accommodated on rides due to ride manufacturers' safety restrictions.
While employees can assist with access to special ride compartments, they are not permitted to lift guests into or out of a ride vehicle. Park guests must be able to transfer to ride vehicles with assistance from a member of their party. Most attraction loading areas are wheelchair-accessible through the attraction’s exit. See the chart in the Assisted Access Guide for specific instructions for each attraction.
Medical devices
From their Assisted Access Guide: “For each person's safety and the safety of others, guests using devices for medical or other assistance, including oxygen tanks, prostheses, intravenous devices, orthotics, braces, canes and other medical assistance devices that are not permanently attached to the body, must carefully consider all risks before choosing to ride an attraction. Guests, at the discretion of Model Citizens, based on ride manufacturer instructions, may be required to remove a device that may interfere with the effectiveness of the safety device on the rider, could pose an injury to the guest or other guest or pose an additional risk to the guest or other guests. The presence of such devices may prevent the guest from experiencing the attraction. Please see the operator for additional information specific to each rider.”
LEGOLAND California Resort is now officially a Certified Autism Center. As part of this certification, all employees are trained by IBCCES to ensure any visitors with autism or sensory disorders can enjoy the best possible visit. Specially designed onsite offerings include a comprehensive Sensory Guide and low-sensory areas.
LEGOLAND California offers a thorough breakdown of sensory considerations for all of their attractions. You can read their guide by downloading the Sensory Guide PDF. Rides are also labeled externally with sensory scores:
Sensory Room: LEGOLAND California’s new sensory room, located in Fun Town within the DUPLO Family Care Center, is designed to provide a calm and quiet space for guests with additional sensory needs to go at any time during their visit.
Sensory Sensitivity Hour: Every day from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Ferrari Build & Race attraction has dimmer lights and no music to allow for a less noisy environment to build and race LEGO cars.
There are several tranquil spots throughout the park for guests seeking a bit of peace and quiet, perfect for families with children who might need a sensory break. Here are some of our favorite time-tested quiet areas:
Accessible restrooms: Most restrooms throughout LEGOLAND California are equipped with accessible stalls designed to accommodate guests with disabilities.
Companion restrooms: Companion or family restrooms are available in several locations. These restrooms are ideal for guests who may need assistance from a caregiver or family member by offering more room and privacy. A family restroom is located near the main entrance to the left for easy access upon arrival or before leaving the park. It can be accessed from both outside and inside the park gates. Other family restrooms are in these areas of the park:
Changing facilities: For guests who require larger changing tables, such as for older children or adults, these are available at the First Aid stations. First Aid staff can also provide a quiet space for anyone needing a break or more extensive care.
LEGOLAND California provides several accommodations for guests with food allergies to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience:
If you want to bring your own food into the park, this is their policy: “Water, small snacks, and items required for medical, religious, or specific dietary purposes are permitted. Coolers no larger than 12” x 10” are permitted.”
Located at the front of the park, First Aid not only offers medical assistance but also serves as a place for storing medication that needs refrigeration.
LEGOLAND California defines service animals as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Service animals are generally welcome throughout most areas of LEGOLAND California where guests are allowed. This includes the theme park, water park, and hotel areas. Service animals are permitted on select attractions. Please see the chart in their Access Guide for allowed attractions. Service animals cannot be handled or monitored by employees.
Adjacent to LEGOLAND California is the Water Park, which can be accessed for an additional fee through gates in the main park.
Check out LEGOLAND California’s Support Center for more detailed information on their accessibility options.
Let us know if you have any insider tips of your own about LEGOLAND California to share with families!
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