Legoland Windsor Visit – Day Out With A Toddler (with Covid 19 Update)

Covid-19 Update

We have just recently visited Legoland again, in July 2020 and I thought I pop a quick update here about the Covid-19 safety measures.

Parking and arriving

So first of all, it was a very hot day on our Legoland Windsor Visit. But arriving, parking the car and getting inside Legoland was no problem whatsoever (as opposed to our pre-Covid experience). They didn’t even scan the tickets and parking lot bookings.

When inside the park, we noticed that it wasn’t busy at all, there were about 1/4 of the normal crowd of a weekday in July. However, the queues seems just as long before Covid-19 because they can only let fewer people on the rides and because of social distancing. So for example for the little train we have waited for over an hour and the Duplo Dinosaur ride we have waited 30 minutes (and it’s a 5 minute ride. Maybe less.)

Attractions and queueing

Some attractions are closed like the Haunted Castle and the Drench Towers/Splash Safari were closed too (it has now reopened since the beginning of August and you. will need to book in advance!)

Priority Ride Passes received on a previous visit will not be able to be used and will not be being issued when we have reopened. (Children with disabilities still get priority access luckily.)

Safety and food

Some of the food stations and cafes were closed too, as well as the main restaurant. Also, most cafes won’t serve in reusable cups. Which is such a shame and awful lot of waste!

The rides are sanitised regularly, practically after every ride and there are hand sanitiser stations everywhere. Masks are required for everyone over 11 years of age on most rides.

And some new pics:

The old article

We’ve been planning the our Legoland Windsor Visit for ages. But we thought that Bobcat might be just too young being under three. Both mummy and daddy are hardcore Lego fans (even granddad!). So we also really looked forward to the day since we we booked the tickets.

Upon arrival, at 10 am on a Saturday morning, term time, we were already directed to the overflow parking area. It’s a long walk to the entrance, around 10-15 minutes (you can pay double the price to park closer of course, now we know what that means). We booked tickets online and collected them at the cashier when we got there, another 25-30 minutes queuing. We managed to actually get inside just after 11 am. When you have a young (freshly toilet trained) child (and a baby) on a day out with you, you really need to be time conscious, and plan your visit. Well, next time.

Since we were late arriving, we decided just to spend our time around Mini Land and Duplo Valley. They are located next to each other in the otherwise vast place. Man. Miniland was the biggest hit. In case, you haven’t been, this is the bit often identified as the True Legoland. Famous UK and global land marks are built of Lego bricks. Mini London, Mini Scotland, Mini Eiffel Tower. Bobcat marvelled all the details: “oh look, a red double decker bus! Oh look, they’re playing cricket!” It’s truly amaizing, and needless to say, this was the grown ups’ favourite too.

It was an absolute blast and he spent about an hour checking out all the sites (occasionally trying to climb over). We had to drag him away to move over to Duplo Valley which resulted in the first tantrum of the day. (He did so well until that point!)

Second tantrum closely followed when he wasn’t allowed in the splash area in Duplo Valley. To be honest, his parents were badly prepared and didn’t do their homework. We didn’t know about the mini water park, so we had nothing with us. (Although, there’s a shop right there selling everything you might need plus a zillion other things you don’t.)

Also, we wouldn’t let him to go on his own anyway. It would have been too dangerous as he still doesn’t follow instructions. Never mind, we quickly took him to the playground for a bit, then did all the rides around there, which were designed for young children and the queuing was minimal. We went twice on the little gondola ride themed around classic children stories like Three Little Piggies, Cinderella and others. His other favourite was a mini car driving experience.

After this we stopped for a lunch as it was 1 pm and picked the only pizza restaurant. Oh my gosh it was so so so rubbish! But it was hassle free and the children ate something. It’s a “buffet style” and all you can eat (for £12.95) but all you can get is pizza (same thick base plus different but very basic toppings), pasta with meaty sauce, coleslaw and Coca Cola products. Never mind! After queuing for another 10-15 minutes at least we got food immediately. At this point, frankly, all you care about is that the kids need to eat something and you just eat whatever you get.

Nearing 2 pm after finishing lunch we decided to have an icecream – and I badly needed a coffee – next door (queuing again for 15 minutes, read emails, posted pics to Instagram). We then slowly make our way back to the car as Bobcat was getting tired and we had to make sure he wouldn’t nap after 4 pm (which didn’t matter in the end, he was up till 10 pm that night). Babi was also a bit grumpy because she just started to walk a few weeks ago. Now that’s another reason why she doesn’t want to sit in the buggy, which she had to do most of the time during that day. But she also dislikes wearing shoes at the moment (ha! Wait for it girl!). So we can’t just let her walk around everywhere.

So, after a little extra playground time we headed home (tantrum number three), all of us being exhausted. I can’t imagine spending the whole day on a Legoland Windsor Visit, but we will surely have to, when they are bigger.

What we have learned from our Legoland Windsor Visit:

• 3 hours of Legoland plus lunch is what a three-year-old can manage
• Until they are under five, Mini Land and Duplo Valley seems to be the most suitable and avoid the other big rides
• Both kids and parents need swimming clothes and towels for the water park
• Worth investing into Q-Bots, a queue jumping device
• Lots of food options, but maybe picking next time

Read about another day out experience in the UK: The Wonderfully Quirky Bekonscot