First look: Legoland’s Pirate River Quest boat ride
WINTER HAVEN — Legoland Florida theme park is ready to launch its new boat ride dubbed Pirate River Quest, during which passengers will see Lego characters amid natural beauty. The attraction, a free-floating voyage that leans into the history of Cypress Gardens, opens to the public Thursday.
“We’ve always maintained a nod back to some of the historical Cypress Gardens elements,” said Rex Jackson, managing director of Legoland Resorts — North America. “By bringing boats back to the canal waterways for the very first time, we’re able to expose a lot more of our guests to the hidden gem of Cypress Gardens.”
During a Wednesday preview, members of the media got answers to burning Pirate River Quest questions.
What’s the story?
Captain Redbeard’s treasure has been taken, and visitors help him solve clues and recover items such as blue sapphires, red rubies and gold coins. That will the curse that prevents him from returning to Legoland. He also warns to keep your arms and wooden legs inside the boat at all times.
What do passengers see?
Folks on the quest immediately sail into the canals of the park’s Cypress Gardens area. The waterway has been there since the 1930s and was rehabbed for the new attraction. Installed near tall trees and other greenery are Lego figures, including monkeys, singing birds, alligators and “creepy crawlies,” not to mention a ship piloted by Calico Jade and the tentacles of a bright red kraken.
Some of the attraction’s figures aren’t as blocky as Lego structures can be.
“The monkeys that you see are actual Lego elements that you can get in Lego sets, just blown up. … But it is just one piece of plastic, that element itself. We’ve blown that up into a model that’s made of fiberglass, but they work really nicely on rides like this,” said Nick Miller, direction of operations. “They don’t fade. They are easy to clean.”
What do passengers do?
Riders follow the instructions of Redbeard (given via onboard audio), which include finding and counting gems along the shore, looking out for bony opponents in Skeleton Valley and participating in a seaworthy singalong near the finale. Passengers also, in a make-believe, theme-parky sort of way, fire cannons.
Remember, this is Legoland, steered to the 2-to-12-year-old set, so the tasks are fairly elementary. It shouldn’t be hard to spot one of the golden bricks, as requested. They’re about 3 feet long.
Pirate River Quest would not be considered a thrill ride, official say. And you’re unlikely to get wet onboard.
What’s the boat like?
Ride vehicles float free in the waters of the gardens and then onto Lake Eloise. It is steered and controlled by a real, live pilot; there is no submerged rail to guide the vessel. The flat boat has four padded rows with backs, and Legoland will cap the capacity at 11 people — only 8 of them adults — plus the navigator. Children under the age of 6 are required to wear life vests, supplied by the park. (Adult sizes are available.)
There’s no bathroom on board, so plan accordingly before the 20-minute experience.
What will the lines be like?
Normal operations will see 10 vessels on the quest route at a time.
“We know there are a lot of people that are very excited about this ride in particular because it is taking you back into the nostalgic Cypress Gardens. So we do anticipate that it will be a popular ride,” Jackson said. “It is going to be connected very closely though to our Brickbeard’s Watersports Stunt Show. … We anticipate the lines will be busier around the same time that the show is either beginning, getting ready to start or right after it ended.”
What’s the connection to history?
“This is restoration of the original canalways, which we were given in a state of disrepair, not because of any previous issues, but because this lake is about a foot and a half taller now than it was in the 30s.” Miller said. “So the original sea walls are just underwater, they are no longer useful. We were able to put a new sea wall around, restore the canals, restore the grasses and the plants alongside the canals.”
Passengers may also spy Cypress Gardens’ historic Florida-shaped swimming pool during the adventure.
“It’s a reason to bring a whole new generation into the gardens,” said Kelly Hornick, head of marketing and communications: “It’s reintroducing kids with Lego humor with Lego pirates and the silliness that comes with that, to be able to experience the gardens and really appreciate them.”
Do people still want to see gardens?
“Guests who come and actually walk through the gardens give us way more five-star reviews than guests who don’t. It is a pleasant surprise for guests who find the gardens,” Miller said. “We want people to come back and take a walk because it’s a nice relaxing part of the day.”
What about public access to Lake Eloise?
As the Pirate River Quest boats head back to the dock, they’re in open waters. They may encounter paddleboarders, fishers or part of Legoland’s ski team in rehearsal.
“We do anticipate that some boaters or paddleboarders may decide to engage with some of our guests as they’re going through their ride experience as well,” Jackson said. “But that’s part of the Lake Eloise charm.”
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