MarloElaine » Distractions

REVIEW: LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Chicago

Elaine — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:07:36 +0000

We were very excited to learn that the America’s first indoor LEGOLAND was opening up right here in Illinois. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Chicago opened on July 31, 2008 in the Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg. The official website was very detailed and descriptive, so we knew exactly what to expect. We even knew to plan on about 2 – 2 1/2 hours to work through the whole place.

TICKETS

I found a link to buy tickets online for buy one adult admission, get one child admission free. I purchased 2 adult tickets for $39.90 and my 2 and 4 year old children were admitted for free. Once tickets are purchased online, they can be used any day within 6 months of purchase. Another benefit to purchasing tickets in advance is that we were able to bypass the long lines outside. The link that I used was an introductory promotion that was advertised only in the first week. I just learned that Baskin Robbins has coupons with the same paid adult, free child offer.

Since we saw how many people were outside waiting to get in, we decided to skip around and do the Dragon Ride and the 4D movie first. Those were the two things our son Sammy was most excited about, so we wanted to make sure we fit them in before it got too crowded or before the kids got cranky, sleepy, or hungry.

DRAGON RIDE

Sophie (age 2) was a bit scared of the Dragon Ride because it was dark, but I just sat next to her and hugged her throughout the ride. Sammy (age 4) sat with his daddy and excitedly pointed at all the LEGO animals and LEGO people throughout the ride. The Dragon Ride was the only place we were asked not to take pictures. Good thing we put our cameras away, because as the signs promised: we all got a bit wet.

4D CINEMA

The 4D Cinema was a short, cute movie called ‘Spellbreaker 4D.’ Oddly, there was no talking – just a series of noises and grunts from the Princess, the Hero, the evil Magician, etc. Sophie didn’t like the paper glasses provided, so she just watched a blurry cartoon. Sammy liked the 4D effects and kept reaching out to try to touch the swords and people approaching him. The 4D effects came not only from the movie screen, but from fans, lights, and even a snow machine!

LEGO CAFÉ

The LEGO Café is convenient for lunch or snack time. I’m not sure what they serve or if the prices are reasonable. Their chocolate chip cookies smelled really good, but we brought our own water to drink and then went to lunch at nearby Ikea afterwards.

BUILD AND TEST/MODEL BUILDERS WORKSHOP

Upstairs near the LEGO Café, there were numerous play stations with tons of regular LEGOS, LEGO Duplos, build your own LEGO race cars with lots of ramps. Even though we followed the website FAQ recommendations about going first thing in the morning or late afternoon, these areas were very crowded. We had to bypass the “Build and Test” areas, Model Builders Workshop, and the playground type equipment due to the sheer volume of children. A side note: socks are required for the indoor playground equipment (similar to the climbing tubes at Chuck E. Cheese).

FACTORY TOUR

The “factory tour” consisted of standing in one room and looking at the pretend equipment along the walls. One volunteer was chosen to push about four buttons that made the machines move and make noise. At the end, each child was invited to take a yellow LEGO brick home with them as a free souvenir. Sam and Sophie would have enjoyed this a lot more if there were less people in the room. They were not able to see very much behind the other parents and kids. They were delighted to each have their own LEGO that wasn’t a Duplo block.

BIG BRICK PLAY ZONE

There were a few quiet corners filled with huge, soft LEGO bricks. These were the best! Our kids could have spent hours here. I was hoping the store downstairs carried them, but there were none to be found.

MINILAND

Miniland is the first area most LEGOLAND visitors see, since it is right next to the cashier at the entrance. It is a great place for LEGO enthusiasts, Chicago tourists, and Chicago natives. It’s fascinating to study the details of Chicago icons built into these miniatures made completely out of LEGO bricks. The Sears Tower, Hancock building, Water Tower, Buckingham Fountain, and even the “SeaPup” speed boat are just a few of the amazingly accurate landmarks depicted here.

ADVENTURE TRAIL

After walking through Miniland, we had to wait an unusually long amount of time before we were allowed to enter the Adventure Trail section. We had to endure an unenthusiastic treasure hunting skit, but once we were inside, we walked around at our own pace. There were many LEGO animals and LEGO people that the kids enjoyed touching and posing with for pictures. Sam and Sophie enjoyed the hippo, monkeys, frogs, and alligators the best.

HALL OF FAME

There were several large LEGO sculptures of people and animals scattered throughout LEGOLAND. We particularly enjoyed the Hall of Fame that had huge LEGO characters such as Batman, Darth Vader, R2D2, Harry Potter, and Hagrid. The Hall of Fame also had another area with soft LEGO bricks to play with.

PRIVATE PARTIES

We saw several rooms set aside for private parties. The largest room can accommodate up to 50 people. Private workshops were also offered along with the highest level birthday packages. As of August 2008, party packages range from $19.75 – $29.75 per person.

LEGO STORE

The LEGO store was a bit disappointing. I expected a larger, better stocked shop. Many things my children were interested in were sold out, such as the LEGO Duplo people and the Princess Duplo set. The kids t-shirts were overpriced at $19.99. Loose LEGO bricks were $27.99/lb and sorted by size and color. I have no idea how this price compares to buying a box of assorted pieces. The $7.99 foam swords were a hit with our kids, but weapons aren’t generally allowed in our home. There were several cute key chains available for $3.99, but we did not buy any of those either.

FINAL THOUGHTS

All four of us had a great time at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Chicago. Our only complaints were regarding the staff and the price. The cashiers at the entrance seemed flustered and were not very friendly. The employees who were dressed in costumes (Professor Brick a Brack at the Factory Tour and the Adventure Trail Tour Guide) lacked enthusiasm and weren’t good with crowd control. There were very few employees circulating around to answer questions or direct people to certain attractions or washrooms, etc. Many of the soap dispensers in the washrooms (including the family washroom) ran out of soap. Hopefully these are just temporary issues that will be worked out as the staff familiarizes themselves with their new roles.

The price of admission to LEGOLAND was comparable to an amusement park, but the actual LEGOLAND itself was comparable to a standard children’s museum. Kohl’s Children’s Museum in Glenview charges $7.50 per person and Chicago Children’s Museum in Navy Pier charges $9.00 per person. Those museums can keep kids entertained for 4 hours or even a full day, depending on the child. Kiddie Land Amusement Park in Melrose Park charges $23 for ages 6 and up and $20 for ages 3-5 & 60+

If I didn’t live 45 minutes away, I’d consider buying an Annual pass for unlimited admission during non-holiday weekdays. It’s slightly cheaper than the Premium pass that allows admission on both weekdays and weekends. I believe you have to go at least 3 times in one year to make it worth your while. They do not offer any type of family pass, so each individual has to purchase their own adult, child, or senior pass. Passes are not transferable and not available online.

LEGOLAND is a must see for LEGO enthusiast of all ages. We saw a lot of parents building towers, racing cars, and just enjoying themselves with their children. I even saw a group of teenagers entering as we were leaving. We definitely plan to go back.

Don’t forget to purchase your tickets online in advance using the LEGOLAND Coupon. Be sure to proceed directly to the entrance doors with your printout of the tickets.

How to make your own Spot the Dog puppet

Elaine — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:35:50 +0000

Sammy and Sophie love the Spot the Dog series of books by Eric Hill. Their favorite ones are the lift the flap books like “Where’s Spot?” and “Spot Goes to School.” When our local public library announced that Spot the Dog was coming to visit, they were so excited! Sammy gave Spot a big hug, but Sophie was happy to just wave from across the room.
After reading Spot books, visiting with Spot, and taking lots of pictures, the wonderful librarians helped the kids make Spot puppets.

All you need to make your own Spot the Dog puppet is a square piece of yellow paper, a popsicle stick, tape, and a black or brown crayon to provide hours of fun for the kids!

First, simply fold the square down the middle diagonally to make a triangle. Position the triangle in front of you so that the folded side is on top. Fold the two top corners down to make ears. Draw on a face and color as desired. Finally, tape on the stick to complete the puppet! Enjoy!

Top 10 Cold Weather Activities for Kids

Elaine — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 03:31:53 +0000

Winter is here in the Midwest! My son can get stir crazy inside the house, so here are a few suggestions to keep us all from getting cabin fever!

1. Visit the library: Check your local library as well as those in the surrounding neighborhoods. Many libraries offer movie screenings, crafts, story times, etc. for children of all ages. They also usually have a selection of toys, puzzles, games, DVDs, and of course books.

2. Shopping malls: Many shopping malls now have enclosed play areas where children can run and jump. It’s a good place to let the kids burn up their excess energy. Though there is often a security guard patrolling the play area, they are not day care providers! Never leave your child unattended here!

3. Park District Programs: Our park district offers an assortment of classes for children of all ages. Dance, music, art, and many others to keep the kids occupied.

4. Movie Theaters: Lots of G rated movies are out right now. Some theater chains even have special showings for infants. Don’t go there on an empty stomach, or you’ll go broke!

5. Chuck E. Cheese: My son loves this place, but my daughter is too young to appreciate it. Be sure to look for coupons in your Sunday paper for discounts on tokens and pizza.

6. Play in the snow: Go sledding, make snow angels & snowmen, build snow forts, and have snowball fights. Be sure to bundle everyone up and have hot chocolate and soup ready afterwards.

7. Make crafts at home: Paint, color, or make holiday cards, ornaments, and decorations. Have your kids make and write their own thank you cards for all the gifts that they have received. This is also a great time to write thank you cards to police officers, fire fighters, military personnel, etc.

8. Cook with your children: Encourage your kids to make sandwiches, salads, even microwavable recipes and baked goods. Children who participate in preparing their food are more likely to eat it. This is also a great way to teach healthy eating habits. Some cooking schools, community colleges, or park districts offer cooking classes for children. Feel free to try out the few recipes we have posted here.

9. Donate unused toys and clothing: Ask your children to go through their toys and clothes. They should sort them into three piles: keep, donate, and garbage. This will de-clutter your house and also teach them the value of helping others.

10. Play with your kids! Sometimes all your kids need to be happy is you! Take the time to devote your full attention to them. That means turn off the computer and TV, let the answering machine get the phone, and let the dishes and laundry wait. My kids love it when I read to them, play with their stuffed animals and trains, or just cuddle.

I hope you enjoy Winter Break with your children, even if you don’t get any snow! What about you… how do you avoid getting cabin fever with your kids?

Go Elf Yourself!

Elaine — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:16:50 +0000

My sister-in-law just sent me this great link, Elf Yourself. Just insert a face onto the dancing elf’s body and you’ve got a great holiday greeting. It’s easy to personalize and much more fun than the standard e-card!

Here’s the link to Sammy the Elf and Sophie the Elf. Too funny! My kids love to see themselves dancing around on my screen. The first time he saw it, Sammy asked, “Is that me?”

There’s hardly even any advertising, just “Elf Yourself: A Gift from OfficeMax” along the top of the window. Though it may be that my pop-up blocker is just hard at work….

The site is occasionally down and has a few bugs (it keeps sending out the same link -even if you put in different pictures), but it’s entertaining once you get in! Go ahead, give it a try!

Beat my score

Marlo — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:04:53 +0000

A co-worker sent me this link today. It’s a flash-based game you can play within your web browser. The words move across your window from right to left. You are suppose to type out the whole word before it reaches the left of the screen. It’s a great time waster and it could possibly increase your typing skills.

I’m a poor typist so it won’t be too hard to beat my score of a 137. What’s your score?

Go Elf Yourself!

Sudoku anyone?

Marlo — Wed, 03 May 2006 17:19:33 +0000

Forget crossword puzzles. The new commuter craze is Sudoku. It’s an addictive numbers game that’s very easy to play. You can now play online. If you are at work reading this, don’t click on that link. You’ve been warned!