Today I will be sharing all about both California LEGOLAND hotel choices onsite at the LEGOLAND Resort in Carlsbad. I got so many good questions when my family and I stayed at LEGOLAND’s Castle Hotel a few weeks ago. The most common one was if it was worth the expense? Well, we also stayed at the LEGOLAND Hotel in May of 2018. So now that we’ve stayed at both LEGOLAND California hotels as a family I feel like I learned a lot. Today I’m going to share all about our experience at both hotels and tell you what I really think about the cost.
California LEGOLAND Hotel vs. Castle Hotel
themed rooms and suites
We stayed at the California LEGOLAND Hotel for three nights in May 2018. We needed to book one of their family suites which sleep up to seven. Our suite had a sofa bed, kid’s nook with a bunk bed and trundle bed, and a king sized bed. There was definitely plenty of space for us to spread out in our suite. In addition to the suites they also offer themed rooms that sleep up to five. There are five different themes that you can choose from at the LEGOLAND Hotel: Pirate, Kingdom, Adventure, LEGO Friends, or LEGO Ninjago.
| Read: Your Guide to Stay and Play in Carlsbad, California |
Whereas at the LEGOLAND Hotel there were very different themes to choose from, at the Castle Hotel there were three: Knights & Dragons, Magic Wizard, and Royal Princess. Again, our family size required a suite (called a “deluxe family suite” at the Castle Hotel). Right off the bat I noticed a big advantage here. Both the kid’s room with the bunk bed and trundle bed, as well as a generous sized separate bedroom for mom and dad, had actual doors.
I also preferred the way the room was laid out, allowing for a different placement of the windows. Overall I felt like it was a more efficient use of space in the Castle Hotel deluxe family suites than in the LEGOLAND Hotel.
LEGO magic everywhere
Another big difference between the two hotels was the placement of LEGO bricks in the room. At the LEGOLAND Hotel the LEGO bricks had been in a box you could carry around. At the Castle Hotel the LEGO bricks were kept in the kid’s room in a dedicated play area. I liked that this kept them pretty well contained in one area.
| Read: 5 Reasons to Celebrate Your Birthday at LEGOLAND |
Of course, at both hotels there was an abundance of LEGO models both inside and outside the rooms. They really are impressive to see and definitely add to the LEGOLAND California hotel experience.
Which room is better? Well, in my opinion neither, they have the same essentials, just slightly different. The Castle Hotel has the slight advantage of the doors on the rooms. Other than that, there are mostly the same. Of course, the Castle Hotel certainly looks newer, whereas the LEGOLAND Hotel is starting to show its age.
family-friendly touches
The first time we went to the LEGOLAND Hotel back in May 2018 I was instantly impressed by all of the kid-friendly and family-friendly touches. There was a Keurig machine that came with hot chocolate pods for the kids. Water bottles and juice pouches were left each time housekeeping came to clean the room. There was a stool in the bathroom at the sink counter and a smaller toilet seat for little ones. There were three televisions in our suite so that kids could be watching something quietly to occupy themselves while we slept in–or tried to anyway.
Theme park favorites on amazon
These little extras extend to both hotels so as far as thoughtful family touches go–you can’t go wrong with either location. The major difference between the two would be the way the family suites are laid out. At the Castle Hotel the main bedroom and kid’s bunk room had actual doors to close them off, which I appreciated.
a scavenger hunt for a daily prize
Both locations also have a fun scavenger hunt for each night of your stay. When you arrive and check in you will be given a scavenger hunt sheet to fill out. Then you walk around the hotel trying to solve clues. These clues will reveal a four digit code to unlock the safe in your room. This safe contains a little LEGO set for every child on the reservation! Housekeeping refills these daily, but be advised that the code doesn’t change (even though the clues do). So if you ever find yourself stuck on a clue just refer to the previous or next night.
common areas at the California LEGOLAND hotels
When trying to decide which LEGOLAND California hotel to stay at the biggest difference to me is definitely the common spaces. The rooms, restaurants, location, amenities–they’re all basically the same with different themes. The major difference is the common areas of the hotel.
| Read: The Ultimate Guide to LEGOLAND California |
I was instantly impressed when we first checked into the LEGOLAND Hotel last year. Even though it was late at night and we were all exhausted the kids automatically started playing in the huge lobby area. First of all, there were huge bins of LEGO bricks (think of a ball pit but full of LEGO bricks). There was also a small castle to walk through and interact with. A lounge area was next to the play area and was the perfect spot for parents to relax and watch their kids play. It was a place where you wanted to hang out awhile. This is also where little shows and skits are performed.
did the Castle Hotel miss the mark?
Before booking our Castle Hotel trip I read a review that said that LEGOLAND had missed the mark with this new hotel and it had lost some of the magic of the original. I don’t think that’s the case, I just think it’s different. It’s true–when you walk into the lobby of the Castle Hotel it’s not as exciting. For one, there aren’t nearly as many windows so it’s darker. There’s one LEGO brick pit in the center and one slide alongside the stairs. Other than a sad bench along the wall, there’s no space for parents to sit and watch their kids.
not necessarily…
However, the magic of the Castle Hotel can be found outside. In the center courtyard area you’ll find a ton of fun activities to do! There are large, soft LEGO blocks and regular-sized LEGO bricks. My kiddos loved the large playground area, as well as the lawn with outdoor games and the giant movie screen. There’s also a little outdoor stage area where fun skits and activities are held when the weather allows. When the weather is poor (like it was when we were there) these will either get moved indoors or canceled.
The pool area at the Castle Hotel is also a winner. Whether they had more money, or learned from their first LEGOLAND California Hotel experience–the pool is superior at Castle Hotel. Both pools are heated and feature the signature soft LEGO blocks and cabanas for rent. However, the Castle Hotel pool also has a few fun water features and a hot tub. This is really a HUGE plus when staying there in the off season. Yes, it gets cold, even in sunny, southern California!
Consider for yourself–would you prefer lots of fun indoors, or lots of fun outdoors? Also keep in mind that you can walk over to the LEGOLAND Hotel and enjoy their lobby, anytime. We have done that even when we weren’t staying onsite!
is it worth the cost?
This is what everyone wants to know about the LEGOLAND California Hotel and the Castle Hotel. It’s hard to answer though because everyone has different views on what they’ll spend on a family vacation. Personally, our family generally tries to be frugal with our hotel stays. As a large family the cost of a vacation can really add up. We try to save money where we can, especially if we’re only planning to sleep at the hotel. However, I also believe that in traveling you often get what you pay for.
Staying at on-site for your family’s LEGOLAND vacation is an amazing experience. Do I think you need to spend a week there? No. However, if you’re local and want a fun night away staying at one of the hotels would be a blast. Or spending two or three nights as part of your family trip is totally enough time to soak in all the awesome LEGO-ness without completely breaking the bank.
Have you stayed at a California LEGOLAND hotel before?
38 Responses to California LEGOLAND Hotel vs. Castle review
This is such an informative post! Love it. I hadn’t heard of either of these, but they both look like so much fun for littles.
They’re so much fun for families with little ones, all the aspects are really well thought out!
I love the detail of your review! Both hotels look amazing and like a great place to stay for families. That outdoor movie lawn looks like so much fun!
Thank you so much! And yes, the outdoor lawn is amazing!
Noted! I’ve never been to Legoland but always wanted to go as a kid!
So did I! I grew up in SoCal but never went until last year!
Okay this looks so fun!!!
It’s SO fun and they make the hotel such a fun experience for kids!
Thank you for such an honest review! We haven’t made it to Legi land yet, but are hoping to go within the next year. This post was super helpful!
Thank YOU so much for your kind words! It’s a lot of fun and I hope you guys can make it soon!
You guys always look like you have a lot of fun at Legoland! I’ve never been and this makes me want to go
It’s a blast Amberly! I hope you guys can go someday!
This post is so super helpful Justine! I love the side by side chart you included at the bottom because it makes it so easy to see the differences/similarities so you can make the best choice for your family.
Thanks so much Shani! I enjoyed writing this up!
This is such a helpful post! The side by side comparison makes it way clear to see the differences in the hotel and the castle and I just LOVE all the kid-friendly amenities! What a fun place to visit!
Thank you for this post. I’m going in October 2019 and desperately needed a comparison like this. I have one question if you’re able to answer – the entertainment at both hotels. Is it comparable? The shows and interactions…can you give any detail?
Thank you!
I definitely think they’re comparable! At the original hotel the entertainment is inside the lobby area near a coffee shop/bar area. At the Castle Hotel it’s outside in the central courtyard area… unless weather is bad, then they move them inside to a small area or cancel.
Hi Justine,
Thanks for the comparison between the two Legoland hotels! Am I correct in thinking that the newer Legoland Castle Hotel offers Suites for 7 where the Legoland California Hotel does not? We will be 3 adults and 3 children so we’ll accommodations suitable for a party of our size. Also, is the newer Castle Hotel starting to show some wear and tear as stated in your last comparison between the two hotels under Misc? Being a newer hotel I was a bit confused.
Thanks!
Thanks so much for your comment! Both hotels have suites that fit seven, but the original Legoland hotel doesn’t have a separate bedroom for the parents. Also I looked at what you are talking about and I realized I made a mistake, just reverse those two boxes. Sorry about that, I will have to fix that as quickly as possible!
Great review but I think you may have the comparison chart mixed up here and there. For example, you listed Legoland Hotel as “just opened in 2018” when in fact it opened in 2013 and Castle Hotel opened in April 2018. You also got the restaurants switched around in the chart.
Other than that, just the perfect write-up we needed for our first trip.
Yep! The last two squares are switched, I haven’t had a chance to fix it yet, thanks so much!
Can guests at Castle use the pool at the Legoland original hotel, and vice versa?
As of right now I don’t believe so. So if you like one aspect of one of the pools over the others than you’d want to book at that hotel. Hope that helps!
Great article! So much information. If you stay at one hotel, can you eat any meal at the other? Free breakfast buffet? Thanks!
Hi Kerrie! You can definitely eat at either hotel whether or not you’re staying there. However, if you’re staying on site your free breakfast must be at the hotel where you’re staying. So you can’t stay at the original hotel and eat at Dragon’s Den for your free breakfast buffet, or vice versa.
Thank you SO much for this detailed review! My husband and I took our family of 5 to Legoland last fall and EVERYONE had the best vacation of their lives! We stayed in the Legoland California (original) hotel, and the kids absolutely loved the whoopee cushion near the elevator on the first floor, as well as the dance party and the awesome buffet breakfast. My question would be more geared towards your kids experience: how did THEY feel about one hotel vs the other? Did they enjoy the Castle hotel as much, or wish they had been staying at the Original? From an adults’ perspective, the separate doors on the rooms sounds amazing, lol, but we just want to make sure we’re considering whether our kids will enjoy the experience as much. Also, would you say that the Dragon’s Den breakfast is comparable/similar to the Bricks breakfast buffet? I couldn’t tell if it’s a buffet as well. Thanks so much for your help!
We have asked them several times and they loved both! The love the lobby of the original and the outdoor area and movies at the Castle Hotel. If they HAD to pick a winner it would probably be the Castle Hotel, but only because it has a hot tub and they LOVE hot tubs! And yes, the breakfast at the Castle Hotel is also a buffet. It’s sit down service for dinner but buffet for breakfast.
Is one Legoland hotel more expensive than the other?
In my experience they are fairy comparable. When the Castle Hotel was brand new it was a little more, but that’s not really the case anymore. Sometimes the original LEGOLAND hotel might be a little more, and at other times the Castle Hotel might be more. I just did a random search of a two night stay min March to see if that was still the case, the original hotel was $20 more.
yes! thank you for the review. this was good information!
I’m so glad it was helpful!
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