The Best LEGOLAND California Rides by Age
The park has a lot of rides, the vast majority of which appeal to young kids. What about older kids? Is there enough for them to do? Spoiler alert: There isn’t. What are the best LEGOLAND California rides by age?
LEGOLAND California Rides by Age
1. Maximize Your Day with a Touring Plan
2. Do You Need Front-of-the-Line Passes?
3. Rides for Everyone
4. Rides for Preschoolers and Up
5. Rides for Early Elementary-Aged Kids and Up
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.
LEGOLAND California Rides by Age
1. Maximize Your Day with a Touring Plan
Can you do LEGOLAND California in one day? You absolutely can. A good touring plan is key. The ideal plan for your family will depend upon what is most important to you.
Generally speaking, you want to arrive early and head to some of the more popular attractions in the morning. Emmet’s Flying Adventure, Coastersaurus, Safari Trek, and LEGO Ninjago the Ride tend to have the longest lines throughout the day.
Save shows, play areas, and MINILAND for the afternoon. If you plan to visit the aquarium, save that for the afternoon as well.
Pro tip: The back of the park will be less crowded than the front first thing in the morning. Don’t get distracted by the shiny lines in the front. Come back to those later.
Bonus pro tip: Rides for older kids are more to the right of the park, while rides for younger kids are more to the left. Consider the ages of your kids when making your plan.
2. Do You Need Front-of-the-Line Passes?
Reserve ‘N Ride is the park’s front-of-the-line pass. It allows you to enter a virtual line for a ride on the app. You don’t go to the ride until it is your turn, so you can do other things while you wait.
Is LEGOLAND Reserve and Ride worth it? That is a judgment call, but I think it is. If you’ll only be there once, I would seriously consider it.
Reserve ‘N Ride Options
As of the time of this writing, the options are:
Express
LEGOLAND California wait times reduced: 25%
Price: Starts at $35 per person
Deluxe
Wait times reduced: 50%
Price: Starts at $55 per person
Ultimate
Wait times reduced: 95%
Price: Starts at $100 per person
Pro tip: Don’t waste your money on the more expensive tiers. The Express pass does the job just fine.
Bonus pro tip: As soon as you enter the line and can reach an employee without being obnoxious, ask them to scan you into the ride. You may have to wait for a while in the queue. Once scanned, you can book your next ride.
3. Rides for Everyone
Coast Cruise
Coast Cruise is a slow-moving boat ride during which you view the LEGO structures in MINILAND USA.
Height requirement: None, but guests under 48″ must be accompanied by someone age 14 and older who is 48″
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, early elementary, upper elementary, tweens, teens, adults
Location: MINILAND USA
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Fairy Tale Brook
Fairy Tale Brook is a slow-moving boat ride where you view LEGO scenes from various fairy tales. The ride loads slowly, making the line unpleasant.
Height requirement: None, but guests under 48″ must be accompanied by someone age 14 and over who is at least 48″
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: No
Best for: Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, early elementary
Location: Explorer Island
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
LEGO City: Deep Sea Adventure
LEGO City: Deep Sea Adventure is a submarine ride. You see real sea creatures and search for LEGO figurines.
Height requirement: None, but children under 52″ must be accompanied by someone 14 and over who is at least 52″
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, early elementary, upper elementary
Location: Castle Hill
Indoor or outdoor: Indoor
LEGOLAND Express
LEGOLAND Express is the smallest and slowest-moving train of all time. It is perfect for a baby or toddler.
Height requirement: None, but riders under 36″ must be accompanied by someone over 36″
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: No
Best for: Babies, toddlers, preschoolers
Location: Fun Town
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Queen Whatevra’s Carousel
Queen Watevra’s is a small carousel that isn’t special outside of the theming.
Height requirement: None
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: No
Best for: Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, early elementary
Location: THE LEGO MOVIE World
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
4. Rides for Preschoolers and Up
Beetle Bounce
Beetle Bounce is a small ride that bounces children up and down on a bench 15 feet in the air. A similar ride can be found at other theme parks.
Height requirement: 36″ with a maximum of 55″
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: No
Best for: Preschoolers, early elementary
Location: Land of Adventure
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Captain Cranky’s Challenge
Captain Cranky’s Challenge is the stereotypical pirate ship that swings back and forth. It is not special. Avoid this one if you get nauseous easily (meaning you’re over age 25).
Height requirement: 34″ to ride with someone age 14 and over who is at least 42″, 42″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: No
Best for: Preschoolers, early elementary, upper elementary, tweens, teens
Location: Pirate’s Shores
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Cargo Ace
Cargo Ace is a child’s ride with airplanes that fly in a circle. Your local carnival likely also has this ride.
Height requirement: None, but the child must be able to stand. Children under 36″ must be accompanied by someone age 14 and older who is at least 36″ tall.
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: No
Best for: Preschoolers, early elementary
Location: Land of Adventure
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Fun Town Police and Fire Academy
Fun Town Police and Fire Academy requires kids to pump a lever up and down to move a fire truck. It is manual labor at its finest.
Height requirement: 34″ to ride with someone age 18 and over who is at least 48″, 48″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: No
Best for: Preschoolers, early elementary, upper elementary, tweens, teens, adults
Location: Fun Town
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Junior Driving School
Junior Driving School is a driving school for preschoolers. Employees are struck by rogue vehicles constantly.
Height requirement: None, but it is only for ages three through five
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: No
Best for: Preschoolers
Location: Fun Town
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
LEGO Ninjago the Ride
LEGO Ninjago the Ride is a shooting game sans gun. Instead, you wildly wave your hand. The system can be hard to crack. Putting that aside, it is one of the best rides at the park.
Height requirement: None, but guests under 48″ must be accompanied by someone age 14 and up that is at least 48″
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Preschoolers, early elementary, upper elementary, tweens, teens, adults
Location: LEGO Ninjago World
Indoor or outdoor: Indoor
Lost Kingdom Adventure
Lost Kingdom Adventure is one of the best LEGOLAND rides. It is another shooting ride, this time with actual guns, where you take out things like skeletons and mummies.
Height requirement: 30″ to ride with someone age 14 and up and over 48″, 48″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Preschoolers, early elementary, upper elementary, tweens, teens, adults
Location: Land of Adventure
Indoor or outdoor: Indoor
Safari Trek
In Safari Trek, kids spin a steering wheel around in ways that would kill us all if they were controlling the vehicle while viewing jungle LEGO animals.
Height requirement: 34″ to ride with someone age 18 and over who is at least 48″, 48″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Preschoolers, early elementary
Location: Explorer Island
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Skipper School
Skipper School consists of small boats shaped like LEGOs. You are not restricted to a specific track, so you can roam somewhat freely.
Height requirement: 34″ to ride with someone age 14 or over who is at least 48″, 48″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Preschoolers, early elementary, upper elementary, tweens
Location: Fun Town
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Sky Patrol
Sky Patrol has slow-moving helicopters that fly through the sky. The line is torture. It would move faster if your three-year-old ran it.
Height requirement: 34″ to ride with someone age 14 and over who is at least 48″, 48″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: No
Best for: Preschoolers, early elementary
Location: Fun Town
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Unikitty’s Disco Drop
Unikitty’s Disco Drop is a small ride that shoots you up and down a pole in your seat. The line is a constant exercise in frustration.
Height requirement: 40″ to ride with someone age 14 and up, 48″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Preschoolers, early elementary
Location: THE LEGO MOVIE World
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
5. Rides for Early Elementary-Aged Kids and Up
Bionicle Blaster
Bionicle Blaster is similar to the classic teacup ride, wherein your kids spin while you apply force to slow them down.
Height requirement: 42″ and at least four years old to ride with someone age 14 and older who is at least 48″, 48″ and at least six years old to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: No
Best for: Early elementary, upper elementary, tweens, teens
Location: Imagination Zone
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Coastersaurus
Coastersaurus is a tiny roller coaster. You pass by LEGO dinosaurs. It’s not overly exciting.
Height requirement: 36″ to ride with someone age 18 and over who is at least 48″ tall, 48″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Early elementary, upper elementary
Location: Explorer Island
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Dragon Coaster
The Dragon is one of the best rides at the park. It is a small roller coaster you board in a castle. A portion of the ride is slow-moving through scenes with LEGO animatronics. The queue is more interesting than most and the line loads efficiently. It’s a win all around.
Height requirement: 40″ to ride with someone age 14 and up who is at least 48″, 48″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Early elementary, upper elementary, tweens
Location: Castle Hill
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Driving School
Driving School is a section where kids can operate cars shaped like LEGOs. They are not on a rail, so the kids can drive freely throughout the area. Like Junior Driving School, the employees are at risk of injury.
Height requirement: None, but it is for ages six through 13
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Early elementary, upper elementary
Location: Fun Town
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Emmet’s Flying Adventure Ride
Emmet’s Flying Adventure is highly reminiscent of Soarin’ at EPCOT. You sit in seats that lift off of the ground and sway gently while a movie plays.
Pro tip: Because there is a movie involved, the ride can’t load very often. Watch the wait times and try to visit when it isn’t as busy.
Height requirement: 40″ to ride with someone ages 14 and up, 48″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Early elementary, upper elementary, tweens, teens, adults
Location: THE LEGO MOVIE World
Indoor or outdoor: Indoor
Kid Power Tower
Kid Power Tower seats a child and parent next to each other. You must pull on a rope to pull your chair to the top. This line moves slowly at best.
Height requirement: 40″ to ride with someone age 14 and over who is at least 48″, 48″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Early elementary, upper elementary, tweens, teens
Location: Fun Town
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
LEGO Technic Coaster
LEGO Technic Coaster is a simple roller coaster with some easy twists and turns. Most kids will be able to handle it, but you may have a stiff neck at the end.
Height requirement: 42″ and at least four years old to ride with someone at least 14 years of age who is 48″, 48″ and at least six years old to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Early elementary, upper elementary, tweens, teens
Location: Imagination Zone
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Pirate Reef
Pirate Reef is a boat ride with a bunch of gratuitous water dumping on your head. Kids might like it if they don’t hate being wet, but your hair will not.
Height requirement: 36″ to ride with someone at least age 14 who is at least 42″, 42″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Early elementary, upper elementary, tweens, teens, adults
Location: Pirate’s Shores
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Royal Joust
Royal Joust is a slow-moving ride where small children ride a (fake) horse around a track through a forest.
Height requirement: 36″, and only available for children ages four through 12 who are under 169 pounds
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: No
Best for: Early elementary, upper elementary
Location: Castle Hill
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Splash Battle
Splash Battle is a boat ride where you can shoot water at spectators and other boats. You will most definitely get soaked.
Height requirement: 36″ to ride with someone age 14 and over who is at least 44″, 44″ to ride alone
Reserve ‘N Ride accepted: Yes
Best for: Early elementary, upper elementary, tweens, teens, adults
Location: Pirate’s Shores
Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Final Thoughts – LEGOLAND California Rides by Age
The park is great for younger kids, but there isn’t much for older kids to do. Seriously consider leaving your sassy teen at home. Use this LEGOLAND California rides by age guide to plan your day, maximize your time, and enjoy a visit with your young kids.
