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Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Blogs Up North ~ Legoland Discovery Centre and Cadwaladers

I was introduced to Blogs Up North as a brand new blogger by Pippa from RedRoseMummy, and on Sunday I went along nervously to my first proper meet up. There were 16 bloggers in attendance, and it was fantastic to meet so many people who's work I've read and commented on and laughed and cried at.

We were given free entry to the Legoland Discovery Centre and we arrived and nervously hung around in the shop until we saw the familiar face of Laura the never-looking-very Tired Mummy of Two and organiser of the meet.

We were split into 2 groups for the 'factory tour' which still amuses my boys even though they've seen it umpteen times - they're brave enough now to go and stand at the front and help make the Legoo and the bricks - turning cogs and jumping on buttons.


As it was still the Easter holidays Bunnies were hiding everywhere in Miniland
Blackpool Tower at night!
Then on to the Kingdom Quest ride where we were delighted to see boy no.4 managed to score nearly 1000 points - I have no idea how, but it was impressive for a 3 year old! After that and it's through Miniland and onto the Lego pit. The boys were delighted to be back, although it was a shame that the Lego in the pit is beginning to look very tired, and Miniland is getting a bit unkempt and dusty in parts.


 It doesn't ever stop my two though. Apparently you've not lived until you've laid down in Lego!

The climbing frame and soft play is great, and ours have spent many hours in there in the past  ~ they had no hesitation in getting their shoes off and diving in this time. That gave me the opportunity to queue up for a coffee, and then my fella grabbed boy no.3 to go in and take part in the Master Model builder class making an Easter bunny (which we forgot to buy on the way out and cost us 20 minutes of tears!).


At 1pm we all gathered in the Lego Duplo area, which is actually loads of huge rubbery bricks which the children (and parents) had used to make two little 4 feet tall houses - I was most impressed, that's a den any self-respecting 7 year old can be proud of. Laura managed a photo of all of us, and most of us were smiling!

Podracing crowd
The crowd waiting to watch the Podracing
After a couple more hours play, and another visit to the 4D cinema to see the Chima film (which is still fantastic) and out through the Lego Star Wars Miniland, which is visiting until the beginning of June.


Star Wars Lego Droid Army Jar Jar Binks
The army of droids ready to fight Jar Jar Binks

Before we said our goodbye's we went off next door to Cadwaladers where they had kindly offered a coffee for some of the adults and an ice cream for the children. It was delicious, I managed to pinch a bite of boy no.3's Strawberry and boy no.4's Bubblegum. I've not been in before, but the prices were really reasonable and the seating area huge and really clean and tidy (easy to take a pram into), so we'll definitely be going back again!

Full Size lego Ninja

Thanks again to everyone involved, it was  great day out! 



We received a ticket for free entry to the Legoland Discovery Centre and a free coffee and 2 regular ice creams from Cadwaladers, but my opinions are definitely all my own

21 comments:

  1. It was a great day out, wasn't it? Laura does a fantastic job for us. Thanks for the namecheck too ;-)

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    1. You're welcome, and yep, she really does do a great job... :D

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  2. Looks like great fun - we keep meaning to go there but haven't got round to it yet!

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    1. Your little man would love it! Not much for Little Miss just yet though :)

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  3. I didn't even know this place existed! It looks great - I bet Austin will love it when he gets a wee bit older. Sounds as though the meet-up went well, too. I'm dying to meet some other bloggers soon!

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    1. It's really great if your child loves Lego - it's not a theme park by any means, it's more a place to stop and chill out for a day while the kids are occupied, and brush up on your own Lego skills :D

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  4. Replies
    1. Thanks hon. Give it a year or two and your Monkey will be dragging you to these places :)

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  6. Legoland is the Paradise for children :)

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    1. It really is, they love it. I think if the grown ups can relax and just enjoy it, then it's a paradise for us too :D

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  7. I would have thought the Lego pit would be really uncomfortable, but the kids seems to love it

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    1. We said the exact same thing! It makes no sense. We stand on one piece of Lego and it's agony, they run about and lie in it and they're really happy! :D

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    2. Yes, you are absolutely right! Some adults, who didn't play enough with lego in thier childhood, can play with lego with kids :=)

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  8. It was a great visit for the kids wasn't it. I think it was a bit unkempt in places too unfortunately. A little TLC would go a long way. Cadwalers (I can't spell their name, like, ever!) was such a nice calm interlude wasn't it :O)

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    1. It was looking a bit tired in parts, which was a real shame. It my just be that it's due a spring clean and refresh, or maybe it needs a major spruce up - the kids certainly didn't care!
      Going for the ice cream was brilliant, the boys faces were so pink and hot, it calmed everyone :D

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  9. Yay! Laura is super lovely - looks like a good day out!

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    1. Aw yeah, she is a lovely person, and it was a really nice day out - even if I still can't remember everyone's name!

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  10. Sounds a great place! Me and my four would love it there!

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    1. I think they probably would. Some people find their children don't want to just play with the LEGO all day, but mine have been umpteen times and they could go every day and be happy... :)

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  11. We cannot wait to take the monkeys next year!

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