Star Wars Days at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Report

The weekend coming – Saturday 25^th and Sunday 26^th February – will see the return of Star Wars Days to the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Manchester, UK. To find out what went on last time, read on – and then get your tickets booked!

The LEGOLAND Discovery Centre held a Star Wars themed weekend on November 12^th and 13^th 2011. The event saw the busiest day in the Discovery Centre’s history, with many guests turning up in costume to meet characters from Star Wars. Read on for the full image-laden first hand report from Saturday 12^th November…

The LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is located at Barton Square in the Trafford Centre, Manchester. It’s the only LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in the UK. Inside guests find a variety of attractions and building opportunities, primarily aimed at children aged 3-10 years old.

There was a bit of a queue to enter the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, with many Padawans in costume or sporting LEGO Star Wars t-shirts (there’s a lot of variety in children’s sizes it seems!). Keeping everyone occupied and amused were Star Wars characters, including a Scout Trooper, a Death Star Trooper, Boba Fett and two Ewoks. Seeing one youngster attending hug an Ewok was a great moment and a reminder of the magic of meeting these characters in person.

When entering the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, guests first visit the LEGO Factory – where LEGO bricks are created. On the way to the tour a life-sized LEGO built Chewbacca greeted guests, before the elevator ride up to the Factory tour.

For the Star Wars weekend, a special twist was put on the LEGO Factory Tour. After meeting Professor Brick, guests had to use the force in order to turn the special device for sending LEGO granules whizzing around, before they were moulded by a device heavier than Jabba the Hutt.

Upon completing the LEGO Factory tour, visitors had to do their best impression of Jedi Master Yoda to receive the exclusive Star Wars printed brick that they had helped produce in the LEGO Factory.

Following the LEGO Factory, guests can check out the Kingdoms Quest dark ride. As usual, adventurers must shoot with classic LEGO pistols at LEGO villains to protect the kingdom – but with a little help from a life-size Captain Rex built entirely from LEGO bricks, who popped up along the journey.

Some additions to Miniland were more subtle...

Miniland was the next location to have felt the force, with Clone Troopers, Battle Droids, Rebels and Gungans invading various UK locations. A Naboo Starfighter was also circling overhead, and Anakin Skywalker could be spotted being captured by droids. Guests could answer questions on a competition form to be in with a chance to win LEGO Star Wars prizes.

...than others

The Master Model Builder held regular classes for budding builders to learn how to put together the Clone Trooper speeder from Clone Trooper Battle Pack (7913) [although the model was returned at the end of the session].

Finally guests had the opportunity to help with a big scale build of Darth Vader and R2-D2, receiving a certificate to mark their contribution. R2-D2 was completed on the Saturday, but the dark lord had more work left to be done on the Sunday.

Image courtesy of the LLDC

There was one more Star Wars photo opportunity as guests left through the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Shop, where a LEGO built Darth Vader kept an eye on everyone.

Another exclusive brick, this one featuring LEGO City, was available free in the shop to anyone spending over £30. The promotional bricks given away at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre are different to the previous Duplo bricks. These are regular LEGO bricks, 2 x 4 studs and with a height of three regular bricks. They are also printed rather than stickered.

The Star Wars weekend was a great success, with fun activities adding to an already well themed attraction. 

Click here for information on upcoming Star Wars Days at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre at the official website.