FIRST TIME LEGOLANDERS! Our family spent three summer days at LEGOLAND California Resort and we are breaking it down piece by piece. AND also giving the GOLD on how to FIND MR GOLD!

Day 1 (Sunday): Hotel Arrival & Brick Building

We arrived Sunday and dove straight into the LEGOLAND creative spirit. As first timers why would you not. Atlas found build zones around every corner and especially loved the in room scavenger hunt prizes! He also began practicing asking EVERY Model Citizen (people who work their) is the have “Seen Mr Gold or Space Baby.” It has to be from a child and the limited edition pop badges are hard to come by. We tried our hand at bingo and ditched story time early, preferring to dance the night away at he night club and ride the disco-ball elevators. The pool was a literally and physically cool with a walk in entrance and floating legos to build your own rafts.

Day 2 (Monday): Water Park & SEA LIFE Aquarium

Monday was pro-level splash time. From chillin on the Build‑A‑Raft River to beating times on the Riptide Racers we made our way through LEGOLAND’S WATERPARK. DUPLO Splash Safari is where we cabana’d. Cragger’s Swamp and Eglor’s Build-A-Boat was a fave but the ultimate family moment was floating in the Lion Temple Wave Pool. After a full day at the park we were off to the SEA LIFE Aquarium- LEGO displays as sea-creature exhibits. There was a fun passport stamping program that allowed us to learn more about he creatures and keep the little entertained.

Day 3 (Tuesday): Theme Park & The Mr. Gold Badge

We closed our trip at the main park, experiencing a lineup of rides:

Explorer River Quest
DUPLO Little Dino Trail
Emmet’s Flying Adventure
Unikitty’s Disco Drop
Legoland Express
Driving School (Atlas’s driver’s license debut)
Sky Patrol
Skipper School
LEGO City: Deep Sea Adventure (submarine ride!)
The Royal Joust
LEGO Show Place
Ferrari Build & Race
Miniland USA

Atlas had countless firsts—his face lit up riding the disco drop multiple times and driving his first car in a sleek lego red vehicle. His two-day practice of asking for Mr Gold and Space Baby paid off: he confidently asked, “Do you have Mr. Gold?” to a Model Citizen at the park entrance and walked away with LEGOLAND’s rarest collector’s keepsake—the elusive Mr. Gold Pop Badge. We drove home to San Diego with hearts full and a badge to prove it!

Okay, ready for some first time tips or what I wish I would have known going there?

Arrive early and take advantage of the Early Park Access for Hotel Guests at LEGOLAND California
Littles be ready to ask staff daily for Pop Badges—Mr. Gold appears only in limited numbers each day
Bring your own snacks and plan restroom visits—Food places were PACKED and the restrooms were too far apart. Apple Fries are totally worth it!
Leave time for creation stations and let your kids be kid but stay attentive for safety and inclusivity.
AND REMEMBER … Patience is key—focus on your kids, not others. Be mindful in crowded LEGO areas and maintain your own boundary of fun!

Hope EVERYTHING about this IS AWESOME!

XoXo

Britt

Its been a few weeks since our staycation at the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, and Atlas keeps asking if we can go back to “We-Ko-Pa-Pa!” where our family enjoyed an unforgettable experience. Here’s a glimpse into our delightful itinerary and the fantastic time we had and Phoenix’s first Casino and new fam fav and Finding Arizona FIND.

Thursday, Check-in and Property Tour - Our adventure began with a warm welcome and an effortless check-in process. We all arrived as a family, with my parents visiting from San Diego. We thought a suite could accommodate some bomb babysitters for Atlas, making it a perfect setup. After checking in, we were greeted by Gail Manginelli, who took us on a fascinating tour of the property. Gail’s insights made us appreciate the resort's unique charm, and we were especially impressed by the resort's ties to the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

Pool Time! Next, we hit the pool, our favorite spot at the resort. Atlas, our little fish, loves the water just like his mama! The waterfalls were a big hit, and the pool depths were perfect for a casual cool-off or a full swim. It was the ideal way to start our staycation.

7 pm - Dinner at Ember - Jose and I had the pleasure of enjoying a date night dinner at Ember, the resort’s signature restaurant. We were treated to shared bites from the kitchen and a welcome glass of champagne to kick off the night. My favorite part was the piano player who rocked the evening with fantastic tunes. It was a lovely way to wind down and connect with out our extra co host.

Friday am Early Morning Dip - The next morning, the family started our day with a refreshing dip in the pool, being the first ones in to watch the fountains turn on. It was a serene and magical experience.

Breakfast at Ahnala - Before our podcast recording ,Jose and I got to enjoy a nice breakfast at Ahnala. Breakfast is my favorite and the Starbucks coffee was exactly what I needed. We stuffed ourselves again and enjoyed a producer prep conversation before our interivew.

9 am - Podcast with Liz Norton - We then recorded a podcast with Liz Norton, the Acting Marketing Director of We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort. Jose, as the host, led a wonderful conversation where Liz shared fascinating stories about the resort. Her personal anecdotes and genuine passion for her work added a special touch to our conversation. You can watch the full episode HERE.

11 am - Massages - After a busy morning, Jose and I treated ourselves to a relaxing one-hour massage. The skilled therapists worked their magic, melting away our stress and leaving us rejuvenated. It was the perfect way to conclude our staycation while Atlas, Papa and GG got some fun suite time in. You have to SEE the vlog to see what we walked into

Hotel Atlas" was a vibe! Atlas strutted around with a straw in his stuff, danced up and down the elevators, and snacked his way through the days. His joyful energy was contagious and added an extra layer of fun to our stay. The overall family feel of the resort was fantastic. Everyone had a great time, including grandpa, who hit his favorite game and cashed out as a winner. Bingo!

Until next time

XoXo

Britt