Overall:
The park is very clean for Malaysian standards and the staff are generally quite enthusiastic (not sure if it is because the park was new). The rides are in general able to cope with the crowds so the longest wait time my group had was about 20mins (Lost Kingdom Adventure). While this park has a massive kids areas all over, there are still a few adult friendly attractions, such as world famous Miniland with its usual attention to detail and the robotics hands on experience Lego Mindstorms.Food in the park is considered acceptable for theme parks, and it is surprisingly cheaper than Genting Highlands in Malaysia, averaging RM15 per meal. Ride photos are also much cheaper than other nearby attractions, at RM30 (compared to SGD20 in USS and RM 50 in Genting).
Lego Technic:
This is the first area guests enter after The Beginning. This area has several flat rides, but its main attraction is a Wild Mouse roller coaster called Project X (It is identical to Lego Technic Test Track at other Legoland Parks). This is the largest standard layout model of Mack Rides' Wild Mouse, and I can say it is the most thrilling ride of the park. The opening 18m high 45 degree drop is more intense than the 50 degree drop in revenge of the mummy, and the switchback (tight turn from one side to another) section feels a lot more intense than it looks on the ground.[tip] Most visitors take this ride the moment they enter the park, so skipping it and heading to Lego Kingdoms first can save you quite a bit of queue time.
Other spinning rides in the park includes a water based "carousel" called Aquazone Wave Racers, a the spinning teacups ride Technic Twister. The Mindstorms attraction is also here, but I will discuss it further in a seperate section.
Lego Kingdoms:
Themed after the namesake Lego product line, Lego Kingdoms is one of the more elaborately themed areas of the park. Here, the extra 26 acres over USS really shows itself, as the large green fields and adjoining vegetation really gives the place the feel of an artificial medieval kingdom (or more precisely, just like the lego sets). There are a number of game stalls which charge RM2-5 (I forgot) per game, though the chance of winning anything is quite low.
However, the area's signature attraction is the Dragon, which is also the signature attraction of the park. It is not as intense as Project X, and I personally rank it as the best roller coaster in Asia for first time riders. The ride first enters a dark ride portion, followed by a small drop before reaching the main hill. As the ride operates 3 trains (2 at any one time), queues move really fast and wait times rarely exceed 15 minutes.
For those seeking a tamer experience, there is also Dragon's Apprentice. Merlin's Challenge (high speed spinning ride) is in my opinion the most giddy-inducing ride in the whole park. There is a kids exclusive attraction Royal Joust (I was turned down the opportunity to ride) and a large playground called the Forestman's Hideout.
Imagination:
This is the real kid's paradise. Large, oversized lego bricks are mixed with a myriad of locations for children to test and build anything from cars to earthquake resistant skyscrapers. In the rain, this area is the most crowded as most indoor attractions are here (The entire Duplo play area is sheltered but not enclosed).
For adults, the only attraction of any attractiveness here is the Lego Studios, a 3D Theatre. The capacity of this theatre is quuite small so my group had to wait 3 runs of show before it was our turn (this never happens at Shrek 4D). As with most Malaysian 3D theatres, this one shows 2-3 different shows throughout the day. However, one thing I hate is the 3 minute long commercial before the show begins. The 3D effect is only comparable to cinema, and is nowhere near theme park standards.
There are 2 tall rides Kid Power Towers and Observation Tower. The former is like the parachute attractions at funfair parks and allows riders to control their ascend and descend. The latter is a good ride but is just way too short (no time to catch the views), and I don't understand why since the ride is not so popular anyways and there is no harm programming the ride to be a little longer.
Land of Adventure:
This is the Lego equivalent of Adventureland in Disneyland or Lost World in Universal Studios. Unfortunately, the theming is really pathetic compared to the other 2 brands. In spite of this, the individual attractions here are quite interesting.
The main ride here has got to be Dino-Island. This log flume has quite a tall drop and you will get a lot wetter than Jurassic Park at USS. However, the ride is very short, has very little excitement build-up before the drop, and I somehow feel that the soundtrack and visual effects are not very in sync.
Further in, the forest gives way to the desert and one can find attractions like Beetle Bounce (a mini drop tower), Pharoah's Revenge (a softball play area) and Lost Kingdom Adventure (indoor shooting ride). Lost Kingdom Adventure somehow has the longest queues, and I think I can understand why as it combines Treasure Hunters (the most popular kids ride in USS) and Toy Story Midway Mania, albeit in a quirky way.
Lego City:
This is another kids paradise. This area has the largest concentration of kids only attractions and showcases the Lego impression of a utopian city. Kids will really love the Driving School and Junior Driving School, and they is so popular that it requires advance reservations earlier in the day. However, the ride enforces age limits very strictly so if you are 14 and above, forget it.
I do not understand why the Boating School attraction brings such a long queue. It is just a boring ride through an open lake and I think Madagascar: A Crate Adventure is like 10 times better (yet the queue is never more than 5 mins). The most publicised attraction here is the Fire Academy, and I can assure you that participating in it just once is already really tiring (and many kids want to do it several times, so parents, good luck)
There is an amphitheatre there though my team did not watch the show as the title of "Scream (something)" just did not invoke our excitement. There is a Lego City Airport that is similar to Dumbo though I really hope they can add a Flying School themed Winged Coaster there just to cater the park to wider demographics.
Miniland:
This is the centerpiece of all Legoland parks, and the Malaysian version is just as detailed and vibrant as its European counterparts. However, one will not find the leaning tower of Pisa or the Empire State Building here. Instead, local icons like Petronas Twin Towers and Singapore Flyer. I just don't like it that they choose to display the minor port of Tanjung Pelapas instead of the far grander, second busiest in the world port in Singapore.
Lego Mindstorms:
Although this attraction is under Lego Technic, I think it deserves a seperate section. It allows participants to program robots to complete a mission. It is really exciting as the attraction uses real robots and not just computer simulations like, say in Disneyquest. Each session is only 30 minutes so there is no guarantee one can finish the missions.
As this attraction has really limited slots (less than 200 a day), you must really book well in advance if you want to participate. My group booked at 11am and there was only the 6pm and 6.30pm slot left. You need to be faster here than for Disney Fastpasses.
Dining:
The park features a wide variety of food ranging from Western to local delights like chicken rice and fried kway teow. However, the quality is only mediocre. Meals here start from RM15 and comes with drinks. Unlike other parks, every restaurant here is quick service and every one features at least 2 kids set meals. However, I feel that the dining venues here are more cramped and noisy than at USS so it does not feel as relaxing.
Other remarks:
Unless you take specialised tour buses, transportation to the park is going to be a real headache. If you are thinking of taking public buses, I really suggest you take taxi instead as Malaysian taxis are actually reasonably priced and the Johor bus network is pathetic to say the least. Beware of rainy weather, as almost all the signature attractions are outdoors and will be closed once it rains.
Also, I am amazed at the extent of damaged facilities at the park so early from opening. Just see for yourself in the photos below.
Overall:
My experience in Legoland was a pleasant one, even though it is less exciting than other parks. My group had great fun spotting the "damages" that the park incurred and the guys really loved the Dragon. In fact, that day, I broke my personal record for the most number of roller coaster rides in 1 day (11), and it has held to this day. The number of attractions is adequate such that we did not have to rush from 1 place to another, though for anyone other than kids I think 1 visit is already enough.
Roller Coasters: ***
Thrill Rides: *
3D/Simulators: **
Kids Areas: ****
Interactive attractions: *****
Shows: *
Dining: ***
Price: ****
Overall: ***
Photos without SecondDrop tag belongs to Legoland Malaysia
