I have a love-hate relationship with hosting events. As much as I love decorating and doing all those special extras for a party or gathering, it never fails: While I do everything in my power to make it the birthday of my kid’s dreams, be it Bluey or Minecraft, the people pleaser in me inevitably rears her ugly head. And I often find myself caring more about the individual guests than about the guest of honor.
What date is best for the other guests? What time of day is most convenient for them? What will they want to eat? What about the people who haven’t RSVPed — do I stalk them (for my son’s sake, of course) or assume they are a no? Will the parents view the party favor bags as clever or wasteful? Joey’s mom hosted his party at the trampoline park, so do I opt for the trampoline park, too, so it feels even? It is exhausting, both mentally and physically.
This year, it was a no-brainer. A weekend trip to LEGOLAND Florida Resort in lieu of a party at home — done and done. Luckily, my soon-to-be 8-year-old was thrilled to forgo his friends coming over in exchange for a stay at the one and only Pirate Island Hotel. Simply put? No regrets. Read on for a few reasons why choosing a LEGOLAND birthday over hosting a party was a great decision for us.
READ: Adventure to LEGOLAND’s Pirate Island Hotel for the Weekend
It’s a hotel that truly caters to kids.
I’ve always been curious about the hype surrounding the Pirate Island Hotel — and now, I get it. Have you ever been to a hotel that caters to kids? From the moment we set foot inside, my kiddos were mesmerized. Brightly colored LEGO bricks are everywhere, and it’s all hands-on! Parents, rejoice because this is definitely not the place where you have to shout, “Don’t touch that! Stop running!” They even kicked off our stay with an in-room scavenger hunt, resulting in a build-your-own minifigure and other goodies. There’s also the resort-style pool, complete with a waterslide and larger-than-life floating LEGO bricks, and it’s all mere steps away from the theme park. Plus, if your kid isn’t into pirates, you can choose from the LEGOLAND Hotel and the LEGOLAND Beach Retreat.
They make the birthday special, so you don’t have to!
You’ve already footed the hotel bill, right? For a little extra, you can request the Birthday Package, which includes fun extras like a banner, pillowcase, throw blanket, playing cards, LEGO building sets, and more! When going into the park, you can request a birthday button from guest services and have their name listed on the Birthday Board by sending a message to LEGOLAND Florida on Facebook or Instagram (include your child’s name, age, and date of their birthday).
Trust — it’s fun for adults, too.
I discovered that I love building with LEGO bricks, too — there’s something so mindless and relaxing about it. The hotel has in-house restaurants (the food was good), so you don’t have to worry about meal planning. Definitely make a reservation at the onsite Shipwreck Restaurant, which serves up an all-you-can-eat, 3-course family-style meal. And did I mention the full bar? It’s set up right by the events room, so you can have a drink or mocktail while the kids are building to their hearts’ desire or jamming out during the nightly pajama dance party.
Oh, and there’s a theme park.
Did I mention LEGOLAND itself? It’s just south of Orlando and makes for a fantastic day trip if you don’t want to stay overnight. My kids are LEGO fanatics, and they were obsessed with the rides and the NINJAGO excitement. (We went during NINJAGO Weekends — check out the website for more seasonal events!) There are rides for all ages, from my sometimes-cautious 5-year-old to my rollercoaster-loving husband. The best part? We went on a Saturday in February, and the wait times were not bad.
READ: 12 Must-Read Tips Before Visiting LEGOLAND Florida
So, do I recommend the LEGOLAND birthday experience over cleaning my house and hosting a bunch of kids? Yes. Would we do it again? Definitely.
Have you ever experienced a LEGOLAND birthday? Sound off with your thoughts!
