Legoland New York’s Water Playground Opens

Legoland New York keeps adding to its attractions. Now in its third season of operation, the mega Hudson Valley theme park has debuted its long-anticipated Water Playground and we got an early look at the wet-and-wild fun.

From how to nab coveted reservations, to all the other fun in store this season, here are our parent-and-kid-tested tips for visiting the Legoland New York Water Playground. Coming from afar? Consider pairing your theme park visit with an overnight at the on-site Legoland New York Hotel, too.

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Legoland New York’s Water Playground offers a multilevel play area, plus slides from varied heights. Photo courtesy of Legoland New York

Legoland New York Water Playground Reservations

Legoland New York’s Water Playground is practically guaranteed to be a hot ticket this summer. The good news, though, is the Water Playground is included with general admission. The bad news: Reservations are required.

The Legoland New York reservation system opens at 7am each day, and time slots are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserve ‘N’ Ride helps guests find a reservation time slot, which lasts just 20 minutes. When you’ve scored a coveted spot, make sure to include both adults and children in your count. All children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult 18 years old or older.

Guests can book multiple sessions, but it depends on park traffic and number of reservations made that day. The first splash session begins one hour after the park opens. So, on days Legoland New York opens at 10am, then the Water Playground welcomes guests beginning at 11am.

RELATED: Best Sprinkler Parks and Splash Pads near Westchester

Pose with playful Lego Pirates during your visit to the Legoland New York Water Playground. 

Legoland Water Playground Highlights

The Legoland New York Water Playground is home to multiple slides, water spouts, and a 318-gallon tipping bucket. In short, there are plenty of ways to play here. The water playground is great for all ages to indulge even adults. Kids taller than 40 inches can ride all the slides, while those between 36 inches and 40 inches can ride the two lower slides. And don’t be shy: Even adults are welcome to play in the Legoland New York Water Playground!

My son wasn’t into the water slides, but he still had a blast exploring the splash pad and playing with the water spouts. While he didn’t want to stand under the fall of the tipping bucket, watching from afar was plenty of fun. A loud bell rings multiple times before it tips, so pay attention.

Of course, there are plenty of photo-ops here with popular Lego characters, including plenty of Lego Pirates. This was a highlight for my kid!

The 20-minute splash session might fly by, but we had plenty of time to explore all the slides and features during our visit. It helps to arrive 10-15 minutes before your session, prepared with bathing suits on, sunscreen applied, and ready in your water shoes.

There are plenty of lifeguards on duty to keep things safe, including those stationed atop every slide. Their presence really made the experience more enjoyable.

Life jackets are available to borrow if you want your kid to wear one—find them near the entrance and the outdoor showers and changing rooms. The water here is zero-entry, and it never gets deeper than half a foot.

If you forgot any supplies at home, there is a retail store on-site with necessities like towels, bucket hats, swim diapers, and more available for purchase. There are dryers near the exit should you need them when you’re done.

RELATED: Best Amusement Parks for Preschoolers in and near NYC

The fun doesn’t end when your Water Playground session is over because the Build-a-Boat water table awaits. 

Build-a-Boat at the Legoland New York Water Playground

After leaving the main water playground, there is a Build-a-Boat area, which was easily my son’s favorite part. We spent more than an hour inside, and there are no time limits here. Grab a boat and then head to one of the Lego stations to build your own racing boat. Once completed, get the boat ready to take to the water with one of four racing launchers. Creativity is unlimited, and Lego fans can tinker with their designs as much as they like. Water shoes are required here as well, so make sure you keep them on to avoid slips and trips.

Is the Legoland Water Playground Worth the Hype?

My son (5 years old) and I would definitely suggest adding a Water Playground session to your next Legoland New York day. The Water Playground is really just an added attraction versus a draw unto itself. That’s why a 20-minute session felt right for us. The unlimited time in the Build-a-Boat section really made it worth the trip.

Best Times to Visit Legoland Water Playground

I would suggest fitting in Legoland New York’s Water Playground before lunch break. Start in the Lego Pirate World and enjoy two water-related rides there before changing and heading to the Water Playground. Plenty of food options await after you’ve splashed.

Another option would be to save your Water Playground visit for the end and explore the rest of the worlds before you take a dip.

Know Before You Go

• Legoland New York tickets must be purchased online in advance; Water Playground reservations open at 7am daily and are also booked online.
• Bring water shoes! The playground can get slippery. Crocs and Native-style shoes also work here.
• Don’t forget to pack a towel and bathing suit. Kids might also appreciate goggles for the gigantic water bucket dump. Lastly, it’s a good idea to bring a waterproof pouch for your phone or even a simple zip-top baggie so you can take photos of your kids.
• The Legoland New York Water Playground is located between Lego Pirates and Lego City. As you enter the park, go behind the carousel, past Miniland, and you are right there.
• Pro tip: Change into a bathing suit at Lego Pirates or Lego City prior to your session. There are regular bathrooms as well as family bathrooms in both worlds. While there are changing rooms inside the water playground, it’s best to arrive ready to splash!
• Arrive a few minutes before your scheduled time slot and have your QR code ready for staff to scan.
• Strollers are not allowed inside, but stroller parking is located to the left of the entrance.
• There are enough chairs to store a bag or two while you enjoy the Legoland New York Water Playground as there are no lockers inside. I felt totally safe leaving mine unattended, and there are lifeguards around surveying the whole scene as well.

Unless noted, photo by the author