Who's been to Billund (Legoland)?

[StillWantingADog]

Hello
so am off next week with two DS aged 10 and 8. Very excited, wanted to go since I was their age, never made it. Trying to work out what to do each day and book tickets so as to save a bit of money and hopefully avoid issues/queueing. Time is tight with not quite three full days

General plan is
Day 0 travel - getting in quite late (c 10pm)
Day 1 Lego House. We may not manage a super early start but it is almost opposite our hotel which should be easy peasy.
Day 2 Legoland - we will be there when the gates open
Day 3 Aquadome at Lalandia plus milling around in Billund a bit (?) and early dinner before heading back to airport, flight at 9.30pm.

Thoughts on the above? Main issue is is Lalandia enough to amuse for at least most of the afternoon? Or should I consider getting a 2 day pass for legoland and spending at least a bit of time there on day 3. Can't get a feel for how big lalandia is but it's bloody expensive so hopefully worth the money (my sons LOVE waterparks so will be happy even if I'm bored). Also not sure if legoland is worthy of more than one full day. Am hopeful that there will not be too bad queues as the Danish kids have gone back to school etc so hopefully we can cover it in one day.

No possibility of adding a fourth day unfortunately but would consider going back if we enjoy it, probably combining with Copenhagen next time

Advice welcome, I'm already exhausted thinking about it.

"For a longer trip, I'll also throw Odessa and Ribe into the mix (the latter has a decent little Youth Hostel)."

Odessa is a bit dangerous right now, but Odense is fine and has loads of Hans Christian Andersen things to do and a good railway museum. A longer trip to the southern part of Jutland could also take in Sønderborg and Tønder.

We've not been to Billund since they finished the Lego House, but they certainly used to let people into Legoland free for the last 90 minutes or so.

They don’t do this any more unfortunately because I heard someone asking about it while we were there last week.

I'm a total newbie to billund, but would love to take my son over a long weekend, from Hampshire area. We can't do water parks, he's 9. What's essential to fit in and how could we do it? We'd be a bit tight for cash, as in not unlimited, but can save enough hopefully. Happy to explore any accommodation options nearby.

Forgot to say thank you.

@SuperSange

Billund is essentially 4 attractions: Legoland, Lego House, Lalandia and WOW Park. With the exception of WOW, all are located within a few minutes of the airport and much of Billund is walkable. In the summer, a shuttle bus links these with the hotels (you can stay at Legoland and Lalandia) and even WOW is only a 10 minute taxi ride from the centre if there is not a convenient bus (the bus stop is 15 mins. walk from the park).

WOW Park is an outdoor adventure playground park, so great in the summer but not so good once the weather turns cold and wet. Lalandia and Lego House are obviously indoors, so good at any time of the year. Legoland opens for limited themed seasons in the winter - e.g. Halloween and Christmas, both of which are spectacular but can be cold - but really the time to go is from Spring to the end of September, avoiding the European school holidays of July and early August. Late August is great for English visitors as most of Europe has gone back to school by then.

As for a long weekend, Billund is easy to do. There are regular flights from Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. Ryanair tickets can be under £100 return.

Accommodation: As well as the Lego Hotel and Lalandia, there is a perfectly good and affordable Zleep Hotel right next to the airport and several other options - look at the usual booking sites.

@Havanananana That's so helpful thank you! Is it the same as here, busy on weekends and quieter in the week? We get a long weekend of inset days end of June/early July so seems a good time to go. I think you can fly from Heathrow too, from a quick look. That's an easy drive. I've not checked Gatwick but both are doable. Thanks so much, I struggle with the logistics of big places and get overwhelmed with details if I've not been somewhere. ❤️

@SuperSange
I am going next week with boys aged 10 and 8 so will report back but the whole attraction of Billund is that everything is very close together, even the airport is within walking distance (though there are free buses that go to and fro).
I get the impression that once there it will be expensive but if you book early with Ryanair it's cheap (though the flights are mostly very early or very late) and the combined lego house and legoland 2 day ticket is £72 which I think is ok by theme park standards. There are lots of accommodation options - legoland has some basic cabins that look fine - we have opted for a cheapish hotel.

Overall I think for a short break it looks reasonable and more importantly practically quite easy.

One word of caution if you're going off season - legoland and lego house have reduced opening hours and even shut. Next week is the last week before the midweek shutdown at legoland for example. I think they are open at weekends all year but do check this (easy to find on website) before booking.

@StillWantingADog Thanks so much. It'll be open in June /July though, won't it. I think the flight from Heathrow is BA.

Yes almost certainly

BA def flies from Heathrow, will be fine and probably at more sociable times but not as cheap as ryanair.

@SuperSange we looked at the BA flights (Also Hampshire) but in the end the timings / days didn’t work for us - and it was still more expensive than Ryanair + an airport hotel. We ended up driving to Birmingham & flying from there (easier drive than Stansted & the m25). Our flight was an early morning one so we drove the night before & stayed in the Novotel right by the airport. Made for an easy start to the day (though early!) and then we hit Legoland as soon as we arrived. Excitement kept us all going!

@SuperSange

Billund is by no stretch of the imagination a "big place"! It is a large village/small town in the middle of Jutland that has thrived thanks to Lego, but just about everywhere is easily reached on foot or using the shuttle buses, or a taxi. You could probably walk from one end to the other in half an hour.

As others have pointed out, BA also fly there from Heathrow.

Thanks, but the combi ticket is showing as more expensive for me? A combi ticket 2 adults and 2 children is coming up as 2516DKK.
Whereas if I book the two attractions separately it’s quoting me 1076DKK for Lego House and 998DKK for Legoland using the 2-4-1 code making a total of 2074DKK for both.

@Bananaspliff
relooked at my maths and you're quite right. You have to pay more for the 1 part of the 2 for 1 than you would normally - 499 rather than 359 however I was counting 499 four times rather than twice!

So total 2074 as you say , right I'm happier now!

I'm sure you're aware but lego house mini chef is pretty booked up for next week already - no spaces for lunch but we've got a reservation at the end of the day.

I'm a bit disappointed however that legohouse closes at 4 and legoland at 5 next week.

Glad I’ve saved you a few quid!
That’s a shame it’s booked up, we weren’t planning to eat there as my DH is coeliac and there doesn’t seem to be any allergen info. I’ve literally got half a suitcase full of gluten free food to take with us.
I didn’t realise they both close so early, how annoying! I’m going to get my attraction tickets booked up tonight, really need to start packing!

I went last August with DC's 12 and 10. Best tip I would give is to go in the 2nd half of August. The Danish kids go back to school then so there were zero queues. We went around 18th August and some of the rides st legoland they went on, then ran round and got straight on again! This week meant we still got the longer opening hours for lego house and lego land but far less busy. We stayed 4 days- 1 full day each at lego house, legoland and the aqua park.

We stayed at lalandia- I much preferred this as I used the massive supermarket on site and cooked very basic meals in the evening to save money. We then got free entry to the aqua park - the kids spent one entire day there - literally 10 til 6 - and we went back there the day we flew home as the flight wasn't until 3. They allow you to use anything on the park on the day you've checked out, which was a big bonus.

I came back on 8th August, had the most amazing time, definitely enough to keep you occupied in Lalandia for the day! The one thing I hadn’t really realised is that the food is extortionate and drink are ridiculously expensive. Lego house food cost £92 for four with a small soft drink each, it was eye watering especially for a northerner😂 btw lots of people had bikini/swimming costumes on in the showers there’s nobody policing it and the life guards lit couldn’t care less.

Legoland was very busy in the afternoon but the morning was quiet we got on more rides in the first two hours than the rest of the day. I wouldn’t bother buying a two day ticket in advance as I noticed they did a special deal where if you came back within six days of your visit you could enter for just 99dkk per person!

I know lots of people say legohouse is worth two days but my Lego fanatic boys had, had enough by the end of the day, we arrived at 10.30 and by 5pm they were ready for home.

dont pay for transport anywhere there’s a free bus service around all the tourist places and big hotels and airport. The sign is yellow and just says shuttle bus on it.

@StillWantingADog

just saw your update about mini chef, really don’t worry if you don’t get in. I’m Not a fussy eater at all but the food was horrible, I had the chicken but it tasted really fishy and the sauce was very strange. My children struggled to eat the food at mini chef and they don’t serve pudding 😑

Oh one last thing on your last day when going to lalandia make sure you have a 20krone coin for the luggage locker, you can easily fit two large suitcases and hand luggage in one locker, they are situated right at the entrance on the back wall opposite the trampolines. They have some more situated in ‘winter world’. If you can go online and book ‘Bones’ restaurant in Lalandia for your last night, they have a robot collection dirty dishes it was my childrens favourite!

Thanks so much @Favouritefruits on the last day we are hoping to leave luggage at our hotel but this will be our back up plan.

restaurant sounds great !

@Favouritefruits I was shocked at how expensive food is in Billund too. I am not the type to make sandwiches to take out. We are 2 adults and 2 kids and a burger meal in the cowboy area in Legoland was over £100. (I have the bank app installed so I can keep an eye on spending). Even take out Mexican or hot dog cost £60-70. We completely blow our budget on food.

If anyone is booking the mini chef, order the meat balls instead. It’s ok and you are there for the experience. I booked two weeks ahead and managed to get a 11.45 slot. I got the mini chef booking first and then the Legohouse earliest entry on the same day. There is no need to book anything else in advance.

DH is veggie and said the chilli sin carne at mini chef is ok too. If you don’t have high expectations of the food, you will be ok!

Food is more expensive in Denmark than in the UK when eating out, but many Danish families get round this by taking a packed lunch to places like Legoland, Lego House and WOW. It is completely acceptable - there are tables set aside for picnics - and not at all frowned upon.

Thank you for this thread. Have nothing to offer except memories of 2 wonderful holidays to Denmark in 1969 and 1972 staying on a working farm just outside Veijle. I remember going to the local swimming pool and even then everyone showered naked and being an adolescent I was mortified!
We went to Legoland which was fantastic and my abiding memory was losing a tooth in the restaurant there!
Saw Tollund man which as children my brothers and I found both disgusting and fascinating.
The man made beaches were there in Veijle and we swam a lot.
The Hans Christian Andersen museum was wonderful, I'd been brought up on his fairytales.
I also discovered a love of sliced cucumber in sugar and white vinegar and open sandwiches!
Hope you have a wonderful time!

We are just back from 5 days in Billund.

we stayed at Lalandia, and loved it. Cabin was clean and spacious (we had a 4 bedroom one), with a well provisioned kitchen (enough crockery and cutlery to last more than one meal, actually sharp knives/veg peeler etc).

we enjoyed the water park, although we are not massive swimming fans. The changing rooms are refreshing - I was actually quite pleased to be somewhere where my dd (19 with SN) flinging her clothes off without a care in the world was not unusual 😂

we loved the Lego house. Go early, there’s a LOT to see and do. We spent the whole day there, and we’re so tired by the end of it that even Lego obsessed ds agreed to come back and shop another day! (He only agreed because he wanted to be able to have a proper poke around, and it was worth it, again a lot to see). We all got really into the various building challenges and activities - even dd2 (16) who is not really a Lego fan anymore - she expected to enjoy it as a family day out, but she actually really loved it for herself too.

legoland was fab for us. It’s quiet anyway, but with a ‘show consideration’ wristband courtesy of dd1 (the equivalent of ride access pass), we were literally walking onto every single ride. It’s a small park area-wise, but there are some really great rides. The Lego movie ride is way better than the Mythica one at legoland Windsor.

we spent a day driving over to Jelling to see the carved stones, and the museum there (free entry) was amazing. I could easily have spent the whole day there, but my uncultured feral children didn’t agree, despite some of the most innovative hands-on exhibits that I’ve ever seen. Really worth a visit.

eating out was REALLY expensive. I don’t think we got away with a single meal under £120, even the decidedly dodgy burgers at legoland. Usually nearer £150-180 for the 5 of us. For the most part (setting aside dodgy theme park burgers), the food was good. We ate at mini chef, and found the food was ok. Amazing bread, and the mains were on the good side, although limited choice and not necessarily combinations that you would put together yourself (even though you have to, so to speak) - I had salmon, which was good. Dd1 had meatballs and pasta, which she ate ok. Dd2 had chicken which she said was weird, and ds had the meatballs I think (can’t remember, and he spent most of the meal fiddling with Lego anyway). All were fine apart from the chicken. The veg sides were good, and it was nice to see fresh fruit as an option. No pudding is a bit odd (especially given the price!) but we just went upstairs and got an ice cream.

the bakery down the road from the Lego house is amazing. We had some really lovely sandwiches from there, and good cakes too.

we will definitely be back next year - there was so much we didn’t get around to doing at Lalandia, and want to go to Wow park, and I’d happily add in more museums/viking stuff.