Central Florida's Newest Theme Park To Hire 800 Remaining Employees Before October 15 Opening

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (June 1, 2011) - Imagine being one of LEGOLAND Florida's Model Citizens (the Park's affectionate term for its employees) poised at the front gate on October 15 welcoming the very first guest through the turnstiles at the 150-acre family-fun theme park. That person could be one of the remaining 800 Model Citizens selected in the massive hiring spree starting at LEGOLAND Florida, Central Florida's newest theme park. Those interested in positions in operations, food service and retail may apply online at www.LEGOLAND.com/jobs starting now.

LEGOLAND Florida will have more than 50 rides, shows and attractions when the family theme park opens on October 15. From ride operators who safely launch the iconic Dragon Coaster to line cooks who create delicious Granny's Apple Fries, the Park will be filled with a total of 1,000 employees at opening. With the Park being focused on entertaining families with children ages 2-12, hiring responsible and friendly employees is a top priority.

"Customer service and a kid-focused approach are two key attributes we're looking for in a LEGOLAND Florida 'Model Citizen,'" remarked Teresa Vaughn, director of Human Resources. "We call our employees 'Model Citizens' because that's what we expect."

"With the unemployment level in Polk County at 10.8% as of April 2011, we are thrilled that LEGOLAND Florida has decided to call Winter Haven home," Paula Bohnstedt, assistant director for Polk Works. "I truly believe LEGOLAND Florida will be the catalyst we need to launch continuous growth and success in Polk County."

Due to the high number of jobs being offered, all applications must be submitted on-line through the jobs portal. For applicants without computers, Polk Works or local libraries are great options for publicly accessed computers. Once selected, candidates will participate in assessments to evaluate how well they work in a team. For more information: www.LEGOLAND.com; Facebook.com/LEGOLANDFlorida and Twitter @LEGOLANDFlorida.

LEGOLAND Florida opens October 15, 2011 and will be a 150-acre interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. Located midway between Orlando and Tampa, just 45 minutes from either city center, the park
features more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. There are currently four other LEGOLAND Parks in the world - LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND Deutschland near Gunzburg, Germany and LEGOLAND Windsor outside of London. The LEGOLAND theme parks are a part of Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest attractions operator in the world. For the most current information, log on to www.LEGOLAND.com.

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe's Number 1 and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates over 74 attractions, six hotels/two holiday villages in 17 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 43.6 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 15,000 employees. Merlin Entertainments operates the following attractions - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Heide Park, Earth Explorer, Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, Sydney Tower Observatory and Skywalk, Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter Underwater World, Oceanworld Manly and Hamilton Island Koala Gallery. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative - and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.