CARLSBAD, CA--Jan 07, 2002-- As LEGOLAND(R) California begins its fourth season, the Carlsbad family theme park is announcing the implementation of a new 299-day operating calendar for 2002. The park will now be open daily Memorial Day to Labor Day and during specific holidays in the spring and winter. The remainder of the year the park will operate five days a week, closing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The new schedule, which becomes effective Tuesday, Jan. 15, is designed to align with the visitation patterns of the park's guests who are largely families with children. The new operating calendar is posted on the park's web site for reference at www.legoland.com.
"Since we opened LEGOLAND in April of 1999, the park has entertained more than 4-million guests from all over the world," said Bill Haviluk, president of LEGOLAND California. "We have monitored those visits and found that during the first three seasons, a majority of our business takes place when kids are out of school. When children are in school, they just can't be at LEGOLAND. Consequently we have customized our hours of operation to be more in-line with the traditional school calendar."
A second reason for the change in hours, Haviluk said, is that LEGOLAND has seen significant declines in long-distance tourism since the tragic events of Sept. 11.
"We understand that since September families are just not traveling far distances like they once were," said Haviluk. "This new schedule is designed in such a way that when tourists are most likely to visit the park, we will still be open daily."
While the change in the operating schedule is expected to have a minimal impact on full and part time employment positions, according to Haviluk, it will in no way negatively impact LEGOLAND California's unyielding commitment to guest satisfaction and uncompromising entertainment value.
LEGOLAND California is a 128-acre family theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. Just like with LEGO toys, kids are the ones who make things happen at the park. They drive, pedal, squirt, climb, jump, stomp, slide, steer, pull, click, push, gallop, laugh, build and program their way through more than 40 rides and attractions. There are only two other LEGOLAND parks in the world -- LEGOLAND(R) Billund in Denmark, and LEGOLAND(R) Windsor outside of London. A fourth LEGOLAND is under construction near Gunzburg, Germany, and is scheduled to open this May.
Based in Billund, Denmark, the LEGO Company, family-owned and privately-held since its founding in 1932, is a world leader in providing quality products and experiences that stimulate children's creativity, imagination and learning. The Company does so through playful activities that encourage hands-on, minds-on creation, fun, togetherness and sharing of ideas. Company employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only the best is good enough." For more information, visit www.LEGO.com.
