Minifigure Speedway Opening Day – Legoland Windsor
So Coaster 2 out of 4 Opening day, 2024 is certainly getting a lot of investment. This time we were off to Legoland Windsor to try out their new duelling coasters manufactured by Zierer Rides. These coasters sit on the hill outside the Mansion building on the site of the previous Raft Racers (or Xtreme Team Challenge if your old school like me). Imagine changing a 100pph set of 2 raft slides to build a 600pph plus duelling family rollercoaster, its kind of a no brainer!
We arrived at approx. 9:30, entrance ton the park was already open, really quick with security and bag checks and we toom a leisurely stroll to Minifgure Speedway. The queue had not opened yet so a “pre queue” was heading down the hill side towards miniland. An opening ceremony with the CEO of Legoland parks there to push the button and officially open the ride. 10am came, a big countdown then with a poof of smoke, the queue opened just as the ride was sent round the tracks. A really good atmosphere and loads of entertainments in the area… including a DJ! The entertainments staff had minifigure speedway jumpsuits on (like a pit crew), I am a sucker for a themed uniform.
After about a 25 minute wait… honestly the team were throwing the trains out! We got to the front of the queue, we were put on team “Legends” which was the blue side. There is a pre show where your team captain is chosen and we got “butterfly girl” some of the names are quite funny – of course these come from the names of the actual Lego Minifigures. One thing to note that helps the efficiency, they can load the airgates while the ride is running, it just has to have done the first drop through the station, good planning legoland!
So the Ride itself, wow it was more than I expected. There is audio on the lift hills, lights to start the race and the backwards section is the most intense. At the end of the ride the video screens in the station show who won and then says “time for a driver change”, nice touch! Having ridden both sides, I would say I Prefer Team All Stars! The Exit to the ride is a bit weird, wiggling your way back to the main pathway, but it has been clever how they have managed to fit the ride, queue and photo booth in what was raft racers.
Unfortunately, there were some negatives to the opening day…. The queueline, covered in mud and just looked rushed, this needs a good jetwash as soon as possible. The other thing to notice, which was being worked on was landscaping, below the lift hills and below the main coaster areas was just mud, no real grass or turf yet. The concrete/mud look does ruin the aesthetic of the ride quite a bit, but I am sure this will be worked on throughout the year! One final thing I would love to see if more audio from the main entrance down the path past “Roxie racer”, this area had no music playing and its also where the ride exit was, a few speakers would improve the atmosphere around the back end of the ride. Overall these are just small nitbits but I wont complain as the last bigger coaster Legoland built was Jungle Coaster in 2004, so great to see Legoland having more family rides and not just rides for smaller kids!!!
Overall a great opening, on time and the ride had no downtime at all! Just a few little its to finish off and it’s a great addition to the resort. I will also like to add the amount of TLC that has gone into the park… The Dragon, Laser Raiders and Fairy Tale Brook had all their animations working and looked amazing! Pirate falls was meant to be “closed all day” due to technical issues, but the team got it open around 3pm! The park seemed to be running the best is has since covid, keep it up Legoland we had a great day. I also managed to get a lovely fish and chips for lunch, with annual pass discount this was just under £10, please please Aramark keep this food location open, its so nice not to have to eat burgers, chicken or pizza at a theme park!!!
