Pirate River Quest Now Open at LEGOLAND Florida - Adventure Through The Canals of Cypress Gardens

Ahoy there lads and lassies! As we look forward to a new year of new attractions here in the theme park capital of the world, the first new attractions to open in 2023 is at LEGOLAND Florida.

Pirate River Quest officially opened today, January 12, at the family theme park, LEGOLAND Florida in Winter Haven.

The all new water ride takes visitors on a 20 minute, captain- driven LEGO boat through the natural passageways of Lake Eloise and the historic Cypress Gardens, on the site that LEGOLAND Florida now resides.

Considered Florida’s first tourist attraction, Cypress Gardens Botanical Gardens first opened to the public on January 2, 1936, and was home to the Cypress Gardens Southern Belles and the world famous Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show.

The park operated until 2003, reopening as Cypress Gardens Adventure Park from 2004 until 2009, before LEGOLAND Florida opened on the site in October, 2011.

Boats began taking guests on tours through the canals of Cypress Gardens in 1938 and would become an iconic element of the gardens until 2003.

Twenty years later, LEGOLAND Florida Resort has now back the historic canal boats with a LEGO twist!

Pirate River Quest utilizes much of the same canal route as the original attraction, with the finale taking guests out onto Lake Eloise for a view of the gardens that are not often seen.

A few of the boats at Pirate River Quest have been named in honor of various parts of Cypress Gardens and LEGO history.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Pope’s Plunder (named after the original founders of Cypress Gardens, Dick and Julie Pope), Kristiansen’s Ketch (named after the founder of The LEGO Group, Ole Kirk Kristiansen), The Cypress Belle and The Treasure of Eloise.

While aboard Pirate River Quest, guests will get a special view of the historic Florida Pool, initially built as a film set for the 1953 MGM film “Easy to Love” starring Esther Williams.

On the new attraction, LEGOLANDO Florida invite guests to set sail with a rowdy crew of LEGO pirates on Captain’s orders to explore the murky waters and retrieve the lost treasure, stolen by a troop of mischievous monkeys.

Journey through the uncharted waters of the legendary Cypress Gardens and discover the secrets protecting its canals, as this all-new story unfolds brick by brick into a family-friendly treasure hunt. Adventure awaits you at LEGOLAND on Pirate River Quest.

“What is significant about this ride is that we are bringing boats back to the original Cypress Gardens canals for the first time since we’ve been operating Legoland Florida Resort,” said Rex Jackson, managing director of Legoland Resorts, North America. “It’s a phenomenal area of the resort.”

Anyone can ride Pirate River Quest, and the new attraction doesn’t have a height requirement, although children younger than 6 will need to wear a park provided life vest for the duration of the ride.

Pirate River Quest is located in the Pirate Cove section of the park, next to the popular Brickbeard’s Watersport Stunt Show.

“We’re able to really bring this area of Pirate’s Cove to life with the addition of Pirate River Quest,” Jackson added.

With the debut of Pirate River Quest at LEGOLAND Florida, the Resort is promising lots of special events and exciting entertainment that will deliver treasured moments throughout 2023, starting with Pirate Fest Weekends!

For five consecutive weekends, starting on January 21, families will enjoy pirate-packed days of play, including exclusive character meet-and-greets, exciting entertainment, LEGO builds, and specialty food–plus, it’s included with Theme Park admission or with an Annual Pass.

Plus, the resort is teasing all-new shows featuring fan-favorite characters and never-before-seen stories...

Built for kids 2-12 years old, LEGOLAND Florida Resort is a multi-day vacation destination in Winter Haven, Florida, just 45 minutes from Orlando and Tampa, that includes an interactive, 150-acre theme park with more than 50 rides, shows, and attractions, a world-famous botanical garden and the 5-acre LEGOLAND Water Park.