Review - Texas - Grapevine - Legoland Discovery Center

March 2021 is the ten year anniversary of this hidden gem. Legoland Discovery Center is tucked in the back of the Grapevine Mills Mall and within the last few years they added a splash zone outside (open during summer hours).

It is highly recommended to pre-purchase your tickets as they may sell out as they limit the number they sell each day. You can purchase tickets online through their website. Annual passholders can make their reservations online as well.

 

 

When you arrive at the center, you will be directed into a queue. (Just a note, guests were not practicing social distancing in this line if that makes you uncomfortable.)

When you redeem your tickets/passes, you will be given one bag of bricks for each guest. These bricks have been sanitized (and you can smell it).

You then proceed to the left into the center. The green-background photo setup was not in order on the day we visited which is fine since that is an upcharge.

Miniland room contains miniature models of important places around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex including downtown, the DFW airport, Grapevine, and more. For the holidays, there were several santas hidden throughout the scenes.

 

There are rides for ages 4 and up including Kingdom Quest (shoot-em ride), Merlin's Apprentice Ride (pedaling ride), Forest Ranger Pursuit (car driving).

There is also a giant playground with Ninjago theming.

 

Even the restrooms are lego-themed and were very clean.

 

During the summer, the pirate splash zone is (usually) open.

 

 

 

 

The fun part of Legoland are all the artwork/lego creations (thanks to the resident Master Builder)

So with your individual bag of bricks, find a bowl and seat and begin building. There are racetracks if you choose to build cars/racers.

This location does have a Starbucks cafe. They also have party rooms which are currently not in operation due to Covid. At the end of your journey, there's a nice Lego shop which does contain exclusive items you can't buy anywhere else. It did get a bit busy by lunchtime and there's a limited number of building areas.

Review - Texas - San Antonio - Holiday in the Park Six Flags Fiesta Texas

The annual Holiday in the Park has started again at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and will continue through January 3rd.

You do need to make a start-time specific reservation on their website before arriving. Be sure to add parking to your purchase!

Six Flags is also offering a drive-through holiday lights experience. The cost is $14.99 per person if you purchase your tickets online or $20.00 per person at the gate, yet they still require a reservation to enter. Members get discounted tickets.

When you arrive, you will head toward the temperature-taking tent at the end of the parking lot and zig-zag through a long queue to get your temperature checked via a camera setup and then heading to the security station to have your tickets scanned and bags checked.

 

Holiday in the Park is basically Six Flags decorated with holiday themed props and lights as well as a few Christmasy shows. You can also find holiday-themed treats to purchase as well.

 

The crowds didn't show up until the sky started getting darker and the holiday lights were glowing, about 4pm (CST), just two hours before the holiday tree-lighting at 6pm (CST). There were decals placed on the ground around the tree for social distancing.

Six Flags has implemented many safety measures throughout the park in response to Covid. The restrooms, for example, all have "entry" and "exit" signs to create one-way flow in and out of the bathroom. Most people, however, don't really pay attention or follow it. One note if you have young children or babies is not every restroom has a changing table.

All the eating locations are set up with outdoor or open-door seating that is spaced out or with tables marked out. One note is we didn't see anyone cleaning the tables so be prepared to use napkins or wipes.

There were sanitizer stations throughout the park, however, the liquid smells TERRIBLE. Best to bring your own!

A few costumed characters from Looney Tunes do meet but in a socially distanced way. As you can see in this picture, Pepe Le Peu meets behind a bench area where you can sit for pictures.

 

Most of the rides were operating. The longest line seemed to be Wonder Woman. The employees were pretty diligent about spraying down the ride vehicles after every session (which adversely made lines feel longer).

Plenty of spaced out benches throughout the park to sit. Near the front is a mask-free zone where you can relax in cushioned chairs without your mask on. That was a nice area to rest for a bit with the younglings.

Overall, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is doing a good job with Covid safety measures and trying to offer a balance of fun and safety.

Review - Texas - San Antonio - Christmas Celebration at Sea World San Antonio

Sea World's annual Christmas Celebration has started and despite the new processes and many changes to the normal agenda, it was still an enjoyable visit for our family.

 

You must make a reservation to visit the park ahead of time (or same day) on their website. Be sure to add parking. No need to select a specific time slot like Six Flags. Bring your reservation barcodes with you in addition to your park entry tickets. Once you park, you will head past the Texas stonework photo-op to the white tent where they will take your temperature before you proceed to the security check and then ticket scanning.

Be sure to bring your masks!

They do have hand santizer stations throughout the park but personally I didn't like the strong aroma of their solution and was so glad that I had brought my own!

 

In the Bay of Play area for younger children, characters are meeting but in a socially distanced way (standing on a platform).

 

Also, the playground areas are closed off. Most of the other rides and activities throughout the park were operating even the splash pad.

 

Holiday decorations and photo-op statues are spread throughout the park.

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite part of the Christmas Celebration are the limited edition treats and dining opportunities. You can make reservations to eat with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus (tip - you can see Mrs. Claus wandering the park late in the day). There are refillable mugs for hot chocolate (prices vary by location). We always stock up on kettle corn as the sealed portions make great gifts.

 

 

 

As the sun starts setting, the lights come on and you will see why Sea World's Christmas Celebration is named one of the largest light displays in Texas. The lights are very bright. Be sure to check out the dancing light tunnel.

The day started out with light crowds but the people started trickling in steadily as the lights came on, but there are signs for social distancing throughout the decorated areas.

Review - Texas - Dallas - Dallas Arboretum - Holiday at the Arboretum

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...well, not quite yet. The Dallas Arboretum has just started to put up their annual Holidays at the Arboretum displays. The Christmas Market will open November 27th.

The Dallas Aboretum limits the amount of guests that can enter every day so you need to pre-order your tickets online: Dallas Arboretum.org. Be sure to add parking ($10). Members must order their passes/parking ahead of time as well. Look for the "Holiday at the Arboretum" ticket option.

The Children's Garden is now open again and tickets can be purchased in conjunction with your garden ticket order. All children over 5 years old must wear a mask to enter this area.

If you still want to purchase a pumpkin or gourd, there are still plenty available in many different sizes, shapes and colors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to the Covid policies and the new walking trail around the entire park, the 12 Days of Christmas animated displays have been spread out a bit more this year. You can pick up a printed guide at the Customer Service window just inside the entrance.

When I visited on Sunday, they were just starting construction of the Christmas Market buildings in the wide open field. I plan to return when they are completed. They plan to have Santa available to visit with children during the night events and on weekends for limited hours.

Review - Texas - Dallas - Dallas Arboretum - The Art of the Pumpkin

The annual pumpkin display opened up at the Dallas Arboretum. This year the theme is "The Art of the Pumpkin" and they have a pumpkin patch area where you can actually purchase pumpkins.

The Dallas Aboretum limits the amount of guests that can enter every day so you need to pre-order your tickets online: Dallas Arboretum.org. Be sure to add parking ($10). Members must order their passes/parking ahead of time as well. Look for the "Art of the Pumpkin" ticket option.

Masks are required throughout your visit. By 10am on Sunday, it felt crowded despite the limited guest allowance. Get ready to wait a little bit in lines to take pictures in front of the pumpkin-decorated houses or inside the Cinderella Coach.

The sidewalk heading to the pumpkin displays was lined with pumpkins.

 

 

Some of the pumpkin displays:

 

 

 

Here is the hay maze:

More pumpkin displays. Be sure to bring your own water bottles since the water fountains are not available right now. Since the ground is pokey with wooden mulch bits, you might want to use a towel or blanket for young ones.