A sneak preview of LEGOLAND® Florida Resort’s upcoming virtual reality (VR) roller coaster adventure is now available through an innovative mobile app that lets fans experience the 360-degree theme park action with or without a VR headset. The Great LEGO® Race opens Nov. 22 at LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, followed in Spring 2018 at LEGOLAND Florida Resort and Germany’s LEGOLAND Deutschland Resort.
Developed under the supervision of Merlin Magic Making, the global creative and delivery division of parent company Merlin Entertainments Group, The Great LEGO Race will transform the three theme parks’ existing Project X roller coasters into a high-octane experience that puts guests in the driver’s seat for a rollicking race against a colorful lineup of LEGO minifigure characters.
Wearing optional VR headsets, riders will experience the action from every direction – up, down, forward, backward and all points in between – in a dazzling environment where everything is made of LEGO bricks.
Fans can preview the 360-degree experience with MackMedia’s Coastiality mobile app (www.coastiality.com/en/), available for iOS, Android and Oculus devices from the App Store, Google Play and the Oculus Store. The app is free to download and can be enjoyed with or without a VR headset.
The Great LEGO Race is the first virtual reality roller coaster experience designed for kids and represents the first time the LEGO brand and minifigure characters have been integrated with VR technology in a theme park attraction. With action taking place on the ground and in the air, the wild and wacky race pits guests against LEGO minifigures including a pirate, wizard, surfer and pharaoh as they steer LEGO-built vehicles like a rocket-powered windsurfing rig, a stylish scooter fueled by espresso and an ornately canopied bed (called a “litter”) carried by mummy servants.
VR Coaster’s patented technology syncs the virtual visuals created by Figment Productions with the coaster’s twists, turns, drops and climbs, creating a uniquely fun experience never seen before in a LEGOLAND park. The “Wild Mouse”-style roller coaster at LEGOLAND Florida Resort was manufactured by Germany’s MACK Rides and has been a favorite of guests since the theme park opened in 2011.
Nick Varney, chief executive officer of Merlin Entertainments, sees the attraction as a prime example of Merlin’s ongoing efforts to entertain guests around the world in new and innovative ways.
“Everybody that gets onto that ride will don the headset and basically find themselves suddenly immersed in the most amazing LEGO race that they’re participating in,” he said. “And if you can imagine if what is happening to you on the screen is suddenly also simultaneously happening to you as the roller coaster drops down a drop and goes over a hump, then you can imagine that is going to be one of the most exciting and exhilarating and fun experiences.”
Guests must be at least 42 inches tall (1.2m) to ride, or be accompanied by a responsible adult at least 48 inches tall. The VR headsets are designed to fit both adults and children, and can be adjusted for comfort. The VR experience is intended for children 6 and up, and guests can choose to ride without wearing the headset.