Legoland’s New Galacticoaster Blasts Off!

The wonderful theme park – and eye-catching location – that is LEGOLAND Florida is an oft-overlooked gem in Winter Haven, just a short drive from Orlando, and it has a new claim to fame in 2026 – the first major attraction of the New Year!

Yes, they have beaten each of Disney, Universal and SeaWorld to the punch this year with the opening last weekend of the Galacticoaster, the park’s first roller-coaster in 15 years and a shining example of how to create a whole new experience from the ground up.

Because this isn’t just a new ride. The Galacticoaster is the centrepiece of a newly-created section of the park, Space Port 885, and a whole array of new story-telling and immersion. And we were lucky enough to get the full lowdown at the media event the day before it’s official opening on February 27.

How it all came together

Regular visitors to LEGOLAND will know that the original occupant of the Space Port area was the LEGO Flying School, a small-scale coaster that was a leftover from the former Cypress Gardens, having been created as the Swamp Thing ride in 2004. It lasted barely four years before Cypress Gardens closed down, but was reborn as Flying School when the UK’s Merlin Entertainments bought the site and converted it into their fifth LEGOLAND park in 2011. However, it didn’t really fit in the park’s theming, as there was no real story to it (as there is with all the other rides), and it was shut down in August 2023.

The announcement of the new ride for this area – still without a name – was made in March 2025 (almost two years after Flying School was scrapped), with Merlin insisting it would be one of the most ambitious expansions in the park’s history, “a first-of-its-kind indoor space-themed roller-coaster as part of a record-breaking $90million investment,” jointly with LEGOLAND California.

It wasn’t until September, though, that the name of the new attraction was revealed, along with the Space Port designation, followed by details of its ride system and technology in November. Finally, last December, the park gave us the official opening date, amid a considerable amount of hoopla. Last week, we got to ride it for the first time!

A Galactic marvel

At first glance, it’s easy to see how this cost the two LEGO parks $45million each. It is a BIG proposition. In the Florida park, it sits right at the back of the LEGO City section, the last area visitors reach, hence it has a commanding location, with a winding path up to the Space Port level (the 885 designation is a nod to one of LEGO’s earliest space-themed sets, Space Scooter, No. 885).

The front of the attraction is a mix of lockers, main entrance and gift shop, but it is immediately clear there is a LOT behind this opening façade. While you can’t fully see all of it, the main building that holds the ride is huge, and it makes for quite a sense of anticipation right from the start. There is also a series of three play areas under a large sunshade, including a LEGO building pit and a mock-up of a junior-sized Space Shuttle, complete with sound effects.

The ride entrance is purpose-designed to feature the regular queue (for Space Explorers), and a second line for Fasttrack Pass holders and single riders. Once inside, visitors are surrounded by the sights and sounds of Space Port, with lots of eye-catching “advertisements” for other space adventures.

The first part of the queue then brings riders into the pre-show Briefing Room – and a bold space mission! A giant space rock – the “Asteroid of Probable Destruction” – is heading for Space Port, and brave space pilots are called for. Dividing into groups of four, visitors are challenged to design their own spacecraft and blast off to stop the asteroid in its tracks.

Off at a rush!

The next section of the queue allows all the teams of four to style their own spacecraft with all manner of sharp – and weird! – additions, and then join the final wait to board the four-seater ride vehicles, stopping only to load your design onto the ride’s computer system, which ensures you get to look at your creation before you blast off to hunt down the deadly asteroid.

And a real blast it is, too, as your vehicle changes direction from a sideways-on position to a front-on line-up for lift off. The fast-launch sequence sends riders hurtling through space at up to 40mph, twisting and turning along the ultra-smooth track amid a kaleidoscopic whirl of planets and LEGO Separators (here being used as space villains to destroy the asteroid).

The ride has several moments where it spins through 180 degrees but there shouldn’t be anything to worry those who suffer from motion sickness, while the ride vehicle itself is extremely comfortable. Of course, the end result is success for our LEGO-themed space antics, and the nasty space rock is shattered into a million pieces just in time, with returning riders being hailed as the heroes of the day.

It is all terrific fun and should be a big hit with kids. At barely 1min 30sec, it is not the longest ride, but it is absolutely packed with coaster dynamics, and the whole build-up to the initial launch is guaranteed to appeal to all the family, especially as there are reputed to be some 625 combinations of ride vehicle design. The ride’s height requirement for children is 3ft to ride with an adult and 4ft to ride alone.

Finally, like all good Florida attractions, it ends in the Orbital Outpost gift shop, with a completely new range of space-themed merchandise definitely designed to attract young eyes!

There’s new food, too!

While Space Port doesn’t include its own space dining option, there are two all-new items available next door in LEGO City that should fit the bill. The most eye-catching is the Supernova Sandwich at the Kick’n Chicken diner, which certainly looks suitably space-like with its bright blue roasted garlic mayo over a thick slab of crispy chicken, topped with a sesame, carrot and red cabbage slaw, all tossed in a purple sweet Thai chili glaze. It’s quite an adventure for your tastebuds but well worth trying.

For dessert, head to the neighbouring Firehouse Ice Cream outlet for the massive Cookies & Cosmos Sundae, a rich concoction of bright blue cookies-and-cream ice cream, topped with Oreo cookie crumbs, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, sprinkles and a cherry, sandwiched by split banana halves. You might need the whole family to finish this one!

And that’s the full lowdown on the newest attraction in town. Our hats are off to LEGOLAND for such an imaginative and entertaining offering, and it sets the scene for a busy summer ahead!

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