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IAAPA: New Legoland coaster features customization, Space Creature

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The countdown is on for Galacticoaster, the roller coaster set to debut at Legoland Florida in early 2026. The Winter Haven theme park disclosed more details about the indoor family thrill ride during the IAAPA Expo at Orange County Convention Center.

A key element will be the ride’s personalization capabilities, said Rob Smith, chief operating officer of Merlin Entertainments Group, which owns Legoland.

Riders will be able to select key elements – such as the nose, tail, wings and color – of their spacecraft, Smith said. This will be achieved with RFID technology in a wristband.

“You get on board your spacecraft, and as you get ready for takeoff, your spacecraft — with you sitting in it – is projected onto technology screens before you launch into space,” Smith said. There are more than 620 combinations of the vehicles, he said.

Some of the options are the expected intergalactic look; some are more fanciful such as hamburger wings, crab claws up front or a dragon tail, Smith said.

“It’s not just about Lego play. It’s about Lego imagination,” Smith said.

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“Merlin is always finding new ways to make every visit unique,” he said.

Legoland also introduced Space Creature, a character that will appear in the attraction, during its IAAPA news conference. The storyline of the ride involves passengers helping to avoid the “asteroid of probable destruction.”

The coaster will have speeds up to 40 mph, with ride vehicles that seat four passengers in one row. The entire experience, including the pre-show and customization, will last between 10 and 15 minutes, Smith said. Height requirement is 48 inches (or 40 inches when accompanied by an adult).

Although space themes resonate with Central Floridians, Merlin was looking for themes with broad appeal before landing on Galacticoaster. Its research team sought a subject that appeals to all ages, Smith said. The same ride is being built at Legoland California, part of the company’s $90 million push.

“It was about having something that everyone’s interested in and everyone can take part in,” Smith said. “So space was one of those key themes that was multigenerational for all ages, which is really the important part of a day or visit to Legoland resorts. … It’s about everyone doing it together.”

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Attendees smile and stumble in the "The Vortex Tunnel" booth at the IAAPA Expo at the Orange County Convention Center on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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The coaster inside the structure is fully built, Smith said.

“We’re now testing all the show, the experience, running the ride at the same time as we’re running the technology to bring all that together, because that’s the most important part of this ride,” he said.

An opening date for the Legoland Florida coaster will be announced during the park’s tree-lighting ceremony on Dec. 6. IAAPA Expo continues through Friday.

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Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.

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