Of course, with my luck (it is a four letter word), I should have known the day would fall flat; just like my hair. Bad hair days always spell trouble.
I’ve tried the Pollyanna approach, but optimism is a tough act to follow with flat hair. Grant wasn’t buying my feigned optimism either when I hopped into my daughter’s car and greeted my grandson with an enthusiastic, “Hi Granters. Hi Grace.”
"Where’s Grandpa,” he immediately tossed back, worry creeping into his eyes.
I’ve been chopped liver ever since Grandpa started watching Grant at 3 months of age. At least my grandson didn’t say anything about my flat hair.
“We’ll see Grandpa when we get back,” I offered, trying for a positive spin on the bad news. “He has a tummy ache and a headache,” I added.
Grant’s worry turned to outright disappointment as the corners of his mouth dropped along with his chin.
Fortunately the attention span of toddlers is close to that of a gnat; and Jennifer is a pro at her new job as a fulltime mom. She selected Grant’s favorite song from the soundtrack playing as a knowing look of victory passed between us and Grant’s face lit up. We were on our way.
You’d think at these prices ($19 for an adult ticket, $15 for children between the ages of 3 and 12) the anthill we’d stepped into at LEGOLAND Discovery Center 30 minutes later wouldn’t be crawling with so many of the two-legged variety foraging for fun like it was their last picnic.
The prices were obviously way over the head of the giraffe we found leaving the premises when we arrived. Those are some steep prices considering giraffes are the tallest animal on the planet.
I assumed that admonition didn’t mean a one-to-one ratio, because the adults were definitely outnumbered 1000 to 1 (okay, I admit, I’m slightly prone to hyperbole). Jennifer and I were obviously the only adults doing our part to keep the chaos and ratio manageable although in all honesty (not my strongest suit) Grant was running around like he had ants in his pants.
In hindsight, what kid doesn’t know he’s on a short leash when they hit the jackpot, in this case a jackpot filled with Lego hard candy (400 million people around the world have tapped into that jackpot). It was enough candy (7 Lego sets per second are sold every day around the world) to cause extreme hyperactivity, which is probably why Grant took off like a runny nose at the height of cold season. It turned out Grace had the runny nose, and a fever. The clock was ticking; the Tylenol started flowing.
Things started looking up when we reached the second floor, to just over 36 inches in Grant’s case; which meant he could ride LEGOLAND’S Technicycle if accompanied by a responsible person. And as luck would have it, you guessed it - I was the responsible adult. Where's Grandpa when you really need him?
It was definitely information overload for one big kid as I tracked Grant’s movements while mommy ordered lunch at the LEGOLAND café just in time; our little sprinter was rapidly losing steam.
This is the link to the official Lego site. Did you know the word Lego loosely means play?
And if that isn’t enough, take a peek at the 10 neatest Lego facts with this link.
If all else fails, simply grab a handful of Lego “bricks” and build a bridge out of that cubicle or stale afternoon to a world that matches your dreams.
_________________________
The bottom line on the LEGOLAND Discovery Center:
- Verdict:
Too many kids, too much money. Spend your money buying more Legos and then spend
the afternoon on the floor at home making some memories.
- How to Get There:
From Chicago take I-90 West (toll road) toward Rockford. Take the I-290 East exit toward
Western Suburbs and merge onto I-290 East to E. Higgins Road. Turn right onto E. Higgins
Road, then another right onto N. Martingale Road to LEGOLAND Discovery Center.
From the Southwest suburbs, take 355-N to I-290 West via the Rockford ramp. Take exit
1B for IL-72/Higgins Road. Turn left onto E. Higgins Road, then right onto N. Martingale
Road to LEGOLAND Discovery Center.
From the Northwest suburbs, take IL-53 South to I-290 East. Exit on Higgins Road onto
West Frontage Road. Turn right onto Higgins Road, then right onto North Martingale Road.
Destination on the right.
From the west, take I-88 to 355-N. Pick up I-290 West via the Rockford ramp. Take exit
1B for IL-72/Higgins Road. Turn left onto E. Higgins Road, then right onto N. Martingale
Road to LEGOLAND Discovery Center.
- Ideal for:
Budding engineers and construction managers between the ages of 5 and 9; possibly for
those hoping to celebrate their birthday on the premises where money is no object.
- Insider tips:
Online tickets offer a savings of $2.10 per ticket (adult or child). The best value for the
money is an Annual Membership for $40 (adult or child) which allows unlimited visits,
discounts on Lego purchases, birthday parties and food at the cafe. But the annual
membership will not eliminate the crowds.
- Nearby food:
There are no fast food restaurants for kids in the Streets of Woodfield. There's Shaw's
Crab House, Chipolte's, Maggiano's Little Italy, Big Bowl and Omah Steaks. Woodfield Mall,
several blocks away, does have considerably more food options, including fast food.