LEGOLAND California Resort affords a singular and fascinating exercise that provides an additional layer of enjoyable to any go to: LEGO Minifigure Buying and selling!
Very like the favored pin buying and selling discovered at Disney parks, minifigure buying and selling transforms a park go to into an interactive scavenger hunt the place the prizes are cool new LEGO characters.
This beloved custom, which started round 2010, encourages company to work together with park staff and fellow followers, making it greater than only a strategy to get a memento – it’s an expertise.
See additionally: My Full Listing of San Diego Household Actions
Why Commerce? The Thrill of the Hunt
What makes swapping little plastic figures so charming? For a lot of company, particularly youngsters, I feel minifigure buying and selling is pushed by a number of motivations:
- The Pleasure of Gathering: Many LEGO followers have a specific character or theme that they love. Buying and selling affords an opportunity to search out that elusive determine wanted to finish a set or add a favourite character to their assortment.
- The Pleasure of the Search: It’s sort of a park-wide treasure hunt. Scanning worker title badges and searching for out buying and selling posts provides a component of journey to the day. Personally, I discover the anticipation of discovering a “cool” determine the key draw.
- Social Interplay: Buying and selling encourages youngsters (and adults!) to politely method and work together with LEGOLAND staff, often called Mannequin Residents. You by no means know what different ideas and tips they could should share.
- Will get Youngsters Strolling: Whenever you need to preserve your crew on the transfer it’s an additional incentive to maintain strolling.
- Upgrading and Upcycling Your Assortment: Company can convey minifigures to the park that they now not need or want and commerce them for one thing new to them.
- A Price range-Pleasant Memento: Not solely is it enjoyable to convey determine from house to commerce, you could possibly the new-to-you minifigures a enjoyable memento (hopefully with out the added expense of shopping for LEGOs within the reward retailers). Talking of saving cash, don’t neglect to take a look at my information on discovering discounted LEGOLAND tickets.
On the finish of the day (typically actually), minifigure buying and selling fosters a way of group amongst LEGO followers throughout the park, turning a easy transaction into one thing plenty of youngsters I do know look ahead to.
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Learn how to Commerce: The Official LEGOLAND Manner
LEGOLAND California makes the buying and selling course of easy and enjoyable. The official tips observe three easy steps, which you’ll confirm on the LEGOLAND California web site:
- Carry or Construct a LEGO Minifigure: Begin with an entire LEGO minifigure. This may be one introduced from house or one from contained in the park whether or not bought or constructed.
- Discover a Minifigure to Commerce: Hold an eye fixed out for minifigures displayed on the brick-built title badges worn by Mannequin Residents (park staff) or search for designated Buying and selling Posts positioned all through the resort.
- Ask to Commerce: Method a Mannequin Citizen with the determine you need to commerce. With your personal determine in hand, ask them to swap. Park coverage ensures they may all the time say sure! You’ll then hand over your determine, and so they provide the one you chose from their badge.
What Makes a Minifigure “Tradeable”?
A minifigure should be full to be traded. It wants a head, torso, arms, and legs. This is applicable to figures you convey and people provided by Mannequin Residents. I’ve learn some visitor reviews that recommend equipment (like hats, hair, or handheld gadgets) are elective, however the official rule emphasizes the core elements, together with arms and that’s been my expertise.
It’s greatest to make sure that your buying and selling figures embrace all their important elements as outlined by the park. It’s okay to make use of mixed-and-matched components, so long as the determine is full and makes use of real LEGO items.
What About LEGO Buddies Figures (Mini-Dolls)?
Glorious query and there’s some nuance right here. Formally, LEGOLAND California’s web site says that any LEGO Minifigure may be traded, as evidenced by means of a Buddies mini-doll picture for example.
Visitor experiences verify that Buddies figures are accepted at buying and selling posts and by staff. Nonetheless, a sensible problem exists: Buddies mini-dolls don’t bodily connect to the studs on worker title badges, in contrast to conventional minifigures.
Due to this, you’re much less more likely to see staff sporting Buddies figures for commerce. Regardless of this, I’ve heard that staff will nonetheless settle for them in commerce and so they typically discover artistic methods to connect them. So, when you may not commerce a Buddies determine straight off a badge, they’re usually welcome at designated buying and selling spots and are thought of fairly widespread by some workers.
How Typically Can You Commerce?
As a lot as you want! LEGOLAND encourages company to commerce repeatedly all through their go to.
The place the Magic Occurs: Discovering Buying and selling Spots
Alternatives to commerce minifigures are plentiful all through LEGOLAND California and its related areas. Figuring out the place to look will increase the probabilities of discovering that good determine.
Official Buying and selling Posts
LEGOLAND designates a number of particular places as “Buying and selling Posts,” which regularly characteristic a wider number of figures. Once more, you’ll be able to discover the official checklist on-line as it may be topic to vary.
| Buying and selling Publish Location | Space |
|---|---|
| Visitor Providers | The Starting |
| SEA LIFE Aquarium Retail Store | SEA LIFE Aquarium |
| The Superior Store | THE LEGO® MOVIE™ World |
| LEGO Life Zone / Planet LEGO | Enjoyable City |
| King’s Market | Fort Hill |
| Creativeness Zone | Creativeness Zone |
| LEGOLAND California Lodge Entrance Desk | LEGOLAND Lodge |
| LEGOLAND Fort Lodge Entrance Desk | LEGOLAND Fort Lodge |
Past the Posts: In every single place Else!
Don’t restrict the search to only the official posts!
- Mannequin Citizen Badges: Practically any park worker (at rides, meals carts, retailers, strolling round) may need a minifigure on their title badge obtainable for commerce. At all times be observant!
- Retail Show Instances: Many reward retailers have small show circumstances, usually close to the money registers, holding a number of minifigures particularly for buying and selling. It’s all the time price asking on the counter for a commerce.
- Excessive-Yield Spots (In keeping with Company): Guests often report good finds on the SEA LIFE Aquarium Retail Store and the Lodge Entrance Desks. One visitor additionally talked about discovering favorites close to the Dino Dig space.
- The Elusive “Transferring Buying and selling Wall”: I’ve learn that there’s a big, cell buying and selling wall that typically seems, although its schedule and site appear unpredictable. Studies recommend it could be operated by workers in teal shirts and sometimes “lives” or seems close to the Ninjago space or the ramp between Ninjago and The Huge Store. Asking at Visitor Providers would possibly yield clues about its look. I haven’t personally see it nor have my purchasers talked about it—so when you do see it tell us!
Don’t Count on Buying and selling within the Water Park
Sensible constraints associated to the water atmosphere imply that minifigure buying and selling shouldn’t be actually practiced within the LEGOLAND Water Park when it’s open seasonall.
Ideas for Terrific Buying and selling (For Mother and father & Youngsters)
To take advantage of the minifigure buying and selling journey, I feel slightly preparation and technique go a great distance.
Earlier than You Go
- Collect Your Merchants: Look by way of you LEGO bins at house for full minifigures (head, torso, arms, legs) which are now not favorites or are duplicates. Even “well-loved” figures or these coloured on could be accepted, as workers might retire them from circulation. They should be real LEGO model.
- Supply Figures (If Wanted): If the house assortment is sparse, verify thrift shops, yard gross sales , or on-line marketplaces like Bricklink for reasonable, used figures. Amazon additionally sells random heaps.
- Resolve How Many: I wouldn’t essentially exit of my manner to purchase extra, however when you may discover a handful that might be enjoyable. Perhaps within the 4-6 vary. However truthfully, one or two is okay!
- Create a Want Listing: When you’re aiming for particular varieties of figures (e.g., Star Wars, Metropolis, or particular characters), jotting down a listing will help focus your search.
- Pack Sensible: Hold buying and selling figures simply accessible in a small bag, container, or devoted minifigure case to so that you could seize them rapidly and transfer on to the subsequent exercise. Plus there could be others ready in line behind you on peak days.
Coping with Incomplete Figures (The Upcycling Problem):
It’s frequent to have minifigures at house which are lacking a leg, an arm, or perhaps their head. Since buying and selling requires a full determine (head, torso, arms, legs) , what may be completed if company need to convey these beloved-but-broken figures and make them trade-ready on the park?
The Construct-A-Mini Limitation: Whereas the Construct-A-Minifigure (BAM) stations have bins overflowing with components, company usually can not purchase particular person components a la carte from these bins simply to finish their present figures. The BAM expertise is designed round buying a bundle of three full customized figures for a set value.
Park Workarounds
- Purchase the BAM Bundle: Company may buy the 3-figure BAM bundle. Then, they will use the components from the new figures simply constructed to finish the figures introduced from house. This nonetheless entails a purchase order, however it permits salvaging unique figures. The leftover new components can kind the premise of one other determine or be saved for later.
- Purchase Thriller Packs/Units: Buying Collectible Minifigure “blind luggage” or small LEGO units containing figures is one other choice to supply wanted components throughout the park.
Finest “Upcycle” Possibility (Pre-Go to): Probably the most waste-conscious and cost-effective method is to search out the lacking components earlier than your LEGOLAND go to. However, let’s face it, we would not have time to look or we all know the lacking components are really lacking. You may as well look to on-line marketplaces like Bricklink the place particular, particular person used components can usually be purchased very affordably.
Through the Hunt
- Be Observant: Keep watch over Mannequin Citizen title badges and verify the varied Buying and selling Posts and retail counters talked about earlier all through the park.
- Encourage Youngsters to Ask: I do know that is simpler mentioned than completed with little youngsters. Keep in mind, Mannequin Residents are joyful to commerce! I really like this as a manner for shy youngsters to apply interacting with adults.
- Ask for Assist: If looking for a specific determine, don’t hesitate to ask staff. They may know who has one or the place to look.
- Handle Expectations: The figures obtainable for commerce are continually altering based mostly on what different company have traded in. It’s going to be a mix-and-match assortment slightly than a curated assortment of uncommon gadgets. In my expertise, the objective is to search out figures that you discover cool or fascinating.
- Search for Equipment: Whereas not required, discovering a determine with a cool hat, software, or perhaps a tiny LEGO animal may be an thrilling bonus.
Past Buying and selling: Park Collectibles
Minifigure buying and selling is a part of a broader park tradition that encompasses amassing and interacting. Hold an eye fixed out for different enjoyable, free actions similar to…
- Pop Badges: Collectible buttons themed to rides, occasions, or achievements (like First Go to or Bravery badges) obtainable from particular places or workers members. Employees usually put on these on lanyards for buying and selling too. (Curious concerning the rides? See my LEGOLAND trip information:
[Link to your LEGOLAND ride guide]) - Mr. Gold / Area Child Hunt: A every day park hunt the place a restricted variety of particular Mr. Gold or Area Child pop badges (or hidden envelopes) are carried by particular staff (usually these not dealing with meals/trash, typically safety or workers coming back from breaks) or hidden across the park. Discovering one yields a prize from Visitor Providers.
These actions, alongside minifigure buying and selling, encourage company to discover completely different park areas, interact with staff, and add an additional layer of interactive enjoyable to their go to.
After Buying and selling
Present Off Your Haul: LEGOLAND loves seeing company take pleasure in buying and selling! Share pictures of latest minifigure mates on social media utilizing the hashtag #LEGOLANDCalifornia.
Want Figures? Shopping for & Constructing Minifigures at LEGOLAND California
Forgot to convey minifigures, or need to begin recent? Don’t fear! LEGOLAND makes it simple to accumulate figures contained in the park.
Shopping for Pre-Packaged Figures
Thriller Packs: Many retailers promote the usual LEGO Collectible Minifigure Sequence packs. These sealed bling packages provide a shock determine. Whereas thrilling, you would possibly get duplicates or characters you don’t significantly need, however these then turn into good candidates for buying and selling!
Units and Extra: Retail places promote commonplace LEGO units (which embrace minifigures), in addition to minifigure keychains, magnets, and different themed merchandise.
The place to Purchase: Key spots within the park embrace the next.
- The Huge Store (The Starting): Boasts the biggest number of LEGO units beneath one roof.
- Minifigure Market (The Starting): A chief spot for getting figures, together with Construct-A-Mini packs. Additionally sells bulk bricks. I really feel prefer it’s not all the time open however The Huge Store is simply throughout from it.
- Themed Retailers: Wu’s Warehouse (NINJAGO World), Superior Store (THE LEGO® MOVIE™ World), King’s Market (Fort Hill), SEA LIFE Retail Store, The Dive Store (LEGO CITY®: Deep Sea Journey), Brick Brothers Buying and selling Co. (Enjoyable City).
- Lodge Present Retailers: LEGOLAND Lodge and Fort Lodge retailers promote figures and provide buying and selling.
Construct-A-Minifigure (BAM): Your Customized Crew!
Maybe probably the most enjoyable strategy to get figures particularly for buying and selling is the Construct-A-Minifigure expertise. In my expertise, this will get crowded!
What It Is: These stations characteristic bins stuffed with all kinds of minifigure components – heads, torsos, legs, hairpieces, hats, and equipment. Company can combine and match to create their very own distinctive characters.
Why Do It: It’s the right strategy to get figures prepared for buying and selling instantly. The constructing course of itself is a enjoyable, artistic exercise, particularly for teenagers. It’s usually thought of an incredible worth memento, sometimes providing three customized figures for a set value. This setup encourages company to accumulate a number of figures, thereby facilitating extra trades all through the day. By providing this partaking and value-driven possibility, particularly close to the park entrance, LEGOLAND cleverly integrates retail with the buying and selling exercise, guaranteeing anybody can take part simply.
Areas & Price:
- Minifigure Market (The Starting): That is the first, location for build-your-own minifigures. The associated fee final time I used to be there was $14.99 for 3 figures.
- Brick Brothers Buying and selling Co: Identical value and inside Enjoyable City.
(Notice: Whereas LEGOLAND Florida reportedly eliminated its BAM tables, LEGOLAND California nonetheless affords the hands-on constructing expertise ). An amazing tip, I feel, is to make the most of the early entry window (usually 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM for lodge company or sure passholders) to construct figures right here earlier than the park totally opens and rides get busy.
Bundle Decide-Up Service:
When you don’t need to carry new LEGO purchases across the park all day, LEGOLAND affords a complimentary bundle pick-up service that I’ve used prior to now on this second with my daughter.
Make purchases at numerous retail places and organize to have them despatched to the Minifigure Market in The Starting for pickup on the way in which out (permit roughly 2 hours for processing time).
Company staying on the LEGOLAND Motels may even have packages delivered to their lodge’s entrance desk.
Ultimate Ideas: Completely happy Buying and selling & Constructing Reminiscences!
LEGO Minifigure Buying and selling at LEGOLAND California is extra than simply swapping toys; it’s an interactive journey that provides a singular dimension to the park expertise. I’ve all the time preferred that it encourages interplay and a little bit of pleasant negotiation.
It’s accessible to everybody and affords a unbelievable strategy to convey house customized souvenirs stuffed with reminiscences. So, on the subsequent go to, preserve these eyes peeled, method a Mannequin Citizen with a smile, and prepare to commerce!
