LEGOLAND® California's Knights' Tournament Thrills Guests of All Ages

First robo-coaster in the country gives riders the opportunity to choose their ride intensity

CARLSBAD, Calif. - LEGOLAND® California's newest attraction, Knights' Tournament, is the only ride of its kind in the U.S., and is built to thrill everyone in the family - from the bravest to the meekest of hearts.

Knights' Tournament, opening Memorial Day weekend 2005, is a daring new attraction that combines cutting-edge robotic technology with the LEGO® spirit of imagination. Park guests become knights-in-training as they cross a medieval moat, select the intensity of their ride experience and embark on a one-of-a-kind adventure aboard one of six passenger-carrying robotic arms.

This distinctive thrill ride does not have a track, instead it is comprised of six gold, stationary robotic arms that carry two passengers per ride. The arms measure 15 feet, weigh more than two and a half tons and are made of cast aluminum and steel. With their six working joints, the robotic arms can rotate and swivel in various directions, performing more than 70 maneuvers at five different levels. The arms have a total of 1.4 million possible movement combinations making every level a unique experience.

"Knights' Tournament is a one-of-a-kind experience for our guests," says President and General Manager John Jakobsen. "This new attraction is dynamic. The ability to choose individual ride intensity levels certainly makes it a thrill ride designed for the entire family."

While passengers are making their way to the ride's boarding area, they are prompted to choose their desired ride intensity. Knights' Tournament offers five different levels of intensity, one being the lowest and five being the highest. Because the arms are able to move in many dimensions and directions, each intensity level provides the rider with a different ride experience. Once riders are preparing to board, they advise the ride operator which level of the Tournament they have chosen.

The theming for Knights' Tournament is based on the award-winning LEGO Knights' Kingdom play materials and storyline. The ride experience begins when guests are greeted by a dramatic 14-foot tall red and black LEGO dragon with a wingspan of 13 feet who guards the entrance. By speaking into a special voice translating tube, guests can hear their voice roar out of the mouth of the dragon. On the route to the loading area, guests can interact with LEGO model scenes based on Knights' Kingdom including swordplay and tests of strength. As a reward for braving Knights' Tournament, the final scene depicts a knighting ceremony. Each scene serves as play and photo opportunity for Park guests.

Just being a spectator is a riveting experience as guests can blast their friends and family with water cannons that surround the foot-and-a-half deep moat. This unique thrill ride transports spectators and riders back to the days of yore delivering an adventure featuring twists, turns and fun for the entire family.

Knights' Tournament represents another year of growth for LEGOLAND California. The ride is one of three new additions in the Park's 2005 capital expansion plan. Other new additions include the Freedom Tower amongst a large-scale renovation of Miniland New York, which opened in March 2005 and Wild Woods Golf, a LEGO golf experience scheduled to open July 2005.

Log on to www.LEGOLAND.com for more information about Knights' Tournament and the other new attractions and improvements for 2005.

The robotic arms are manufactured by the ROBO-COASTER™ division of KUKA Roboter GmbH, a German company that specializes in providing industrial robots to a number of industries including automotive manufacturing. While their industrial robots perform a variety of tasks such as welding or moving car frames in a factory environment, the themed-entertainment division of the company applies this technology to passenger robotics. Knights' Tournament is destined to thrill and delight guests at LEGOLAND California.

LEGOLAND California is a 128-acre family theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. Just like with LEGO play materials, kids are the ones who make things happen at the Park. They drive, pedal, squirt, climb, jump, stomp, slide, steer, pull, click, push, gallop, laugh, build and program their way through more than 50 rides and attractions. There are only three other LEGOLAND Parks in the world -- LEGOLAND® Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND® Windsor outside of London and LEGOLAND® Deutschland near Günzburg, Germany. For the most current information, log on to www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO.

Contact Info

Public Relations
(760) 918-5412

Related Links

www.LEGOLAND.com
Knights' Tournament Fact Sheet
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