POLK COUNTY, FL (Aug. 2, 2010) - LEGOLAND® Florida continues to
build its team at a rapid pace in order to open in fall 2011 and
today announced Adrian Jones has been appointed as General
Manager with his duties beginning immediately.
Jones has had a fantastic career within Merlin Entertainments.
Most recently, Jones served as Divisional Director of Midway
Attractions in the Western United States, responsible for
LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Schaumburg, Illinois, Madame
Tussauds Las Vegas and Madame Tussauds Hollywood -- which was the
first Madame Tussauds attraction ever to be built from the ground
up in 200 years. Jones has worked in leisure attractions for more
than 20 years and has done everything from selling ice cream to
being a General Manager that has driven attendance and visitor
satisfaction in his attractions. His experience will prove to be
a tremendous force in guiding LEGOLAND Florida into being one of
the best theme parks in the world.
During the construction phase of LEGOLAND Florida, Jones will
work closely with John Ussher, Merlin Entertainments' General
Manager of Development for LEGOLAND. "Adrian is a talented
manager and we are thrilled that he has accepted the opportunity
to run Florida's newest full-day theme park," said Ussher.
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"Having worked for Merlin all over the world, I know the quality
expected and I'm excited to bring a LEGOLAND park to Florida. I
can't wait to see the expressions on visitors' faces when they
see what we have in store for them," said Jones. "Merlin is a
major global attraction operator with proven expertise at running
theme parks. It is a compelling brand with a huge emphasis on
guest satisfaction that is unparallel in this day and age."
Opening in fall 2011, LEGOLAND Florida will be a 145-acre family
theme park geared specifically for children ages 2 to 12. There
will be more than 50 interactive rides, shows and attractions
including amazing LEGO® models making it unlike any other
attraction in Florida.
Jones is a graduate of Nottingham Trent University in the United
Kingdom and is moving to Polk County with his wife Sarah who is a
certified nurse and midwife.
LEGOLAND Florida opens in fall 2011 and will be a 145-acre
interactive theme park dedicated to families with children
between the ages of 2 and 12. With more than 50 rides, shows and
attractions, LEGOLAND is geared towards family fun! There are
currently four other LEGOLAND Parks in the world - LEGOLAND
California in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND
Deutschland near Günzburg, Germany and LEGOLAND Windsor outside
of London. The LEGOLAND theme parks are a part of Merlin
Entertainments Group, the second largest attractions operator in
the world. For the most current information, log on to
www.LEGOLANDFloridaResort.com.

still wish the one in kansas had happened

More accurately last plan for the KS park was actually for it to be on the MO side just south of the Grandview Triangle.  That would have been a traffic nightmare.  That area still can't handle rush hour and the planned road improvements still wouldn't have been enough IMHO.

And while I would be more likely to go to Legoland, than a Wizards game, I am glad KS has a professional sports team now.  Granted they have been playing a block away for two years now, but that has been a season by season arrangement and for a very long time it looked like they would eventually return to MO.  I still think we are a good 10-20 years away from having a large enough population to support 2 major theme parks.  While Soccer isn't as popular as other sports, it has done wonders for Overland Park.  The recent National tournament (that we have a 3 year deal on) brought in lots of tax revenue.

Anyway, back to this project.  I see myself visiting this one as being only slightly more likely than the one in CA.  It is an hour South of Orlando.  On a typical week vacation you have a hard time seeing all the parks at Universal and WDW when you consider travel days as bookends on your trip.  Add SeaWorld to that list and I would be hard pressed to make time for Legoland.  Not to mention all of the waterparks in the area.  I think Legoland will fill a good regional niche, but I think they will have just as hard of a time as BGT of convincing most tourists that the drive is worth it. I'm not saying they will do poorly by any means.

the one in olathe would have been really close i drive by the pasture it was suposed to go in once a week

4.1 Mil is nothing to shake a stick at.  Like I said, they're doing just fine.