San Marcos Students Get Sneak Peek & Behind-the-Scenes Experience Ahead of LEGOLAND® California Resort’s Galacticoaster Opening

CARLSBAD, CA (February 25, 2026) – San Marcos’ Discovery Elementary School students – home of the Explorers – recently got a sneak peek and behind-the-scenes experience at LEGOLAND® California Resort’s LEGO® Galaxy, an all-new space-themed land, launching next Friday, March 6. The visit – not only inspired students – helped provide insight into everything that goes into designing, creating and building a rollercoaster, which is the 4th and 5th grade students’ big assignment this semester. 

The Merlin Magic Making team – the creative arm of Merlin Entertainments, responsible for guiding LEGOLAND projects from concept and design through to production and delivery – led students through the different design and build phases of the Resort’s project, all while helping inspire these future space cadets as they put the finishing touches on their rollercoasters. This took place at a time when the Carlsbad Resort put its final touches on its new Galacticoaster – the first indoor, space-themed family coaster that takes families inside a universe of LEGO® imagination powered by intergalactic adventure.

The school’s 4th & 5th grade GATE (26) students’ assignment this school year is to research and create their very own rollercoaster! (GATE stands for Gifted and Talented Education, a program in schools designed to provide advanced learning opportunities for students with high potential.) Many of the students also showed their rollercoaster prototypes to Merlin’s design team, and the young explorers left with even more creative inspiration.

While the kids needed to wait until after next week to ride Galacticoaster, they were the first to test out the Rocket Assembly Bay, where they designed their own spacecrafts, digitally scanned them and watched them blast off into space! LEGOLAND California also gave the students tickets to return to ride the Galacticoaster after it opens on March 6. 

Additionally, the 4th and 5th graders participated in LEGOLAND California Resort’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education workshop which included learning how to program a LEGO Spike Prime Robot. Students worked together to control speed, direction, and duration of the motors while completing missions. Finally, they also toured the Model Shop and learned building tricks from LEGOLAND Master Model Builders.

Designed as an immersive, story-driven experience, LEGO Galaxy will take families on a journey through the stars, featuring the Resort’s first rollercoaster in more than 20 years, two additional rides and interactive experiences, a Junior Astronaut Training Zone, and galactic-inspired food and beverages, designed to fuel every space mission. LEGO Galaxy is Merlin Entertainments’ biggest ever single in-park investment in the history of LEGOLAND California and LEGOLAND Florida, with $90 million being spent between the two Resorts to bring a bold new chapter, blending cutting-edge technology, creative storytelling, and hands-on LEGO play. 

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Media Contacts

Julie Estrada North America Communications Director LEGOLAND® California Resort +1-760-846-0886 Julie.Estrada@MerlinEntertainments.biz

Sara Wacker, APR Communications / Public Relations  LEGOLAND® California Resort +1-858-945-1104 Sara.Wacker@LEGOLAND.com

 

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About LEGOLAND® California Resort
LEGOLAND® California Resort includes LEGOLAND® California, SEA LIFE® aquarium, LEGOLAND® Water Park, LEGOLAND® Hotel and LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel. All are geared for families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. At LEGOLAND® California, you’ll find more than 60 rides, shows and attractions including our newest land, Dino Valley that features three rides, an interactive build and play area and new costume characters.  The family theme park also includes LEGO® Ferrari Build & Race and The LEGO® MOVIE™ WORLD based on the blockbuster films The LEGO ® Movie™ and The LEGO® Movie™ 2: The Second Part. Discover the world’s first LEGO version of San Diego in Miniland USA with a realistic 30-foot beach, streets lined with 120 palm trees, and 55 San Diego landmarks, including The Rady Shell, Petco Park and Coronado Bridge. LEGOLAND® Water Park features more than seven slides, sandy beaches and the unique Build-A-Raft River plus Pirate Reef and LEGO® Legends of CHIMA Water Park comprising 10 acres of water fun! The nation’s first LEGOLAND® Hotel features 250 rooms, all themed either as pirate, adventure, LEGO® DUPLO, LEGO® Friends and LEGO® NINJAGO™! North America’s first LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel features 250 rooms, fully themed as Knights and Dragons, Royal Princess and Magic Wizard. LEGOLAND California is a Certified Autism Center, credited by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. For more information, visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO (5346).
 
About Merlin Entertainments
Merlin Entertainments is a world leader in branded entertainment destinations, offering a diverse portfolio of resort theme parks, city-center gateway attractions and LEGOLAND® Resorts which span across the UK, US, Western Europe, China and Asia Pacific. Dedicated to creating experiences that inspire joy and connection, Merlin welcomes more than 62 million guests annually to its diverse global estate in over 20 countries. An expert in bringing world-famous entertainment brands to life, Merlin works with partners including the LEGO® Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Peppa Pig, DreamWorks and Ferrari to create destinations where guests can immerse themselves in a wide array of brand-driven worlds, rides and uplifting learning experiences.
 
See www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.