Legally Blind Girl Surprised with Life-Changing Medical Device, VIP Tour at LEGOLAND® New York Resort

GOSHEN, NY – July 15, 2021 – 11-year-old Arianna Rivera received the surprise of a lifetime today at LEGOLAND® New York Resort: a medical device, eSight 4, that helped her see clearly for the first time. Rivera, who is legally blind, traveled with her mother, father and two brothers, from their Staten Island home to the newly opened theme park, where they received a VIP experience to enjoy the rides, attractions and colorful, detailed LEGO® models!

“I can’t stop looking at everything!” said Rivera, as she and her family explored the Park’s seven LEGO® themed lands, including attractions such as the exclusive LEGO Factory Adventure ride, which transforms guests into Minifigures, and MINILAND, in which guests can stroll through animated, interactive cities made of LEGO bricks. In addition to priority access for all rides, Rivera and her family were treated to a private session with a LEGOLAND New York Master Model Builder, as well as lunch at Smokey’s Brick-B-Que.

For Rivera’s family, this day of fun comes after a challenging time. Her father, NYPD Officer Joshua Rivera, was hospitalized with COVID-19 in March 2020. They also lost family members during the pandemic. Today’s surprise marks the beginning of a new chapter for the family.

“We are thrilled to host Arianna and her family today,” said LEGOLAND New York Resort Divisional Director Stephanie Johnson. “At Merlin Entertainments, we strive to create unforgettable memories for every child. We want every child who visits LEGOLAND New York Resort to know it’s a place built for them. To see Arianna enjoying our theme park for the first time fills all of us with joy, and we hope to welcome her and her family again and again.”

Rivera has keratoconus, an eye condition that causes distorted vision. Using a combination of a cutting-edge camera and software algorithms, eSight’s head-mounted device allows her to see with 20/20 vision from seven feet away for the first time in her life. eSight 4 has cloud-based software, ensuring that Rivera’s medical device stays up to date, allowing her to use it on the go, at school and at home.

“This day at LEGOLAND New York Resort is just the beginning of a new adventure for Arianna, especially as she learns how to use her eSight 4 for even more activities,” said eSight Clinical Account Manager Sam Peluso. “When we get the chance to improve the quality of life for anyone, especially a child, it’s a major win.”

eSight is clinically proven by medical professionals, used by thousands of individuals with more than 20 eye conditions around the world to enhance vision through a combination of proprietary hardware and software. eSight 4’s cloud-based software allows it to stay updated, as the technology continues to advance. eSight’s patented bioptic tilt allows users to maintain their peripheral vision and to use the device for commuting or light activities, like playing golf or horseback riding. eSight users are able to stay mobile, while using the devices for reading at work and at school.

Rivera, who dreams of becoming a voice actor and artist someday, now has a new world of possibilities with the gift of eSight 4.
To download b-roll and pictures of Rivera’s incredible surprise at LEGOLAND® New York Resort, click here.

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About eSight
eSight is a leading vision-platform organization with a simple but profound promise: empower individuals with sight loss to see new possibilities through enhanced vision. eSight provides the most advanced and versatile assistive device available for those with visual impairments and is compatible with more than 20 eye conditions including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and Stargardt disease. eSight is registered with the FDA and EUDAMED and is inspected by Health Canada. Learn more at www.eSightEyewear.com.

About LEGOLAND New York Resort
Situated on 150 acres in New York’s beautiful Hudson Valley, LEGOLAND New York Resort features seven LEGO themed lands designed for kids age 2-12 and their families. The Park will be open seasonally, typically from early spring through late fall. LEGOLAND® New York Hotel, open for bookings from August 6, will welcome guests year-round with four bricktastic LEGO themes: LEGO® Pirates, Kingdoms, LEGO® Friends and LEGO® NINJAGO®.

About Merlin Entertainments
Merlin Entertainments is a global leader in location-based, family entertainment. As Europe's number one and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin operates 129 attractions, 21 hotels and 6 holiday villages in 24 countries and across 4 continents. Merlin’s purpose is to deliver memorable experiences to its millions of guests around the world, through its iconic brands and multiple attraction formats, and the commitment and passion of its employees.

Media Contacts
Alyssa Cohen
Uproar PR for eSight
321-236-0102 x 233
acohen@uproarpr.com

Matt Besterman
PR Manager, LEGOLAND New York Resort
845-705-0137
Matt.Besterman@LEGOLAND.com

Quinn
PR Agency, LEGOLAND® New York Resort

legolandny@quinn.pr