When we last reported out, we were feeling cramped, sweaty, and burnt out after our first four days in Dubai.
The second half of our time in Dubai was originally supposed to be spent at Dubai Parks and Resorts. When we first booked the trip, the plan was simple: four days in the city and four days at the parks. However, about six months after we booked everything, Dubai Parks and Resorts closed due to escalating tensions in the region.
We decided to wait it out and see whether the parks would reopen once things settled down. And settle down they did, relatively speaking, but Dubai Parks and Resorts remained closed. The only information shared publicly was a notice on their website stating that they were closed for an undetermined period.
About a month before our departure, we hit our limit on the “wait and see” approach, so we cancelled our hotel and park tickets and pivoted to an overnight desert camp and two nights in Abu Dhabi. I was particularly excited about spending a night in the desert and sleeping under the stars.
Then Izzy spent the entire night at our safari camp in Kenya being sick, and we took that as an opportunity to reconsider spending the night in a very remote location with limited facilities and a group of strangers. Needless to say, we decided we were better off exploring the desert on a day trip and pivoted our plans once again.
While making these changes, we noticed that Dubai Parks and Resorts had updated its website and, lo and behold, the parks were reopening just one day before we needed them. We took it as a sign and promptly rebooked our stay. Interestingly, because of the timing, the accommodation and park tickets were actually quite a bit cheaper than when we originally booked them. As a result, we were able to stay at the Legoland Hotel itself rather than one of the less LEGO-themed options elsewhere on the property.
So that’s the long explanation for how we ended up here, visiting Dubai Parks and Resorts on only the second day after its extended closure. It also goes a long way toward explaining why the parks were so delightfully empty.
The hotel itself was wonderful. There was a giant LEGO pit and climbing structure right in the lobby, along with LEGO characters and creations everywhere you looked. The pool even featured floating LEGO-style bricks that let you build your own raft. Our room was a real highlight. Ours was Egyptian-themed, complete with detailed decorations from the ceiling to the carpet, bunk beds, and a separate little room for the girls. It struck the perfect balance between being kid-focused and still comfortable for the adults.
Over four days, we explored Legoland, Legoland Water Park, Motiongate Dubai, and Real Madrid World.
Motiongate was the clear favourite for everyone. The rides were themed brilliantly and hit the perfect sweet spot for both kids and adults. We ended up spending two full days there, which tells you just how much we enjoyed it.
Other than the rides themselves and the fun movie references throughout the park, what really elevated the experience was the complete lack of crowds. We were able to walk straight onto nearly every ride with no wait. After our experience at Disneyland Paris, where queueing felt like a competitive sport, this felt almost too good to be true.
Everyone’s favourite ride was How to Train Your Dragon, which put riders into dragon gliders that flew through the story while soaring over a beautifully recreated Viking village. The combination of storytelling, effects, and scenery made it an easy winner.
Over the course of the four days, Emmy discovered a love of roller coasters, while Izzy was ready to climb aboard absolutely anything they would let her on, which turned out to be most rides. Watching both girls grow more adventurous with every park was one of the highlights of the trip.
The parks were also decked out for Halloween, which made everything feel even more festive. It was still smoking hot outside, but the number of indoor attractions and water-based rides helped keep us cool. When all else failed, we retreated back to the hotel pool.
By the end of our time at Dubai Parks and Resorts, we felt refreshed, if still very sweaty. In perhaps the strongest endorsement possible, Izzy actually started crying as we were leaving because she didn’t want to go.
I’d say that’s the mark of a pretty successful adventure.
