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Master Model Builder Stephan Bentivoglio from LEGOLAND® Germany building a LEGO® AT-AT for the new Miniland STAR WARS area at LEGOLAND California. Photo courtesy of LEGOLAND California Resort.
Master Model Builder Stephan Bentivoglio from LEGOLAND® Germany puts the finishing touches on a LEGO® AT-ST model for LEGOLAND California’s new Miniland STAR WARS area. Photo courtesy of LEGOLAND California Resort.
Master Model Builders Stephan Bentivoglio (right) and Martin Albert (left) from LEGOLAND® Germany building the prototype of a LEGO® Millenium Falcon for LEGOLAND California’s new Miniland STAR WARS area. Photo courtesy of LEGOLAND California Resort.
STAR WARS™ Invades LEGOLAND California
Experience the Saga like never before at family theme park in Carlsbad
CARLSBAD, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2011) – In March 2011, LEGOLAND® California is introducing an all-new, dedicated STAR WARS Miniland area for the very first time! Guests can enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action STAR WARS movies, as well as a scene from the animated series STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Guests will be further immersed into the STAR WARS experience as they pose with life-size LEGO models of Chewbacca, R2-D2 and Darth Vader.
Following a chronological path through the STAR WARS timeline, LEGOLAND guests retrace the major events of the beloved Saga. Some of the 2,000 LEGO models will be more than 6-feet-tall. Interactive buttons will allow children to activate animations throughout the scenes. “Our guests have really enjoyed our LEGO STAR WARS Days over the years and we’re certain this new area is going to ignite the imaginations of adults and children alike,” said General Manager of LEGOLAND California, Peter Ronchetti. “We are opening this STAR WARS Miniland display just in time for spring break.”
LEGO scenes:- Episode I: Naboo Naboo is one of the most geographically varied planets in the STAR WARS galaxy. This scene depicts the Battle of Naboo and the capital Theed – both the Royal Palace and the hangar. The duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn and Sith apprentice Darth Maul can also be viewed in this scene.
- Episode II: Geonosis In this scene, visitors have a fantastic view of the Arena of Geonosis, in which Padmé Amidala, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker battle ferocious creatures. Figures such as Poggle the Lesser, Jango Fett and Count Dooku can be seen in the loge. There is also a battle scene of the clash between Count Dooku’s droid army and the Grand Army of the Republic.
- Episode III: Kashyyyk and Mustafar In this scene, two planets are shown: Kashyyyk and Mustafar. On one side, guests can marvel at the Battle of Kashyyyk – the home of Chewbacca and the Wookiees. The scene includes fantastic vehicles modeled from LEGO bricks, such as the massive Clone Turbo Tank. On the other side, LEGOLAND guests are treated to a glimpse of the fateful duel on Mustafar between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.
- Episode IV: Tatooine This LEGOLAND scene focuses on famous structures of the desert planet: Uncle Owen’s Farm, where Luke Skywalker lived as a child; the Cantina, with a view inside of the animated Cantina Band, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO, R2-D2 and others; as well as the
- starport with an impressive model of the Millennium Falcon, the famous spacecraft of Han Solo.
- Episode V: Hoth The Rebels took refuge on this icy planet, but the Empire tracked them down and the Rebels were forced to flee. The scene features LEGO models of the Imperial AT-ATs, Rebel snowspeeders and Luke Skywalker’s X-wing starfighter. Figures include Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader.
- Episode VI: Endor
The Endor system plays a key role in Return of the Jedi as the site of the Battle of Endor, fought to prevent construction of the second Death Star. The scene presents the final victory of the Rebel Alliance over the Empire. Endor is a forest moon and home of the Ewoks, who fight against the Imperial forces alongside the Rebels. Guests can also view a large-scale model of a Lambda-class Imperial shuttle on its landing platform.
- THE CLONE WARS: Christophsis The seventh area shows a scene from the animated series THE CLONE WARS on the planet Christophsis. Chronologically, the series takes place between Episode II and Episode III and focuses on the adventures of Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi as Jedi Knights. The LEGO scene depicts part of the planet’s surface, with the largest of all LEGO STAR WARS models: an approximately 8 foot tall building from the Crystal City. There is also a scene showing a battle between Separatist battle droids and Republic clone troopers.
How the LEGO models are created:
The roughly 2,000 LEGO STAR WARS models are being developed and built by eight model designers and two animation electricians at our sister park, LEGOLAND Deutschland in Günzburg, Germany. It is up to the Master Model Builders at LEGOLAND California to bring the scenes to life with the help of animation electricians, technicians and landscapers all working to ensure the LEGO models appear as realistic as possible with special effects and landscaping.
Planning started in March 2010. The individual film scenes were selected after careful consultation with Lucasfilm Ltd. Pictures and drawings of the figures, spacecraft, vehicles, landscapes, etc. were taken as the basis for the detailed construction blueprints. The model designers used a special LEGO drawing paper for this, on which one square is equivalent to one LEGO knob. In the next step, they calculated how many bricks and which colors and forms would be needed for the models. For particularly difficult model parts, prototypes are first built, before the model is constructed brick by brick. To help the LEGO models last longer, all of the bricks are glued together and then sprayed with a special UV coating.
Authentic STAR WARS sounds, actions and lighting effects help to make the models even more lifelike. For all models, only commercially available LEGO pieces are used.
LEGOLAND Deutschland and LEGOLAND Billund will also be opening new STAR WARS Miniland displays in 2011.
At a glance:
Scenes: Each cluster features a key scene from one of the six STAR WARS films and the animated TV series STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS.
Area: Seven clusters (“islands”) with an area of approximately 200 square feet each
Number of bricks: More than 1.5 million LEGO bricks are being used to build the roughly 2,000 models
Total weight of the bricks: 1.3 tons
Location: Next to The Model Shop above Miniland U.S.A.
Timeframe: Thirteen months for development and construction
Construction team: Eight model designers and two animation electricians from LEGOLAND Deutschland as well as three Model Builders and a team of landscapers, animation electricians and maintenance workers from LEGOLAND California.
STAR WARS™, STAR WARS™: THE CLONE WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.
LEGOLAND® California is a 128-acre interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. With more than 60 rides, shows and attractions, LEGOLAND is geared towards family fun! There are three other LEGOLAND Parks in the world – 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. Merlin Entertainments is the leading name in location based, branded, family entertainment and currently owns 62 attractions worldwide serving 38.5 million visitors worldwide. For the most current information, log on to www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO.
LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA – MINILAND FACT SHEET
Miniland USA – This eye-catching area is the heart of LEGOLAND California and features more than 24 million LEGO bricks! Miniland presents stunning reproductions of American landmarks built with remarkable detail, all built to a 1:20 scale.
- Las Vegas features the world-famous Strip including the Luxor Las Vegas, New York, New York Hotel and Casino, Excalibur, Mirage, Treasure Island, Tropicana, MGM Grand, Venetian, Stratosphere tower and two iconic structures of Paris Las Vegas, the balloon sign and Eiffel Tower. “The Strip” at LEGOLAND also features a miniature wedding chapel, monorails and real life sounds recorded in Las Vegas. The architectural landmark is built out of more than two-million bricks and represents more than sixteen-thousand hours of creative artistry.
- An animated New England countryside with an adjoining farm encourages young guest interaction. When colored buttons on various poles surrounding the scenes are pushed, the LEGO people and animals come to life.
- Washington, D.C. sports faithful recreations of the White House, Capitol Building, Smithsonian, Washington and Jefferson Monuments and parts of Georgetown. An animated marching band parades in front of the Capitol as a new president is sworn in. Tiny cherry trees blossom every spring.
- Every day is Mardi Gras in New Orleans as garish floats snake through the streets, revelers raise their arms demanding trinkets, and ‘gators snooze in bayous next to antebellum mansions.
- New York features the Freedom Tower years before its completion in the Big Apple. Tiny jets of water shoot up in the fountain in Rockefeller Plaza, while an army of animated yellow taxicabs prowls the streets of Times Square. The Statue of Liberty, a cutaway view of Grand Central Station, The Empire State Building, The Guggenheim Museum and the Bronx Zoo are just a few of the recognizable landmarks.
- From San Diego surfer dudes to the Hollywood Bowl to San Francisco’s Chinatown and the Golden Gate Bridge, The California Coastline captures the state’s beauty and diversity.
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