WINTER HAVEN, Fla. _ When Legoland Florida opened on the former site of Cypress Gardens in 2011 it didn't have a hotel. Now it has two.
The Legoland Hotel opened in 2015 and new for this summer there's Legoland Beach Retreat.
Which is the better choice? It depends on what you're willing to spend (Legoland Hotel is more expensive and located at the theme park entrance) and how much convenience you're willing to sacrifice (the less expensive Legoland Beach Retreat is located a short drive from the theme park behind the husk of an abandoned K-Mart store).
Staying at either location includes a free buffet breakfast _ the buffet at Legoland Hotel had more options _ and both hotels have pools, but Beach Retreat's pool appeared to be larger with more oversize Lego bricks floating in the water for children to build with.
