·       Special themed weekend to celebrate the NEW LEGO® Star Wars™ Gallery in the Miniland Model Display

·       Help build a gigantic LEGO Star Wars™ mosaic of R2-D2 using more than 80,500 bricks and a life size model of Yoda

·       Resort invasion of over 100 Star Wars™ costume characters from the 501st UK Garrison

·       Join a Jedi Training Camp to become a Jedi Knight and pose alongside a life-size Star Wars™ vehicle

·       Win LEGOLAND prizes in the Star Wars™ costume competition

·       PLUS see ‘The Empire Strikes Out’ and ‘LEGO® Star Wars: The Padawan Menace’ films

·       Event included in ticket price, free for under three’s and Premium Annual Pass Holders

·       Visit www.legoland.co.uk for more information or to pre-book tickets and enjoy up to 25% discount

The Force grows stronger this May, as the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort celebrates the opening of the NEW LEGO® Star Wars™ Gallery in the LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Model Display. From 4 - 6 May 2013 the resort will be invaded by 100 costume characters from the 501st UK Garrison and guests can enjoy a host of themed activities during three themed Star Wars™ Days including a gigantic LEGO Star Wars™ mosaic build.

LEGO building skills will be put to the test as guests join the Resort’s professional Model Making Team in a mammoth building project using more than 80,500 bricks to create a 4m high LEGO Star Wars™ mosaic of R2-D2 – voted by fans as their favourite character in the NEW Star Wars™ Gallery.

They will also be able to join them building a life-size LEGO model of Yoda and would-be Jedi juniors can hone their Lightsaber skills at the Jedi Training Camp. Plus Star Wars™ Costume Characters will march through the Resort daily and guests can check out a life-size replica of Luke Skywalker’s famous Star Wars™ Landspeeder. Daily fancy dress costume competitions with LEGOLAND goodies will be up for grabs and The Imagination Theatre will be showing an exclusive big screen film premiere of the ‘LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out’ alongside ‘LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace’.  Plus spot the LEGO Star Wars™ Minifigures hiding out amongst the famous landmarks in Miniland.

New for 2013 - the LEGO Star Wars™ Gallery joins the LEGO Star Wars™ Miniland Model Display and features twelve 3-foot high LEGO models of the most famous Star Wars™ heroes and villains including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and even Yoda – plus, of course, the fans’ favourite - R2-D2.

Using over 1.5 million LEGO bricks, the LEGO Star Wars™ Miniland Model Display recreates 7 of the most iconic scenes from the legendary movies and the animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™. 

The event is included in the normal LEGOLAND Windsor Resort ticket price; entry is FREE for those aged under three and to Premium Annual Pass Holders. Pre-booking is advised to guarantee entry at www.legoland.co.uk. Booking online means you can enjoy up to 25% discount on day ticket prices and print your tickets at home for quick entrance on the day: adult ticket from £34.20 and child (3-15) from £27.45.

With an amazing hotel and over 55 interactive rides, live shows, building workshops, driving schools and attractions, including the heroic new attraction LEGO Legends of Chima™ 4D Movie Xperience and DUPLO Valley opening in May the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort makes the perfect location for families with children under 12. Add to this, fantastic eateries and a giant LEGO shop all set within 150 acres of beautiful parkland, this is one adventure that needs more than a day to experience.

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For further information please contact: Ali Bedford/Amy Williams at freerange communications on: 0207 402 9966 or ali@freerange.eu

Notes to Editors:

· LEGO, the LEGO logo and LEGOLAND are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2013 The LEGO Group.

· 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.

· The LEGOLAND Windsor Resort opens from 15 March – 4 November 2013.  It is closed on selected midweek days in May, September, October and November.  For further details please check www.legoland.co.uk

· The LEGOLAND Windsor Resort is free for under threes.

· The LEGOLAND Windsor Resort is a unique family theme park where children aged 2-12 can take to the road, soar through the skies and sail the seas in complete safety.  It has over 55 interactive rides, attractions, live shows, building workshops and driving schools, not to mention a staggering 80 million LEGO bricks, all set in 150 acres of beautiful parkland. 

· There are five other LEGOLAND® parks in the world – LEGOLAND® Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND® California in the U.S.A, LEGOLAND® Florida, LEGOLAND® Deutschland in Germany and the recently opened LEGOLAND® Malaysia MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe's Number 1 and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates 94 attractions, seven hotels/two holiday villages in 21 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 46 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 20,000 employees.  Among Merlin's attractions are  - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park, WILD LIFE Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK, Siam Ocean World and Busan Aquarium.  All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative - and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.