12 Things To Know About LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta

If your summer schedule doesn’t allow for an extended vacation—or you’re looking for a fun weekend getaway with the family—take a 4-hour drive down I-85 and spend some time in Atlanta. Catch a game at Braves Truist Park, explore the wonders of the ocean at the Georgia Aquarium, or grab a bite at Ponce City Market and head up to the roof to play at Skyline Park. When you need a break from the heat, bring your little builders to LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta and let their imaginations run wild. Here are 12 things to know about the new facility, which reopened on March 31, 2023 after a six-month, $5 million renovation.

1. It’s easy to find. LEGO Discovery Center occupies most of the third floor of Phipps Plaza, the upscale shopping mall at the intersection of Peachtree Road and Lenox Road in Buckhead. It’s the first LEGO Discovery Center in the United States—the first one is in Brussels. 
2. They’ve streamlined the ticketing process. Purchase tickets in advance and reserve a time slot to guarantee your spot. Then download the digital pass on your phone to scan at the entrance. Single-day admission starts at $28.99 (children under 3 are free). Most visitors stay for 2-3 hours, but there’s no time limit once you’re inside. 
3. It’s not a theme park. LEGOLAND refers to the theme parks in Florida, California, and New York; LEGOLAND Discovery Centers are indoor play spaces. You won’t find roller coasters here, but the Kingdom Quest ride lets you hop aboard a slow-moving chariot and zap trolls and skeletons. 
4. The Miniland display will blow your mind. This LEGO replica of Atlanta is the work of Master Model Builder Phillip Quinn-Simmons, who used 1.5 million LEGO bricks to recreate Truist Park, The Fox Theatre, Zoo Atlanta, and many other local landmarks. There’s also a window where you can watch master builders at work and ask questions about your own LEGO creations. 
5. You can build your own rocketship. The Spaceship Build and Scan is one of the new features that lets kids (and adults, if we’re being honest) build rockets with LEGO bricks, then scan their designs and pilot them using a joystick and video monitors. This area also has an accessible station for guests in wheelchairs. 
6. There’s a 4D cinema. The 4D theater shows short LEGO movies about every 30 minutes. You’ll get a clean set of 4D glasses on your way in, and you deposit them in a bin to be sanitized again on your way out. 
7. The Great LEGO Race VR simulator got an upgrade. Buckle up, strap on your headset—don’t worry, they sanitize everything between each guest—and soar through the air while you dodge lava caves and flying objects. Just be aware that kids must be at least 40 inches tall to ride, and the experience isn’t included in the price of regular admission—but you can add the virtual reality option online or at the admissions desk.
8. There are activities for toddlers, too. DUPLO® Park, which used to be just a small corner for the littlest visitors, is now an expanded play area for kids ages 2 to 5 and includes bins of LEGOs for little workers, a merry-go-round, and Hook-A-Duck.
9. You can take a class from a master model builder. An overhead screen displays the day’s activities, which typically include a Master Builder class every hour, on the hour. Head to the classroom, grab a stool at one of the work benches, and follow along as the instructor shows you how to assemble a LEGO masterpiece.
10. They’ve got food and drink options onsite. The LEGO Café has build-your-own burgers, nachos, personal pizzas, Dippin’ Dots, and Starbucks Coffee. They’ve also added vegetarian options to the menu.
11. There’s a LEGO gift shop. As you exit the LEGO play area, you pass through The LEGO shop. Browse shelves of model kits and check out the new minifigure creator, which lets you design a custom minifigure that’s printed right there in the store. 
12. It’s fun for adults, too. LEGOLAND Discovery Center is obviously geared toward preschoolers and elementary school-age children, but it’s a blast for parents as well. 

LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta is located at 3500 Peachtree Road NE, Suite G-1, in Phipps Plaza