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'Built for kids to take the lead': Florida's 'Peppa Pig' theme park to open with autism certification and accessible attractions

Terri Peters
·Senior Lifestyle Editor
·4 min read

If splashing in muddy puddles, having tea with Peppa and going for a wild car ride with Daddy Pig sounds like the perfect day for your little ones, there will soon be an entire theme park for that.

Peppa Pig Theme Park, the world's first Peppa Pig theme park, announced in October 2021 that its grand opening in Winter Haven, Fla. will take place on Feb. 24, 2022.

Starting in February 2022, Peppa Pig fans will be able to get up close and personal with characters from their favorite cartoon at a new theme park. (Photo: Peppa Pig Theme Park)
Starting in February 2022, Peppa Pig fans will be able to get up close and personal with characters from their favorite cartoon at a new theme park. (Photo: Peppa Pig Theme Park)

At the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions expo on Nov. 16, the park also shared its commitment to opening as a certified autism center, as well as offering increased accessibility for children who use wheelchairs.

The theme park, located on the same property as Legoland Florida Resort, will offer Peppa-themed rides, play spaces and activities, all designed with preschoolers in mind. Guests of the new park can expect rides like Daddy Pig's Roller Coaster, a curvy ride along a "shortcut" through town in Daddy Pig's red car, and Peppa Pig's Balloon Ride, a hot air balloon ride with a snort-worthy view from the top.

On Daddy Pig's Roller Coaster, preschoolers and their families will take a wild
On Daddy Pig's Roller Coaster, preschoolers and their families will take a wild "shortcut" in Daddy Pig's recognizable red car. (Photo: Peppa Pig Theme Park)

On Peppa's balloon ride, kids who use wheelchairs will be able to roll onto the ride car without needing to transfer from their wheelchair.

In addition to six themed rides, the park will include play spaces — like a Muddy Puddles Splash Pad — as well as a cinema where kids can take a break and watch episodes of Peppa Pig on the big screen. And, as with any good Peppa adventure, there will be forts, trails, treehouses and playgrounds to explore, in addition to character meet-and-greets with Peppa and her friends.

The park's play spaces will also be designed with accessibility in mind: Peppa's splash pad will be graded for wheelchair use and features like a tunnel of water hoops that can be navigated by kids who use wheelchairs will be in place throughout the attraction. Kids in wheelchairs will also be able to navigate areas like George's Fort, which will be mapped out to meet all ADA guidelines and standards. Additionally, game counters in the Fun Fair carnival-style gaming area will be designed at accessible heights.

On Peppa Pig's Balloon Ride, children who use wheelchairs will be able to roll onto the ride car without needing to transfer from their chair. (Photo: Legoland Florida Resort)
On Peppa Pig's Balloon Ride, children who use wheelchairs will be able to roll onto the ride car without needing to transfer from their chair. (Photo: Legoland Florida Resort)

Peppa Pig Theme Park has also partnered with The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to earn accreditation as an autism-certified center. IBCCES will work with theme park staff to conduct autism sensitivity and awareness training, providing all staff with the knowledge required to interact with children with special needs and their families.

The park also plans to develop a sensory guide for families, designed to offer guidance on how a child with sensory issues may be affected by each of the five senses while experiencing each attraction.

And the plans aren't just for Peppa and her crew: Legoland Florida will implement autism certifications resort-wide at Legoland Theme Park, Legoland Water Park, Legoland Hotel, Legoland Pirate Island Hotel and Legoland Beach Retreat by the time Peppa Pig Theme Park opens, as part of the resort's ongoing commitment to create a destination "built for kids to lead."

The Muddy Puddles Splash Pad will be graded for wheelchair use. (Photo: Legoland Florida Resort)
The Muddy Puddles Splash Pad will be graded for wheelchair use. (Photo: Legoland Florida Resort)

Plans to build the standalone Peppa Pig park were initially announced in February. While Peppa Pig World, an attraction within a waterpark in England, has been open since 1983, Peppa Pig Theme Park will be the first fully Peppa-themed theme park property in the world.

While Legoland Florida is already home to a theme park and water park, admission to Peppa Pig Theme Park will require a separate ticket. Both park tickets and annual passes to Peppa Pig Theme Park are now available for purchase as the park's opening date approaches.

This story was originally published on Oct. 12, 2021, at 4:16 p.m. and has been updated to include Peppa Pig Theme Park's plans for accessibility and autism certification.