Out of this world adventure awaits! Today, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort and LEGOLAND® California Resort proudly announce the winners of the first-ever Junior Galaxy Explorers search, a hands-on STEM contest that invited young LEGO® builders and space enthusiasts to dream big, build boldly, and explore the future of intergalactic discovery.

The Junior Galaxy Explorers search launched late last year to find a team of young explorers who will be among the first to ride the new indoor space-themed roller coaster, Galacticoaster, when it opens as part of LEGO® Galaxy at both LEGOLAND Florida and California Resorts on February 27 and March 6, respectively.

“With contests hosted at children’s museums across Florida and California, along with an online submission open nationwide, Junior Galaxy Explorers inspired kids ages 6-12 to use imagination, independent thinking, and LEGO® bricks to create their own space-themed builds inspired by exploration beyond Earth,” said Julie Estrada, North America Communications Director, Merlin Entertainments. “On-site participants also took part in interactive workshops and build challenges designed to spark curiosity and problem-solving.”

After a careful judging process conducted by LEGOLAND Master Model Builders, engineers from Astrolab (a company developing next-generation lunar mobility systems), and Club Ambassadors from Blue Origin’s Club for the Future (a nonprofit inspiring future generations to pursue STEM careers), the top Junior Galaxy Explorers were chosen:

  • Junior Galaxy Explorer Winners – California

o Eric Abajian, age 12 – San Juan Capistrano, CA; Homeschooled

  • What do you think it’s going to feel like to ride Galacticoaster? “I think it is going to be AWESOME!!!!! It will be a new experience, especially for me, because I have never been on a rollercoaster before. But I’m excited about building my own spaceship and riding in it! That is SUCH a unique feature!”

o Aili Imamura, age 9 – Pasadena, CA; Washington Elementary Stem Magnet

  • Why do you love building with LEGO? “Because it’s so much fun and you can literally make anything you can imagine.”

o Dylan Nowatnick, age 9 – Chula Vista, CA; Wolf Canyon Elementary

  • How did you react when you found out you were chosen as a Junior Galaxy Explorer? “Not a lot of people get chosen, so it felt crazy that I was one of them. That made me feel proud, like I did it!”

o Holden Wrey, age 12 – San Francisco, CA; St. John’s Catholic School

  • Why do you love building with LEGO? “I like building with LEGO because it feels like a fun thing to do that is more active than reading or watching a screen.”
  • Junior Galaxy Explorer Winners – Florida
    • Landon Bauer, age 11 — Lakeland, FL; Homeschooled
  • How did you react when you found out you were chosen as a Junior Galaxy Explorer? “I cried in joy and I was so shocked about it. I hugged my mom; it was just a really great time!”
    • Gabriel Hart, age 10 — Orlando, FL; West Creek Elementary School
      • Why do you love building with LEGO? “I love building with LEGO because you can get creative and build whatever you want, and you can build with other people.”
    • Jovian Hinojosa, age 7 — Hialeah, FL; Miami Springs Elementary School
  • How did you react when you found out you were chosen as a Junior Galaxy Explorer? “I was so excited to be the official Junior Galaxy Explorer of the two things I love, LEGO and Space.”
    • Masha Novoa, age 9 — Miami Beach, FL; North Beach Elementary School
      • What do you think it’s going to feel like to ride Galacticoaster? “I think I will feel like a queen of the galaxy. I may not be able to sleep on the previous night; it will be the best experience of my life.”

Galacticoaster is the headline attraction at LEGO Galaxy, marking Merlin Entertainments’ largest investment in LEGOLAND Parks to date. The first-of-its-kind indoor, space-themed family coaster delivers an immersive, customizable adventure where riders design their own spacecraft using interactive touchscreens and RFID wristbands across four build phases—nose, tail, wings, and a special element—creating up to 625 possible ride combinations, so no two missions are ever the same! The attraction reaches speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, delivering thrilling twists, turns, and launches designed for the whole family. Galacticoaster also represents a major milestone for both parks, debuting as LEGOLAND Florida’s first indoor coaster and LEGOLAND California’s first new coaster in nearly two decades.

Designed as an immersive, story-driven land, LEGO Galaxy at both LEGOLAND California Resort and LEGOLAND Florida Resort invites families on a journey through the stars. At LEGOLAND California, the new land is anchored by Galacticoaster and features two additional cosmic rides and interactive experiences, a Junior Astronaut Training Zone, a Rocket Assembly Bay where guests can launch their LEGO spacecrafts into space, and galactic-inspired food and beverages designed to fuel every space mission. At LEGOLAND Florida, guests can explore hands-on attractions, including the Junior Astronaut Training Zone, a DUPLO®-inspired play area, interactive experiences, Orbit Outpost, a space-themed retail experience packed with out-of-this-world finds, along with galactic-themed food and beverage offerings designed to fuel every space mission.

LEGO Galaxy will open at LEGOLAND Florida Resort on February 27, and at LEGOLAND California on March 6. Admission to LEGO Galaxy is included with any park ticket or annual pass purchase.

About Merlin Entertainments

Merlin Entertainments is a world leader in branded entertainment destinations, offering a diverse portfolio of resort theme parks, city-center gateway attractions and LEGOLAND® Resorts which span across the UK, US, Western Europe, China and Asia Pacific. Dedicated to creating experiences that inspire joy and connection, Merlin welcomes more than 62 million guests annually to its diverse global estate in over 20 countries. An expert in bringing world-famous entertainment brands to life, Merlin works with partners including the LEGO® Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Peppa Pig, DreamWorks and Ferrari to create destinations where guests can immerse themselves in a wide array of brand-driven worlds, rides and uplifting learning experiences. See www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

About LEGOLAND® California Resort

LEGOLAND® California Resort includes LEGOLAND® California, SEA LIFE® aquarium, LEGOLAND® Water Park, LEGOLAND® Hotel and LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel. All are designed for families with children ages of 2 to 12. The Resort features more than 60 rides, shows, and attractions including the newest land, Dino Valley, with three rides, an interactive build and play area, and brand-new costume characters. Families can also experience LEGO® Ferrari Build & Race and The LEGO® MOVIE™ WORLD, and the upcoming LEGO® Galaxy featuring Galacticoaster, an all-new indoor family roller coaster, along with hands-on STEM-based experiences designed to inspire young explorers. Guests can also discover the world’s first LEGO version of San Diego in Miniland USA, featuring a 30-foot LEGO® model of the city, 120 palm trees, and 55 local landmarks including The Rady Shell, Petco Park, and Coronado Bridge. LEGOLAND® Water Park includes more than seven slides, sandy beaches, and the Build-A-Raft River, plus Pirate Reef and LEGO® Legends of CHIMA™ Water Park. The Resort also features the nation’s first LEGOLAND® Hotel offering 250 rooms, all themed either as pirate, adventure, LEGO® DUPLO, LEGO® Friends, and LEGO®NINJAGO® and coming soon, LEGO® City! North America’s first LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel features 250 rooms, fully themed as Knights and Dragons, Royal Princess, and Magic Wizard. LEGOLAND California is a Certified Autism Center (CAC), accredited by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). For more information, visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO (5346).

About LEGOLAND Florida Resort

LEGOLAND® Florida Resort is the ultimate vacation destination for families with kids, combining the creativity of LEGO with Florida sunshine. Located 45 minutes from Orlando and Tampa, the Resort spans 150 acres and features more than 50 rides, live shows, and themed attractions inspired by beloved LEGO brands and characters. As part of the Resort’s biggest investment to date, LEGO Galaxy, guests will soon experience Galacticoaster — an all-new indoor, family space-themed coaster opening on February 27, 2026. The Resort also includes the year-round LEGOLAND Water Park, with more than a dozen family water slides, a lazy river, and interactive play areas, plus three on-site themed accommodations: the LEGOLAND Hotel, LEGOLAND Pirate Island Hotel, and LEGOLAND Beach Retreat, each offering kid-friendly rooms, nightly entertainment, and resort-style amenities. LEGOLAND Florida Resort is a Certified Autism Center (CAC), ensuring trained staff, sensory guides, and inclusive features to support guests of all abilities. See www.LEGOLAND.com/Florida for more information and follow @LEGOLANDFlorida on social media.