The park opened on March 20, 1999. The Legoland parks were put up for sale in 2004, then a controlling interest sold in 2005. The new controlling company is, Merlin Entertainments, a brand of the Blackstone Group of New York, an investment and advisory firm. The company is the operator of the Sea Life Centres. On Aug. 11, 2008, the Sea Life aquarium opened on the grounds of Legoland California, the first in North America

In the Imagination Zone visitors can ride a Wild Mouse-style roller coaster called the “Technic Coaster-Test Track”, choose from three different “4-D” movies called “Bob the Builder,” “Spellbreaker,” and a racing movie. Kids can also race Lego cars that they build themselves in Build ‘n Test, play the “Maniac Challenge” in which guests play LEGO PC games, and program robots in “Mindstorms”. Guests can also ride on “Bionicle Blaster”, which is a version of the teacup ride, or the “Aquazone Wave Racers,” the primero ever duel water carousel. In that you get use a steering wheel to control a rudder that makes you either come in closer to the center or fly out through the waves, all the while being squirted with water by the bystanders.

Pirate Shores has 6 rides and attractions. “Splash Battle” is a ride where guests enter their very own pirate ships to do battle with other guests on the ride and on land also while trying to avoid on-ride blasts of water. “Soak ‘N Sail” is an interactive two-storey water playground. Children and adults play with water pouring down all around them, for example, there are two buckets filled with 500 gallons of water that pour water on unsuspecting people. “Treasure Falls”; the mini-log flume, is a great training ride for little riders that aren’t quite ready for the bigger log rides at other parks. “Swabbie’s Deck” is the little kids water area, for little kids from infant all the way up to 7 or 8 to get their feet wet, before attempting Soak and Sail. “Captain Cranky’s Challenge” is the newest ride for Pirate Shores that opened on May 24, 2007. Pirate Shores also has a “Skipper School” where parents and kids can pilot Lego boats.Expanded seating and locker facilities for Pirate Shores were added on Summer 2007.

This is the newest section of the theme park, being opened in May 2008, which is designed to replicate the 1920s in Egypt. “Pharaoh’s Revenge” involves guests firing foam balls at targets and at each other. On “Beetle Bounce” guests bounce nearly 15 feet to nearly touch the enormous beetles above. “Cargo Ace”, lets guests board one of eight planes to fly six feet into the air. “Lost Kingdom Adventure” is Legoland California’s most recent attraction. Guests board and ride a roadster to recover stolen treasure by blasting targets with laser guns along their journey. Another recently opened attraction is “Dune Raiders,” which is a slide.