Germany’s Legoland park in Bavaria begins its 2018 season this weekend, and operator Merlin Entertainments is promising several new attractions.

Europe’s first Lego virtual reality (VR) rollercoaster will be unveiled at Legoland Deutschland Resort on March 24.

Guests can choose to ride Project X – Test Strecke, a custom-themed themed Mack Wild Mouse first opened in 2002, either with or without VR goggles. Those that do opt for the new high tech feature will see themselves compete in a race against a digital Lego magician, pirate and surfer girl.

Over €26 million ($32m) has been invested in the world’s first Legoland Pirateninsel (Pirate Island) Hotel – as pictured above. Merlin decided to add the new accommodation after the park’s existing holiday village in the town of Günzburg achieved occupancy rates of 92% in 2017. Laid out in a L-shaped configuration, the new hotel’s entrance features a 15m-long mast and a pirate ship adventure playground outside. In each of the family rooms, children sleep inside a boat equipped with a Lego building board in the bow.

“Guests can not only spend the night, but also dine like knights, adventurers and princesses,” notes Legoland Deutschland Resort managing director Martin Kring. “We can welcome 594 pirates. This increases the capacity of the holiday village by 28% to 2,644 guests per night.”

In 2017, Legoland Deutschland recorded growth of 10%. A popular new addition was Ninjago The Ride. The 4D interactive dark ride was ridden by 1.1 million guests. Capitalising on the popularity of the Ninjago brand, the park is introducing a 4D movie this year featuring the Lego ninja warrior characters. The film will also be shown at the German indoor Legoland Discovery Centres in Berlin and Oberhausen.

Another new addition in Günzburg for 2018 will be the arrival of the latest Star Wars exhibit in the park’s Miniland area, featuring replica Lego scenes from The Awakening of Power. The season was due to start on Saturday, March 24.