We entered NINJAGO World through a red archway leading into a courtyard where you can begin your ninja training with interactive features to test your balance, agility, speed and creativity: Kai's Spinners, Cole's Rock Climb (a climbing wall), Jay's Lightning Drill and Zane's Temple Build (a building station).

Meanwhile with Destiny’s Bounty you will soon be able to test your skills of endurance on this twisting and turning boat-themed ride, which was previously the Longboat Invader in Land of the Vikings.

The centrepiece of the new land is NINJAGO The Ride, the first attraction in the UK to use thrilling 4D effects of heat, smoke and wind, alongside state of the art Maestro hand gesture technology, enabling riders to virtually throw fireballs, shock waves, ice and lightning using nothing but your hands. It's contained within an impressive building, with a themed indoor queue which makes it an ideal all weather attraction. Along the way there are a series of demonstration videos to prepare you for the experience. 

NINJAGO The Ride is manufactured by Triotech, a world leader in media based interactive attractions, and it features cutting-edge technology. Through 3D imagery (glasses provided), high-tech sensors and the use of hand movements in a striking motion, up to four riders per car, representing the four main NINJAGO characters, score points by battling against snake tribes, skeleton ghosts and King of the Skulkuns, before ultimately facing The Great Devourer – a giant serpent who can only be defeated by working together and demonstrating the best Spinjitzu moves. Riders collect points for their training and battle efforts throughout the ride and scores are displayed when the quest is completed.

On our first go, we notched up 40,650 and 67,200 points each, which seemed fairly typical scores. It's easy to play but not to master, a helpful jet of air in the lap bar sensor makes sure that your hands are positioned correctly but it takes practice to aim correctly. On our second turn we improved our scores and that's part of the joy of this new attraction, it means you want to come back to try again. The number of points you score affects your Ninja level, riders are placed 1st - 4th in your group and you get a score for your team too.

Ride photos are available to buy at the end, and there is also a NINJAGO Shop with plenty of products available. Over on the Miniland Lawn Stage there is a new show too, NINJAGO Live - The Portal of Peril. And of course, a new world means more LEGO models; over 20 new LEGO models are located in NINJAGO World including two guardian dragons built from 77,280 LEGO bricks protecting the entrance, models of Master Wu and the NINJAGO heroes themselves. We were really impressed with NINJAGO World despite there still being a few finishing touches needed and NINJAGO The Ride was so much fun!

Two versions of NINJAGO World with NINJAGO The Ride opened last year at LEGOLAND Billund and LEGOLAND California, with another opening at LEGOLAND Florida this year.

NINJAGO World at LEGOLAND Windsor has replaced the Loki's Labyrinth hedge maze.

It is based on the popular LEGO NINJAGO, which is brought to life by The LEGO Group through a line of popular toys and a TV series on Cartoon Network. LEGO NINJAGO tells the story of four young ninja heroes – Kai, Jay, Cole and Zane – who train under the watchful eye of Master Wu to master an ancient martial art – Spinjitzu.