Legoland Florida president leaves position at resort

Franceen Gonzales, a well-known adventure and water park industry executive named president of Legoland Florida Resort in Polk County last summer, has left the top job after 13 months. 

Gonzales announced her departure from the resort in a LinkedIn post Wednesday. A Legoland Florida spokesperson, in an email responding to questions from the Business Observer, says an interim president hasn’t been named to replace Gonzales. Merlin Entertainments, the British parent company that operates the Legoland brand and its resorts and properties worldwide, didn’t release any statements regarding Gonzales’ departure or the reasons behind it. 

“We are grateful for Franceen’s dedication in helping deliver world-class, immersive experiences for our guests,” the Florida spokesperson says in the note. “Her passion for creating unforgettable moments is truly appreciated and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors. The resort remains committed to delivering unforgettable experiences for our guests and to supporting our dedicated team members as we move forward.”

Gonzales was named Legoland Florida President in June. The role includes overseeing all operations for Legoland Water Park, Legoland Hotel, Legoland Pirate Island Hotel, Legoland Beach Retreat and Peppa Pig Theme Park. Legoland is in Winter Haven, about 50 miles east of Tampa and 47 miles west of Orlando. It opened in October 2011 and has since become an economic engine in central Polk. "I'm excited to return to my roots in park operations and thrilled to continue the legacy of success at the world-class Legoland Florida Resort,” Gonzales said in a statement when she was named president. 

In her July 16 LinkedIn post, Gonzales writes, in part, she “had a great 13 months there, working with fantastic people who really love the resort. I learned a lot while working with colleagues at Merlin Entertainments and partners at the Lego Group.”

Gonzales, who graduated from Stanford in 1996 with intentions of becoming a doctor, was previously an executive with WhiteWater West, a global water park development firm; a park director at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey; and a vice president at Great Wolf Resorts, among other roles in the industry. 

She was also a board member of several industry associations and a keynote speaker on crisis response in adventure parks, something she talked about on the Business Observer’s leadership podcast, From the Corner Office, in October. 

Gonzales’ departure comes some three months after Legoland Florida Resort laid off 234 employees. The resort announced the job cuts in a letter to state officials in January that said the cuts would begin March 25. Job titles affected included performers, stage managers, the head of resort quality, the resort operations manager and entertainment technicians.

More recently — Tuesday — Merlin issued a press release with details about a $94 million investment into “space-themed experiences” being developed at Legoland Resorts in Florida and California, including “groundbreaking indoor rollercoasters.”