Go back to blog

Landyn’s Journey to LEGOLAND New York

  • Wednesday May 28th 2025
  • LEGOLAND, New York, Merlin's Magic Wand, Magical Day Out

Download (1)

But through the pain and uncertainty, one thing remained a constant light for Landyn: his love for LEGO. Even while still in the hospital, Landyn would talk about LEGOLAND. It became more than just a dream—it became his goal, his motivation, and his symbol of hope.
Landyn’s mother, Emily Rigsby, remembers how important that wish became. “When he was in the hospital, all he could talk about was wanting to go to LEGOLAND. It was something he held on to, and we held on to it too.”
That wish caught the attention of local news station WTKR News 3, who shared Landyn’s story and reached out to LEGOLAND on the family’s behalf. What happened next is where the magic began.
When Merlin Entertainments—the parent company of LEGOLAND—heard about Landyn’s story, they knew they had to do something special. Through their children’s charity, Merlin’s Magic Wand, they reached out to the family with a heartfelt offer: an all-expenses-paid trip to LEGOLAND New York Resort.
"Landyn's love for LEGO and his resilience in the face of tragedy moved all of us," said Julie Estrada, PR Director for Merlin Entertainments. "We knew we wanted to be part of his journey and give him something joyful to look forward to."

Download

But the timing had to be right. Landyn was still undergoing regular physical therapy, and the family decided to wait until he gained more mobility and independence. Finally, as his 10th birthday approached this spring—and with his new electric wheelchair giving him the freedom to explore—the family felt it was time.

And what a celebration it was.

From the moment they arrived at the LEGOLAND New York Resort, Landyn’s excitement was unstoppable. As soon as the car door opened, he zipped out in his wheelchair, racing toward the park with wide eyes and a huge smile

“We weren’t even ready to go yet,” Emily laughed. “But he just took off! He couldn’t wait to see everything.”

It wasn’t just a theme park visit. For the Davis family, this was their first real vacation since the shooting. It was a chance to be together somewhere joyful, somewhere that didn’t carry the weight of hospital rooms and recovery routines. They stayed in the LEGOLAND Hotel, where every hallway felt like a LEGO wonderland, and where Landyn could rediscover his sense of play and imagination.

He rode rides. He built LEGO creations. He met characters. And for the first time in a long time, Landyn got to just be a kid.

“My eyes were watery the entire time,” Emily said. “He was just so happy about everything. It meant the world to see him like that again.”

For a child who had endured so much, the trip was nothing short of magical. But the impact went far beyond a weekend of fun. It was a reset. A joyful reminder of all that Landyn is capable of—and all that still lies ahead.

Since returning home, Landyn hasn’t stopped talking about his experience. He’s more motivated than ever in his therapy. He’s building LEGO sets again—something he hadn’t done since before the shooting. His story has become one of strength, hope, and the power of a dream fulfilled.

Merlin’s Magic Wand exists to bring magical days out to children facing adversity, and Landyn’s journey shows just how life-changing those experiences can be. A single trip to LEGOLAND can give a child the boost they need to keep pushing forward, to find joy again, and to know they are not alone.

To the Davis family, to Landyn, and to every child holding on to hope—this day was for you.

Health