The Pirate Reef water ride combines a traditional "Shoot-the-chutes" flume ride with a "splash battle" attraction. The ride's boats can hold up to 20 people at a time, and ascend a 25-feet-tall hill before splashing down into a pool below. As riders exit the ride they pass between two large-scale pirate ships that are separated by a wooden bridge, each of which features water cannons to blast the other one with.

The attraction is located between LEGOLAND California's existing Pirate Shores land and the LEGOLAND Water Park. Visitors to both parks are able to experience the ride, which opened in time for the Memorial Day 2012 celebrations.

More than 223,000 LEGO bricks were used to create the 30 models that line the shores of Pirate Reef, which includes pirates, monkeys, parrots and frogs.