Legoland Florida is ramping up a massive hiring effort to fill 800 positions at its new theme park in Polk County, which is scheduled to open October 15.

The 150-acre park said Wednesday that job candidates can now apply for positions in operations, food service and retail online at http://www.legoland.com/jobs. The park is only accepting online applications at this point.

"Customer service and a kid-focused approach are two key attributes we're looking for in a Legoland Florida 'Model Citizen,'" said Teresa Vaughn, director of human resources. "We call our employees 'Model Citizens' because that's what we expect."

Pay for the positions starts at $7.75. Many of the jobs are seasonal, but there is potential for permanent work, a spokeswoman for the park said.

Officials in Polk County are hoping the infusion of jobs and tourists will help combat the region's high unemployment rate, which was 10.8 percent as of April.

Paula Bohnstedt, assistant director for Polk Works, said the organization is thrilled Legoland Florida has decided to locate in the area.

"I truly believe Legoland Florida will be the catalyst we need to launch continuous growth and success in Polk County," she said.

Legoland Florida announced last month that it plans to open its doors October 15. Tickets for the park are already on sale.

Source: Orlando Sentinel