Going into last weekend, the buzz that LEGO was making a mini-version of Disney Castle (71040) had intensified. The LEGO.com Building Instructions portal recently listed an entry for LEGO Mini Disney Castle (40478). It pretty much confirmed the set’s existence and identified it as a gift-with-purchase item. But at the time there were no other bits of info available. There wasn’t even a picture of the assembled set or its packaging; operative word being “was.” As might be expected, the first image of LEGO Mini Disney Castle was released Saturday.
Brickset.com notes that LEGO Mini Disney Castle (40478) now has several declarations of conformity on the LEGO.com Legal section. On the declarations, all dated September 3, is a small image of the set’s box packaging. One can perceive from the grainy details the faithful recreation of the original 71040 set down to minute details. About the only changed details seem to be the gold detailing on the castle’s towers. Then again the Disney theme parks do refurbish the decorations on the actual buildings every now and then. You can compare the look of the 567-piece mini-Castle in the image above, with the 4,080-piece 71040 below.
There’s one other point of reference for scale we can go on. Apparently set 40478 also includes one Mickey Mouse minifigure. He seems to be the same design from 71040, and as we know that set was big enough for minifigs to play in. Mickey standing next to the mini-castle in the box image comes across to be slightly taller than the drawbridge. On a scale like that a LEGO/Disney collector with limited display space may appreciate this possible GWP. Presently, we don’t know what promo/pricing the LEGO Mini Disney Castle (40478) will be attached to. However speculation pegs its release sometime this coming October.
The Magic was released in LEGO-brick form back in 2016, and it never really went away. We’re talking about set 71040, aka the magnificent LEGO Disney Castle. Its build is just like Cinderella Castle in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom or Tokyo Disneyland, but scaled for minifigures. Said minifigs of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, and Tinker Bell, are also accompanied by incredible shout-out LEGO pieces from various Disney Animated Films.
It’s all impressive, especially its size, dwarfing even LEGO Creator Expert sets like the newly-revealed Camp Nou (10284). But what if you can have your Disney Castle in a more manageable scale?
Mini Castle?
Brick Fanatics has been following hints of LEGO planning a micro-scale version of LEGO Disney Castle (71040) since April. Now, they’re reporting that the Online Building Instructions portal at LEGO.com has a new listing. How does Mini Disney Castle (40478) sound to you Disney fans? And based on the number LEGO assigned, this set might be as Brick Fanatics theorized months before: a gift-with-purchase. This is based on the numbering scheme that recent GWPs were sporting. Sailboat Adventure (40487) and FC Barcelona Celebration (40485) have 404 as its initial numbers.
More Questions
There are no concrete details yet on LEGO Mini Disney Castle (40478) beyond its 2021 release. Still, having building instructions put up on LEGO.com portal has led to official set reveals. There is however another rumor from BF’s social media source, brick_clicker, about this set’s 500-800 piece count. That’s a lot compared to most GWPs.
A running theory is that 40478, if a gift-with-purchase set, will need a higher online shopping threshold. Think the $200 minimum purchase for LEGO Sailboat Adventure (40487) was high? This could be higher still. Why else would 40487 remain available until its GWP period ended last August 29? One other alternative is that LEGO Mini Disney Castle could be purchasable by itself. We better keep our eyes peeled for more info sometime soon.
As LEGO began to roll out its wave ofnewsets this 2nd half of 2021, it is also expected that the company will begin clearing out from its shelves (both from its physical stores and online) several of its previous sets that are expected to reach its end of life very soon. Retiring LEGO sets are almost always of particular interest to the LEGO fan community, considering that most of us still have that one set that we are looking forward to ticking out from our LEGO must-have bucket list. And recently, Stone Wars have released a very comprehensive list of all the retiring LEGO sets that are expected to quietly exit or may have exited already, from LEGO stores and online, during the 1st half of this year.
The list of these retiring LEGO sets for H1 2021 is presented here. In case you’re interested, you may click on the following LEGO Shop@Home affiliate links below to check out their current availability. Some of these sets may be temporarily out of stock or tagged as already sold out as I’ve checked a while ago as of this posting. Nevertheless, it is still helpful to check if your expected LEGO set is still included in this listing.
Just a disclaimer though – like previously retired LEGO sets, this list is not 100% accurate considering how fast these retiring LEGO sets might sell out. So I encourage you to do a quick search over at LEGO Shop@Home. A huge thanks to Stone Wars once again for sharing and verifying this list.
Last month, LEGO has started rolling out its summer 2021 sets over its online shopping portal. And this time around, LEGO servers have been updated once again to now include more LEGO Disney summer 2021 sets all scheduled to be available for purchase starting August 1st.
These additional LEGO Disney summer 2021 sets take their cue from some of the most iconic Disney animated films including Frozen, Rapunzel, and Beauty & the Beast. What most LEGO collectors may find interesting is the introduction of micro-characters as part of LEGO Disney’s Storybook Adventures subtheme. These micro-characters (somewhat like miniaturized versions of the LEGO mini-doll) are the first of their kind in this theme.
If you wish to find out more about these sets, just head over to LEGO Shop@Home by clicking the following links below.
LEGO has listed another castle set and this time around coming from the Disney Frozen franchise. The LEGO Disney The Ice Castle (43197) is now listed at LEGO Shop@Home with a release date of July 1st, 2021.
Clocking in at 1,709 pieces the LEGO Disney The Ice Castle stands at 25.5 inches tall, making it just 4 inches shy of the tallest LEGO Disney set of all time which is the LEGO Disney Cinderella Castle (71040). The aesthetics of the LEGO Disney The Ice Castle does not fail to impress as well, using a generous amount of translucent blue pieces, the overall build is immediately recognizable as that from the film franchise with its double-sided grand staircase, great hall, ice fountain with nine figures included. The set is also expected to retail for $200 once it is available starting July 1, 2021.
Read on for the complete product description below together with its official images. Click on the following affiliate link if you want this set added to your LEGO must-have wishlist.
1,709 pieces | $199.99 | Figures include Coronation Elsa, Kristoff, Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and Snowgie (4x)
Older kids and adults alike will love building this incredible LEGO® ǀ Disney The Ice Castle (43197) toy set, featuring a challenging build full of details linking to the movies, a smaller Arendelle castle builds, plus printed building instructions and digital Instructions PLUS.
A unique Frozen building experience Fans of the movies will instantly recognize the castle with the curved, double-sided staircase that leads up to the throne room, the glistening ice fountain, the balcony, and much more. Builders can spend hours discovering everything as they assemble and play with the castle, or set it up for display.
Remarkable model Standing impressively tall, this challenging model will engage fans for hours, with Disney’s Anna, 2 versions of Elsa in her coronation look as well as her iconic outfit, Kristoff and Olaf, plus 4 LEGO Snowgie figures. At over 1,700 pieces, this set will make a meaningful holiday gift that appeals to Disney Frozen fans young and old.
Inspire amazement with this outstanding LEGO® ǀ Disney The Ice Castle (43197) set, a great treat to spark fond memories of the beloved movies for up-in-age fans of Disney’s Frozen.
Create an impressive model of the iconic castle, complete with a grand staircase, great hall, and ice fountain, plus 9 characters, including 4 mini-doll figures and an Olaf LEGO® figure.
This amazing LEGO® ǀ Disney set is loaded with accessories, including a miniature, buildable model of Arendelle Castle and a ship in a bottle. Great for reliving movie scenes or open-ended play.
Any Disney Frozen fan aged 14 and up will love this unique and challenging, buildable model. The castle, with over 1,700 pieces, is full of clever details and makes an incredible gift for anyone.
With the castle measuring over 25.5 in. (65 cm) high, 13.5 in. (35 cm) wide and 7.5 in. (19 cm) deep, this set is beautiful on display and perfect for encouraging imaginative role-play fun.
Dutch online store Van Der Meulen has posted two new LEGO Disney sets that are both quite interesting. Though listed as 4+ sets, I’m sure that most LEGO minifigure collectors will grab copies of these once they are made available this summer. These LEGO Disney Mickey and Friends sets feature an entirely new pair of Mickey and Minnie minifigs, plus some exciting characters as well.
These new LEGO Disney Mickey and Friends set also include Goofy and Pluto in their minifigure versions. If you recall, Goofy first arrive in LEGO minifig form when he was exclusively added in 2019’s D2C (direct-to-consumer) set, the app-powered LEGO Disney Train and Station (71044). The set was understandably pricey given that it is a functional train set. And if you missed out on that one, LEGO Disney minifigure collectors will certainly appreciate what LEGO did here by adding Goofy in a typical LEGO set. Additionally, the inclusion of an updated version of Pluto as a LEGO minifigure is long overdue, with the loyal sidekick first having a minifigure of his own more than 20 years ago in sets such as Mickey’s Car Garage (4166) and Mickey’s Mansion (4167). Though I must say that I prefer the previous, more classic version of Pluto than that of the upcoming one. The previous version seems to be more streamlined and closer to Pluto’s actual animated version. Additionally, Mickey and Minnie also look cute in their firefighter costumes.
LEGO Disney Mickey and Friends Fire Truck and Station (10776)
144 pieces | 49.99 Euro | Minifigures include Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy
And lastly, this next set brings the Disney couple into space with the LEGO Disney Mickey Mouse’s and Minnie Mouse’s Space Rocket (10774) set. Another 4+ set, this offering features a recolored version of their minifigure heads that resembles an astronaut’s headgear. Their torso also comes in new astronaut uniform prints, equipped with space exploring accessories.
LEGO Disney Mickey Mouse’s and Minnie Mouse’s Space Rocket (10774)
88 pieces | 19.99 Euro | Minifigures include Mickey and Minnie in their astronaut uniforms
UPDATE: This particular set is not yet listed over at Van Der Meulen, but was spotted by Brick Fanatics over at LEGO’s customer service portal for online building instructions. The listing seems to be taken down already, but with quick LEGO fans getting a snapshot of what it has to offer. Special thanks also to Stone Wars for the additional info.
Another 4+ set is also on its way that features both Donald Duck Mickey Mouse in one collectible building set. Other than these new minifig renditions, collectors will be happy to know that this set also offers our very first sheep figure which is more likely a single-brick version of the farm animal. The set also features a buildable tractor, farmhouse, fences, cart, and a collection of barn animals such as a horse, rabbit, and chicken.
In a similar vein, the girls are having their R&R time over at the beach, chilling out with their very own ice cream shop. The LEGO Disney Minnie Mouse’s Ice Cream Shop (10773) features new minifigure versions of Daisy Duck and Minnie Mouse befitting of a summer getaway. The set also comes with a buildable converter, an ice cream shop, and a beach lounge chair with an umbrella.
Last on our list is a set that brings Mickey flying in the sky. The LEGO Disney Mickey Mouse’s Propeller Plane (10772) features a pilot version of Mickey Mouse complete with a new goggles minifigure head print, and an aviation jacket printed torso.
LEGO Disney Mickey and Donald Farm (10775)
118 pieces | 29.99 Euro | Minifigures include Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse
LEGO Disney Minnie Mouse’s Ice Cream Shop (10773)
100 pieces | 19.99 Euro | Minifigures include Daisy Duck and Minnie Mouse
LEGO Disney Mickey Mouse’s Propeller Plane (10772)
59 pieces | 9.99 Euro | Includes a minifigure pilot version of Mickey Mouse
All in all, this next wave of LEGO Disney sets is sure to catch the eyes of the discerning LEGO minifigure collector despite its 4+ branding. These sets are not yet listed on LEGO’s home shopping portal but same as before, I’ll keep this post updated once more information comes in. Stay tuned!
LEGO and Disney now introduce their latest tie-in sets in time for the debut of the latter’s next animated film. These LEGO Disney Raya and the Last Dragon sets to celebrate the upcoming release of the film via Disney+ on March 5th. These sets let you travel to the fantasy world of Kumandra where humans and dragons have learned to co-exist in peace. However, things have changed and this time Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tan), must find the sole remaining dragon to stop the monsters named Druun from devastating their kingdom. In case you missed it, here’s the official trailer.
The movie in itself is promising, and the LEGO Disney Raya and the Last Dragon sets do not disappoint. From the get-go, you’ll notice from these official images that these sets are a sort of mix between LEGO Friends and now retired LEGO Elves. If you recall, we already published a collection of images last month coming from this LEGO Disney subtheme. But these more recent images give us a closer look at the intricate details and new LEGO elements that are included in this trio. They’re not yet listed over at LEGO Shop@Home as of this posting, but we can expect them to be out there soon before their release date on March 1st. I’ll update this post once their respective LEGO affiliate links are already available.
Raya and the Heart Palace (43181)
610 pieces | $79.99 | Figures include: Raya, Namaari, Tuk Tuk and Serlot
Raya and Sisu Dragon (43184)
216 pieces | $29.99 | Includes a Raya minidoll and a buildable Sisu Dragon figure | This set may also be attached to set 43181
Boun’s Boat (43185)
247 pieces | $29.99 | Includes Uka, Pan, Dyan, Boun, and Sisu Human figures
It seems that LEGO is adding more characters to its line up of LEGO Brick Sketches sets. Introduced last June 2020, its initial offering saw some of pop culture’s most famous names rendered in collectible, brick-built illustrations on a 12×16 baseplate. This time around, the House of Mouse gets another share under the LEGO spotlight with the introduction of the upcoming LEGO Brick Sketches Mickey and Minnie sets.
Retailing for $17 each, the LEGO Brick Sketches Mickey and Minnie sets are expected to be available starting March 1, 2021. They are both currently listed over at LEGO Shop@Home, and you can know more about these sets by clicking on the following affiliate links below. In the meantime, check out their official images below.
Fans of Disney’s iconic characters can build and display their own Mickey Mouse illustration with this LEGO® Brick Sketches™ Mickey Mouse (40456) kit. Hang it on the wall using the built-in hook – the 12×16 baseplate holds the LEGO bricks firmly in place – or stand it on a shelf. A great treat for holidays, birthdays, or other celebrations, and an impressive addition to any collection of LEGO Brick Sketches character portraits.
Young LEGO® builders and Disney Mickey Mouse fans will love to create and display this cool, collectible Brick Sketches™ portrait of the well-known Disney character.
A great gift idea for ages 8 and up, this 118-piece building set is part of the LEGO® Brick Sketches™ theme, which features collectible, buildable, 3D illustrations of iconic characters on 12×16 baseplates.
Measuring over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 3 in. (9 cm) wide, and 1 in. (3 cm) deep, this LEGO® Brick Sketches™ Mickey Mouse picture makes a striking piece displayed on the mantelpiece or hung by its built-in hook on a wall.
Fans of Disney’s iconic characters can build and display their own Minnie Mouse illustration with this LEGO® Brick Sketches™ Minnie Mouse (40457) kit. Hang it on the wall using the built-in hook – the 12×16 baseplate holds the LEGO bricks firmly in place – or stand it on a shelf. It’s a perfect gift for birthdays, holidays, or other celebrations and an impressive addition to any collection of LEGO Brick Sketches character portraits.
Young LEGO® builders and Disney Minnie Mouse fans will love to create and display this cool, collectible Brick Sketches™ portrait of the well-known Disney character.
A great gift idea for ages 8 and up, this 140-piece building set is part of the LEGO® Brick Sketches™ theme, which features collectible, buildable, 3D illustrations of iconic characters on 12×16 baseplates.
Measuring over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 3 in. (9 cm) wide, and 1 in. (3 cm) deep, this LEGO® Brick Sketches™ Minnie Mouse picture makes a striking piece displayed on the mantelpiece or hung by its built-in hook on a wall.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ next original film following 2016’s Moana is now confirmed to have its collection of LEGO Disney sets. Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon is slated to be released in March 2021 via Disney+, and LEGO will be throwing in a triad of tie-in sets to celebrate its upcoming release without giving away major spoilers.
And thanks to online retailer Learning Express Gifts, we now have a glimpse of what to expect from this next wave of LEGO Disney sets. In case you missed it, here’s the official teaser trailer for this next Asian-inspired animated film.
Though the LEGO Disney Raya and the Last Dragon sets are not yet listed over at LEGO Shop@Home it looks like we will be seeing them soon, considering that they began to roll out already via third-party retailers. Here’s a look at what these new LEGO Disney sets have to offer. I’ll update this post once LEGO publishes them on their online shopping portal.
Raya and the Heart Palace (43181)
610 pieces | $79.99
Raya and the Last Dragon
• Surprise a great kid with this different and unique LEGO® ǀ Disney Raya and the Heart Palace (43181) set. Packed with features and accessories, this fun set inspires imaginative role play.• This set, based on the new movie Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, has a palace with 6 rooms and 2 towers, Raya and Namaari mini-doll figures, plus Tuk Tuk and Namaari’s Serlot LEGO® figures.• The palace has a revolving wall with a secret room, a large treasure chest, and opening central and side towers. Combine with the LEGO® ǀ Disney Raya and Sisu Dragon (43184) set for a real wow factor.• Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon fans will adore this buildable toy with its details and fun accessories. The functions and story starters help make this a great on-trend gift for children aged 7+
Raya and Sisu Dragon (43184)
216 pieces | $29.99
• Spark a child’s creativity with this exciting LEGO® ǀ Disney Raya and Sisu Dragon (43184) set. Packed with features and accessories, this fun set inspires imaginative role play.• This set, based on the new movie Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, includes a palace gate, waterfall, and accessories, plus a Raya mini-doll figure and a Sisu Dragon LEGO® figure.• The palace gate has a secret room to hold a small box with a diamond and a waterfall that opens up. Combine with the LEGO® ǀ Disney Raya and the Heart Palace (43181) set to expand the fun.• Fans of Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon will adore this set with its many details and fun accessories. The functions and story starters make this a great any-day reward for children aged 6 and up.• Beautiful, posable dragon Sisu stands over 9 in. (24 cm) tall and is designed to be built and played with again and again in all sorts of adventures.
Boun’s Boat (43185)
247 pieces | $49.99
• Inspire a Disney fan’s imagination with this exciting LEGO® ǀ Disney Boun’s Boat (43185) set. Packed with features and accessories, this fun set sparks creative role play.• This set, based on the new movie Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, includes a large shrimp boat, a smaller boat, and a dock area, plus Sisu Human and Boun mini-doll figures and 3 Ongi LEGO® figures.• This set offers 3 builds to set kids’ imaginations free and makes a great addition to any other LEGO® ǀ Disney Raya and the Last Dragon-related sets that a child might have to expand play.• A perfect reward gift for boys and girls aged 6+. Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon fans will adore this set with its clever buildable models that encourage imaginative role-play options.• Full of premium details, Boun’s boat measures over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 11 in. (28 cm) long and 3 in. (8 cm) wide and is designed to spark the imagination as it’s built and played with again and again.
Other than its wide-array of homegrown non-licensed sets (City, Creator, Friends, DOTS, etc), LEGO’s partnership with Disney is still going strong with its introduction of new-for-January 2021 sets. LEGO online retailer Van der Meulen has now published four LEGO Disney 2021 sets expected to arrive in the first half of 2021.
These sets are yet to appear on LEGO Shop@Home, but looking at these product images published by Van der Meulen, we can now have a pretty good grasp of what to expect from them.
First off, it’s quite obvious that the winner in this initial selection is the brick-version of the elemental spirit, Bruni from Frozen 2. This rendition of Bruni the Salamander is so cute like his on-screen counterpart, that I wouldn’t mind adding him to my AFOL’s collection.
LEGO also intends to continue its brick storybook adventures with Elsa’s Storybook Adventures (43189) inspired by the first Frozen film, and two upcoming LEGO Disney 2021 sets that are a nod to the more classic Disney films of The Little Mermaid, and Cinderella.
Though it wasn’t listed yet, it is interesting to note that there are rumors that LEGO will be releasing 3 or 4 sets dedicated to Walt Disney Pictures’ upcoming Raya and the Last Dragon. Though the latest animated movie is scheduled to be released in cinemas in April 2021, we might get to see some of these LEGO sets anytime soon.
For now, let’s take a look at what these sets have to offer. I’ll keep you posted once LEGO Shop@Home lists them on their site.
