Parts review: LEGO® Friends, LEGO® City and LEGO® Disney Advent Calendars

Welcome to December already! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, although the 2024 LEGO® advent calendars were actually revealed back in August. Stop reading now if you want to keep every aspect of your LEGO® City, LEGO® Friends or LEGO® Disney Advent calendars a surprise. Although we won't be spoiling the final mini-builds here, we have collected the new elements, new prints and rare elements from each of the three advent calendars to show you. 

There's some fun new elements amongst the usual fires with marshmallows toasting, ice hockey and Christmas trees!

Review + MOC: 43247 Young Simba the Lion King from LEGO® Disney™

The June 2024 LEGO® Disney™ set 43247 Young Simba the Lion King is another example of an adult-oriented product based on a children's character. In addition to being a large model of the cartoon lion cub, this set is a treasure trove of Bright Light Orange pieces, also known as Flame Yellowish Orange, or Keetorange as I like to say. So what is this set worth to a builder who has never seen The Lion King?

21351 The Nightmare Before Christmas from LEGO® Ideas

A The Nightmare Before Christmas LEGO® set has been desired by fans of the 1993 film for a long time, but their nightmare turns to joy very soon.

The LEGO® Ideas submission by Simon Scott becomes set 21351 Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas with a release in September 2024!  We've taken a look at the official images just revealed, and spotted a few interesting new things to tell you about.

LEGO® Disney™ review: 43249 Stitch

Say 'Aloha!' to LEGO® Disney™43248 Stitch, a brick-built version of the mischievous extra-terrestrial. Today we take a look at all the recoloured elements and techniques used to build the little critter.

LEGO® Disney™ review: 43239 Mirabel's Photo Frame and Jewelry Box & 43237 Isabela's Flowerpot

The Walt Disney Animation Studios film Encanto was featured in three LEGO® sets – one large house and two small storybooks – in 2021. It is therefore surprising that two more sets are soon to be released; 43239 Mirabel's Photo Frame and Jewelry Box and 43237 Isabela's Flowerpot. Furthermore, these sets borrow their idea and style from the LEGO® Botanical Collection and the discontinued LEGO® DOTS theme. This double-feature article takes a look at both sets.

LEGO® Disney™ set review: 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' Cottage

"Heigh-ho, heigh-ho! It’s home from work we go!"

The cozy house from that memorable song to is now featured in LEGO® Disney™ 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' Cottage. Based on the revolutionary movie from 1937, this set depicts the little house in the woods Snow White stumbles upon after being chased away by the huntsman. So grab your pickaxe and join me in song as we march home to explore all the new elements.

LEGO® Disney™ Wish review: 43231 Asha’s Cottage

LEGO recently revealed three sets based on the upcoming Disney™ animated movie, Wish. With the movie releasing on 22 November in the US, we thought it was the perfect time to take a look at the middle-sized set, 43231 Asha's Cottage. 

Let's take a look inside and see what new elements it brings.

LEGO® Disney™ set review: 43222 Disney Castle

The Walt Disney World® Resort Cinderella Castle received a paint job for the 50th anniversary of the park, changing the color scheme. This means the 2016 LEGO set 71040 Disney Castle is in need of an update. We've already taken a look at the new elements found in that update: 43222 Disney Castle, and today, my SO will be building the set to find all the hidden details.

LEGO® Disney™ parts review: 43222 Disney Castle

The Disney Castle is one of the most iconic buildings in the Disney Universe. The building got its own LEGO set back in 2016, 71040 Disney Castle, which is one of those sets I’ve always wanted to get my hands on. Now, 7 years later, I get another shot with the remake: 43222 Disney Castle.

LEGO® Disney™ review: 43225 The Little Mermaid Royal Clamshell

The LEGO Group are showering a plethora of products upon us in 2023 to celebrate 100 years of Disney™, and there's also a live-action version of the classic animation The Little Mermaid which was  released in May. 

Satisfying both these events, set 43225 The Little Mermaid Royal Clamshell is a large display piece featuring three of the movie's underwater scenes, all ensconced in a giant shell. Let's take a look at the minifigures, interesting parts and techniques it has to offer, with some additional insight from two LEGO® employees who worked on the set: design master Marcos Bessa and senior graphic designer Niken "Nikki" Ayumurti Hartomo.

LEGO® Disney™ review: 43212 Celebration Train

As part of the Disney™ 100th anniversary celebrations, LEGO® has released two main sets plus an upcoming series of collectible LEGO Minifigures.  We have already reviewed 43217 'Up' House and now it's time to take a look at 43212 LEGO Disney Celebration Train.

LEGO® Disney™ review: 43217 'Up' House

The Disney·Pixar animated movie Up was released back in 2009 and won a couple of Oscars that year as well as a Best Picture nomination. Nearly 14 years have passed since its release,  but recently LEGO® Disney 43217 'Up' House was revealed as part the Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary this year.

LEGO® Disney·Pixar Lightyear review: 76832 XL-15 Spaceship & 76831 Zurg Battle

Products in this article were provided by LEGO®; the author's opinions are their own.

Today’s article features 2 of the LEGO® tie-in sets from the upcoming Disney·Pixar film Lightyear, the origin story of the astronaut who inspired the Buzz Lightyear action figure seen in the Toy Story franchise. As usual, we’ll start with the new and exciting parts in each set then take a look at the minifigures and completed builds.

LEGO® Disney parts review & MOC: 43196 Belle and the Beast's Castle

Eero Okkonen (@eerookkonen) analyses the contents of LEGO® Disney 43196 Belle and the Beast's Castle before using some of its new parts in his own creation. Buying this set? Consider using our affiliate links, New Elementary may get a commission: USA LEGO Shop | Australia LEGO Shop | UK LEGO Shop/for Europe 'Change region'. Products in this article were provided by LEGO; the author's opinions are their own.

I have never seen Beauty And The Beast, and pretty much no other Disney animated films, but the castle featured in the film seems to be the most fairytale castle of fairytale castles, with smooth lavender walls, dreamy towering spires, gilded portcullises, romantic ballrooms and a comprehensive library. Its universality in the genre has led to many set versions in recent years so it's easy to get confused: there is 41067 Belle's Enchanted Castle from 2016, 43180 Belle's Castle Winter Celebration for 4+ builders from 2020, and even the single-spire 10762 Belle's Story Time from 2018… oh, and DUPLO 10877 Belle's Tea Party. Phew! 

5x5 fest: Tom Loftus' Raya and Sisu Dragon MOCs

Tom Loftus (@inthert.lego) completes our 5x5 fest today! Moving away from the LEGO® VIDIYO elements that have fascinated him so, today he bases his creations on the new parts to be found in a LEGO Disney set.

Today I’ll be showing you two MOCs inspired by elements from 43184 Raya and Sisu Dragon. Coincidentally, both concern liquids which is appropriate given Sisu’s affinity with water.

The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed there’s something missing from the set image. Well there’s a very good reason for that which will become clear as we discuss my first build.

LEGO® Disney review + MOC: 43189 Elsa and the Nokk Storybook Adventures

Eero Okkonen (@eerookkonen) takes a look inside LEGO® Disney 43189 Elsa and the Nokk Storybook Adventures, before using some of its new parts in an original creation. Buying this set? Consider using our affiliate links, New Elementary may get a commission: USA LEGO Shop | Australia LEGO Shop | UK LEGO Shop/for Europe 'Change region'. Products in this article were provided by LEGO; the author's opinions are their own.

LEGO® has recently shown interest in releasing sets that look like books, without actually being books. LEGO Ideas 21315 Pop-Up Book was released in 2018, and the first four Disney Storybook Adventures sets were introduced in early 2020. These lacked the advanced pop-up mechanism of the Ideas set, being simple cases fitting small playsets inside, easily closed for storage or travel.

These sets got a lone successor in January 2021 with 43189 Elsa and the Nokk Storybook Adventures. As the Frozen franchise is very popular, it is not surprising to see another storybook concerning it. I must warn you: the popularity of the franchise is the only thing I know about it!

5x5 fest: Introducing the elements

It's been a while since we ran one of our "parts festivals", where we send LEGO builders some of the most interesting new elements and ask them to create some original models to inspire you. Well, buckle up because we have not one but two parts festivals coming at you this month, and they're a little different to before! We will introduce the second one soon, but today we reveal our 5x5 fest.

No, LEGO have not released a 5x5 plate, it's nothing like that! We simply sent 5 of our gorgeous contributors 5 LEGO sets, and asked them to get busy making gorgeous stuff. As well as parts in the sets, they could use their own part collections. So for the next 5 weeks, every Friday is 5x5 fest day when we will reveal what each of the builders created! The gorgeous bunch are Caz Mockett, Kev Levell, Aron Gerencsér, Thomas Jenkins and Tom Loftus.

LEGO® Disney review & MOCs: 43187 Rapunzel’s Tower

Caz Mockett (BlockHeadUK) takes a look at a 2020 LEGO® Disney set today, 43187 Rapunzel’s Tower. She takes a special look at the new swing piece before using parts from the set in her own creations! Buying this set? Consider using our affiliate links: UK LEGO Shop | UK Amazon | USA LEGO Shop | USA Amazon | Australia LEGO Shop, for other countries 'Change Region'. New Elementary may get a commission. The products in this article were provided for free by LEGO; the author's opinions are not biased by this.

43187 Rapunzel’s Tower is part of the LEGO® Disney theme, featuring Princess Rapunzel and Flynn Rider and Rapunzel’s cute little chameleon, Pascal, stars of the movie Tangled. The set is aimed at the 6+ age group and, when built, comprises the huge prison tower for Rapunzel, a garden swing and the Snuggly Duckling Inn. Let’s take a closer look at its unique and rare parts.

LEGO® ART review: 31202 Disney’s Mickey Mouse

We have another 2021 LEGO® Art set for you today: 31202 Disney’s Mickey Mouse, reviewed by Omid (@nwbricks). It has 2658 pieces and will be released 1 January 2021 priced 119.99€/ £114.99/ US$119.99/ CA$149.99/ AU$199.99/ 1099 DKK. Buying this set? Consider using our affiliate links: USA LEGO Shop at Home|UK LEGO Shop at Home. New Elementary may get a commission. The products in this article were provided for free by LEGO; the author's opinions are not biased by this.

If you’ve been following our articles recently you may have guessed this review was coming! TobyMac dived into LEGO® ART 31201 Harry Potter Hogwarts Crests which teed me up for a go at the slightly smaller but similarly impressive 31202 Disney’s Mickey Mouse. 

I must admit, when the first round of Art sets were revealed I wasn’t exactly blown away. That was due in equal parts to the subject matter and the inescapably sly marketing which requires you to spend upwards of £400 for a complete set of all four possible images. 

LEGO® Disney 43179 Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse: new set reveal

Following an accidental leak last week, the proper announcement of upcoming LEGO® Disney set 43179 Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Buildable Characters is now here.

The set is on its way to us for review but we couldn't resist posting about it straightaway, as not only are there some really fascinating, useful new moulds but also the first pieces cast in a new 'colour' (or to describe it more properly, an 'effect') that was spotted on the LEGO palette earlier this year.