21 replies to this topic

[The Darxide]

My wife is taking me to Legoland for my birthday in two weeks, and was wondering what sort of stock the shop carries?  I am fortunate that my local Toys R Us and Lego Shop carry reasonably old stock (can pick up battle packs no problem, naboo fighter, republic cruiser, y-wing etc), but my wife is pressuring me to stop spending money and "save it for the day".  If there's only going to be newer CW stuff, I don't want to wait!!

What do you think I can expect?

[Shadows]

The Darxide, on Apr 19 2009, 10:04 AM, said:

My wife is taking me to Legoland for my birthday in two weeks

*snip*

What do you think I can expect?

You might want to specify which one, and someone will probably come along and give more details. I've heard that the park stores aren't as good as the regular ones, since they're run by the park which isn't actually TLG, but a seperate company. I think it really depends on which park, though.

[The Darxide]

ImperialShadows, on Apr 19 2009, 03:08 PM, said:

You might want to specify which one, and someone will probably come along and give more details.

Sorry, Windsor :)

[ADHO15]

I can't really remember what the stock was like last time I went there. I would think they would have lots of sets, but they are likely to be the more recently-released sets in order to attract people in.
If you have all the recent CW sets you want, I'd advise you to buy what you want now, because I doubt they'll have sets from 2007 like the Naboo Fighter and Republic Cruiser.

[mania3]

I can only speak for Legoland California, and to describe it I would say that what they tout as one of the largest retail spaces for LEGO products in North America is nothing special at all.  See, the problem is they do their best to keep it stocked, but they sell $100,000 worth of merchandise daily.  So generally you are going to find only the NEWEST stuff there, and even then they do their best to keep the shelves stocked.  Windsor might be a whole other story, given that Legoland California is the only Legoland park in the world that stays open year round.  But to give you a good grasp of how hard it can be to shop there I can share the fact that I'm trying to find Clone Wars sets from 2008.  The only thing they can keep stocked on the shelves there are the 2009 sets.  Even sets from late 2008 are almost "too old" for them to maintain a consistent stock.  Legoland California is getting worse, also, as we enter their peak season.  Forget about getting your hands on a Clone Walker battle pack there, they're gone faster than they can be placed on the shelf.  So, I hope to hear you have a good trip, and I'd be reasonably optimistic that Windsor might be a better scenario, but I'm not sure.

[Cyclone Titan]

mania3, on Apr 19 2009, 11:01 AM, said:

I can only speak for Legoland California, and to describe it I would say that what they tout as one of the largest retail spaces for LEGO products in North America is nothing special at all.  See, the problem is they do their best to keep it stocked, but they sell $100,000 worth of merchandise daily.  So generally you are going to find only the NEWEST stuff there, and even then they do their best to keep the shelves stocked.  Windsor might be a whole other story, given that Legoland California is the only Legoland park in the world that stays open year round.  But to give you a good grasp of how hard it can be to shop there I can share the fact that I'm trying to find Clone Wars sets from 2008.  The only thing they can keep stocked on the shelves there are the 2009 sets.  Even sets from late 2008 are almost "too old" for them to maintain a consistent stock.  Legoland California is getting worse, also, as we enter their peak season.  Forget about getting your hands on a Clone Walker battle pack there, they're gone faster than they can be placed on the shelf.  So, I hope to hear you have a good trip, and I'd be reasonably optimistic that Windsor might be a better scenario, but I'm not sure.

I agree with that statement completely. I went to Legoland California just this past Thursday, I asked them about the Midieval Market Village because it wasn't on their shelves, so the employee I asked went to ask their "Big Toy Guy", she came back a minute later and told us they wouldn't have it until June. I find Lego stores to be better for buying Lego, because where although they get visitors too, the amount is not as much as Legoland. That's just my experience, though, and I too hope that you have a better time in Windsor.

CT

[The Darxide]

ADHO15, on Apr 19 2009, 03:16 PM, said:

I can't really remember what the stock was like last time I went there. I would think they would have lots of sets, but they are likely to be the more recently-released sets in order to attract people in.
If you have all the recent CW sets you want, I'd advise you to buy what you want now, because I doubt they'll have sets from 2007 like the Naboo Fighter and Republic Cruiser.

Sorry, I probably didn't put myself over very easily.  Those are examples of sets that I can pick up easily at local shops, and would rather do so whilst i can, rather than "save" money for the trip if I'm not going to be able to get anything good.  I'm not impressed with the CW stuff at all, I bought Anakin's starfighter in a xmas sale, and I hate the new minifig design.

Local shops it is then :)

[Ralph_S]

The sets they sell at Windsor are nothing really special. Because the park indeed is no longer 100% owned by LEGO they won't get exclusive sets like cafe-corner compatible buildings, UCS sets or the Emerald Knight, for instance. They will normally have a fair few recent sets and occasionally will have sets there at a considerable discount. Last time I was there -early this year- they were selling Sentai Fortress sets at half price and I have been told that those have discounted further. Unlike most normal shops they will have a Pick-a-Brick wall. The price is fairly steep, but they sometimes have quite rare parts. I've been able to pick up quite a few pearlescent grey bricks and plates, for instance -which you normally won't find in sets.

Cheers,
Ralph

Edited by Ralph_S, 19 April 2009 - 05:44 PM.

[Skipper 24]

I haven't seen anything special at Legoland Windsor before. They seem to just sell the standard stuff, no exclusives although the pick a brick wall is good.

[KimT]

I'll move this to the LEGO News & General discussion Forum, since this isn't really that much Star Wars related.

[The Darxide]

KimT, on Apr 19 2009, 06:36 PM, said:

I'll move this to the LEGO News & General discussion Forum, since this isn't really that much Star Wars related.

Sorry, I posted it there because that's all I'm interested in buying :)

[brickbitz]

I was at Windsor yesterday. As has been said they do not have any exclusive LEGO sets as the shops there are not part of the LEGO brand stores.

That said they do have most of the current available LEGO range but not really any different from TRU or any major retailer. i.e. Farm , Construction, the smaller Power miners sets, SW Clone wars, Indiana Jones, Spongebob, Creator, some Castle

The PAB wall is £4.5 per 100g which is quite steep at £45 per kilo, They do have a pretty good selection of standard bricks in most colours but nothing particularly special.

There is a discount store "Rocket Racer" which has some discounted sets, not really much more than 10% or 20% off, Yesterday they had a couple of Speed Racer sets, Agents Gold Chase, Star Wars Sith Infiltrator and a couple of other bits. They also have discount PAB at £27 per kilo, but not much there. It's a couple of tubs to dig through and they only have a handful of different bricks.

Hope this  helps, let me know if you're after anything specific and I'll try and remember if I saw it.

[LEGOscum]

I'll answer your question if you answer mine - the LEGO brand shop in LL Windsor is pretty much the same as the one in Milton Keynes. I was there in 2005 when the ROTS line was launched and both had pretty much the same stock. One thing that Windsor has is a marque outside the gates with old stock from a couple of years ago. I got the UCS Yoda for 30 quid :) The pick-a-brick wall is in a different building in Windsor, and not in the brand store. At least it was when I was there.

My question is - what is this LEGO brand store near you that stocks such old sets?

[Buttons]

Thats funny, last time I visited Widsor (last summer) the PAB wall was no where to be seen.  

[The Rancor]

brickbitz, on Apr 19 2009, 08:04 PM, said:

There is a discount store "Rocket Racer" which has some discounted sets, not really much more than 10% or 20% off, Yesterday they had a couple of Speed Racer sets, Agents Gold Chase, Star Wars Sith Infiltrator and a couple of other bits. They also have discount PAB at £27 per kilo, but not much there. It's a couple of tubs to dig through and they only have a handful of different bricks.

Hope this  helps, let me know if you're after anything specific and I'll try and remember if I saw it.

Where is the Rocket Racer Shop? Is it next to the Big Shop where the design studios and a cafe are?
Thanks for the other tips.  I'm going to Legoland soon as well - in about a week.  
I would like a brick keyring with my real name engraved on it, but that's in Cuddles Corner  

[diabloiij]

mania3, on Apr 19 2009, 08:01 AM, said:

I can only speak for Legoland California, and to describe it I would say that what they tout as one of the largest retail spaces for LEGO products in North America is nothing special at all.  See, the problem is they do their best to keep it stocked, but they sell $100,000 worth of merchandise daily.  So generally you are going to find only the NEWEST stuff there, and even then they do their best to keep the shelves stocked.  Windsor might be a whole other story, given that Legoland California is the only Legoland park in the world that stays open year round.  But to give you a good grasp of how hard it can be to shop there I can share the fact that I'm trying to find Clone Wars sets from 2008.  The only thing they can keep stocked on the shelves there are the 2009 sets.  Even sets from late 2008 are almost "too old" for them to maintain a consistent stock.  Legoland California is getting worse, also, as we enter their peak season.  Forget about getting your hands on a Clone Walker battle pack there, they're gone faster than they can be placed on the shelf.  So, I hope to hear you have a good trip, and I'd be reasonably optimistic that Windsor might be a better scenario, but I'm not sure.

100% agree well said.  I went 2 months ago nothing special.  well at least they have the clone war hoover tank.

[UserNameInvalid]

Interesting question and answers.

Can't believe that a Lego shop in Legoland can be so poorly stocked.
Also the PAB should be enormous, at least that's what I expected.

So disappointed.    

I also would like to know where one can get some discounted -last season- lego.
Woolworths is no more.
I've never seen anything at TK-maxx.
Occasionally TRU (I hate TRU) or Argos and Tesco have special offers.
Lego stores sometimes also have some good in-store deals, but the only way to find out whats on sale is to go there.
Thats all the cheapish sources I can think of, other than carboot sales etc ofcourse.

[Johnnhiszippy3]

UserNameInvalid, on Apr 19 2009, 03:42 PM, said:

......

Can't believe that a Lego shop in Legoland can be so poorly stocked.
Also the PAB should be enormous, at least that's what I expected.

So disappointed.    

......

I was at Legoland California last year and they had the BEST PAB that I've seen at anywhere. They had hundreds and hundreds of different pieces - many of which haven't been available in sets for years. They also sold pieces by the weight - instead of by volume, like in typical the Lego stores in the US. The store I'm refering to isn't the main store at the park but is hidden in a back corner of the park - it's called the "Lego Clubhouse" and is at the end of the "Lego Factory Tour"

[UserNameInvalid]

Johnnhiszippy3, on Apr 20 2009, 06:14 AM, said:

I was at Legoland California last year and they had the BEST PAB that I've seen at anywhere. They had hundreds and hundreds of different pieces - many of which haven't been available in sets for years.

Yeah... just rub it in... thanks...  

[brickbitz]

The Rancor, on Apr 19 2009, 11:01 PM, said:

Where is the Rocket Racer Shop? Is it next to the Big Shop where the design studios and a cafe are?

It's round the corner from the Big Shop , past the cafe down the slope a bit, in the round building. There's a little helicopter sitting on the roof.

They have a impressive brick built mock up of an airline cockpit made mainly of pearlescent grey bricks inside the lobby  by the shop. The shop itself is not that big so don't expect huge numbers of sets. Oh also it's the one place where you do not get any further discount if you have an annual pass....

[The Darxide]

LEGOscum, on Apr 19 2009, 08:57 PM, said:

My question is - what is this LEGO brand store near you that stocks such old sets?

Milton Keynes!!  I haven't been in for about two months, been raiding MK Toys R Us instead, but they still had sets that ebay sellers have doubled in value because they're "rare".

[jof]

Here are my comments on legoland windsor shops (historical & current from season ticket holder standpoint)

Main (big shop) is no different to any other large toy shop - standard current sets, minimal special offers.  Be warned that if you go in autumn (end of season) popular sets will be out of stock.
Historically its now being diluted with non lego merchandise since the park was sold to Merlin.

Pick a brick is horribly over priced - don't bother.
It has also changed its location quite regularly in the park history.

Discount outlet have varied greatly.
I have had some great bargins in the last 7 years or so, but also had a lot of disappointment.
It seems to be a case of being in the right place at the right time.  Most of the time there is very little there, or naff sets with insufficient discount to but.
Discount outlet location has also varied a lot, we have had marquees outside entrace, then down by the diggers.  Now its in the creation centre when the rocket racers shop used to be.
It had some 1/2 price mission mars bases a few weeks ago, but I missed the boat & they sold out over easter holidays.  Not much in there as of last weekend.

They have discounted pick a brick, but its £2.70 per 100g & thats not really acceptable when I know they were used in the autumn space building competition & that the previous years discount shop sold at £1 per 100g & had assorted surplus bags of bricks from various sets.

In the past I have had some good stuff 1/2 price, like:
Belleville ice palace (christmas shopping offer special that one way back in 2003 or something)
Red Barron & Sopwith Camel.
Big American diesel train (can't remember what its called) & carriages (luggage/post) - remember that one - thats when we did eurobricks event at windsor
Random bags - santa from advent calendar & multiple 6*16 gray plates, some scorpion castle minifigs at £1 per 100g
Sentai fortress (OK I have seen it cheaper since, but it pleased my son at christmas)


I was considering not renewing families anual passes this year, but they had a special offer on that bought the prices to an acceptable level.

Jof