23 replies to this topic

[Redhead1982]

Hello to everyone. I hope I'm posting in the right section of the forum.

I'm planning a trip to Legoland, Germany on May 1st. As I am not a huge fan of rollercosters and similar adrenaline sports, I'm mostly looking forward to a 'walk' in the miniland, admiring the creations, looking for new inspirations, and while there, check out the Lego factory store. My question, to more 'experienced' AFOLs, is what is the selection of bricks there? I know the price range, 100 g per 8 EUR. I'm looking forward to get more bricks 1x... in tan, brown, grays, etc. and some extra greenery or specific bricks. I'm mostly a City builder, so I'm hoping to get something there. Since the store in Legoland is not included at BrickBildr's PAB wall selection, can anyone help me out figure out what can I expect there?

Thanks for your help in advance.

[JopieK]

Take a look here:

http://www.1000stein...marktplatz/pab/

At the 1000steine Forum they also discuss such a things (but in German)...


Update:
uhm, too bad, they don't have one for Günzberg yet:
http://www.brickbuil...ab/side/off/73/

[Redhead1982]

Thanks for the link, JopieK. The link for Brickbildr is a good one, but there's no inventory for the Legoland store. I googled a bit, trying to find photos or info on what kind of bricks to expect, and have a mixed feeling about it now. Some stores (mostly  US, I think) have lots of colourful bricks, but they're taken from too far to really see what's in them (pic1 or Billund). Also, at Brickbuildr, there is an inventory of bricks from the Billung store, and that one is quite good for my taste.

[fluffybunny]

I cant speak for the selection in legoland germany but legoland california had a good selection of bricks, and a lot that you dont see on pick a brick walls.  There were a lot of flowers, grass pieces, clear 1x2 plates, trans 1x2 plates(like black trans from what I remember) there were a lot of 1x bricks and plates, not too many tiles from what I remember.  Best bet at least for me was to stock up on flowers and grass pieces, I dont know if I will ever need more of those after that trip ;)

When my girlfriend and I went to california we rode one ride and it was a boat ride through some of the parts of miniland and other places around the park it was cool.  We had a late start and were only at the park for about 5 hours and spent 2 hours at miniland and we were very rushed.  I'm not sure what the size comparison between miniland california to miniland germany but after we left we said we could have spent the whole day in miniland and been very happy with our day.

[Calv]

fluffybunny, on 23 April 2012 - 10:28 PM, said:

I cant speak for the selection in legoland germany but legoland california had a good selection of bricks, and a lot that you dont see on pick a brick walls.  There were a lot of flowers, grass pieces, clear 1x2 plates, trans 1x2 plates(like black trans from what I remember) there were a lot of 1x bricks and plates, not too many tiles from what I remember.  Best bet at least for me was to stock up on flowers and grass pieces, I dont know if I will ever need more of those after that trip ;)

When my girlfriend and I went to california we rode one ride and it was a boat ride through some of the parts of miniland and other places around the park it was cool.  We had a late start and were only at the park for about 5 hours and spent 2 hours at miniland and we were very rushed.  I'm not sure what the size comparison between miniland california to miniland germany but after we left we said we could have spent the whole day in miniland and been very happy with our day.

[Cwetqo]

Redhead1982, on 18 April 2012 - 08:36 AM, said:

Hello to everyone. I hope I'm posting in the right section of the forum.

I'm planning a trip to Legoland, Germany on May 1st. As I am not a huge fan of rollercosters and similar adrenaline sports, I'm mostly looking forward to a 'walk' in the miniland, admiring the creations, looking for new inspirations, and while there, check out the Lego factory store. My question, to more 'experienced' AFOLs, is what is the selection of bricks there? I know the price range, 100 g per 8 EUR. I'm looking forward to get more bricks 1x... in tan, brown, grays, etc. and some extra greenery or specific bricks. I'm mostly a City builder, so I'm hoping to get something there. Since the store in Legoland is not included at BrickBildr's PAB wall selection, can anyone help me out figure out what can I expect there?

Thanks for your help in advance.

When you are going? We will be there on 27th so if you are going after that I can give you fresh info.

P.S.: zgleda da bomo spet sami slovenci gor, hehe...

[Calv]

I've just returned from Berlin and looked in the Legoland discovery centre at Potsdammer Platz and found a small shop, but no factory shop selling parts, unless it was elsewhere, where an admission had to be paid.

Plenty of parts on the PaB wall in the Berlin Lego store, which is well worth a visit, I've not finished sorting my 3 containers yet but was very safisfied with the result.

Calv

[Redhead1982]

Cwetqo, we're going on 28th, early in the morning (or late at night) by bus (with the travel agency). I sure hope you'll leave some (good) bricks for us. I plan to stock on some parts for our latest (slightly bigger) project, so any info would be great.   Are you going just for a day? We'll probably just miss each other then.

Cwetqo, on 24 April 2012 - 10:14 AM, said:

When you are going? We will be there on 27th so if you are going after that I can give you fresh info.

P.S.: zgleda da bomo spet sami slovenci gor, hehe...

Calv, thanks for the answer. I was refering to Factory store in Legoland, Gunzburg. From what I can see and what I heard, there are some differences between a 'regular' PaB wall in LEGO stores and Lego stores in Legoland parks.

Calv, on 24 April 2012 - 10:14 AM, said:

Plenty of parts on the PaB wall in the Berlin Lego store, which is well worth a visit, I've not finished sorting my 3 containers yet but was very safisfied with the result.

Calv

Thanks, bricks you mentioned sound really good, although there's never enough flowers and grass.     About rides, I don't plan to take many, I just hope to spend more time in Miniland than in the shop.  

fluffybunny, on 23 April 2012 - 10:28 PM, said:

I cant speak for the selection in legoland germany but legoland california had a good selection of bricks, and a lot that you dont see on pick a brick walls.  There were a lot of flowers, grass pieces, clear 1x2 plates, trans 1x2 plates(like black trans from what I remember) there were a lot of 1x bricks and plates, not too many tiles from what I remember.  Best bet at least for me was to stock up on flowers and grass pieces, I dont know if I will ever need more of those after that trip ;)

When my girlfriend and I went to california we rode one ride and it was a boat ride through some of the parts of miniland and other places around the park it was cool.  

[J.V.D.]

This reply is a bit to late to be usefull for you I guess reahead, but anyway.

Go for the shop located next to the Lego Fabrik (factory) attraction inside the park. The one at the entrance is rather a regular shop, mostly selling sets and gadgets..

I was there last year, and you couldnt compare it with a regular shop's PAB wall.
It was like walking into a Lego pieces warehouse... I am not an expert on the matter, but it looked to me as if they had a big percentage of the types and colors of bricks they are actualy producing. Certainly when it comes to the more standard bricks and plates.
But also plants/trees, minifig parts and more "specialised" stuff like e.g. bicycles...

[Dfenz]

J.V.D., on 29 April 2012 - 10:45 PM, said:

This reply is a bit to late to be usefull for you I guess reahead, but anyway.

Go for the shop located next to the Lego Fabrik (factory) attraction inside the park.

...
It was like walking into a Lego pieces warehouse... I am not an expert on the matter, but it looked to me as if they had a big percentage of the types and colors of bricks they are actualy producing. Certainly when it comes to the more standard bricks and plates.
But also plants/trees, minifig parts and more "specialised" stuff like e.g. bicycles...

I have to agree with the above. The LEGO Fabrik attraction has the best pick a brick facility I have ever been in and I've been to plenty of LEGO stores and Legoland parks. Its a warehouse full of potential. I picked up lots of sand green bricks there last October and lots of tiles (including the then newly released 1x3 tiles) in useful colours on previous visits. While in the park don't forget get to check out the sales tent for more parts.

[Redhead1982]

In respect to the fact, that Legoland, Germany is one of the few shops missing at Brickbuildr's PaB, I was expecting it to be small and not of much interest. That's part of the reason I started this topic.

After seeing it, I understand that lack of info and pics about the store is due to its large size. Really, the Factory store is well stocked on some interesting pieces. On the other hand, some bricks are expensive at 9 EUR per 100 g. I'm actually doing a list of what I got, and for now I did get some rarer bricks for less than would pay for them with BL's minimum price (1x2 sand green, dark orange, tiles, plants...). My plan was to get the smaller (lighter in weight) bricks, and preferably in colours that I 'need' in larger quantities (such as dark bluish gray 2x2 plates for street infront of modular buildings).

Sales tent is also interesting, but it's not open all day. It was exhousting, but I filled two smaller bags (comparable to large PaB cup) for 20 EUR each. However, they only had small bricks (1x2 bricks and plates, and smaller), so it was a challenge picking them out. My favourite parts there were various grayish plates, including old grays (which I had none).

The minifigs in the Factory store were a nice selection as well. I got four of them, and all the torsos cost more on BL than I payed for a complete minifig with one accessory. They had some newer (and rarer torsos), that turned out to be a great deal.

[Legocrazy81]

They had 2x2 dark gery tiles? I saw your haul in the other thread. You really went to town! Nice mini fig selection there. Why's the last female bald?

[Redhead1982]

Yeah, they had 2x2 DBG tiles.   And they were a good bargain (paid less for them then I would on BL).

That last female is bald because she lost her hat!   Actually, I was shopping with my boyfriend, and the offer was 6 minifigs with one accessory for 7 EUR. He took 2 minifigs, and wanted an extra brownish hat.

The haul was great, I'm currently working through the price comparison with BL prices, and so far I'm on the plus side.   But it's also very likely I wouldn't buy 5 kg bricks at once on BL.  

Legocrazy81, on 01 May 2012 - 01:33 AM, said:

They had 2x2 dark gery tiles? I saw your haul in the other thread. You really went to town! Nice mini fig selection there. Why's the last female bald?

[cimddwc]

Yeah, the factory's selection is really nice, though they're missing some parts in colors I'd have liked. I was there on Sunday - first visit this year - and got "only" one sales-tent bag and 850g at the factory, plus 6 minifigs. Most of the bag was small parts, of course: about 3000 1x1 tiles and plates, 500 1x2, 100 bricks 1x2, and hardly anything bigger (tiles in "odd" colors, for instance). Turned out to be 2.04 cents per piece on average, and that's nothing to complain about. :) Incidentally, the sales-tent bag with mostly 1x2, 1x6, 2x3 plates (old dark gray), small panels (old light gray), small bricks/slopes and some 4x4 round bricks averaged at 2.10 cents.

Though if I had checked on BrickLink before, I would have got more than just a few tan 1x2 grille bricks, seeing now that they apparently weren't available in any sets yet...

[Redhead1982]

I finally made it through the pile of bricks from the Factory store.









Overall statistics say:

• that I bought around 6990 bricks (might made some mistakes counting the lot);
  
• weighting around 3,7 kg (according to BL);
  
• according to the Factory store's price, I payed 332 EUR;
  
• and buying the same amount on BL for minimum price, the amount would be slightly higher - 485,5 EUR (only European stores included);
  
• the difference of 155 EUR covers my expenses for the trip and entrance fee (80 EUR);
  
• considering buying them all from BL stores, it would be impossible to get all of them for minimum price, so the average price was calculated to be around 800 EUR (based on the lowest price for the amount of each lot), not including the postage;
  
• the price difference is mainly attributed to some special bricks that I was able to get in large amounts for more than half less than on BL;
  
• my reccomendations for others aimed at this store is that you should think in advance what you want, check the prices and weight in advance to know what you're dealing with (example - approximately 125 1x2 bricks make 100 g, meaning the price/brick is 0,072 EUR, and go for your bricks of interest with price the same or higher). The aim is to identify bricks of interest with low weight and price higher than 9 EUR/100 g.

To keep in mind, that the store is not included on Brickbuildr's PaB Wall, it depends on luck what you find there. I hope this will help some one identifying at least some of the parts at the Factory store. I still have to go throgh two bags from the Sales tent. Same as cimddwc, I got mainly very small bricks, some in old grays, and 1x2 dark red bricks. The best plan is to go through the tent first, to see what's there, pick something up, as the price is very friendly, and only then go to the Factory store (if some money is left).

[Cara]

I am drooling over those pastel tiles, the figures, the brick printed bricks   , the dark orange, the sand green, oh my! If those actually made it to a shop pick-a-brick wall they wouldn't survive the day  

Thats a lot of money compared to lego shop pick-a-brick I would be so so broke if I found that selection somewhere. Very, very nicely done.

[Legocrazy81]

Wow, look at all that deliciousness! I see a lot of 'brick' bricks. I've been aching to get to Legoland here in California. It's 8 hours or so south of me so its not easy drive. Which may be a blessing in disguise as I'd probably be there way more than an adult without a kid should be.  

What's a sales tent bag?

[Brickdoctor]

Legocrazy81, on 01 May 2012 - 07:52 PM, said:

What's a sales tent bag?

Basically, it's PaB and other sets at discounted prices that you find inside a tent. Unfortunately, as far as I know, LLCA hasn't had one for several years.

[Redhead1982]

In Germany, they have an actual tent with merchandise on sale. I didn't really see anything else, as they had four huge buckets (approx. 1x1m²) filled with mixed bricks, it looked like some 'leftovers' (and I was too busy to take pictures   ). You can fill a bag (a transparent one, similar to a large PaB cup volume) for 20 EUR which is way cheaper than the Factory store. On the other hand, their choice can be very limited, but it's worth taking an hour or so to go through the pile. My lucky finds were old gray plates, bricks, slopes and tiles which I had none, and I'm planning to use them on my current project.

Legocrazy81, on 01 May 2012 - 07:52 PM, said:

What's a sales tent bag?

To Legoland in Germany, I have a 540 km drive (5-6 h), passing state borders 'twice'. Usually, at the end of April travel agencies organize trips there in the week of school holidays, and that can be much cheaper then driving there on your own. But it takes longer. Since I was planning the trip, I was able to hold back from BL orders, so I had a pilesome money left on the side.

[Dharkan]

Oh hi,

I didn't like to necro topics but, I wonder if anyone has been there lately. Wanted to know about factory shop. ^^

[tederth]

The link for Brickbildr is a good one, but there's no inventory for the Legoland store.

[Dharkan]

Yes I checked that. I was wondering if they have same kind of good selection of parts all throughout the year. I'll be there at July.

[Redhead1982]

Dharkan, I'll be in Legoland in early June, so I'll post them about the selection. I've only been there once, and was positively surprised with the selection (and negatively with high price). Considering BL prices, it's worth to be prepared before going to Factory store. Consider weight and amount of bricks you have in 100 g, then you get a price/brick to compare with BL. That was my strategy, and I got some more expensive (BL) bricks for less.

I made a comparison of BL and Factory prices on Brickshelf. You might find these useful.

[Dharkan]

Oh yes, I saw your haul from last year in the topic, quite a selection you got and the price is good (i guess) even if it wasn't super cheap, it'd be cheap overall thanks to shipping costs.

Looking at these 3 comparison, I guess plants and fence are equal to BL price-wise, and the others are cheaper than BL which is really nice.