Winter Village Sets - Rumours and Discussion

[SunshineinAutumn]

It's on the US Website, even the official spread is a bit underwhelming.

https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/icons-10361-10361

 

Also the Family tree is a bit more interesting, like Santa's NORAD, but for $329... 

https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/family-41843-41843https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/family-41843-41843https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/family-41843-41843

[RichardGoring]

It really does feel disappointing, and I'm not sure that seeing it working will make things any better. It really is just a remake of the original, which is a lost opportunity to do a different style, and most of the updates don't appear to make sense. The lack of drive wheels makes it feel like a fake trolley conversion. The giant polar bear seems a bit odd and at fast speeds it will likely look ridiculous (and may come apart), and it doesn't feel like it could fit all the presents, which is a shame.

I also don't understand the need for a 3D printed train toy. That's probably added a load of cost for not a lot of value, and it looks distinctly different from the other toys.

The value just isn't there for me at $130.

And it's advertising Powered Up, but, at least in the US, the 88010 controller is marked as Sold Out and has been for a long time. I assumed it had retired.

[RichardGoring]

The family tree is huge! At first glance I thought it was one of the $30-$50 type trees, but no, it's massive. Interesting idea although the tree itself doesn't look that great in the lifestyle video. I wonder how stable it will be when you open it all out to play. It also seems very expensive for what you get compared to say a modular building, but I'd like to see it compared to one as it might be a chunk larger than it feels.

[Jay66]

https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/icons-10361-10361

 

[Celtchief]

Well, first off, keeping in mind that it's been 9 years since a Winter Village Train, if this is your only train, it's fine.  As someone who owns the previous Winter Village, it is kind of a letdown.  Why they did not do a proper Christmas Passenger train is a mystery.  But will it look fine running around your tree or Winter Village, yes it will.  But I agree, the lack of proper big drive wheels is also a mystery.  I'm fine with the polar bear, if you have been paying attention Polar Bears have become synonymous with Christmas over the last 20 years, Thanks Coke.  I do like the color scheme.  But yeah, its basically the cousin of the previous set.  Maybe even half sibling.  

As for the Giant Tree.  I'm not sure what to think about that for 300 plus dollars.  I saw someone indicate it as Santas NORAD, and I guess if you are going to integrate it into the WV North Pole, that would be the play.  

That said, I like Christmas, I like Lego, and I like Trains, so I will be getting the train... but yeah, I guess my main hope for a proper Christmas Passenger train now is for someone to get the Polar Express/Lego deal done.  Seems overdue. 

 

[hugore]

I am bored as hell by these two sets.

All I can add to this is that I am now really curious for this year's modular building. I want to spend some money 

[Klaus-Dieter]

Thanks for the news! 🙂

I'm totally disappointed by this new Winter Express Train - it has so many design mistakes and does look really, really cheap. Last year's Santa's Post Office already had been bad. But with this new Winter Express Train, Lego drives our beloved Winter Village finally against the wall! 👎

 

I really, really hope that next year's WV set will be something completely new and designed very well (like the older WV sets), otherwise Lego WV ist dead for me. 😥

[wicket]

Who wants to bet that next year we’re gonna get a remake of 10259 Winter Village Station to pair with that new train? 😬

[Geofftswin]

As a relative newcomer to WV, I'm glad that it is finally possible to get a train set to run around under the tree.  It seems crazy that it has been unable to get a Lego Christmas train for many years.

It is a shame it is unpowered by default, but I guess that keeps the price down a bit and some people may well want a static display.

I'm guessing that having the option to power it explains why all the wheels are the same size.  If they had designed it with larger drive wheels, then I'm not sure if it would have worked as well?

 

[karrit]

Since I don't have the sold out Powered up parts there is no way I can actually motorize this abomination.  Sorry, I'm not about to pay secondary market prices for parts that weren't considered user friendly to begin with just to make this ugly train go around in a boring circle.  I do like the dark green carrots.  Hate the pointless 3D printed train.

Oh, I get it now.  I need to buy the Arctic Polar Express Train in order to be able to motorize the new Holiday Express Train.

Edited Tuesday at 05:01 PM by karrit

[jus1973]

Sadly we won’t be adding this years WV model to our Christmas lego set up. And if #Wicket is correct, then we won’t get next years either!

So compared to the first winter village train, this one is something of a let down.  The loco using standard carriage sized wheels looks so wrong.  Neither of the wagons offer anything really new, compared to the previous version, and the tender looks almost the same.  Such a shame.  I was hoping this would offer existing train owners some additional interest in the wagon/carriage department.  

If I had to guess, I’d say this was a ‘second option’ after the initial model failed to get produced in time.  I’m sure it’s not, but it just feels that way.  Sadly we 

Edited Tuesday at 05:03 PM by jus1973
Spelling error

[Robert8]

Is that tiny blue train piece a single new piece?

e.e

 

[RichardGoring]

1 hour ago, karrit said:

Since I don't have the sold out Powered up parts there is no way I can actually motorize this abomination.  Sorry, I'm not about to pay secondary market prices for parts that weren't considered user friendly to begin with just to make this ugly train go around in a boring circle.  I do like the dark green carrots.  Hate the pointless 3D printed train.

Oh, I get it now.  I need to buy the Arctic Polar Express Train in order to be able to motorize the new Holiday Express Train.

I actually bought a second copy of 60197 on a discount purely to get the Powered Up components, which I wanted for the original holiday train. It gave me extra carriages for about $15.

The physical controller is so important for these as the sets will last a long time, but LEGO's app support won't. Also, my children are pretty small, so don't have phones and I don't really want them with screen devices to play with the train.

[BrickJagger]

2 hours ago, Robert8 said:

Is that tiny blue train piece a single new piece?

e.e

 

Sure is -- apparently it's 3D-printed? Don't see the appeal there, honestly.

I own the 2016 train, so I'll be passing on this one. I had already made my peace with skipping it for that reason, regardless of how it looked, but I do find its uncanny resemblance to its predecessor to be pretty lazy. 

On the other hand, the giant tree is anything but lazy, but I'm not sure who it's intended for. Is it a display piece? Is it an extremely expensive playset with an odd premise? Who asked for Santa's HQ hidden in a tree trunk? Is there a reason it needed to be $330 when Vader's Gingerbread AT-AT is a better novelty set for one-fifth of the price? 

[karrit]

3 hours ago, RichardGoring said:

I actually bought a second copy of 60197 on a discount purely to get the Powered Up components, which I wanted for the original holiday train. It gave me extra carriages for about $15.

The physical controller is so important for these as the sets will last a long time, but LEGO's app support won't. Also, my children are pretty small, so don't have phones and I don't really want them with screen devices to play with the train.

I thought the Disneyland Train had the Controller but looking back at the instructions they want you to use an app via cell phone which is nuts based on their poor support of their own apps.  I do want the Arctic Train but was hoping to find it at a reduced price closer to the holidays.  The only other one I'm seeing currently still available with the Controller is the Express Passenger Train which can be found for $152.  Not really that interested in that particular set.  I may just have to go ahead & get the Arctic one sooner rather than later.

[Dennis2nd]

This marks the end of me buying new Lego sets. With insanely increasing prices for worsening products they just passed my range of tolerance. Very sad. I was sure that at least WV would remain a save bet. Considered last years set to be an outlier. But no. This train set is a desaster for what we get at what price. 

[keba]

29 minutes ago, Dennis2nd said:

This marks the end of me buying new Lego sets. With insanely increasing prices for worsening products they just passed my range of tolerance. Very sad. I was sure that at least WV would remain a save bet. Considered last years set to be an outlier. But no. This train set is a desaster for what we get at what price. 

Yep, totally agree. More i look at this set and price more disappointed i am. Not much love and effort was put into this set. But price increase 30%. Last year i skipped WW set first time and this year too. And if next year will be some low effort fantasy set i wont buy it. 

[dartmar]

It's going to be an cheap christmas for me this year when it comes to buying christmas sets. The train is underwhelming. The colourscheme is terrible and it just looks terrible. ANd the big tree thing is funny but way to expensive and just doesn't add anything to my christmas (winter) village lay out. I like the gingerbread AT-AT but I don't know if I am going to buy it. The new gingerbreadhouse could be a nice addition to my collection.  

 

Edited Wednesday at 06:53 AM by dartmar

[Flippi01]

Seems to be universally disliked across all platforms? To be honest I quite like it the blue colour keeps it on message with last years PO , plus the last train was a long time ago ?

[Geofftswin]

I'm not sure I'm understanding the hate for a price increase?  It has increased from £89.99 to £109.99.  

I believe that the 2020 set was on sale at £89.99.  If correct, then using the ONS RPI figures for July 25 and July 20, then the equivalent price would be £124.25.

Therefore, I don't think the increase is that unreasonable in the grand scheme of things.

I also quite like the look of it as it brings something new to the Winter Village theme instead of a building - apart from the tram in Holiday Main St.

[RichardGoring]

4 hours ago, Flippi01 said:

Seems to be universally disliked across all platforms? To be honest I quite like it the blue colour keeps it on message with last years PO , plus the last train was a long time ago ?

7 minutes ago, Geofftswin said:

I'm not sure I'm understanding the hate for a price increase?  It has increased from £89.99 to £109.99.  

I believe that the 2020 set was on sale at £89.99.  If correct, then using the ONS RPI figures for July 25 and July 20, then the equivalent price would be £124.25.

Therefore, I don't think the increase is that unreasonable in the grand scheme of things.

I also quite like the look of it as it brings something new to the Winter Village theme instead of a building - apart from the tram in Holiday Main St.

I think the reaction comes from it being, probably fairly objectively:

- A remake of a past idea rather than something new (another type of train or a very different style, but this is a fairly simple revamp)

- Not as good in most areas as the previous train that it's being remade from

- A signifiacnt price increase compared to the previous years set (and you could add a much lower piece count, although that's unfair given the nature of the pieces)

You could get away with one of those things. Maybe even two. But all three means that for many it's just not great value and not what you'd prioritize.

Meanwhile, the Christmas Tree HQ is very expensive, but it's novel, largely well designed, and fun. So it's 'only' a question of whether you can/want to spend the money on it.

[Lion King]

Those sets are quite cute! Unforuatnely, I’m on a tight budget this year. I haven’t bought a big Lego set since January and it was a Modular Building set “Tudor Corner”. To be honest, I would love to see a Christmas-themed Modular Building set! Anyways, i don’t think I will plan on buying those charming Christmas sets. 

[CDM]

Yeah, I don't have a major problem with the price increase and, while I'd rather not another train, I get the need to revisit to allow new collectors to enter the fold. I also don't have a problem with the lack of power accessories. I don't have / want my #10254 motorized so I would have been pretty disappointed to be forced to buy and not use those parts, same goes for the new version. With all that said, this new train design is atrocious. I hate saying that because I know many people worked very hard to bring this to market but the fact is, overall, it's a poor model. There are elements of it I like but the features I don't like are major deal breakers and when I already have a holiday train it's an easy decision to pass.

Part of me wishes if they felt they had to revisit the train I wish they'd gone a new direction and released it in phases, similar to the modular sets they released during the 9v phase (Amtrak, Super Chief, etc) to allow for more detailed cars. I know this isn't realistic anymore and they moved away from that set model for a reason. Alas...

Anyway, looking forward to the upscaled Santa...

[Christmas Jack]

I'm also pleased that newer collectors have a chance to get a holiday train -- having the 2016 train whizzing around the outer boundary of my Village really helps the composition look complete. I do find the polar bear an odd choice though, and especially its soulless eyes. Just adding a pair of black round 1x1 tiles for eyes would probably help me like it a lot better.

I'm sure this has been discussed ad nauseam elsewhere, but I wonder if the Winter Village is the series that has suffered the most from adopting the 18+ black boxes. If this new train was my first encounter with the series, I don't think I'd be struck with the same sense of wonder (and festive consumerism) that I felt looking at the original snowscape-y boxes in the early 2010s. As one Reddit commenter put it, this new train looks like it's trapped in a void.

[Renny The Spaceman]

5 hours ago, Christmas Jack said:

I'm also pleased that newer collectors have a chance to get a holiday train -- having the 2016 train whizzing around the outer boundary of my Village really helps the composition look complete. I do find the polar bear an odd choice though, and especially its soulless eyes. Just adding a pair of black round 1x1 tiles for eyes would probably help me like it a lot better.

I'm sure this has been discussed ad nauseam elsewhere, but I wonder if the Winter Village is the series that has suffered the most from adopting the 18+ black boxes. If this new train was my first encounter with the series, I don't think I'd be struck with the same sense of wonder (and festive consumerism) that I felt looking at the original snowscape-y boxes in the early 2010s. As one Reddit commenter put it, this new train looks like it's trapped in a void.

Sadly all themes must sooner or later be assimilated by the black boxes, no whimsy is allowed