What do you think is the best Advent Calendar?

[6ix]

I'm thinking of buying a Lego Advent Calendar. It could be one of the 2015 calendars or an older, I'm still looking into it.

Do you have a favorite and why that one? It can be from any theme.

[Cwetqo]

Favorite?

Fantasy era castle:

http://brickset.com/sets/7979-1/Castle-Advent-Calendar

and Kingdoms:

http://brickset.com/sets/7952-1/Kingdoms-Advent-Calendar

Pirate is also cool:

http://brickset.com/sets/6299-1/Pirates-Advent-Calendar

From City, this (it's got nice train and is dominantly police or fire like some others):

http://brickset.com/sets/2824-1/City-Advent-Calendar

Last year's city is also not bad (it's got best modern version of police officers)

http://brickset.com/sets/60063-1/City-Advent-Calendar

From Star Wars, this year's is the best (it's got Jawa, Ewok and Stormtrooper)

The rest are ok, but also expensive to get.

I dislike Friends because of low number of minfigs, so will not single out any of existing five

[Robert8]

The City 2014, for sure!

Star Wars are the worst, IMO.

[6ix]

Thanks so far! Didn't know there where castle and pirates calendars.

[BrickOn]

I bought myself the 2009 pirates one for this year, pretty excited, until I noticed the Kingdoms Calendar had a piggy in it but I can't have another one... (I mean I will probably pick up this year's city calendar too).

It kinda depends what you like?

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

I honestly liked 2011's 7553 City Calendar, as it told a little story--the cop arrests a burglar, throws him in jail, and then he escapes again for a sled chase. Also, some guy catches a fish for some reason. But the set came with a whole building that you build over four days. I mean, a whole building. It was small, but it worked.

[6ix]

Thanks! I'll check it out, sounds interesting.

[paul_delahaye]

They are unfortunately getting a bit repetitive, espectially as they always head down to the route of cops and robbers, it would be nice to see them come up with a different overall theme, re-focus on the holiday time, but at least you get a santa ;-)

Paid £16 for mine at Smyths toys during their 20% weekend.

[Blondie-Wan]

The City ones always have at least one Santa (one year it had two - !), and the Star Wars ones always Star Wars characters dressed as Santa. I believe all the Friends ones are Santa-free.

[6ix]

They are unfortunately getting a bit repetitive, espectially as they always head down to the route of cops and robbers, it would be nice to see them come up with a different overall theme, re-focus on the holiday time, but at least you get a santa ;-)

That's why I asked. I'm sure there are some hidden gems amongst all the Advent sets.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

I see a few advantages to any given Advent Calendar. With the City ones, you tend to get children. While children are not uncommon in non-AC sets, they do seem to be harder to come by (especially when the City line is dominated by cops and firemen). With Star Wars, you get a bunch of army builders, and they often include a rare figure that's not available in a low price set. (I.e., the Scout Trooper and Ewok from last year's Ewok Village set.) Friends...gets you some exclusive print versions of the girls, and some animals, I guess. Also keep in mind that even though there's a degree of repetition to the ACs, they're intended to be a "staple" sale to kids every year. Lego is not interested in pleasing the AFOL--they're selling to the new batch of little kids every year who don't have a basement full of cops and firemen.

[x105Black]

From this year's selection, I like the Star Wars calendar.

Hope you find something you like!

[6ix]

Thank you, x105Black :-)

[jonty14]

Got this year's for 15 euros in Germany. I like the train and toy vehicle minibuilds in it.

[Sven F]

Last year's City calendar had some nice extra parts like a double minifig wig which you don't normally get as extra. The SW one seemed crappy to me because of lots of mini-builds which aren't really useful for anything but tiny parts. I also wouldn't know what to do with santa vader or other figures in Christmas clothing. SW calendars are more expensive. Friends are ok, but most of the colors they use aren't useful to me, and neither are the minidolls apart from their wigs.

I only buy them if I see a good discount, as these are really for children who see those bricks with different (less judgemental) eyes

Edited October 19, 2015 by Sven F