nicknack116

If the two unknown sets are remakes of existing sets, I would guess LEGO is making the D2C have more affordable options? The $90 lines up with past Hogsmeade sets, so I could see 1-2 Diagonal Alley shops remade in the style of Honeydukes/Three Broomsticks. Maybe a smaller Olivander’s and a Leaky Caludron with the brick wall? And then isn’t the $130 set rumored to be a new micro scale Hogwarts and grounds, which would also be a remake.

In the US, do we know if any/what retailers besides Lego.com and Lego Stores will have the large diorama set on April 1st?

Thanks! Must’ve missed that. So glad that’ll fit perfectly on my shelf.

Does anyone know the length/width/height dimensions for the 18+ diorama set? I’ve been trying to find that with no luck.

Well aware of DK’s video game history and the sales. All I’m saying is that Nintendo is acting like DK is more secondary to Mario by giving him a bigger role in the Mario movie, building a whole theme park expansion dedicated to him, etc. Personally I wouldn’t be surprised if Nintendo pushes to add DK to the current line of app-based Mario sets in the next year or two. It would add synergy to their own decisions around the character lately.

Ah, good point. I’m guessing LEGO YouTubers know not to use watermarked images, but Nintendo YouTubers might have used them in the video.

I saw an article on NintendoLife. I guess LEGO is copyright striking Youtube videos discussing the Zelda LEGO set. What does that usually mean when LEGO does that?

Counter-point: the Disney fans most willing to put down large amounts of money for merchandise are probably in the niche who go to theme parks regularly. That said, I think that the castles and train station are probably the most iconic parts of the parks to the general public. So besides those sets, minifigure-scale sets based on the theme parks would probably be a harder sell than a scene from a Disney animated movie.

I think Donkey Kong IS the next logical step for the digital figure line, personally. More than including Wario, Daisy, etc. DK has a larger role in the new Mario movie, they’re building a DK expansion to the theme park in Japan/Orlando, and I bet they announce a DK spin-off movie after April. Of course, that also means it’s the next logical step for other people, too, which means it seems credible enough to use as an “I’ve heard from a source…” rumor to try and gain traction. So, not putting much stock in this on its own, but happy to be proven wrong, because Donkey Kong Country was probably a bigger influence on my childhood than 2D Mario.

I had to refresh my memory, but LEGO did use Mario Day (March 10) last year to announce the Summer line and Princess Peach, so that’s a good possibility! With the movie coming out this year, I’m hoping it’s a busier day for Mario-related news than usual.

The vehicles that drive up Main Street and in front of the castle would be nice to go around the Mickey and Walt statue. Then a popcorn or pretzel stall. Or a balloon cart with Mickey balloons. (Sidenote: It’s been how many years since the Cinderella castle? How have we never gotten Mickey ears for LEGO minifigures to wear?) Disneyland also has the Snow White wishing well and waterfall to the side. If we get more than a castle, I’d be more interested in those sort of things before Main Street. I think the issue with Main Street is the overlap with other LEGO themes (city, friends, modulars, and even the winter village). Main Street has a fire station, city hall, magic store, cinema, arcade, shops, restaurants, etc. All of that is not uniquely Disney enough in my mind to justify its inclusion over other builds. Besides that, it would make it a very deep build and Main Street would distract from the castle once set up.

I have loved the micro scale Haunted Mansion and Cinderella’s Castle. I doubt there’s a large-enough audience to make individual sets of every potential attraction in that scale, but I’ve always thought a monorail set could be a way to get more of them. Have the monorail be motorized and minifigure scale with a track. So we get some Disney figures to ride in the monorail. And then include a micro scale build to represent each land in Disneyland to go around the monorail’s track. So you can have your monorail go around Disneyland. A monorail set would also attract non-Disney LEGO builders who just want a new monorail system. Just my own wild speculation based on nothing. I also think a minifig-scale Disneyland Castle with some elements of the hub or Main Street would be nice.

Haha, oops! I don’t want to be the cause of rumors saying Stranger Things will be returning this year as a theme!

I don’t think anyone is saying it “must” mean minifig sets. But just a recognition that LEGO is breaking their Mario line pattern this year. So there’s cautious hope/speculation that this pattern break might result in minifig sets. We’ve seen stranger things this year already with the survey leak and all the reactions to that. Not to mention some odd set choices across a lot of lines. LEGO is getting harder to predict. This discussion has been fun to follow. I think it’s clear that if we’re getting Mario minifigs, nailing the head design will be key. Everyone has different opinions on how to execute it.

Totally agree that it’s a case-by-case basis. I’m having a hard time thinking of any molded LEGO heads for human characters, though? Simpsons is the closest I can think of, and even they aren’t quite human. Have there been any? Just trying to understand if LEGO would even attempt to make Mario/Luigi/Peach with molded heads or if they would only use minifigure heads? Personally, printing noses on the figures never looks good to me in any of the custom/third-party/etc versions I’ve seen online.