An interesting piece of news is the announcement of the new LEGO Winter Village set, the #10249 LEGO Winter Village Toy Shop. This is the 7th set in the LEGO Winter Village collection, and it is basically the exact replica of the very first set in the series, the #10199 LEGO Winter Village Toy Shop from 2009. Below are the details, designer-video, pictures and more. 🙂
Here is the description of the LEGO Winter Village Toy Shop: Enjoy the holiday season with the Winter Toy Shop! The holiday season has arrived and the toymaker is busy finishing off his latest creations! Outside, children ski and snowboard, and a freshly built snowman sparkles in the light that shines from the toyshop tower. Help decorate the huge tree that stands at the center of the square, play with the curious kitten on the cozy wooden bench or join in with the carolers beneath the ornate streetlamp. This charming set also features a ladder, trees in various sizes, jack-in-the-box, a toy biplane, helicopter, rocket, train, race car, truck, robot, tugboat, teddy bear and a wrapped gift. Have fun building this enchanting winter wonderland! Includes a snowman and 8 minifigures with assorted accessories: a male caroler, female caroler, a woman, 2 men, 2 boys and a girl.
- Features a toyshop, large Christmas tree with decorations, ladder, bench, ornate streetlight, carrot-nosed snowman and a cat.
- Toyshop features a LEGO light brick, cash register, clock, chair, table, tools and a ladder.
- Accessories include a wrapped gift, snowboard, skis, 5 wreaths, 2 sets of strings lights, 2 top hats, 2 carol songbooks and 10 toys, including a jack-in-the-box, a toy biplane, helicopter, rocket, train, race car, truck, robot, tugboat and a teddy bear element.
- Also includes trees in various sizes and snow elements.
- Winter Toy Shop measures over 6” (17cm) high, 7” (19cm) wide and 3” (10cm) deep
- Christmas tree measures over 5” (15cm) high, 4” (11cm) wide and 4” (11cm) deep
- Recommended for ages 12+. Total of 898 pieces.
While the set is nice, as I have mentioned above, it is almost the exact replica of the #10199 LEGO Winter Village Toy Shop. This is a highly unusual move from LEGO, and I’m curious to see if they will do this with other sets as well. All I can think of is that they either ran out of ideas (doubtful) or have been inundated with requests from people who missed out the first time around. That first set has been selling for around $200 on the secondary market (well, at least up to this announcement), when the original price was only $60. Either people had to fork over the money to complete their collection, or pass on the set. However those who already own the first set will not be happy as this new version is almost the same. They will likely skip this year or opt to buy something else. Below are a couple of comparison pictures between the old and new LEGO Winter Village Toy Shop.
The #10249 LEGO Winter Village Toy Shop will be available directly through LEGO at the beginning of October, with LEGO VIP member getting early access starting on September 16th. Prices are as follow: US $79.99 – CA $99.99 – DE 69.99€ – UK £59.99 – DK 599.00 DKK (Euro pricing varies by country). It will be listed – along with the #10245 LEGO Santa’s Workshop – under the Seasonal Items section of the Online LEGO Shop.
I’m curious to hear what you think about this news. Are you happy, surprised or disappointed that LEGO is releasing a previously made set from the LEGO Winter Village line. Are you planning to get it, or pass on it? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below! 😉
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I’m terribly disappointed. I already have this set from 2009. While I’m happy for those that can buy it without being gouged by secondary markets, this does nothing for those that already have the set. The differences between this year and 2009 are so minimal, it couldn’t have taken any creative effort to produce this set. Lego should have released a new set, along with this one, to keep all customers happy.
Should Lego release old sets? Sure. My kids are now just at the age where they are reading Harry Potter books. They would LOVE to have the Lego Harry Potter sets, but they are not affordable. Lego could release Harry Potter sets to the legion of fans just now coming into those books. They could do this, and it would NOT be at the expense of any other themes (Ninjago, City, etc.).
However, by re-releasing this Winter Village set, they do it at the expense of all those who already have it. And I would dare say that those who already have the set are among the most fervent Winter Village fans, and these are the fans anxiously awaiting the new addition to their Winter Village layout. Those Lego fans are the most disappointed. I’m among them.
For many, assembling the Winter Village set each Christmas is a family tradition. Those that already have the set are sorta robbed of this tradition, for at least this year. It is very disappointing.
James, thanks for sharing that. A lot of people echo your feelings. The crux of the matter is exactly what you said: “For many, assembling the Winter Village set each Christmas is a family tradition. Those that already have the set are sorta robbed of this tradition, for at least this year. It is very disappointing.” And once a tradition is broken it is very hard to reestablish it.
There is a discussion going on at the LEGO Ambassador Forum where ambassadors from different LEGO fan groups are sharing the exact same feedback from their members. LEGO really dropped the ball on this one… and the designer-video is ridiculous: “It was very challenging to design the roof…” what was challenging about it? It is the exact same roof from six years ago! 🙁
New laurel wreaths!
Thanks admin. It’s good to know that Lego is getting direct feedback on this. I hadn’t known about the Lego Ambassador Forum until now.
And yeah, the roof comment on the video is absurd. First of all, as you said, it’s the same roof. Furthermore, as someone who has done MOCs with plate-built roofs, a 90 degree roof angle (he said 45) is perhaps the easiest roof type to build.
James, yeah, LEGO is getting plenty of feedback on this. Not just through ambassadors, but also through social-media. I’m pretty sure they are getting the message that this was a bad idea. The question is of course, will they listen. I think they will, as the feedback on this move has been pretty uniform. I also hope that the smaller Christmas sets will be okay enough this year, so those who have been building their Winter Village can add at least something.
There is a clear division, about 50/50 split from various forums that I have read. I fall in the same bucket as those that already have the original and now am left hanging without a new addition to add to my Winter Village.
It’s a tradition to build a new set with my kids and integrate it into the growing Winter Village. This year, the tradition is broken. I also don’t understand why they couldn’t bring this classic one back and also produce a new one.
At the least they could have done is an alternate build with this set, much like the 3 in 1 Creator sets, but that would still not appease the disappointed masses.
Lets hope the Brick Friday sets are decent enough, but I am not holding out. Even the Advent Calendars for this year are rehash of previous years and the Star Wars one does not really contain a unique printed minifig. I will probably pass up on that one as well.
Lastly, to help myself and others that are left hanging dry, I will be offering instructions and custom kits of a Christmas themed Tram for the Winter Village “Main Street”. I’ll be offering them through Bricklink and hopefully through Bricklink’s MOC Shop as well. Many people have been asking for a train station, and hopefully a tram will give many of us something to add to the village during the holiday season. Check the Bricklink forum for updates.
-Miro
Miro, thanks for that. Let me know when the instructions are available for the custom models. I can write a post about them. 🙂
I am beyond disappointed with Lego’s decision to pretty much take a year off and resell us an existing set. I have three children and one of our favorite traditions is the last Sunday of November we pull out the Winter Village sets and spend the day assembling and arranging them in preparation for Christmas. The highlight of the day is when I bring out the new set because I don’t show it to them before hand. Something tells me this year may not be like the others in the excitement department.
I can see lego trying to help those of us that started late into the winter village… but they really screwed up here. If they wanted to re-release the toy shop – then it should have been alongside a new set, rather than being ‘the’ set for the year.
Yes, a lot of LEGO fans suggest that would have been a much better idea.
I can see how some will be disappointing by Lego basically recycling an old set. And I don’t like it either when Lego does this. But I have to say, this is probably the first time I am happy they have, as I hadn’t rekindled my love for Lego until around 2012.
Speaking of Christmas…
I saw the Friends Advent calendar at TRU in Toronto
Seems early, right?
Probably shouldn’t have been out already
Kristina, yeah, other people reported the Advent Calendars appearing at different places too. If you find it grab it. The earlier you get it the better. They always sell out so fast.
I too am super disappointed that they didn’t come out with a new winter village set. Like many of you, we put together the sets as a Christmas family tradition. For those of you wanting to continue the tradition, the new Creator Changing Seasons set has a winter house option to build. This is the set we plan to add to our village this year. http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Changing-Seasons-31038?fromListing=listing
Heather, that’s a good idea. A lovely little set, and you can change the season with it as you get closer to Christmas. 🙂
I only became aware of and started building the Winter Village for my grandson a few years ago. So I’m one of the suckers who paid secondary market for this set. I wasn’t unhappy that I did. …until now.
So, this is 2 years in a row that I’m really disappointed. I thought the set for last year was particularly dorky so even tho I bought it I never managed any interest in building it. And now this year too there won’t be any addition to our village.
On the bright side, I’d be happy to have more carolers so I’ll look for those elements to show up in the build-a-minifig bins in the future. I’m glad they’re reinvesting, creatively speaking, in this style for the village. Hope to see more of it in the future. Just apply it to something new, Lego Designers! Very glad, too. to see a light brick again! And maybe this means that some year they’ll reintroduce some version of the Christmas train. That one was just far too expensive to pay secondary market for.
Giving this a bit more thought, as disconcerting as this decision was, it may offer a ray of hope that one day the Cafe Corner and Grand Emporium will be available again some day. Those are the 2 my son doesn’t have and it would really make me happy to be able to get them for him.
Unfortunately that is highly unlikely. I was just reading the Ambassador Forum this morning, and LEGO is already getting the message strong and clear that people are NOT happy about the re-release of the Toy Shop – especially those who have been collecting them and turned building the sets into a family tradition. I doubt they will risk it again with any other series.
There is a possibility that at some point in the future LEGO might consider releasing a set that pays tribute to the very first Modular. This was before people started collecting them and had any idea that it was going to become a series, so it is now considered the most desirable Modular. It would not be the same, but something similar – kind of like Benny’s Spaceship paying tribute to the original Galaxy Explorer.
How interesting to hear that the message is being transmitted. Has the company had a response?
I hope part of the message is what a wonderful addition to the holidays the Winter Village has been in the past so they will understand that they need to commit to it and up their game for next year.
According to LEGO’s Community Manager, all the feedback has been gathered from the different groups as well as from social-media platforms, and he is contacting the appropriate departments at LEGO. He particularly pointed out that the disruptions of a family tradition should raise some eyebrows and rings some alarm-bells. I got the sense that LEGO may actually not have been fully aware how many families have been following this tradition and the negative feedback came to them as a surprise.
Well, maybe if they come to truly appreciate the esteem it’s held in and the potential for the Winter Village we can look forward to a positive direction for it in the future.
I know I inquired a couple years ago about white base plates and some of the transparent blue plates to create more landscape for the village and was rebuffed by a total lack of interest. If they gave it some consideration I’d be excited to add a landscape, maybe a picturesque bridge or two, more homes and cottages, other shops, a church (said the non-believer), a town hall, a farm. There’s so much to look forward to! And I hope this will be a light bulb moment for them.
Hell’s bells! I wouldn’t care if they went back and offered all the past sets I paid secondary market prices for every year if it meant their really investing in the potential to make this not only a wonderful village but an enduring part of people’s holiday every year.
As a very recent returner to Lego (at the age of 53) I have been buying the Winter Village and Modular Building sets that I missed in a bid to ‘Catch up’. Although I am pleased to see a re-release of the Toy Shop for those of us who missed it, Lego should have produced a new set in addition to the Toy Shop, for it’s loyal supporters and collectors.
Is there any chance that they have another Winter Village set awaiting release?
Kevin, there are usually a couple of small sets that are also winter related and go well with the Winter Village series. They are usually free giveaways in November and December. I expect that LEGO will do that this year also. But other than that, as far as I know there is no plan to release another set, although it would have been a good idea.
I bought the new Toy Shop set just this weekend at the Lego Store. I looked the box over and liked this much more than last year’s set, which was Santa’s Workshop. I wasn’t very impressed with that set and decided against buying it. I found the Toyshop more appealing. But it didn’t dawn on me until now that it was re-release, when I looked up the entire winter series today. But even though, I too was happy about the re-release as I missed out on the first couple sets. I didn’t buy into the line originally but when they released the Winter Market which had the carousel, I HAD to get it since I am very much into amusement rides. (In fact I would like to eventually make winter versions of the Fairground Mixer and Ferris Wheel (the latter is in progress)). But I realized that last year setting setting up the Winter Market again, that this could become a tradition. So I was looking forward to the new set last year. But as I said above, I was disappointed with Santa’s Workshop and was anticipating the ‘New’ set for this year. Of course I immediately liked the Toy Shop and picked it up right then and there. I figured this would be the set to add this year instead of Santa’s Workshop and I would just let that one go. But I do understand those that have bought the set prior and the changes that were made to the new version I have now, are very slight. So I am mostly siding with those that said they should have had a re-release AND a new release. But it would be true that those strapped for cash that are trying to catch up might be torn between the reissue set and the new one. Perhaps as another poster suggested above, that perhaps they could do the re-releases with more drastic changes so this way it would give those that have the original versions an option to add the newer updated version or hold off. Or they could even alternate that idea with a totally new set. Odd years they would have a rehashed update of an older set and even years something totally new. I certainly would love to see a rehash of Santa’s Workshop, but a bigger one that has EIGHT reindeer for Santa’s sleigh (the two primary disappointments of last years set). So that is my take on this and just my opinion.
Geo, thanks for sharing. Yes, those are good options. Based on a recent discussion with LEGO designer Jamie Berard, LEGO was not aware that people collected these sets. So they didn’t think re-releasing an older, popular set would have been a problem. Now that they know what the community thinks, they will most likely be more careful to release sets that appeal to both those who collect the series, and those who are new to it. 🙂
They should have done this re-release in addition to a new set. Honestly though, I wouldn’t be that upset if I was collecting these and already had it. Get some pieces and design your own new winter village building (maybe even buy this one again and make an alternate build). I find it more upsetting that there has been such negative feedback, as we probably won’t get anymore re-releases now. 🙁
Mio, I agree that the best solution would have been to release two sets. To design your own Winter Village building requires building skills and extra pieces. Some people have the skills and pieces, some don’t. Those who were really hurt by the re-release are parents and grandparents who are not deeply into LEGO (thus they will likely not have extra pieces or the skills to design their own buildings), but established the tradition of building the Winter Village together with children and grandchildren. While for many of us free-building with LEGO is natural, for collectors it isn’t. Hopefully LEGO will release at least a couple of small sets people could add to their village this year, and they learn from this experience for the future.
I am thrilled with the new set! I have always admired the 2009 version, but my son was too young, and our Lego Christmas Village tradition had not begun when that set was released. I couldn’t bring myself to pay the hundreds of dollars secondary markets demand, so I couldn’t be happier to have an opportunity to buy it and build it this year. As a suggestion for those who already have the 2009 set and are looking for a way to continue the Holiday Village tradition, I have purchased other sets (e.g. Medieval Village – no longer available, but others would work too) and “converted” them for our winter scene by changing out the roof tiles with “snowy” white and adding clear colored pieces for Christmas lights. It is adorable! I would also love to see a re-release of the Harry Potter sets!
Carolyn, I’m glad you like the set! Yes, it is very cute. It is also a good idea to convert other sets – like you said. I do that with my Modular Buildings for every holiday. Harry Potter will only come back if there is a new movie, as it is a licensed LEGO product line. Enjoy your Winter Village! 😀