It has been long rumored that after the #10244 LEGO Creator Fairground Mixer from 2014, the #10247 LEGO Creator Ferris Wheel from 2015, and the #10257 LEGO Creator Carousel from 2017, the next fairground-inspired set is going to be a roller coaster. 🙂
This rumor was mostly based on the fact that the box images and promotional materials of both the #10247 LEGO Creator Ferris Wheel and the #10257 LEGO Creator Carousel featured a roller coaster in the background. (As a side note, that same images also show a swing ride, which appears to be heavily inspired by the Star Flyer ride of Tivoli Gardens, Denmark. The LEGO version has the same star shaped body as the real ride, and it even features a similar globe on top – except that the LEGO version is shaped like a LEGO Classic Space logo. This may be a hint to another future fairground set.)
When the #70922 LEGO Batman Movie The Joker Manor was revealed last year with a whole new roller coaster track and car system, it became pretty obvious that we are going to get a regular roller very soon. However, LEGO decided to surprise us with not one, but two roller coasters this year. The #31084 LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Pirate Roller Coaster includes a fairly substantial number of tracks, to build a full roller coaster ride, and the set can also be rebuilt into two other fun rides. This will be an excellent and moderately priced introduction (exact price not yet known) to the new roller coaster system.
If you want to go big, however, and build a giant roller coaster for your minifigures, you can look forward to the #10261 LEGO Creator Expert Roller Coaster coming soon. Below is the press-release of the new set, along with pictures, and introductory videos.
Take a ride with the ultimate Roller Coaster! Enjoy the thrills and excitement of the fairground with this chain-lift Roller Coaster featuring a wealth of brick-built details and 11 minifigures. Upgradable with LEGO Power Functions and LEGO BOOST for an added movement sensor and realistic sound effects!
This fully functional chain-lift model comes with 2 trains and an array of authentic features and functions, including a ticket booth, cotton candy cart, concession stand, height marker, and a covered boarding station complete with opening barriers and a control panel. Lower the lap bars to secure the riders into the cars and release the brake to send the train to the foot of the first climb. Then activate the chain lift and enjoy the ride as the gravity-driven cars hurtle through the Roller Coaster’s twists and turns. Upgrade the Roller Coaster with LEGO Power Functions for a motorized chain lift or LEGO BOOST for an added movement sensor and realistic sound effects! This incredible collectible toy has been designed to provide a challenging and rewarding building experience with a touch of nostalgia and charm. Includes 11 minifigures.
- Build a fully functioning Roller Coaster with 2 trains, lots of big dips and upgrade options.
- Upgrade with LEGO BOOST and LEGO Power Functions for an even more immersive experience.
- Includes 11 minifigures: a cotton candy vendor, 2 ride attendants, 2 grandparents with their granddaughter and 5 riders. 8 of these minifigures feature reversible heads to display different emotions.
- Fully functional chain-lift Roller Coaster model features a classic brick-built sign, control panel, 2 trains—each consisting of 3 train cars with low-friction wheels, and a 44-piece track consisting of 7 different rail elements.
- Also features a ticket booth, fountain, cotton candy cart, concession stand, waiting area with bench, camera element and a pond with a frog figure.
- Buy your ticket at the booth and make your way to the covered plaza.
- No cheating at the height marker—the ride attendant has an accurate measuring stick!
- Help the riders into the cars and secure the lap bars.
- Release the brake to send the cars to the foot of the first climb.
- Activate the chain lift to pull the train cars to the top of the first drop.
- Move the rails to launch a second train.
- Serve refreshing beverages at the concession stand or spin some cotton candy.
- Don’t forget to smile as you race past the camera!
- Upgrade the Roller Coaster with LEGO Power Functions for a motorized chain lift, or with LEGO BOOST for automated chain lift activation and realistic sound effects!
- Decorated elements include a ticket, money, arrow tiles, pressure gauge, number pad and a ride control panel.
- Special new-for-June-2018 elements include a 2x8x6 Rail Slope, 1x2x1 Bow Brick, plant leaves, stalks and flowers. Other elements include a height checker and 2 cotton candy treats.
- Makes the perfect fairground addition to the #10257 LEGO Creator Expert Carousel and the #10247 LEGO Creator Expert Ferris Wheel.
Measures over 20” (53cm) high, 34” (88cm) wide and 16” (41cm) deep. - Recommended for ages 16+.
- Includes 4,124 pieces.
The #10261 LEGO Creator Expert Roller Coaster will be released on June first, with early access to LEGO VIP members on May 16th. Prices are as follows: $379.99 US – $479.99 CN – DE 329.99€ – FR 349.99€ – UK £299.99 – DK 2699DKK (Euro pricing varies by country). For further details, please visit the LEGO Creator section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like the new roller coaster sets? Are you planning to get either of them? Or both? Do you have the other fairground sets? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below! 😉
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$380!
Oh man, that’s the only bad news from this set. Otherwise this thing can’t do wrong.
And it can connect with LEGO Boost! That’s amazing!
Nice set, but my gosh, that price! I think I will stick with the smaller one.
I kind of like the small one better. I wonder if that one could be motorized too.
Hm… good question. I guess when we have the instructions for both, we can transfer the motorizing techniques of the large roller coaster over to the smaller one.
Pretty good variety there on the Creator builds.
The big coaster is going to be one of those sets that I will watch from a safe distance. I have neither the money or the space for it. But I do like Pirate Coaster and will probably get it.
I think Lego is releasing way too many large sets now. One or two a year in the $100-$200 range is fine, and something very expensive like the UCS Falcon or the carousel every few years. What they are doing now is madness. Huge sets coming out practically every month. It gives the impression that Lego is getting more and more expensive. Kids can’t afford them, adults can’t afford them, so who are they for?
The ones who can afford them, naturally.
I was just reading about someone who bought ten UCS Falcon sets during the TRU closing event. So yeah, there are some people with money. 🙄
So long as people keep buying them, they’ll keep making them.
I really like it. I’d love to buy build this one… But I’d have to buy the Powerfunctions kit and at that point we’re talking $400; at this price for anything Lego I have to love it. I mean… FREAKING LOVE IT.
Looks like a fun set, though. 😀
Looks great but, since I already collect the modulars and the Christmas sets, I can’t justify the price of this set (and of course the other two I’d need to buy to accompany it). I think around the £170 mark would have been much more sensible.
Super impressive! Love it! I don’t understand the part though about how it works with PF and BOOST. Are we supposed to use both?
I’d guess it’d work with each one, separately. I mean, it is two different systems.
Not sure yet. The video seems to be only showing how it works with PF, not with BOOST. I guess we will see soon enough. There is probably going to be a designer video also with more details.
Given that the boost external I would expect that it works in much the same way as power functions, although additional functionality might be able to be built in using sensors and one of the motors off the drive hub. time will tell!
Based on what I have been reading, it seems that BOOST is only used for adding sound effects, not the movement of the tracks. This would make sense, as BOOST doesn’t have motor variations, like PF, and you need an M-motor to run the tracks. But we shall see… 😀
I think I’ll stick to the 3in 1 builds , because at least I won’t make my wallet cry to much.
Finally! Take my money!
I’m happy that Lego are pumping out more sets more rapidly especially the big sets. If Lego continue to flood their own market then surly that’s good for investing, too much choice and too many high priced sets means that some sets will not be sold in such huge numbers before retirement.
I’ll be buying this for myself to enjoy but will diffinitely put one under the bed for The rainy day fund.
I’d love the big roller coaster, but it’s well out of my price range. Is there any word of when we might get the pirate coaster and how much that set is likely to run? It’s rather frustrating to have the big, un-affordable coaster come out first. I suspect after playing with the small coaster, the large one will become even more desirable.
That’s a good point, however as far as I know, the small coaster will be released in June. Both sets should be available for a while, so you could definitely get the smaller one first, and if you like it, invest in the larger one. I also heard that there are going to be separate track-packs, so you could just get the smaller one and extend it with more tracks. The point is that there are going to be options. 🙂
Slightly frustrating, after three sets there’d already be tracks produced in three different colors…
Any word out on which color that would be the default, or will there be track packs produced in all the colors?
That’s a really good question, and the answer is we don’t know yet. My guess is that gray will be the default color, but this is really just speculation on my part. Hopefully we will know soon.
The price … OMG … I think I will have to put this on the back burner. I mean I like it but I need to save up for the Harry Potter stuff. Unless they take LEGO currency then we all have tons of those. LOL
LEGO should introduce their own crypto currency! 😀