(Written by William)
LEGO offered us a chance to review some of the upcoming LEGO Disney sets for January. Among the sets are three models that fit in and around the Disney Princess mini-doll style. So we grouped these three together to take a look at what they have to offer for young LEGO Disney fans.
#43281 LEGO DISNEY ELSA’S ICE CASTLE & SNOW RIDE ADVENTURE
We’ve gotten a variety of LEGO Disney Frozen sets over the years. I think their popularity, especially in the winter, comes from the setting, since it is typically snow-themed. This particular set is based on Frozen 2 and one of the short specials since it includes Bruni the salamander and the small snowmen that Elsa sneezed into existence. Along with these specialized characters, we also get Elsa, Anna, and Olaf. All in all, this is a pretty decent number of characters. But the real star is the play potential in the model.
First up is a sleigh ride roller coaster. The coaster doesn’t have any hills, being a flat oval, but it does really help to keep the sleighs moving along without toys flying everywhere. As for the small castle, it features a base floor with two beds. For the second floor, you have a spot for Elsa’s throne. Given the small size of the set, this one expands out to have a good-sized play area.
As a model is rated for the 4+ age range, it is nice to see four instruction books for the four numbered bags. This is great for either multiple builders or to prevent one young builder from feeling overwhelmed.
As for parts, I do want to point out that it is nice to get roller coaster tracks in white. Additionally, the glass windows for the two floors in the castle look really great. They look even better knowing they are printed elements. I also really love the printed minifigure head that is Elsa’s snow globe. The only downside here is if your little one already has their fill of Frozen and wants something different. To see the set in more detail, check out my video-review below. The price of the set will be $49.99, and it will be available starting in January at the LEGO Disney section of the Online LEGO Shop.
#30720 LEGO DISNEY ARIEL & FLOUNDER’S BIRTHDAY MUSIC FUN
This is a mini-doll bagged set featuring Ariel and Flounder. It features a small musical scene with an organ and saxophone. It is nice to get two tiles with printed keys. Also, I like that you get a few of the tulip flowers in such an affordable set.
It has been a while since I built a mini-doll set featuring Ariel, but I’m pretty sure the last time I did, her tail piece didn’t look this good. It has a very intricate design with fin tips that might either be translucent or pearlescent. Either way, it is one of the best mini-dolls I’ve seen of her.
Being such a small set, there is not too much to talk about. I do recall her and Flounder showing up in other small sets in the past. So this one is more for those who either want an updated mini-doll for their collection or are looking for something more affordable. In the video below, I talk a bit more about the set.
#43285 LEGO DISNEY ARIEL’S MAGICAL MINI PALACE
At first glance, I thought this was another mini-doll set. However, this is scaled down to be more in line with the storybook sets that LEGO released. In fact, in the past, I reviewed the storybook model featuring the Little Mermaid. I was pretty impressed with how the entire book closed up and locked. The play functionality was decent, but the overall build was a bit bland. Well, they fixed the blandness with this model.
Instead of a large book, you get to build a small underwater castle. Each section of the castle has a fairly distinct look. And it also locks up with the same type of key found in the storybook set. The end result is a model that feels a lot more satisfying to build. Plus, you get a tiny dolphin and a half-sized treasure chest. Having scaled-down versions of an underwater chariot and a pipe organ is especially adorable.
I can definitely see many LEGO fans saying that LEGO is just copying Polly Pocket, but that’s not a bad thing. Polly does give fans what they want in a tiny playset, and this one follows that formula. I think traditional LEGO fans might get frustrated with another differently scaled figure, but you can just think of this micro Ariel as her kid version, since Sebastian and Flounder aren’t scaled down at all. This set will also be available starting in January for the price of $19.99 at the LEGO Disney section of the Online LEGO Shop.
LEGO DISNEY 2026 MINI-DOLL SETS – FINAL THOUGHTS
LEGO is pretty good at keeping the prices of 4+ sets reasonable for young LEGO fans, which we see here as well. As for the value inherent in the models, each set does have good characters and some nice parts that might catch the eye of even experienced builders. Honestly, the main issue will probably be that these sets feel a bit tired and overdone to more long-time fans.
However, keep in mind that LEGO is marketing these sets for a very young audience. It may sound a little weird, but some of the sets that might be considered copies that came out before this builder’s age group was even born. This is why these sets are sort of evergreen designs. LEGO is still pretty good at refreshing things, so you’re never building the same thing, even if you did collect all the Little Mermaid and Frozen sets in the past. But these sets are ideal for the ages printed on the package.
What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Disney mini-doll sets? And what do you think of the ones coming up next year? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below!
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White tracks! Is that a first?