(Written by William)
The last time I reviewed a LEGO Disney Princess Jewelry box was back in 2019. That was the #41168 LEGO Disney Elsa’s Jewelry Box. So, when LEGO offered the new #43295 LEGO Disney Jasmine’s Jewelry Box for review, I was curious as to what might have changed over the years. I was especially curious given the fact that this model is $10 more than the previous set, but did not look all that much bigger.
Play-wise, the sets are fairly similar. You get the two rings that you can modify in all sorts of ways for great roleplaying potential. I also liked that this set comes with two minidolls instead of just one, and the magic carpet looks purpose-built to be detached and played with.
Just like the previous jewelry box, this one also has a nifty little mechanism on top that gives you a bit of flying action as you turn the crank. Plus, I think having the sunset behind clouds in a night sky with a miniature Agrabah all makes for a rather fantastic scene for the top of the box.
But is it worth it? Let’s dig into the working mechanism a bit to see if there is any magic to be had. Then, I’ll go over my final thoughts about the set. Let’s hope that this magic carpet ride will open up a brand-new world of LEGO fun!
LEGO DISNEY JEWELRY BOX – MECHANICAL ACTION
Unlike in the previous jewelry box I built, this feature was kept hidden in the new model. This makes for a much nicer display piece, since it is easier to suspend your disbelief that something magical is happening. Added to this effect are the surrounding elements to help support the idea that the characters are up in the air. And since the entire top section of this mechanism simply rests in place, it is easy to lift out, turn around, and make the scene all about leaving Agrabah instead of going towards it.
As for the mechanism itself, it is pretty simple. The top section consists of a “T” shaped frame that holds the carpet and any rider. This frame has a rounded bottom to prevent snags. As for what it rests on, there is an axle with two 2L liftarms. These liftarms act as simple cams. When rotated, the arms push the frame up, and when they move to the horizontal, the frame lowers.
For all its smoothness, the action does have one major flaw. Because there are two liftarms in opposite directions, and they are not very large, what you end up with is an extremely fast action. So it looks like the carpet is trying to hop in the air rather than fly in the skies above their home.
LEGO DISNEY JEWELRY BOX – FINAL THOUGHTS
As far as play potential goes, this is a rather good set. I like the kinetic action happening on the top side of the model. Also, the mini Agrabah and cloud settings really help to transport anyone who plays with the model to that mythic land. I also think the two rings that can be customized with various accessory gems and printed tile are fantastic for play beyond the set’s normal limited scope.
LEGO also managed to keep stickers down to a minimum. There are three on the carpet tiles and two on the front of the box. These do help round out some finer details, but the model can stand on its own without these touches, though the carpet might seem a little bland without the stickers if you choose not to apply them. Speaking of the carpet, LEGO designers made it easy to pull the carpet off its frame and allow for your own free style flying by swooshing it all around your own space.
I also think builders might like the fairly neutral palette of parts in this model. There are some lavender and purple elements, but tan and various blues dominate the set. So, it can work well as a parts-pack. And as an added bonus, you get two minidolls, which help with having scenes to act out. In the video below, I discuss the set in a bit more detail.
Overall, I do think this is a good set. However, the price of $49.99 MSRP feels high. I have to guess that most of the price is coming from factors outside LEGO’s control. If I had to guess, this set should have been priced $5 to $10 less. I’m not seeing an abundance of any interesting element that might raise the price, nor am I seeing any extremely clever building techniques. This is all solid construction with good play potential that might be counting on the intellectual property to have fans overlook the cost. Honestly, I’d recommend it on sale, which many retailers have done with brand-new sets in recent years. I wish I didn’t have to give this opinion, but I’m not quite on this carpet ride. If you want to check it out, it will be available starting June 1st at the LEGO Disney section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like this LEGO Disney Jewelry Box? Do you have the previous one already? And are you planning to get this one? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below!
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