Duplo 10531 Mickey Mouse & Friends set in Singapore

One favourite theme in my collection is the Mickey Mouse series (from 2000, that’s 12 years ago!).  So no surprise that the sight of these Duplo sets actually stopped me in my tracks and made me consider for an insane second to buy bucket… Ok, so not such a normal reaction for most people but hey I really really like the Mickey Mouse sets.

Hope that this is a precursor to normal system sized sets. Ditto for the Princess series. Fingers crossed that TLG and Walt Disney Co will continue to have a great partnership!  🙂

My new Ninjago money bank

Finally got one. Popped by the Toysrus near my office and got a ‘ninja’ for home. Side-by-side with my megafig for scale comparison:

If you are curious, the legs are fixed and can’t be moved to ‘sitting position, and the hood cannot be removed.  The coin slot is near the top just at the back of the ‘head’, and the cover (to retrieve coins) is at the bottom of one of the legs.  Here’s the selection at the TRU that I visited:

LOTR sets deal on BN, & coupon code

Hey, if you are going to order the LOTR sets on Barnes & Noble (now at 10% off), you should also use this Barnes and Noble Coupon Code T4T8J4A to get 15% off one item. It automatically applies to the highest cost set, so that’s almost another $17 off the 9474 Battle of Helm’s Deep (reg.$129.99, discounted $116.95 and with coupon at $99.41).  The other 2 sets aren’t too bad too – 9472 Attack on Weathertop at $44.95 (reg.$59.99) and 9473 Mines of Moria for $71.95 (reg.$79.99).

BN Shipping Charges

• United States: FREE Shipping on orders above $25
• Canada: First Item $6.48, Additional Items $2.49 each
• International: First Item $12.98, Additional Items $5.49 each

Credits to Toys N Bricks for news about the LOTR sets, Brickset for the box pics and me for Googling the coupon code from HERE. 🙂

So that’s my little workaround to being peeved about delays in getting new sets.

LEGO Disney store re-opens

I spent one of my happiest holidays in Disney World, so looking at the pics gave me a good vibe. Wish I can go and see the new store, but I’ll have to make do with some pics unfortunately…

The Lego Imagination Center in Downtown Disney has quietly reopened after closing in February and temporarily relocating to Island Charter’s former location. One of the original retailers at Downtown Disney that opened in 2001, the store was renovated and now reflects much more Disney flavor, especially outside. “As this store is over 10 years old, we felt it was time for a complete refresh and redesign,” said Amanda Santoro, spokeswoman at Lego Systems Inc.

The changes include:

• New Disney-themed outdoor scenes featuring characters such as Buzz Lightyear and Woody with RC; Belle in minifigure style, the Beast, Lumiere and Cogsworth; and Prince Phillip in minifigure style, his horse Samson, and Maleficent as a dragon.
• Indoor suspended scene featuring Aladdin and Jasmine in minifigure style, the Genie and the magic carpet.
• A relocated and bigger Pick a Brick wall.
• A new upper level with play areas.
• A new outside play area with a racing feature.
• Digital Box, an interactive kiosk that enables shoppers to see an assembled product on a screen.

The store will hold grand reopening events on Memorial Day weekend. “We’re doing a large scale community build – building the Lego Store mascot Brickley – and Disney is fully involved in the planning,” Santoro said.

More here: http://retail.ocregister.com/2012/05/16/lego-store-shows-off-remodel-at-downtown-disney/71734/

And here: http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2012/05/16/remodeled-lego-store-reopens-at-downtown-disney/112968/

In the mood for… LEGO lamps

Came across the Lygolamp by Mango Studio and thought to have a look at the choices out there for LEGO fans.  You could DIY of course, but for lazy AFOLs (like me), it’s always good to have ready made options available.

• Mango Studio’s Lygo Lamp –  supposed to hit stores this August and will available in 5 colours, including white, black, transparent, red transparent and purple transparent.  Strips appears to be a choice too.  The lamp is delivered flat packed and assembly is required to turn the 144 LYGO blocks into the completed lamp that measures 50 centimeters in diameter, with a 1.6m cord and that will take a standard E27 bulb (max 60 watt). Read more from Lygolamp.

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• 25togo’s LED illuminated acrylic brick – looks just like a giant sized LEGO brick on your study desk or bedside table, and doubles up as a pen holder via the removable top piece.  Available via 25togo’s online shop, for NT1600 (approximately USD54 USD). 3 levels of brightness. Dimensions: L 15cm W 10cm D 6cm x 2 piece (top and bottom)

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• Luxit’s Top Four and Ten range of lights – Less brick-like but obviously LEGO inspired.  The LED lights designed by Alberto Basaglia and Natalia Roat Nodari are available in all sorts of wall/floor/ceiling/table sizes, colors and configuration.

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• John Harrington‘s LEGO chandelier – Ok, so this one isn’t really available for sale, but I couldn’t resist a chandelier… The one room hotel, The Harrington is located in a Victorian-era building in Brighton. The LEGO chandelier is supposed to suit the setting, yet give the “youth and vigor” of a contemporary clientele.

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As for me, I’m a lazy AFOL, so it’s just this Darth Vader LED desk lamp at home…

Second edition of the LEGO Collector’s Guide

Is finally confirmed for release on 1 July 2011 according to an email I got from Fantasia Verlag.

Singapore: POTC & Cars retail prices

Prices thanks to Ultramanbc who shared them on the local S0937 forum.  Couldn’t find all the USA MSRP for comparison tho, so if you have the prices drop me a comment k?

I’ll skip my usual rant… you can see the diff yourself.  Take note that I’m using FX @ 1.3.  It should be 1.25 or thereabouts, which means the diff is actually bigger.