Wizarding World 2024 - Rumors & Discussion

[Legofan04]

4 hours ago, BacktoBricks said:

So that being said all I can think is that like you say they want to keep that McGonagall exclusive to the Boathouse and / or cut costs by putting one new printed torso in this set with her robe closing at the waist so they don't have to put in the printed skirt.

I'm hoping the summer wave has got the budget for figures which is why this January wave is using endless student repeats and seems to be cutting corners elsewhere.

 

Interesting I didn't notice that about robes closing at the waist. Thanks for pointing that out and agreed about hoping the summer sets have the figure budget.

 

4 hours ago, brickbride said:

I also don't get who exactly the new modular system is meant for. Yes, it allows more space for play than the previous one, but it's also ridiculously expensive. I don't know many kids with that kind of budget even for large gifts! And it's such a weird mixture of display and storage, like, why do the slide-in modules have to be enclosed, why can't they have a plate at the bottom and an open wall so they at least have some display value as well?

They are trying to enlose the slide-in modules that are sold separately as Lego wants to give those sets a feeling of being complete. Not to say that the particular strategy always works although it it did with potions. However, potions feels far more complete - with all the interior details- than the charms classroom.

 

4 hours ago, Virginia_Bricks said:

And the new wave is clearly mixing AFOL desires with playsets for kids desires. Feels very similar to Star Wars which releases $150-200 playsets regularly that a kid can save up allowance for and an AFOL would enjoy having

Couldn't have said this better. These sets try to offer the best of best worlds and imo it works pretty well. 

I wasn't into lego when the original sets came out and when I pictured a return of the theme I envisioned sets more in line with this system: sets that were movie accurate and more scene specific.  As great as the 2018-2020 sets were they didn't really offer this. The interiors, besides being overly cramped, tried to cover too broad of a range of things. It all had issues of rooms being too empty ( great hall tower and clock tower DADA classroom come to mind) and weren't scaled well. I think the inferior 2021-2023 castle system and the excitement over the  the themes return have resulted in the 2018-2020 sets being put on  pedestal. Might be a hot take though.

[Jaromir]

On the official Lego store website, there is a picture that Charms Classroom set can be slided in the Great Hall set.

[VinnieCannoli]

Strange to see that people are upset about this new detailed Hogwarts as an idea. I personally think it's amazing. Honestly it's one of my main Lego-interests at this point. Veeery curious to see the finished hogwarts. I see it as an openworld game with a ton of unlockable characters but on my table. 

I've been seeing Harry Potter lego sets since the very first wave but never tried to get into the theme despite being a movie and books fan. But I always dreamed about a very big doll house-like Hogwarts with an insane amount of characters and sets coming with it.

I know we got "modular hogwarts" already but...I honestly think that lego used those previous waves as a training ground to experiment with an idea of a modular Hogwarts and decided to go big this time after seeing what they can do.

With these newest waves we get:

- 1 huge part of Hogwarts for each year (the main "dollhouse" part). And if you complain about it being expensive - I bought The Great Hall on amazon for 140 euros. Just wait. Don't fomo. It's your fault if you get it for 200 eur and feel bad about that - literally every lego set hits an affordable price point on Amazon. Aragog was 14 eur. Ford Anglia was 10 eur and Boathouse hit 27 eur eventually. (i mean...if you complaining about this thing being too expensive. Because after reading lego-reddit i sometimes think that every Lego collector other than me is a billionaire )
- Smaller "support" buildings just to enrich the playset (owlery, flying lessons, etc.) and add more minifigures.
- Even smaller and cheaper sets that work as pieces and characters/props packs.

You are doing it wrong complaining about 1 set of this wave thinking that Transfiguration Class is too simplostic. It's just 1 small piece of a bigger picture. I'm sure it will be amazing in the end after ~3 years of these waves. At this point we have just The Great Hall. I would not recomment counting other cheaper/smaller sets of this wave as something worth being judged without seeing the next "main building.

Also didn't we get a bigger transfiguration class not so long ago? (76382). Just buy that one if you want it as a playset. This one is a small room in a bigger building (like a beehive with swappable honeycombs, haha). It supposed to be unfold to play with it on a table and then slide it back when you done with it.

Sets like Christmas Calendar supposed to work as item packs that give you some stuff to play with (fireplace, additional tables, etc).

PPS:

I absolutely dislike "afol" sets. I'm so happy these "detailed hogwarts" sets look like they were meant for kids or people that like to have fun with lego, but at the same time they all are a part of a much more expensive (imagine how all that stuff will cost together as a collection after 3 years of waves?) and detailed building. It's an interesting mix of "fun" and "afol". 

PPPS:What i would be complaining about if i was an "afol" - the Malfoy Manor. Why is it so simplistic? It's just a facade, there is no room for anything. And it has a ___toilet room___ that could be used for something much better that represents parts of a Malfoy Manor (honestly! That toilet room bothers me and makes me associate the Malfoy Manor with Hidden Side...I feel like toilet ghosts can be seen coming out of it at any moment!). Yet many afols went nuts and excited over that set... Personally to me Malfoy Manor is the second disappointment after that weird Hagrid on a Motorbike from revealed sets.

[mark1991t]

5 hours ago, Huigberts Builds said:

 Also Borgin feels slightly out of place without his actual shop

The greenish building on the right of Gringotts, should be Borgin & Burkes. In the 360-view on shop@home you can easily see the otherside of the building which looks exactly like it. Also the vanishing cabinet is inside (grey).

Wiseacres is the shop on the right of Olivanders. It even has a 'w' on the front. The layout is mostley based on halfblood prince as seen also in the studio in London.

Edited December 2, 2024 by mark1991t

[Black Falcon]

20 hours ago, Clone OPatra said:

Ooh the Flying Lesson set is paradoxically one where I actually like the build a lot but don't care about the figures one bit!

I guess you are not the only one, when I saw the building I was really surprised in a positive way. The minifigures however are nothing special, The three kids were expected and fine as they are, Hooch looks good so far, and the inclusion of Wood and McGonagall are actually surprising, but those two are also the two figures that are lacking the most. I can actually live with minifigure legs that are plain in many cases, but plain skirt pieces always look awfull to me. 

 

15 hours ago, Huigberts Builds said:

Hmmmm, don't know how I feel about the final 2 sets.

For the Flying Lesson I think the exterior is absolute excellent, it looks great, it kinda feels like they combined the previous flying lesson with the 2018 Whomping Willow set. I'm sure it will look great combined with the other sets. But the interior really isn't my cup of tea. The smaller office and trophy room are fine, but the other 2 rooms feel a bit claustrophobic and very undetailed. I was hoping for all the classes to be as detailed as the potions class, which was such a huge upgrade from the one before. But both transfiguration and Charms really aren't that. Charms is even closed when displayed, I mean so was Potions, but at least there it made somewhat sense, here the arches will look awful if it has this huge brick of a class stored inside. The rooms feel more like storage containers than actual display pieces. And the figures really aren't great either, McGonagall is probably the worst one we've ever received, including the ones pre 2018, which is a huge downgrade considering the one right before it was the absolute best. The others are nothing special either, Oliver Wood is alright though.

Well I see your point and would partly agree with it but on the other side, the included rooms kinda have to be quite basic if they are just made to be replaced and are just fillers so it doesn´t look empty - and at the same time still work to play with if the other rooms to include in them aren´t bought.

10 hours ago, THELEGOBATMAN said:

I'm sorry, but this sounds super dumb from a practical point of view.

If I buy a set, I want to display all of it—I don't want to hide parts of it in my shelves just because the designers didn't think of a way to make all of it displayable.

Well, I guess if you want to display it, you would display the front in most cases and you won´t see the interior anyways though ;) From a kids point of view I think the new system is great though, since you can put the rooms away and save space, and get a lot more room to actually play with them, than in the previous system. The only thing I don´t like from that point of view is that you always will have to many rooms and not enough space for them.

6 hours ago, brickbride said:

- small blue unidentified building, possibly Wiseacre's? Your guess is as good as mine. I cannot identify the interior either. It has a decorative gray owl outside.

Pretty sure that this one is Eeylops. The two tan "Z-Blops" are Owls, same as the white one in the leaky Cauldron is supposed Hedwig.

 

[Lego Nostalgia]

If lego makes a buildable Bellatrix, I will do unspeakable things to it

I can fix her

oops sorry guys, must be under a spell

[Legofan04]

1 hour ago, Jaromir said:

On the official Lego store website, there is a picture that Charms Classroom set can be slided in the Great Hall set.

Interesting that it can be placed there given that charms doesn't take place in the dungeon/ sub levels. I guess Lego is trying to emphasize how it can be placed inside of the current released sets.

Looking at the pictures of the website I'm curious about whether the Dueling Club's fire place can be put in the great hall. The pictures- when it's put inside- don't show the inclusion of the fireplace. Can it be put in the great hall. 

With better pictures of the Knight  Bus, I'm not sure how to feel about it. I like  the inclusion of the sleeping witch and the surrounding scenery. It would make the set feel more complete if it wasn't for the seeming absence of the Dre Head. Speaking of heads, is Stan's head new? As tho the build of the bus I love the back with the steps and the curved pieces make it feel more rounded. It's odd though as the front seems a lot flatter. It still includes a chandelier  but doesn't open up from the side. Personally i like this change as the side was always slinging open on the 2019 model

[Ferder]

1 hour ago, Legofan04 said:

Interesting that it can be placed there given that charms doesn't take place in the dungeon/ sub levels. I guess Lego is trying to emphasize how it can be placed inside of the current released sets.

Flying Lesson set has an image of the Charm's Class fitting inside too, for a more accurate placement. 

[Accio Lego]

3 hours ago, Black Falcon said:

Pretty sure that this one is Eeylops. The two tan "Z-Blops" are Owls, same as the white one in the leaky Cauldron is supposed Hedwig.

 

I mean… it also has an unprinted light grey little owl on the front as a figural sign, the same way the Magical Menagerie has a kitten. I feel that’s a more obvious indicator that it’s Eeylops. 

[brickbride]

Thanks for the help, @mark1991tand @Black Falconand @Accio Lego! I've edited my earlier post in order to include your findings.

So to recap, the microscale Diagon Alley seems to consist of:

Left side: Leaky Cauldron with the Knight Bus, Magical Menagerie (available as part of the Gringotts D2C set), Madam Malkin's (available as a playset with Ollivander's), QQS (available as part of the 2020 D2C set), Eeyelops, Fountain of Fair Fortune? (or apothecary, possibly Slug and Jigger's or Mulpepper's, according to @Accio Lego), Sugarplum's?, Borgin and Burke's (has not been available as part of a larger set since 2011, though there was the recent floo GWP)

Middle: Gringotts (available as a D2C set)

Right side: Owl Post Office? (available as a playset with WWW), Scribbulus (availale as part of the 2020 D2C set), Ollivander's (available as a playset with Madam Malkin's and also as part of the 2020 D2C set), Wiseacre's, Fortescue's (available as part of the 2020 D2C set), Flourish and Blotts (available as part of the 2020 D2C set), entrance to Knockturn Alley (available as part of the 2020 D2C set and also: This doesn't correspond with Borgin and Burke's location at all!), WWW (available as a playset with the Owl Post Office and also as part of the 2020 D2C set)

So the following sets are included but not available in a larger version: Leaky Cauldron, Eeyelops, Fountain of Fair Fortune?, Sugarplum's?, Borgin and Burke's, Wiseacre's

In addition, the following have not been made into playsets: Magical Menagerie, QQS, Gringotts, Scribbulus, Fortescue's, Flourish and Blotts, entrance to Knockturn Alley

Honestly, I'd be surprised if we got any of the missing sets as playsets anytime soon, with the exception of Borgin and Burke's and possibly (but not that likely given that it's a pub) the Leaky Cauldron. (Though I'd find it sort of hilarious if LEGO balked at making a pub but happily gave us a shop selling dark artefacts, including but not limited to a murderer's cut-off hand, instead.) The other four have no iconic scenes taking place there (granted, neither had the Owl Post Office, so we cannot completely rule them out). Flourish and Blotts has the Lockhart book signing so I'd expect them to get around to that sometime soon (if they even continue with the series - I'd not be surprised if they wouldn't), same with Gringotts. And most of the others from the D2C sets with the exception of Scribbulus at least have interesting wares to offer (Magical Menagerie - animals, QQS - Quidditch stuff, Fortescue's - LEGO love their cafés) so they'd make good side builds despite their lack of plot relevance.

Also I still have no idea what the actual scale of the microscale Diagon Alley is supposed to be. Like, why are the owls "Z-Blob" pieces but the frog is an actual, minifig-scale frog?

Edited just now by brickbride

 

Edited December 3, 2024 by brickbride

[Accio Lego]

22 minutes ago, brickbride said:

Left side: Leaky Cauldron with the Knight Bus, Magical Menagerie (available as part of the Gringotts D2C set), Madam Malkin's (available as a playset with Ollivander's), QQS (available as part of the 2020 D2C set), Eeyelops, Fountain of Fair Fortune?, Sugarplum's?, Borgin and Burke's (has not been available as part of a larger set since 2011, though there was the recent floo GWP)

I believe the shop you’ve identified as Fountain of Fair Fortune is actually an apothecary. It has a golden leaf part as signage and other plant elements such as the recently introduced tulips as a rooftop garden and the flower shaped studs on a wall of the ground floor. The Fountain of Fair Fortune, on the other hand, is a fast serve beverage store exclusively designed for the theme parks (thus never appearing in the books or movies). Potential candidates for a proper name for the Apothecary would be Slug and Jigger’s or Mr. Mulpepper’s.  

[Clone OPatra]

59 minutes ago, brickbride said:

Like, why are the owls "Z-Blob" pieces but the frog is an actual, minifig-scale frog?

Frogs are like an in joke with designers at this point, especially in the Harry Potter theme. They use them as much as they can.

[brickbride]

@Accio LegoYou may be right! The unicorn horn kind of makes sense that way as well (but only kind of, since if it represents an actual horn it's way oversized for the scale). I really think they chose poorly trying to do DA shop interiors in miniscale, given that they cannot go below 1x1 stud pieces and given that most of the shops' wares are already small even in minifig-scale. The exteriors are fine, but the interiors seem severely lacking to me. For the first time ever, I'm kind of wishing LEGO had limited themselves to exteriors on this one.

[Accio Lego]

3 minutes ago, Clone OPatra said:

Frogs are like an in joke with designers at this point, especially in the Harry Potter theme. They use them as much as they can.

There’s also the fact that it’s magenta (pinkish purple) and giant purple toads are an established thing in the Harry Potter universe. They’re mentioned as being in the Magical Menagerie in the PoA book and several video games have subsequently included them. 

[brickbride]

1 hour ago, Accio Lego said:

There’s also the fact that it’s magenta (pinkish purple) and giant purple toads are an established thing in the Harry Potter universe.

Yes. They're called Umbridge. Though, no, she's actually referred to as a pink toad. ;-)

Edited December 3, 2024 by brickbride

[MaxHeadroom]

13 hours ago, VinnieCannoli said:

I bought The Great Hall on amazon for 140 euros. Just wait. Don't fomo. It's your fault if you get it for 200 eur and feel bad about that - literally every lego set hits an affordable price point on Amazon.

So far the Great Hall has never gone on sale anywhere in the US AFAIK

[BacktoBricks]

I take it Wood's jumper in the Flying Lesson set is a new torso print and not a reuse from another theme since it matches his film outfit?

I love how Hooch is patting Neville's head in the minifigure image too. 

Although at this rate I'm starting to think Umbridge might have been correct in thinking Dumbledore was starting an army with the amount of Gryffindor students we're getting. Resistance is futile Malfoy.

[hunnybunny]

1 hour ago, MaxHeadroom said:

So far the Great Hall has never gone on sale anywhere in the US AFAIK

What is average price in US for Great Hall?

Few days ago I got lucky and picked up Great Hall for 130 euro from Lithuanian eshop on time limited deal.

I have got so many great deals thanks to website which tracks prices of all local eshops and you can subscribe for notification if price drops somewhere below your set threshold. 

[MaxHeadroom]

35 minutes ago, hunnybunny said:

What is average price in US for Great Hall?

Retail price which is $200 (190 euro), although I’ve occasionally even seen Amazon selling it for above that retail price. I have never seen it below that retail price and I’m regularly watching Amazon and places like the Lego deals Reddit. If I could get that set for $150 (euro or dollars) I’d buy it in an instant but in the meantime I’m still waiting. 

[MaxHeadroom]

Honestly I like this new castle setup with interiors available separately. It means we get to have more detailed interiors while still keeping prices down on the main exterior sets, which is incredibly useful for all the people who are mainly only into the exteriors. Plus kids who just want to get some smaller rooms to play with benefit too.The interiors they do include are easy to dispose of but even then they’re not that much worse than what we’ve seen in the past. I think a lot of you have forgotten just how awful the 2021-23 interiors were half the time because it’s not just the forbidden corridor. Sirius Black’s Escape and the Battle of Hogwarts were practically empty room battle packs and most of the sets came with at least one or two modules of stuff like a random sink. The last flying lesson had a room which was just one barrel of brooms on a grated floor, I’ll gladly take the shelf of bats and balls on a complete floor over that. 

My only issue is that while the potions class was solid, our other interior set is pretty poor! Not every set needs to have four walls blocking the view in the castle and they should never require the set to be unfolded out of the castle for the furniture to look decent. 

[BrickMatit]

1 hour ago, MaxHeadroom said:

Not every set needs to have four walls blocking the view in the castle and they should never require the set to be unfolded out of the castle for the furniture to look decent.

That's, in my opinion, the main issue. If every alternative set would appear as a wall or closed door when put into the castle, in the end the interior would have no display use, unless keeping the rooms that are already in the castle sections.

[Virginia_Bricks]

50 minutes ago, BrickMatit said:

That's, in my opinion, the main issue. If every alternative set would appear as a wall or closed door when put into the castle, in the end the interior would have no display use, unless keeping the rooms that are already in the castle sections.

Its a hard line for Lego Designers to walk. If you remove one wall, the set on its own seems lacking. But with the extra wall when added to the main framework it hides the beauty.

While sets should not require MOCing to be worthwhile, the good thing is at least for Potions removing the entrance wall is easy. We will see on Charms

[hunnybunny]

54 minutes ago, BrickMatit said:

That's, in my opinion, the main issue. If every alternative set would appear as a wall or closed door when put into the castle, in the end the interior would have no display use, unless keeping the rooms that are already in the castle sections.

I am already thinking about final design of my castle and I come to a conclusion that I will want these rooms open and I will want to keep (and improve) original rooms that come with larger sets too. I will simply add and extra layer of dungeons where I will stash everything extra. 

[BrickMatit]

6 minutes ago, Virginia_Bricks said:

Its a hard line for Lego Designers to walk. If you remove one wall, the set on its own seems lacking. But with the extra wall when added to the main framework it hides the beauty.

That's so true! But luckily enough MOC is not an impossible way 

3 minutes ago, hunnybunny said:

I will simply add and extra layer of dungeons where I will stash everything extra.

This really seem a good idea even for a more slender silhouette of the castle.

[karrit]

Looks to me like the newspaper in the Knight Bus is a sticker rather than a new print.  Very disappointing.