Disney Princess 2014 Rumors & Discussion

[TheBrickPal]

Nobody cares what you buy it's all in your head. It could be for your daughter or niece. If you're embarrassed mumble something about a birthday party you have to go to.

More then likely all they care about is when the next break is.

I'll admit I was a little embarrassed to be buying Friends sets in store, but after the first time I got over it. I know why I'm buying it and if other people don't understand than that's their own hangup. And most people probably aren't going to question it, and I'd say that the people who do notice will think you're buying it for someone else (I've been mistaken as a parent before, so I get the impression some people just think I'm buying toys for some imaginary kid I don't have). Honestly if you just walk confidently, head held high, than most people won't think much anything about you.

Who is watching and caring what you purchase in the stores? Also, you could order online and have it shipped to your door if you were afraid of gossip.

All of you have very good points. Unfortunately, my budget simply cannot afford any of these Princess sets. I already am collecting Ninjago, The LEGO Movie, and Mixels this year, with plans for Chima and Ultra Agents. I guess this will just have to wait.

I get asked every time if I need a gift receipt. I say "no, they're for me" I love the looks they give me.

Haha! I'd love to see what that is like.

[Gryphon Ink]

I bought Rapunzel's tower today, and I must say it's a nice little dollhouse. The minis, including Pascal, are very cool, even if it is a little odd that they have the generic minidoll faces. Pascal is also not exactly in line with his movie appearance, and I suspect there is going to be a Friends Animal set featuring a recolored Pascal somewhere down the line.

The construction is not terribly interesting, but it's about on par with similarly sized Castle sets. The furnishings are nicely built, and there are a LOT of nifty parts here. My daughter had a blast building it with me and immediately launched a whole storyline only tangentially related to the movie Tangled.

Overall it doesn't scream "licensed Disney product" and would make a cool addition to any generic fairy tale layout. it would even go with a regular Castle layout if you switched out the pink plates.

I've got my eye on a couple of the other sets now. I'm just trying to convince myself that a pink rowboat could come in handy someday, because there are some really nice parts in that Enchanted Kiss set.

[Cult_Of_Skaro]

About these sets: the designs are lovely, and I'm sure little girls are already loving them. However, I would never be caught buying Rapunzel's Tower of Creativity for the great parts and look. And dat Pascal. How can I casually purchase this without attracting any unwanted attention? I have the same problem with Friends. Great parts packs for MOCs, but how can I obtain them without making a fool of myself?

Online shopping, mate. The way of the future.

[gedren_y]

<snip>

Pascal is also not exactly in line with his movie appearance, and I suspect there is going to be a Friends Animal set featuring a recolored Pascal somewhere down the line.

<snip>

He's in the upcoming Friends Jungle set, but this time he is part purple. Link to pic.

[Dorayaki]

I'll admit I was a little embarrassed to be buying Friends sets in store, but after the first time I got over it. I know why I'm buying it and if other people don't understand than that's their own hangup. And most people probably aren't going to question it, and I'd say that the people who do notice will think you're buying it for someone else (I've been mistaken as a parent before, so I get the impression some people just think I'm buying toys for some imaginary kid I don't have). Honestly if you just walk confidently, head held high, than most people won't think much anything about you.

Not sure what can embarass you. You're just buying Lego unless you'd feel embarrassed for buying any brick toys. That's why it's good to see Lego making Disney licenses.

[strangely]

Not sure what can embarass you. You're just buying Lego unless you'd feel embarrassed for buying any brick toys. That's why it's good to see Lego making Disney licenses.

Buying Lego in itself isn't embarrassing, but I felt somewhat embarrassed being a 21 year old man walking into the girls toy aisle (Which is where Friends and Disney is located in store). But I got over it after the first time and it's really not a big deal. I was just saying to another user that it's only embarrassing at first, but once you do it you realize it's not a big deal.

[Dorayaki]

Buying Lego in itself isn't embarrassing, but I felt somewhat embarrassed being a 21 year old man walking into the girls toy aisle (Which is where Friends and Disney is located in store). But I got over it after the first time and it's really not a big deal. I was just saying to another user that it's only embarrassing at first, but once you do it you realize it's not a big deal.

Well in my local retailers and ToyRUs, products are majorly classified by brands and types before targeted consumers, so I don't have that experience. Maybe I can imagine you're a big guy and fear of being charged with abduction. Simply judging from the toys, I don't think you must be ashamed of choosing Lego products in front of people. Guys having interests in really girly toys like Barbie is another story, though I don't think that's a shame too.

Sometimes I do wonder if TLC themselves have thoughts about this, like the Friends and TLM conflict example. But for Disney "princess's" they haven't been put together with other Disney themes since many of them were discontinued in different periods (it would be much like Infinity ). For now the princess's characters obviously target at girls, but I don't hope that the toys just totally target at girls. In a toy store I'd like to see them put somewhere visible and neutral

Edited March 3, 2014 by Dorayaki

[strangely]

Well in my local retailers and ToyRUs, products are majorly classified by brands and types before targeted consumers, so I don't have that experience.

Unfortunately literally all the stores in my area have toys separated by gender, even the Lego store.

[Maniac4Legos]

Today BrickStacker of YouTube and Instagram bought the Tangled polybag at Walmart for $3.98. See his Instagram for more info.

30116, 37 pieces, ages 5-12. Features a food cart with a croissant and the princess from Tangled. Not sure if different from the set.

Edited March 18, 2014 by Maniac4Legos

[skelliesgang]

Today BrickStacker of YouTube and Instagram bought the Tangled polybag at Walmart for $3.98. See his Instagram for more info.

30116, 37 pieces, ages 5-12. Features a food cart with a croissant and the princess from Tangled. Not sure if different from the set.

I purchased that set a week ago at Walmart in Las Vegas. They also has the new Friends Emma's flower stand polybag out if anyone is looking for it.

[Maniac4Legos]

I purchased that set a week ago at Walmart in Las Vegas. They also has the new Friends Emma's flower stand polybag out if anyone is looking for it.

Oh. So it's availability has already been known :( well thanks for the info! I might try I get to a walmart to collect these!

[Dorayaki]

Unfortunately literally all the stores in my area have toys separated by gender, even the Lego store.

Uh? Sorry I don't get that, do Lego stores sell Mattel and Hasbro toys?

[strangely]

Uh? Sorry I don't get that, do Lego stores sell Mattel and Hasbro toys?

No. I was saying that the brand doesn't matter, no matter what the toy is it's divided into sections by gender where I live. In my Lego store all of the girls products are put in one section (Just about any set that features pink bricks, Duplo included). Which all of the other licensed sets are in another section (Even being a licensed theme the Princesses just don't make the cut for that side of the store). It's the same at all stores in my area that sell toys, one side is pink, the other blue. Toysrus is the worst offender though, despite having a dedicated Lego section you have to walk to the other half of the store to find any Friends or Princess sets (Literally there's a line down the middle of the store that divides you between the pink and blue).

Edited March 19, 2014 by strangely

[Dorayaki]

No. I was saying that the brand doesn't matter, no matter what the toy is it's divided into sections by gender where I live. In my Lego store all of the girls products are put in one section (Just about any set that features pink bricks, Duplo included). Which all of the other licensed sets are in another section (Even being a licensed theme the Princesses just don't make the cut for that side of the store). It's the same at all stores in my area that sell toys, one side is pink, the other blue. Toysrus is the worst offender though, despite having a dedicated Lego section you have to walk to the other half of the store to find any Friends or Princess sets (Literally there's a line down the middle of the store that divides you between the pink and blue).

Well I meant that there is no other brands in Lego store so we don't even need to discuss whether girls' and boys' Lego are together or not. Even if they're put in different sections of one store, that can still be explained as "theme", not gender.

As said my local ToyRUs (and some other retailers) put all Lego brand products together. Maybe different area have different store arrangements and marketing strategies, if that's a truth I guess Asian kids are really lucky and open-minded. I'm against seperating Lego products by gender in a toy store since Lego should be neutral-oriented toys. This would be unable to encourage girls/boys to choose crosstheme Lego products.

The other possible classification (back to the topic) might be license: a Disney corner that includes the Lego Disney, Mattel Disney dolls and action figures. But it could be same for the DC/Marvel licensed toys.

Edited March 19, 2014 by Dorayaki

[Laura Beinbrech]

Strangely,

As a gender-nonconforming (and somewhat gender fluid) man, I personally believe that dividing toys and such into "boys and girls" sections is part of the problem of continuing sexism and discrimination in society.

That said, when I was first coming to terms with being gender-nonconforming and deciding to be open about it, I just thought to myself, "gender norms and roles are artificial constructs and do not ultimately mean anything" over and over again, which got me over my initial embarrassment of shopping in the "girl" toy section. After the first few times, I realized that most people didn't even notice or care, so I just buy the friends and Disney Princess sets without thinking twice about it now. Just be confident.

Anyways, back on topic, My wife and I now have Ariel's Magic Kiss set (I've drafted Ariel and Eric into the Dophin Cruiser's crew ), Merida's Highland Games and 2 of Rapunzel's Tower of Creativity. Why 2 you ask? Well, the one thing that bothered me about the tower is the fact that it's basically just half a building (which is understandable from a pricing/marketing standpoint), so I decided to get a second set to combine with my wife's to make a full, hinged tower for her (with the understanding that all duplicate minidolls, accessories and parts are MINE!). I'm hoping to get at least one of the Cinderella sets (probably the carriage, due to both budgeting considerations, and those awesome, fancy wheels are just BEGGING to be made into some kind of cool vehicle) so that I can have at least one of each princess released thus far.

I'm hoping that they release sets with the other official princesses, especially Jasmine and Mulan (my favorite and the only Disney Princess with a body count )... Any word on if they are going to be releasing, say, a Merida polybag set or any other polybags at all?

[Itaria No Shintaku]

As a gender-nonconforming (and somewhat gender fluid) man, I personally believe that dividing toys and such into "boys and girls" sections is part of the problem of continuing sexism and discrimination in society.

I believe in the opposite. I firmly believe that flattening the gargantuan differences that biologically exist between woman and man, THAT is an artificial construct of this society. Women and men have different skills, different brains, thus they are addressed to different products. Society is leaning towards something forcing all left-hand users to use the right hand to flatten diversity. There's some sort of global robotization of the human being, and nullifying differences between man and woman is part of the process.

[strangely]

Well I meant that there is no other brands in Lego store so we don't even need to discuss whether girls' and boys' Lego are together or not. Even if they're put in different sections of one store, that can still be explained as "theme", not gender.

My only problem with how the Lego store does it is that the Princess theme despite being a licensed theme doesn't get a section in the side of the store that has all the other licenses. And similarly the girl Duplo stuff isn't with the rest of the Duplo. I can understand why the Lego store puts it all together, but I don't think it should be that way. Though they rearrange the store once a year, so hopefully they reconsider how they group things.

Just be confident.

The same advice I gave a page ago. Like I said it stopped bothering me after the first Friends set I bought years ago.

Anyways back on topic I feel like Frozen sets are coming at some point. Looking at last years CMF's the Pretzel Girl's hair would be perfect for Anna, it also just so happens to be made out of the same soft plastic as the other Friends hairpieces. Plus Princess Leia's hairpiece showed up in a CMF before an actual set, so there is some precedent.

[robuko]

On the gender separation of Lego discussion, my view is that it's probably a good thing. Girls and their parents are unlikely to shop the blue aisle, so putting them in the pink aisle =higher unit sales, which means TLG can justify new moulds and colours. That's a good thing. Lego does not control the way retailers arrange their stores, or the way that people shop. I can understand why male AFOLs disagree with it and why there are social construct of gender type objections, but I am just happy we get these nice new parts, and some of that is realistically because they are in the pink aisle.

To anyone who is shy about buying girl sets, don't be. Families have younger sisters, neices etc to buy presents for. Shop staff don't care and are not judging you. Mostly....

Back on topic, the Disney Princess sets seem unreasonably expensive to me in HK compared to other sets, and so I haven't bought any yet. Are they bad value for money in other countries?

Edited March 19, 2014 by robuko

[Laura Beinbrech]

Back on topic, the Disney Princess sets seem unreasonably expensive to me in HK compared to other sets, and so I haven't bought any yet. Are they bad value for money in other countries?

Well, they seem to be on about the same price per piece count point as the LEGO Friends line, at least in the US, so I'd say that they're a fairly good value for what you're getting over here...

Edited March 19, 2014 by Hikaro Takayama

[Dorayaki]

That said, when I was first coming to terms with being gender-nonconforming and deciding to be open about it, I just thought to myself, "gender norms and roles are artificial constructs and do not ultimately mean anything" over and over again, which got me over my initial embarrassment of shopping in the "girl" toy section. After the first few times, I realized that most people didn't even notice or care, so I just buy the friends and Disney Princess sets without thinking twice about it now. Just be confident.

Same for me. Kids that crazily press the arcade game buttons outside the store ususally draw mcuh more attractions than those who just silently wander and look.

My only problem with how the Lego store does it is that the Princess theme despite being a licensed theme doesn't get a section in the side of the store that has all the other licenses. And similarly the girl Duplo stuff isn't with the rest of the Duplo. I can understand why the Lego store puts it all together, but I don't think it should be that way. Though they rearrange the store once a year, so hopefully they reconsider how they group things.

Anyways back on topic I feel like Frozen sets are coming at some point. Looking at last years CMF's the Pretzel Girl's hair would be perfect for Anna, it also just so happens to be made out of the same soft plastic as the other Friends hairpieces. Plus Princess Leia's hairpiece showed up in a CMF before an actual set, so there is some precedent.

I know what you mean, it's more like sorting by gender rather than themes. But if the target is to make kids look at "Lego", I guess the chance would be little that girls don't take a look at the opposite aisle that isn't pink/violet, though it's indeed a problem for Duplo.

My doubt is why Frozen wasn't considered a movie-hit product just like Lone Ranger. This makes me more worry about the next step of this theme if Disney still doesn't decide to have further cooperation.

On the gender separation of Lego discussion, my view is that it's probably a good thing. Girls and their parents are unlikely to shop the blue aisle, so putting them in the pink aisle =higher unit sales, which means TLG can justify new moulds and colours. That's a good thing. Lego does not control the way retailers arrange their stores, or the way that people shop. I can understand why male AFOLs disagree with it and why there are social construct of gender type objections, but I am just happy we get these nice new parts, and some of that is realistically because they are in the pink aisle.

Well we know that it's not TLC's duty. I disagree this doing since it neglects the possibilities that girls/boys are able to take a look at other Lego products which are not targeted at themselves. It's more like a negative presupposition of discrimination in society. I still support the idea that there should be an independent/neutral area for Lego toys.

Edited March 20, 2014 by Dorayaki

[BlueberryWaffles]

Everyone is arguing bout stuff and I'm just sitting here waiting for when Elsa and Anna become Disney Princesses so we can get a Frozen set.

[Itaria No Shintaku]

Well we know that it's not TLC's duty. I disagree this doing since it neglects the possibilities that girls/boys are able to take a look at other Lego products which are not targeted at themselves. It's more like a negative presupposition of discrimination in society. I still support the idea that there should be an independent/neutral area for Lego toys.

Actually this has brought a lot of girls into the Lego products that wouldn't have otherwise.

[Dorayaki]

Actually this has brought a lot of girls into the Lego products that wouldn't have otherwise.

Well, depends on which part. Disney series is an introduction for girls who are interested in famous Disney fantasies. Perhaps same for boys who were just fans of Superhero of a Lego TV show at first. The ultimate goal is still to encourage kids to buy more be interested in more brick toys.

sitting here waiting for when Elsa and Anna become Disney Princesses so we can get a Frozen set.

Sorry, your statement sounds kinda weird? As usual the only requirement of license is the agreement between Lego and the owners.

Edited March 20, 2014 by Dorayaki

[Itaria No Shintaku]

Well, depends on which part. Disney series is an introduction for girls who are interested in famous Disney fantasies. Perhaps same for boys who were just fans of Superhero of a Lego TV show at first. The ultimate goal is still to encourage kids to buy more be interested in more brick toys.

No it doesn't depend. Market sales are data. They sold a lot, and more girls are now into Lego due to this gender-oriented toys.

[gedren_y]

As it has been stated before, Disney Princesses is a separate brand, and as a result requires a separate license. There are certain requirements set by Disney that a character has to meet to be included in the Disney Princesses line. Also any toys based on this line have to meet certain criteria.

Now if Maleficent becomes a major hit, it is possible we will see a Disney Villains line some time in the future. This possibility is slim, but there.

As to the marketing and shelving of Lego: I have seen different strategies. I won't bother to go into details, though, as this discussion deserves its own thread. If there isn't one already in the LEGO General Discussion and News forum I'd be surprised, as that is where this discussion belongs.