Due to the success of the last few years, Lego is releasing a greater number of their Lego Advent Calendar 2011 sets and parents also have a surprise option when it comes to the Lego themes represented.
Whereas in the past Lego have produced both a generic/City Advent Calendar and one based on their own in-house themes, in 2011 they have decided to produce a set based around their most popular licensed theme – Star Wars.
The Star Wars Advent Calendar is bound to be a bit hit with Lego and Star Wars fans alike, and not just because of the exclusive figure. The franchise continues to grow in strength and it has proven to be a highly successful partnership for The Lego Group.
Update – Lego have started releasing this set in Mid-August!
Update 2 – Star Wars Calendar is sold out (back again!)
So before you buy, what exactly do you get in a Lego Advent Calendar?
Lego Advent Calendar 2011 Sets
The cool thing about Lego is that when you buy a set, you know exactly what you are getting and Advent calendars are no different.
With a generic store bought Advent Calendar you often have no idea what is behind all those little windows – it could be an heirloom-quality gift your kids will treasure, handing it down to their own children.
Or it could be a pile of junk that breaks apart after two minutes…
Lego is upfront about what is inside their Lego Advent Calendar 2011 sets and as a parent, that makes my choice easier.
Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar 2011 (Set 7958)
The Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar 2011 features:
- 24 different LEGO Star Wars-themed gifts
- 8 minifigures including Nute Gunray, Chewbacca, Clone Trooper and an exclusive Yoda in Santa Claus outfit
- Also includes mini Millennium Falcon and X-wing Starfighter.
- A total of 266 pieces
- Retails for $39.99
City Lego Advent Calendar 2011 (Set 7553)
The City Lego Advent Calendar 2011 Features:- 6 minifigures (2 police men, 2 robbers, 1 fisher and 1 Santa Claus)
- Build larger models using bricks from three different gift days
- Includes 2 cool snowmobiles, a police dog, a Christmas tree, a mini police station and much more
- A total of 232 pieces
- Retails for $34.99
Lego Advent Calendar 2011 Availablility
The Lego Advent Calendars are hard to come by, I don’t think I have ever seen one in a store, and I am always searching for Lego!
I am ordering my calendar through Amazon because they offer free shipping and a great returns/customer service center (they also have another Lego Advent Calendar listed from a previous year which you can check out if either of the above options don’t suit).
Prices are fairly simliar at other places that offer the sets, and you won’t find to many stores selling these on discount as they are limited editions and often sell out.
So what do you think of the Lego Advent Calendar 2011 sets – Are you going to have them as part of your family tradition this holiday season?
I saw the Star Wars advent calendar at a toy trade fair in January and loved it. I normally prefer Playmobil advent calendars because you can re-use them from year to year – can’t see how it’s practical to keep a Lego one with all the little bits for more than one season. But little Yoda Santa is so cute! I will have to get one for me and (maybe) let the kids play with it a bit.
Hi Joanne
Yes there is no way my Lego Advent calendar could be used in another year, unless we made our own models for the next year. Yoda is cute isn’t he :0) Would love to see some more Christmas themed figures.
Cheers
Inger
We started last year with the Lego Advent calendar, but at that time I was unaware of how popular they are. I saw them at Toys R Us and figured to wait and buy them, so ended up having to order from Amazon. As of writing this, my Toys R Us has several of both in stock, at the prices listed above. (Minus the ones I bought today, of course. :))
The City 2011 calendar doesn’t seem as family-friendly as last year’s version. There are no children figures. I am also stumped by the cops-and-robbers theme.
Star Wars is Star Wars so it will be good, I am sure.
Hi Sharon
I agree. I think the Lego City Calendar was a bit hit-and-miss this year.
The idea of creating a bigger structure over several days didn’t impress me much.
It seems to defeat the purpose of an Advent calendar in my mind.
Hope you enjoy your Star Wars one :0)
The Yoda figure is pretty cute!
Cheers
Inger
Oh this is going to be a bit of a decision.
Obviously the cops and robbers theme is a subtle dig at the retailers and how Christmas can feel like robbery? And yeah wondering about the mutli-day aspect of building a larger structure. Though my boy is besotted with the city theme, so that choice seems to be forgone.
On the other hand the Star Wars looks awesome, perhaps one for me and one for my son 😀
LOL
I like the way you are thinking 🙂
Just maybe don’t mention the whole “retailers as robbers” thing to the store manager as you go to buy those 2 SW Advent Calendars
Cheers
Inger
What a fun site. My grandkids have a ton of old LEGOs and keep getting more -so I’ve signed up for your emails and shared you on G+ 🙂 Have a blessed week.
Thanks Kaye
Sounds like you are doing some amazing work on your blog.
What a wonderful gift to the world.
Cheers
Inger
Just a note to say that I’ve found both Advent Calendars at Target, WalMart, and various other retail establishments. I have the Lego City Advent Calendar, and I’m enjoying the anticipation of the complete scenes that I’ll have on Christmas Eve. 😉
Sorry to reply to myself…
Considering that most of the LEGO City theme seems to center around the police, and fire stations, I think the theme is pretty entertaining. If you have houses in your City, you can place the burglars trying to “steal Christmas” (a common theme in Christmas movies nowadays), and the City police catching the crooks and throwing them in jail. The little fisherman can be a lookout, or a snitch, and Santa’s busy delivering toys, and giving treats to pets! 🙂 Perhaps a little over the head of the little ones, but I think suggesting the idea that the local police are there to protect Christmas isn’t a bad idea.
Thank you for your blog! I’ve added a LEGO section to mine listed above just to show my Lego collectibles, and vintage sets from the 60’s and 70’s. I will be visiting here a lot, and PLEASE don’t take this as a plug for my site. I don’t do anything more than just put pictures of old sets as I rebuild them, and comment on them. This place is far more interesting! I never like when people advertise on my site, so I hope I’m not doing that.
Merry Christmas everyone!