New Lego Disney Castle may be expensive, but good lord it's pretty

A new Lego Disney Castle modelled after the Walt Disney World icon will be arriving in July, bringing many hidden details with it.

Packing more than 4,000 pieces and eight minifigures based on some of the most popular Disney characters, this version is a major revamp of the Lego Disney Castle from 2016. Basically, it brings the model up to date with how Disney World looks now whilst adding new rooms inspired by iconic movies and a revamped outdoor area that's a little more realistic.

Although it's set to launch on July 4, members of the Lego VIP program (which is basically a free rewards scheme) will be able to get it early from July 1. Funnily enough, that's the same launch date as the Lego Hocus Pocus set. It'll clearly be a busy few days for Disney fans.

So far as costs go, this take on the Lego Disney Castle lives in the same sort of ballpark as the previous version; it weighs in at $399.99 via the Lego store or £344.99 if you're based in the UK.

You can find out more below, and we'll keep you updated as to whether it ranks on our list of the best Lego sets when we're able to go hands-on with the kit. 

Lego Disney Castle

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After Lego announced that the previous version was being retired, and following a tease from the company early this year that plenty of new Disney kits would be on the way to celebrate the House of Mouse's 100th anniversary, many of us wondered if an updated castle was coming. Turns out it is - and it's even bigger than before.

Because it's replacing the old version (which you can see here), the new Lego Disney Castle is broadly similar… but adds plenty of new touches to refresh the model. Most notably, the turret color-scheme has been changed from white to pastel pink with gold accents. That's because the Walt Disney World Cinderella castle it's based on did the same thing a couple of years ago in honor of the park's 50th anniversary, swapping out those paler tones for a warmer pink.

This new edition also trades in minifigures of Mickey and co for some of the park's most commonly-seen Princesses, along with their respective partners: you're getting teeny versions of Cinderella, Prince Charming, Snow White, Prince Florian, Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Rapunzel, and Flynn Ryder. 

The castle's not just a facade, though. Flip the model around and you'll find lots of interior rooms. These are full of nods to other Disney characters from Beauty and the Beast to Mulan, so it's probably one of the more ambitious Disney gifts you can get yourself if you love the parks. In addition, firework effects have been added around the top-most tower too.

Wondering how it differs from the previous edition? Alongside the color change and minifig swap, the rooms are a little more detailed. While the layout is broadly similar, if expanded, those interior spaces have been filled with lots more 'stuff' (with references to other Disney movies that were omitted last time) and items look better than before. Beast's rose has been spruced up with a fancy new model, for example, and we spied the sword in the stone along with Genie's lamp.

Plus, more of the outer grounds have been added as a base - there's now part of the moat and plant-filled grass verges. This is something the old version missed out on.

Lego Disney Castle | $399.99 at Lego
Available from July 1 - Mark your calendars for the first of July; for Lego VIP members, the digital doors will open then. If you're not a member of Lego's free rewards scheme, you'll have to wait until July 4.

UK price: £344.99 at Lego

For more brick-based shenanigans, check out the best Lego Star Wars sets, must-have Lego Super Mario sets, or these Lego deals.