LEGO Disney 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera review

LEGO Disney 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera aims to celebrate the life of the visionary creator who started it all – but is this 100th-anniversary set a worthy tribute to Walt?

The LEGO Group has been going all-out this year to celebrate 100 years of Disney, most recently launching the theme’s current (and massive) jewel in the crown, 43222 Disney Castle. While sets released to mark the House of Mouse’s centennial in 2023 so far have focused on specific animated films or characters, the upcoming 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera is instead more of a personal model.

The 18+ LEGO Disney build captures multiple key moments in Walt Disney’s life, from the characters he had a hand in creating to the technology his company developed to help bring his ground-breaking visions to life. 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera is both a unique set to construct and display and a fitting testament to the legacy of the man who started it all.

— LEGO Disney 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera set details —

Theme: LEGO Disney Set name: 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera Release: September 1, 2023

Price: £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99 Pieces: 811 Minifigures: 3

LEGO: Order now

— Where to buy LEGO Disney 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera —

LEGO Disney 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera will be available to buy from LEGO.com, LEGO Stores and potentially through third-party retailers on September 1, 2023.

— LEGO Disney 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera build —

To mark the enduring legacy of Walt Disney, the LEGO Group has crafted an 811-piece model that consists of three distinct items. The first of these is a scaled version of a 1920s-style movie camera standing on a tripod, inspired by the same kind of set-up the company used in its formative years to create many of its animated hits.

Construction of this part of the 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera build begins with the tripod itself. There are a surprising number of Technic pieces used to assemble the main body of the tripod, with a solid centre section proving sturdy enough to attach three long legs. These are then held in place by a three-pronged grey frame at the base, although it may be disappointing to discover that the legs can’t be repositioned, extended or shortened in any way.

It also seems as if the top of the tripod should allow for the camera to be rotated and angled via the attached handle, but the model is permanently fixed in place – one of only a few minor niggles with the LEGO Disney set. However, with the legs of 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera fully assembled, it’s the camera itself that proves to be a joy to construct.

While this part of the build may essentially be a black and grey box, there’s still plenty to appreciate, both when constructing the item and then displaying it. For starters, the camera has a crank handle on one side that can be rotated, complete with a simple ‘clicking’ mechanism inside that replicates the sound of the original film recording device.

The front of the camera features a sliding matte box that can be moved back and forth, allowing for a system of three different lenses on a disc to be rotated into place. Again, there’s one minor annoyance here in that the matte box can’t be positioned in one place for too long and will eventually slide all the way back down to the lenses.

Moving around 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera reveals a long viewing lens, although it’s not possible to actually see through it. However, this part of the model can be rotated out of the way, allowing access to a hinged panel that opens up to reveal a secret room inside. Contained within is a tiny hidden office complete with Walt Disney’s desk, lamp and chair, which is a very charming touch indeed.

The vintage camera is topped off with the two large round film canisters which, when combined with a brick-built number ‘1’, displays ‘100’ – a clever use of this section of the set and a not-so-subtle nod to the company’s centennial celebrations. This part of the LEGO Disney build can also be removed, if you decide you want to display the camera model without it.

The crowning jewel in 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera though is the cellulose film strip that’s included with the set. The piece can be attached to the side of the camera and the tripod base (with Technic pins to hold it in place) and is made from the same kind of thin plastic used in recent LEGO Avatar and NINJAGO models. Each of the 20 frames on the strip depicts a classic Disney animated milestone, from Dumbo in 1941 to Encanto in 2021 (you can check out the full list right here).

The film strip further adds to the almost time-capsule feel of 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera, capturing not only a multitude of key moments in the life of the man behind the magic himself and the cutting-edge technology used by the company he created, but also stirring up real feelings of nostalgia in Disney and LEGO fans of all ages.

The set then provides yet more satisfaction for builders by combining a clapperboard minifigure display stand with a brick-built scaled version of a multiplane camera. This piece of technology was used by Disney in its earliest 2D animated movies and looking down into the build reveals a three-layered scene from the 1937 short, The Old Mill. The effect is accomplished by combining a trio of unique printed clear pieces (no stickers whatsoever in this set, folks), giving the completed scene a sense of depth, just like the real thing.

The clapperboard itself has a moveable lower stick that can be ‘clapped,’ space to attach the included minifigures and the multiplane camera itself is completely removable. In fact, this part of 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera almost feels as if it could have been its own gift-with-purchase to accompany the larger LEGO Disney set, one that would surely have been highly sought-after by fans and collectors alike if released separately. No complaints about it being included here, then.

— LEGO Disney 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera Minifigures —

The LEGO Group delights once again by including not only three exclusive minifigures with 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera, but also two animated figures making their debut. The first of the former is the man of the century himself, Walt Disney. The first-ever LEGO version of the visionary creator who founded the company in 1923, the minifigure features a black hairpiece, double-sided head and torso prints, plus a pen and printed Mickey Mouse sketch tile element last seen in 40600 Disney 100 Years Celebration.

He’s accompanied by black and white minifigure versions of two of his most famous creations, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. These iterations reuse elements from the same characters that were included with 21317 Steamboat Willie, although both head pieces are present without accompanying hats here.

The set is rounded out by figures of Bambi and Dumbo, looking as if they’ve just stepped out of their respective animated movies. The classic characters make their debut in 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera and for now it’ll be the only way that fans and collectors will be able to get hold of the duo. The printing on Bambi and Dumbo is exceptional, with the latter also benefitting from being a new dual-moulded piece. 

— LEGO Disney 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera price —

With so much packed into a licensed LEGO set, you might be expecting 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera to boast an exorbitant price to match. However, with all that attention to detail, those subtle features and several must-have characters included in the build, its actual price tag of £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99 almost seems something of a steal.

From the satisfying construction of each part of the LEGO Disney set to the joy it will bring you as an impressive display piece, 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera rewards on almost every level, easily justifying the cost of the magical model.

—LEGO Disney 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera pictures —

— LEGO Disney 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera pros and cons —

43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera delivers everything it should, being an homage to the man who started the world’s most famous animation company and another must-have LEGO Disney 100 set. You’re guaranteed to have a big grin on your face while assembling the build and a deep sense of satisfaction when admiring the completed model.

Minor niggles are few and far between, with only the inability to move and reposition the camera and tripod being slightly frustrating. Likewise, it feels like the sliding matte box should be able to stay in place away from the rotating lenses, but we’re not going to lose any sleep over it.

From the build itself and the countless clever nods to the company’s 10 decades of history to exclusive characters and an impressive finished display piece, 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera is easily one of the stand-out LEGO Disney sets of 2023 – and a must-have for fans and collectors alike.

43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera pros	43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera cons
Very satisfying build and impressive display piece	Camera can’t be tilted or rotated
Three exclusive minifigures plus Bambi and Dumbo figures	Matte box won’t stay in one place
Packed with details and hidden features, and the price is spot on

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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— Alternatives to LEGO Disney 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera —

In terms of celebratory LEGO Disney display pieces, you can probably find the now-retired 43179 Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Buildable Characters on the secondary market for a reasonable price. The same goes for 21317 Steamboat Willie, a black, white and grey model that was launched in 2019 to mark Mickey Mouse’s 90th anniversary.

When it comes to current alternative models, the LEGO Group has created a number of must-have Disney 100 sets so far this year, including 40600 Disney 100 Years Celebration, 43227 Villain Icons and the recently-released 43222 Disney Castle.

— LEGO Disney 43230 Walt Disney Tribute Camera FAQs —