HELO{"id":143920,"date":"2021-09-17T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brickfanatics.com\/?p=143920"},"modified":"2022-02-08T09:45:45","modified_gmt":"2022-02-08T09:45:45","slug":"lego-disney-40478-mini-disney-castle-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brickfanatics.com\/lego-disney-40478-mini-disney-castle-review","title":{"rendered":"LEGO Disney 40478 Mini Disney Castle review","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Coming in at a fraction of the price of 71040 The Disney Castle<\/a>, LEGO<\/a> 40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> offers a much more accessible way to display your love of Disney<\/a> World.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the LEGO<\/a> Group is currently testing different sizes of the same set in a UK-specific pilot program<\/a>, it\u2019s apparently also just going ahead and bringing a much smaller version of 71040 The Disney Castle<\/a> to the mass market in 40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a much cheaper entry cost and a seemingly favourable price-to-part ratio, can 40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> serve up enough of a taste of the Magic Kingdom for House of Mouse fans who don\u2019t have the space or budget for its bigger sibling?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Set details —<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTheme:<\/strong> LEGO<\/a> Disney<\/a> Set name:<\/strong> 40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> Release:<\/strong> October 1, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Price:<\/strong> \u00a330.99 \/ $34.99 \/ \u20ac34.99 Pieces:<\/strong> 567 Minifigures:<\/strong> 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LEGO<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0 Available now<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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— Build —<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAsk anyone who\u2019s not way too deeply invested in the minutiae of LEGO<\/a> bricks what their favourite model is, and they\u2019ll probably point to something huge: the sculptures you find in LEGOLAND<\/a> and LEGO<\/a> Stores; the LEGO<\/a> Star Wars<\/a> Ultimate Collector Series\u2019 vast Millennium Falcon and Star Destroyer; or the enormous, show-stopping builds created by LEGO<\/a> MASTERS contestants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that\u2019s absolutely fair \u2013 but while all those models are impressive works of LEGO<\/a> art, there\u2019s something to be said for the unique challenges presented by building small. Give someone fewer and fewer pieces with which to put together a reasonable and identifiable representation of an iconic location \u2013 like Magic Kingdom\u2019s Cinderella Castle, for instance \u2013 and you\u2019re essentially asking them to paint a masterpiece with only one or two brushes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s because when you\u2019re building at this scale, there\u2019s not a whole lot of room to manoeuvre around the LEGO<\/a> part palette. But there is a whole lot of room to get creative, and that\u2019s exactly what the designers behind 40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> have done to realise this symbol of Walt Disney<\/a> World at a fraction of the size of 71040 The Disney Castle<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were aided, of course, by the fact that that part palette almost naturally lends itself to castles more than anything else at microscale; round bricks and plates, cones, slopes and even ski poles (as we\u2019ve learned from Harry Potter<\/a>) are all perfect for this kind of material. But that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t unorthodox part usages and build techniques here too, and that\u2019s where 40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> really shines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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For instance, the four corners to the castle\u2019s base are connected using skeleton arms; the entranceway is lined by four golden crowbars, which are fiddly to clip into place, but incredibly effective; and golden binoculars cleverly represent the windows around the castle\u2019s many asymmetrical towers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That last one is also a good example of how compromises have to be made at this scale, because the squared-off towers aren\u2019t an exact representation of their source material: instead, they\u2019re a reasonable approximation, given all the artistic licence that building with predefined LEGO<\/a> bricks allows for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s no faulting the colour choices, either, which reflect last year\u2019s repainting of the real-life castle for Cinderella\u2019s 70th anniversary, and the decorations applied for Walt Disney<\/a> World\u2019s 50th anniversary. It means 40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a>\u2019s bright blue and gold doesn\u2019t quite match 71040 The Disney Castle<\/a>\u2019s comparatively muted dark blue and tan, but it makes for a brighter and more engaging model and build, which is exactly what you\u2019d want when building with so few parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is also another area where the aesthetics of the set have taken precedence over complete accuracy, with great results: the rose pink tint of the real castle is white here, but it feels more subtle, and provides a closer link (if it needed one) to its older and bigger LEGO<\/a> sibling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> has another link to the LEGO<\/a> Group\u2019s wider portfolio of late, too: there are secrets squirrelled away solely for the builder to enjoy, because they won\u2019t be visible (or even accessible) once the model\u2019s complete. Two microfigures and the same printed tile of 71040 The Disney Castle<\/a> that first debuted in 71044 Disney Train and Station<\/a> are built into the set\u2019s interior, then hidden by the central spire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s almost a shame that this top section of the set can\u2019t lift away easily from the base, allowing for visibility of and access to that interior, not least because it feels like it could have been achieved \u2013 even if it meant removing a couple of the towers around the back first. As is, you\u2019ll need to pry away a good chunk of the set to peek inside, although it thankfully doesn\u2019t require total deconstruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— Characters —<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> includes just one minifigure, but it\u2019s a pretty good one: Mickey Mouse in his tuxedo, in an updated version of the minifigure we saw in 71040 The Disney Castle<\/a>. Although \u2018updated\u2019 might be too strong a word \u2013 true to the smaller price point of this set, Mickey\u2019s lacking his coattails and the white circles on his legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Still, there\u2019s nothing inherently worse about his torso \u2013 it\u2019s just different \u2013 and it adds up to a smart inclusion where other microscale models, such as the annual May the Fourth build, tend to omit minifigures entirely. You could say Minnie\u2019s missing, but then where does it end?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— Price —<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
On paper, 567 pieces for \u00a330.99 \/ $34.99 \/ \u20ac34.99 sounds like a bargain. But remember that you\u2019re building in microscale here: the vast majority of those pieces are absolutely tiny, and while some fiddly moments stretch out the build time a little, this still feels pitched about right at its current price point. It\u2019s not too expensive, but it\u2019s not ridiculously cheap, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given how many LEGO<\/a> sets feel like they\u2019re priced with future discounts in mind, though, that\u2019s actually a positive for 40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> \u2013 especially because, as a LEGO.com<\/a> and LEGO Store<\/a> exclusive, it will probably never see a discount anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— Pictures —<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n $\"\"$ <\/a><\/figure><\/li>
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— Summary —<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhether you\u2019re after a companion to 71040 The Disney Castle<\/a>, don\u2019t have the room or budget for that mainstay of the LEGO<\/a> Disney<\/a> line-up, or just want to revel in a microscale build that embraces the artistic and technical challenges of building so small, 40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> feels like an easy recommendation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, it\u2019s proof \u2013 if the LEGO<\/a> Group needs it, and judging by its ongoing pilot program, it surely does \u2013 that there\u2019s solid reason to produce sets that cater to a much wider range of budgets across the same source material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those with deep pockets and the space and desire to show off their devotion to the House of Mouse, 71040 The Disney Castle<\/a> should still be the aim \u2013 but if you\u2019re looking for a more accessible way to take home a piece of Magic Kingdom that won\u2019t turn your home into a Disney<\/a> World shrine, 40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> is absolutely the way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This set was provided for review by the LEGO<\/a> Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Support the work that Brick Fanatics <\/em>does by purchasing your LEGO<\/a> Disney<\/a> Castles big and small using our affiliate links<\/a>. Thank you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
— FAQs —<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How long does it take to build LEGO Disney 40478 Mini Disney Castle?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
You’ll spend roughly an hour putting together 40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> \u2013 a surprisingly long time, but all those small pieces can be pretty fiddly.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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How many pieces are in LEGO Disney 40478 Mini Disney Castle?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> includes 567 pieces across four sets of numbered bags. By comparison, 2016’s 71040 The Disney Castle<\/a> includes 4,080 pieces.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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How big is LEGO Disney 40478 Mini Disney Castle?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> measures 21cm tall, 14cm wide and 13cm deep, making it a much more easily displayed model than the towering 71040 The Disney Castle<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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How much does LEGO Disney 40478 Mini Disney Castle cost?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
40478 Mini Disney Castle<\/a> retails for \u00a330.99 in the UK, $34.99 in the US and from \u20ac34.99 in Europe. That’s roughly 10% of the cost of 71040 The Disney Castle<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Coming in at a fraction of the price of 71040 The Disney Castle, LEGO 40478 Mini Disney Castle offers a<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":1199,"featured_media":143982,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,15],"tags":[11058,3955,5838,3863,60,865,22,812,964,2685,2495,326,7657,275,232,8960,815,337,59,509,2471,2933],"acf":[],"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brickfanatics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143920"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brickfanatics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brickfanatics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickfanatics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1199"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickfanatics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143920"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickfanatics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143920\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickfanatics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brickfanatics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickfanatics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=143920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickfanatics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=143920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}