Disney Princess has been a LEGO theme since 2014. Whenever a theme stays around more than a couple of years, some builds get revisited again and again. There are always new children growing into the theme, and Cinderella's Carriage is one of those builds that LEGO keeps bringing back. So I'll be taking a look at the mini-dolls and carriages that came before throughout this review.
Like most sets, the first thing we build are the mini dolls. So that's where we will start our comparison. First, who do we have in our new set?
Cinderella appears in a bright, light blue gown. A metallic blue ribbon and bow allows a white skirt to peek out from under her over skirt. The white paint allows the blue to bleed through creating a pale, baby blue color instead of a bright white. I really like how this looks. More metallic blue ribbon is used to lace the bodice up the back and to decorate the neckline. White sparkles create a magical effect on both the bodice and skirt.
Of course there would be no magical gown and carriage without Cinderella's Fairy Godmother. She is wearing a lovely, lavender gown which is also covered in magical sparkles. Over her gown, Godmother wears a medium lavender cloth cape with hood. The hood/headgear features pale grey bangs and a magenta bow. An alternate hair piece is NOT included for Godmother so she needs to keep her hood up if she wants to have hair. Unfortunately, leaving the hood and cloak on covers up her torso print, which has a cute medium lavender short jacket with a poofy magenta bow.
Over the last 7 years there have been 6 different Cinderella mini-dolls. Being a princess, it seems that Cinderella doesn't like appearing in the same gown more than twice. I've only pictured the five versions that have accompanied a carriage build, as we'll be looking at the carriages later.
Starting on the left, we have our first Cinderella from set set 41053 - Cinderella's Dream Carriage. Not pictured is the Cinderella from set 41055 - Cinderella's Romantic Castle. Both these sets came out in 2014, so she got two looks in her first year.
Two years later, Cinderella got a new carriage in the Juniors line with set 10729 - Cinderella's Carriage. The same mini-doll also appeared in the polybag 30551 - Cinderella's Kitchen. That's two sets for the 2016 version.
In 2017, set 41146 - Cinderella's Enchanted Evening gave Cinderella a new carriage and a full ball gown that didn't allow Cinderella to sit down. The things a girl will put up with for fashion. This set also gave us our first Fairy Godmother.
Tired of standing all the time, Cinderella got another makeover for set 41154 - Cinderella's Dream Castle and the 4+ set 41159 - Cinderella's Carriage Ride. That's two sets for our 2019 mini-doll.
Our current Cinderella came out in 2020 with set 43178 - Cinderella's Castle Celebration and polybag 30554 - Cinderella Mini Castle. She's actually had this look for three sets now. Could she be getting tired of changing clothes? Probably not. I'm sure we'll get another new look soon.
As mentioned above, Fairy Godmother has appeared once before in set 41146 - Cinderella's Enchanted Evening (2017). You could be forgiven if at first glance you thought they were the same mini-doll. The changes are subtle, but 2021 brings us all new parts for Cinderella's Godmother. The hood piece has grey hair instead of white. The facial details have been redesigned. The cloth cape is more rounded along the bottom edge. Even the torso and skirt have added more magical sparkles than on her early gown. The only thing that hasn't changed is the trans-dark pink magic wand.
As fun as the mini-dolls are, the real highlight for me in our new set is Gus Gus. He's all new and adorable. This is a new mouse mold in medium nougat with a yellow shirt and red nose. The 1 x 1 cheese slope provides a good scale reference for our new Gus Gus. Doesn't he look hungry sitting next to that cheese? He also has a mini-peg hole in the top of his head. When Cinderella marries the Prince, shouldn't Gus Gus also get a crown?
Previously, Cinderella's mouse companions have been represented by the Friends Hamster/Mouse figure in either tan or dark orange. While those are cute figures, the new Gus Gus, with larger ears, chubby body, and tail, has a lot more character. It's a big improvement for a little mouse. He's just so cute.
Possibly more exciting than Gus Gus are the new horses.
These are the first Friends-style horses to have movable necks. And, we get two of them! They are beautiful, dual-molded white horses with light aqua manes and tails. The mane is combed to the left side, as determined if you were riding the horse. Metallic blue, magical sparkles are sprinkled over the horses, and there are mini-peg holes in the fetlock, mane, and top of the tail.
I'm using the horse from set 41146 - Cinderella's Enchanted Evening (2017) to compare our new horses to the previous Friends-style horse. The gold mane and tail stand out better than the all white horses used in other carriage sets, but all the previous horses used the same mold.
The horses are very close in size with the new horse being a tiny bit taller and longer. Part of that added length is due to the more dynamic pose with the lifted front hoof and flowing tail. The softer plastic mane and tail have more detail in the actual molding, and the mane is brushed to the opposite side compared to the older horse. The shape of the head is also more refined on the new horse. The biggest difference is that the neck can move up and down. Both horses have the same three peg-holes for ornamentation. The gold horse has a painted bridle, but the all white horses of the same mold do not have bridles.
There is something cute about the proportions of the older horse mold, but over all I think the neck articulation is worth the new design. I'm looking forward to seeing these horses in more colors in future Disney Princess and Friends sets.
Now that we have taken a look at our figures and animals, let's see what else is new in the first bag of parts.
There are only two printed parts (excluding the mini-dolls). One is an envelope; it isn't new and it's not my favorite envelope print, but it's nice to have some variety in my parts collection. The other print is a new 1 x 2 transparent tile printed with a pair of slippers. We'll take a closer look at that as we start building.
We also have a couple of recolored parts that are thus far exclusive to this set. The four Technic wishbone suspension arms are new in bright light blue, and the plume/feather/flame/water piece is new in trans-dark pink. We get one for each horse plus an extra for a total of three plumes.
The modified 1 x 3 plate with 2 studs (double jumper) is new in bright light blue for 2021, but is not exclusive to this set. It is also used in sets 41449 - Andrea's Family House and 71741 - NINJAGO City Gardens.
Finally the modified 1 x 1 plate with open clip in dark azure was new last year in set 31108 - Caravan Family Holiday. This is the only other set it appears in so far.
Before we start building, here's a quick look at the sticker sheet. Mine was a bit curled in the box, but nothing that would cause problems with application. It's not a sticker heavy set, and I think they will add some nice detail.
Building starts with this very minimal side build. We get a small table with a candle and cheese wedge. Next to the table is the all important pumpkin. It makes a nice place for Gus Gus to hang out while Godmother works on the carriage.
We also get a golden chest filled with Cinderella's invitation, her glass slippers, and a crown. The chest will fit on the back of the carriage later.
Here's a better look at the new slipper print. It's nice that Cinderella gets to start out with both shoes, but you won't be able to just leave one behind as you play with the set. Still it's a good print, and one less sticker to apply.
With our side builds and mini-dolls ready to go, it's time to turn a pumpkin (or our pile of bricks) into a carriage.
The undercarriage is an interesting build using the technic wishbone suspension arms. Younger builders might have some difficulty with the technic connections, but the instructions are straight forward. It creates really nice shaping for the carriage right from the start.
Next we add the seating. A sticker is used for the floor carpeting. If you hate stickers, it could be left off, but I think the added detail is nice.
The interior is designed for two mini-dolls to sit side-by-side. I haven't tried putting anyone in next to Cinderella, but their arms will have to be carefully arranged to make it work.
This brings us to the end of bag 1. On to bag two ...
Again, we get a few newly recolored parts. The 3 x 3 round corner plates with 2 x 2 cutout was a new piece just last year (2020) and is new in dark azure with this set. The modified 1 x 4 plates with 2 studs are also new in pearl gold. Both these parts are so far exclusive to this set, though I'm sure we will begin seeing them in other sets.
The 2 x 2 round dome brick in satin trans-dar pink is a new color for 2021. It also appears in set 41449 - Andrea's Family House.
The 1 x 2 x 1 2/3 modified brick with studs on 3 sides was a new piece in 2020, and is new in white for 2021. It appears in a total of 4 other sets including set 40461 - Tulips and 71741 - NINJAGO City Gardens.
Finally, the 2 x 3 pentagonal tile in bright light blue isn't new but it is rare. It has previously appeared in set 75958 Beauxbatons' Carriage: Arrival at Hogwarts in 2019. It's such a pretty color; I'm glad we get to use it again here.
Back to building our carriage...
We start bag two building a strange looking assembly. It gradually forms a domed structure that will become the front and back of the carriage body. Stickers add some pretty details. Remember to make two.
I found the body assemblies to be rather strange by themselves. Once they were attached to the undercarriage, they make more sense.
With the addition of the roof plate, the shape of the carriage becomes clear.
We trim out the doorways in gold and finish off the roof. There are no doors on this carriage, just the guard rails. The roof is elegant with the gold leaves, trans-dark pink dome, and gold finial. The overall carriage body really captures its round, pumpkin origins.
Finally, we add the wheels to complete this elegant carriage. It looks great. As soon as we harness the horses, Cinderella will be on her way.
Here's another look so you can see the top detail and inside a little better. My one complaint with this carriage design is access to the interior. The roof does not easily lift off, and the door openings are small for adult hands to get Cinderella in and out. It's a minor complaint for a carriage that is otherwise stunning.
Now, where did those horses wander off to?
The last thing we build is the double harness for our new horses. This also uses the last two stickers for the livery.
Our carriage is now complete and ready to take Cinderella to the ball. I really like this carriage. The shaping and details are fantastic.
Here is the complete set, with Godmother and the tiny side build.
I really appreciate that the brick count focused on the carriage instead of split between a carriage and cottage or castle. Some might want a place for Cinderella to leave or a castle to host the ball, but this set is all about the carriage, and the pieces where put to good use.
Only a few pieces were left over. The white jumpers and curved slopes are used to complete the horses when they aren't harnessed to the carriage, so they aren't really "extra."
Before we compare our new ride with the carriages that came before, here's a quick look at the box.
The box front places the carriage on the road, with some rolling hills and the trees. In the distance is a shining castle. Magic swirls around the carriage as the Fairy Godmother waves her wand. A classic image of Cinderella in her ball gown is in the lower right corner next to the Disney Princess logo. The cover conveys a quiet evening full of magical possibility.
On the back of the box, the carriage has turned around and Cinderella is seated inside with her invitation envelope. There is no background setting, but a call out image shows the Fairy Godmother creating the carriage in the classic animated movie. Other call out images show Gus Gus riding in front of the carriage, Cinderella feeding Gus Gus a piece of cheese in our little side build, and Godmother's magic bringing the horses to life with their new neck movement. Magic sparkles everywhere, and I'm glad they don't use actual glitter on the boxes. There's a lot of magic in the air around this box.
The top of the box shows that we get Cinderella with the new glass slipper tile, Gus Gus with a wedge of cheese, and Godmother with her magic wand. Cinderella wearing her crown is used for the actual size image.
One end of the box shows the carriage image from the front in a circle of more magical sparkles. It's an attractive box and does a good job of showing us what's inside.
And what's inside is a beautiful carriage. So how does that carriage compare to the ones that came before? Let's take a look at Cinderella's growing fleet. The carriage theme has alternated between sets aimed at ages 6 - 12 and sets for the Juniors or 4+ age group. The sets for younger builders are understandably simplified, but they are still fun. Just keep the recommended age in mind.
Disney Princess came to LEGO in 2012 as part of the Duplo line. At the time, I wanted it to come to system bricks using mini-dolls. Two years later, I got my wish, and my first Cinderella carriage.
I still love set 41053 - Cinderella's Dream Carriage (age 6 - 12). It has beautiful shaping for 2014, and I love the medium blue color. My favorite things from the set are the printed 4 x 1 curved slopes. It's such a magical print, and I appreciate that I didn't have to put stickers on all those curves.
Two years later, LEGO released set 10729 - Cinderella's Carriage in the Juniors line (age 4 -7). It feels like a simplified version of the previous carriage. It has good shaping from the side profile, but it lacks enough width to really create a rounded pumpkin carriage. For an very young builder it's not bad, and once again we got some fantastic printed pieces with the 2 x 1 x 3 inverted 75° slopes.
The following year we alternate back to an age 6 - 12 set with 41146 - Cinderella's Enchanted Evening. The shaping is similar to the 2014 carriage but the added gold ornamentation kicks it up a notch. The white and gold color scheme is elegant, and I love the doors. The set uses stickers instead of prints. The stickers are really nice and add a magical touch, but I got spoiled with the prints on the earlier carriages.
In 2019, we return to a Juniors-style carriage, now branded 4+. The shaping is better than the earlier Juniors set, but it's still narrow. The ornamental fence pieces are a nice way to add detail without stickers or prints. Once again it feels like a simpler version of the previous carriage.
That brings us up to 2021. Our newest carriage returns to the 6 - 12 age range. I think it could be difficult for the young end of that age range. The technic connections and snot techniques might be tricky for an inexperienced builder, but it definitely creates the best shaping for a pumpkin carriage. It shows how much LEGO has improved their building techniques over the years.
Altogether, Cinderella has a pretty impressive fleet. I hope Prince Charming has a large enough carriage house and stables.
When looking at the carriage sets above, I didn't address the side builds, so here's a quick look at what came with the carriages.
Set 41053 - Cinderella's Dream Carriage in 2014 kept things relatively simple with a fountain and garden bench.
Set 10729 - Cinderella's Carriage adds more to the story. It includes a tiny, hint of Godmother's magic with a pumpkin and magic wand. The inclusion of Prince Charming and his dog means we also get a section of his castle and a dog house. A single slipper can be left behind providing added play value going to and from the ball.
Set 41146 - Cinderella's Enchanted Evening includes a bit of Cinderella's cottage. Given the detail of the carriage, I'm impressed with the size of this side build.
The 4+ set 41159 - Cinderella's Carriage Ride has another simple castle style build. This time Lucifer the cat is included. It looks like Cinderella and Gus Gus were having a tea party before leaving for the ball.
As I have mentioned before our newest set 43192 - Cinderella's Royal Carriage has the most minimal of side build. All the focus of this set is on the carriage.
As I leave you with the complete carriage collection, there is one more carriage that I must mention. The 2016 set 41141 - Pumpkin's Royal Carriage comes from the Disney Princess sub-theme Palace Pets. In the Whisker Haven Tales, Pumpkin is Cinderella's puppy, and here she gets her own carriage. It fits in perfectly with the first two carriages of the fleet, and so I have included it in this final image.
Happy building and enjoy the ride!
-prrbrix
Disclaimer:
This set was purchased by me, and was NOT provided by The LEGO Group.
Opinions provided here solely mine.
Photographs are mine and are not directed by TLG in any fashion.
The horses are very close in size with the new horse being a tiny bit taller and longer. Part of that added length is due to the more dynamic pose with the lifted front hoof and flowing tail. The softer plastic mane and tail have more detail in the actual molding, and the mane is brushed to the opposite side compared to the older horse. The shape of the head is also more refined on the new horse. The biggest difference is that the neck can move up and down. Both horses have the same three peg-holes for ornamentation. The gold horse has a painted bridle, but the all white horses of the same mold do not have bridles.
There is something cute about the proportions of the older horse mold, but over all I think the neck articulation is worth the new design. I'm looking forward to seeing these horses in more colors in future Disney Princess and Friends sets.
Now that we have taken a look at our figures and animals, let's see what else is new in the first bag of parts.
There are only two printed parts (excluding the mini-dolls). One is an envelope; it isn't new and it's not my favorite envelope print, but it's nice to have some variety in my parts collection. The other print is a new 1 x 2 transparent tile printed with a pair of slippers. We'll take a closer look at that as we start building.
We also have a couple of recolored parts that are thus far exclusive to this set. The four Technic wishbone suspension arms are new in bright light blue, and the plume/feather/flame/water piece is new in trans-dark pink. We get one for each horse plus an extra for a total of three plumes.
The modified 1 x 3 plate with 2 studs (double jumper) is new in bright light blue for 2021, but is not exclusive to this set. It is also used in sets 41449 - Andrea's Family House and 71741 - NINJAGO City Gardens.
Finally the modified 1 x 1 plate with open clip in dark azure was new last year in set 31108 - Caravan Family Holiday. This is the only other set it appears in so far.
Before we start building, here's a quick look at the sticker sheet. Mine was a bit curled in the box, but nothing that would cause problems with application. It's not a sticker heavy set, and I think they will add some nice detail.
Building starts with this very minimal side build. We get a small table with a candle and cheese wedge. Next to the table is the all important pumpkin. It makes a nice place for Gus Gus to hang out while Godmother works on the carriage.
We also get a golden chest filled with Cinderella's invitation, her glass slippers, and a crown. The chest will fit on the back of the carriage later.
Here's a better look at the new slipper print. It's nice that Cinderella gets to start out with both shoes, but you won't be able to just leave one behind as you play with the set. Still it's a good print, and one less sticker to apply.
With our side builds and mini-dolls ready to go, it's time to turn a pumpkin (or our pile of bricks) into a carriage.
The undercarriage is an interesting build using the technic wishbone suspension arms. Younger builders might have some difficulty with the technic connections, but the instructions are straight forward. It creates really nice shaping for the carriage right from the start.
Next we add the seating. A sticker is used for the floor carpeting. If you hate stickers, it could be left off, but I think the added detail is nice.
The interior is designed for two mini-dolls to sit side-by-side. I haven't tried putting anyone in next to Cinderella, but their arms will have to be carefully arranged to make it work.
This brings us to the end of bag 1. On to bag two ...
Again, we get a few newly recolored parts. The 3 x 3 round corner plates with 2 x 2 cutout was a new piece just last year (2020) and is new in dark azure with this set. The modified 1 x 4 plates with 2 studs are also new in pearl gold. Both these parts are so far exclusive to this set, though I'm sure we will begin seeing them in other sets.
The 2 x 2 round dome brick in satin trans-dar pink is a new color for 2021. It also appears in set 41449 - Andrea's Family House.
The 1 x 2 x 1 2/3 modified brick with studs on 3 sides was a new piece in 2020, and is new in white for 2021. It appears in a total of 4 other sets including set 40461 - Tulips and 71741 - NINJAGO City Gardens.
Finally, the 2 x 3 pentagonal tile in bright light blue isn't new but it is rare. It has previously appeared in set 75958 Beauxbatons' Carriage: Arrival at Hogwarts in 2019. It's such a pretty color; I'm glad we get to use it again here.
Back to building our carriage...
We start bag two building a strange looking assembly. It gradually forms a domed structure that will become the front and back of the carriage body. Stickers add some pretty details. Remember to make two.
I found the body assemblies to be rather strange by themselves. Once they were attached to the undercarriage, they make more sense.
With the addition of the roof plate, the shape of the carriage becomes clear.
We trim out the doorways in gold and finish off the roof. There are no doors on this carriage, just the guard rails. The roof is elegant with the gold leaves, trans-dark pink dome, and gold finial. The overall carriage body really captures its round, pumpkin origins.
Finally, we add the wheels to complete this elegant carriage. It looks great. As soon as we harness the horses, Cinderella will be on her way.
Here's another look so you can see the top detail and inside a little better. My one complaint with this carriage design is access to the interior. The roof does not easily lift off, and the door openings are small for adult hands to get Cinderella in and out. It's a minor complaint for a carriage that is otherwise stunning.
Now, where did those horses wander off to?
The last thing we build is the double harness for our new horses. This also uses the last two stickers for the livery.
Our carriage is now complete and ready to take Cinderella to the ball. I really like this carriage. The shaping and details are fantastic.
Here is the complete set, with Godmother and the tiny side build.
I really appreciate that the brick count focused on the carriage instead of split between a carriage and cottage or castle. Some might want a place for Cinderella to leave or a castle to host the ball, but this set is all about the carriage, and the pieces where put to good use.
Only a few pieces were left over. The white jumpers and curved slopes are used to complete the horses when they aren't harnessed to the carriage, so they aren't really "extra."
Before we compare our new ride with the carriages that came before, here's a quick look at the box.
The box front places the carriage on the road, with some rolling hills and the trees. In the distance is a shining castle. Magic swirls around the carriage as the Fairy Godmother waves her wand. A classic image of Cinderella in her ball gown is in the lower right corner next to the Disney Princess logo. The cover conveys a quiet evening full of magical possibility.
On the back of the box, the carriage has turned around and Cinderella is seated inside with her invitation envelope. There is no background setting, but a call out image shows the Fairy Godmother creating the carriage in the classic animated movie. Other call out images show Gus Gus riding in front of the carriage, Cinderella feeding Gus Gus a piece of cheese in our little side build, and Godmother's magic bringing the horses to life with their new neck movement. Magic sparkles everywhere, and I'm glad they don't use actual glitter on the boxes. There's a lot of magic in the air around this box.
The top of the box shows that we get Cinderella with the new glass slipper tile, Gus Gus with a wedge of cheese, and Godmother with her magic wand. Cinderella wearing her crown is used for the actual size image.
One end of the box shows the carriage image from the front in a circle of more magical sparkles. It's an attractive box and does a good job of showing us what's inside.
And what's inside is a beautiful carriage. So how does that carriage compare to the ones that came before? Let's take a look at Cinderella's growing fleet. The carriage theme has alternated between sets aimed at ages 6 - 12 and sets for the Juniors or 4+ age group. The sets for younger builders are understandably simplified, but they are still fun. Just keep the recommended age in mind.
Disney Princess came to LEGO in 2012 as part of the Duplo line. At the time, I wanted it to come to system bricks using mini-dolls. Two years later, I got my wish, and my first Cinderella carriage.
I still love set 41053 - Cinderella's Dream Carriage (age 6 - 12). It has beautiful shaping for 2014, and I love the medium blue color. My favorite things from the set are the printed 4 x 1 curved slopes. It's such a magical print, and I appreciate that I didn't have to put stickers on all those curves.
Two years later, LEGO released set 10729 - Cinderella's Carriage in the Juniors line (age 4 -7). It feels like a simplified version of the previous carriage. It has good shaping from the side profile, but it lacks enough width to really create a rounded pumpkin carriage. For an very young builder it's not bad, and once again we got some fantastic printed pieces with the 2 x 1 x 3 inverted 75° slopes.
The following year we alternate back to an age 6 - 12 set with 41146 - Cinderella's Enchanted Evening. The shaping is similar to the 2014 carriage but the added gold ornamentation kicks it up a notch. The white and gold color scheme is elegant, and I love the doors. The set uses stickers instead of prints. The stickers are really nice and add a magical touch, but I got spoiled with the prints on the earlier carriages.
In 2019, we return to a Juniors-style carriage, now branded 4+. The shaping is better than the earlier Juniors set, but it's still narrow. The ornamental fence pieces are a nice way to add detail without stickers or prints. Once again it feels like a simpler version of the previous carriage.
That brings us up to 2021. Our newest carriage returns to the 6 - 12 age range. I think it could be difficult for the young end of that age range. The technic connections and snot techniques might be tricky for an inexperienced builder, but it definitely creates the best shaping for a pumpkin carriage. It shows how much LEGO has improved their building techniques over the years.
Altogether, Cinderella has a pretty impressive fleet. I hope Prince Charming has a large enough carriage house and stables.
When looking at the carriage sets above, I didn't address the side builds, so here's a quick look at what came with the carriages.
Set 41053 - Cinderella's Dream Carriage in 2014 kept things relatively simple with a fountain and garden bench.
Set 10729 - Cinderella's Carriage adds more to the story. It includes a tiny, hint of Godmother's magic with a pumpkin and magic wand. The inclusion of Prince Charming and his dog means we also get a section of his castle and a dog house. A single slipper can be left behind providing added play value going to and from the ball.
Set 41146 - Cinderella's Enchanted Evening includes a bit of Cinderella's cottage. Given the detail of the carriage, I'm impressed with the size of this side build.
The 4+ set 41159 - Cinderella's Carriage Ride has another simple castle style build. This time Lucifer the cat is included. It looks like Cinderella and Gus Gus were having a tea party before leaving for the ball.
As I have mentioned before our newest set 43192 - Cinderella's Royal Carriage has the most minimal of side build. All the focus of this set is on the carriage.
As I leave you with the complete carriage collection, there is one more carriage that I must mention. The 2016 set 41141 - Pumpkin's Royal Carriage comes from the Disney Princess sub-theme Palace Pets. In the Whisker Haven Tales, Pumpkin is Cinderella's puppy, and here she gets her own carriage. It fits in perfectly with the first two carriages of the fleet, and so I have included it in this final image.
Happy building and enjoy the ride!
-prrbrix
Disclaimer:
This set was purchased by me, and was NOT provided by The LEGO Group.
Opinions provided here solely mine.
Photographs are mine and are not directed by TLG in any fashion.
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