Lego Castle Question

[tinkerbell615]

Okay everyone, so I have to admit, I don't know much at all about legos. My little boy is 27 now. My 6 year old grandson LOVES to build things. This is really the first year, though, that he has been into legos. He says he wants a lego castle for Christmas. So, I google lego castle and I see... King's castle. Is that that only lego castle that there is? I see it on Amazon for around $98. Is that a good price? Where would be the best place to look?

If you guys could help me with this one I would appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[chris31997]

I would talk with grandson's Dad or Mom. They might have a handle on what a "castle" is. I would also ask about his building capability. For me, generally, the higher the price equals more piece. Lots of piece, DGS might not be able to build it or need help building.

My DS got a Millinium Falcon from his Grandpa. Dad built it. It took Dad 4 hours But Dad was a kid again and had fun doing it. The plan was for the 2 to work together. It would not work that way cause of the differant building styles and DS attention span

Legos tend to have a language all their own. My 7yr old builds things that blows my mind. We get him the kits and he "follows" the directions but then will customize it. Then when he starts to play with it, forget it the car(whatever) has skids so it can go on water, guns, blaster packs, water cannons, and people hanging in every combo you can think of. It amazes me.

 

[tnd]

I watch Amazon obsessively for Lego price drops. I also use the website Camel Camel Camel to set price watches. I usually get my son's sets for about 30-40% off with those because Amazon prices vary widely. $98 seems like a good price, but it will be a complex set. I think there is also a Lego Kingdoms line (newer) that has smaller castle sets.

Legos are an awesome gift for kids. My son plays with them for hours a day. We just got back from Disney World and he is now building a lego Tower of Terror. ;-)

 

[tinkerbell615]

I would talk with grandson's Dad or Mom. They might have a handle on what a "castle" is. I would also ask about his building capability. For me, generally, the higher the price equals more piece. Lots of piece, DGS might not be able to build it or need help building.

My DS got a Millinium Falcon from his Grandpa. Dad built it. It took Dad 4 hours But Dad was a kid again and had fun doing it. The plan was for the 2 to work together. It would not work that way cause of the differant building styles and DS attention span

Legos tend to have a language all their own. My 7yr old builds things that blows my mind. We get him the kits and he "follows" the directions but then will customize it. Then when he starts to play with it, forget it the car(whatever) has skids so it can go on water, guns, blaster packs, water cannons, and people hanging in every combo you can think of. It amazes me.

Thanks for the response. I am not sure if my DS and DDIL are 100% sure exactly what he is talking about either. I will say, that he really is good at putting things together. He has some blocks that we bought him last year and he builds things that aren't even on the directions. I am usually pretty shocked at some of the things that he does. It sound similar to what your son does. I think he might be able to go up a year or so from recommended ages, but I certainly would not go up too high. I wouldn't want something to be so challenging that he would get frustrated.

 

[GoofyFairie]

You could try the Lego website to see what is available. There are many different story lines with many different sets in each. That should give you an idea of what is available. Good luck!

 

[tinkerbell615]

I watch Amazon obsessively for Lego price drops. I also use the website Camel Camel Camel to set price watches. I usually get my son's sets for about 30-40% off with those because Amazon prices vary widely. $98 seems like a good price, but it will be a complex set. I think there is also a Lego Kingdoms line (newer) that has smaller castle sets.

Legos are an awesome gift for kids. My son plays with them for hours a day. We just got back from Disney World and he is now building a lego Tower of Terror. ;-)

You could try the Lego website to see what is available. There are many different story lines with many different sets in each. That should give you an idea of what is available. Good luck!

Thank you both. I have never heard of Camel Camel Camel. I think I will take a look. I am also going to visit the Lego website.

 

[NotUrsula]

The most popular Lego set that is a Castle is actually Hogwart's Castle, the school set from the Harry Potter films. The Hogwarts sets are easy to recognize because the castles on that theme have a green turreted roof.

There are several sets that are part of Hogwarts, but the most complete is probably 4842. It is now a retired set, however, so it would cost you more than it did when it was new; a LOT more, actually, as those sets are still very popular. There are many kids who are just now watching the HP films and playing the associated Lego video games. I think that the current going aftermarket price for 4842 is around $300, but it will probably go higher as Xmas approaches.

(FWIW, in terms of the aftermarket value, Star Wars sets are the best sellers; Harry Potter sets are a distant second in the market.)

 

[MSSANDRA]

There is a dragon castle for 49.99. It is geared for ages 6-12 so maybe a bit more manageable option for him. My DS6 seems to do well with the ages 6, 7, or 8 and up but we have found the 9 and ups a bit too much for him and he is amazing at following the directions on his own. He wants that expensive huge Star Wars one for Christmas this year but we are saying no for another year. I think he is getting the TMNT one that is around 50.

 

[msmama]

There is a new (ish) Lego Kingdoms Castle. If he shops with parents, that's probably what he's seen in stores.

Generally, for legos, I find the best prices to be Target with my 5% off with my Red Card. If you think he's going to be into legos for a long time and you'll buying a lot (we do) then you can sign up for a Lego VIP card on the Lego website. You get a $10 GC for every $100 you spend. They also have occasional specials that will earn you more points.

Toys R Us is NOT a good place for Legos.

My son is 5 and he can go up pretty high in ages. Though he's also been into legos for a few years now. He can certainly do 7-12 ones.

 

[tinkerbell615]

You all are so awesome. Thanks for helping to educate this grandma on legos. I appreciate all of the information.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ah, Legos.

I would strongly urge you guys to talk with your grandson to find out exactly what he has seen that is spurring this request. Although I'm sure he's a gracious gift recipient and wouldn't show disappointment in something you bought that wasn't perfect, why let that happen if you can avoid it, right?


Hopefully it's something still being sold by Lego. Once you go into the discontinued models you're getting into even more serious money than new Legos are.


If you end up ordering from lego.com, be sure to sign up for the VIP program! Once he gets into Legos he will likely want more, and if you end up being a big provider of them (creating eternal gratitude from his parents) the VIP program can get you into sales sooner, different deals, and $5 to spend after each $100 you spend on the website.

 

[JessB320]

Does he get the free Lego club magazine? I ask because the newest one has a picture of a dragon and a castle on the cover. The main "article " is about a Lego castle, maybe this is the castle he's talking about? If he doesn't get the magazine, have mom or dad sign him up on the Lego website! My ds 6 LOVES it!

 

[sunshinehighway]

Like everyone else said, get more information from him or his parents. There are other castles and things that could be considered a castle to a kid. They have a vampire one, a lord of the rings one, I think Ninjago has some sort of temple. Also, find out what size sets he's been building. Usually a $100 set will be large and harder to build. If he's 6, it might be too difficult or time consuming for him.

 

[bumbershoot]

Usually a $100 set will be large and harder to build. If he's 6, it might be too difficult or time consuming for him.

Agreed.

I got the Lego people to admit that after kids are beyond the choking-on-things stage, the ages for the Lego sets are all about frustration levels.

We were able to help DS through that because "this set is for older kids and I have no problem putting it away if you continue to act like that" worked VERY WELL on him (and I would have put it away in a heartbeat). He wanted to keep it and play with it, so he calmed down. At the beginning we all learned to read the directions and figure out how to do things. Within a year DS had figured it out even better than I can do it (sometimes the color differences in the directions aren't obvious to me, and sometimes I can get mixed up with what to put where) and he was off!

Now our main issue is organization, what "being done playing" with something means, if he has to take things ALL the way apart, etc etc. I think that's been harder than figuring out how to make a fiddly and difficult 2000 piece set!

 

[sunshinehighway]

Agreed.

I got the Lego people to admit that after kids are beyond the choking-on-things stage, the ages for the Lego sets are all about frustration levels.

We were able to help DS through that because "this set is for older kids and I have no problem putting it away if you continue to act like that" worked VERY WELL on him (and I would have put it away in a heartbeat). He wanted to keep it and play with it, so he calmed down. At the beginning we all learned to read the directions and figure out how to do things. Within a year DS had figured it out even better than I can do it (sometimes the color differences in the directions aren't obvious to me, and sometimes I can get mixed up with what to put where) and he was off!

Now our main issue is organization, what "being done playing" with something means, if he has to take things ALL the way apart, etc etc. I think that's been harder than figuring out how to make a fiddly and difficult 2000 piece set!

Yes. Some 6 years old might be perfectly fine doing a larger set and an older kid might just give up on it. It really is about frustration level. I'd end up giving up halfway through some of the sets I've seen my 8 year old nephew put together. I just wouldn't have the patience.

 

[wiigirl]

I watch Amazon obsessively for Lego price drops. I also use the website Camel Camel Camel to set price watches. I usually get my son's sets for about 30-40% off with those because Amazon prices vary widely. $98 seems like a good price, but it will be a complex set. I think there is also a Lego Kingdoms line (newer) that has smaller castle sets.

Legos are an awesome gift for kids. My son plays with them for hours a day. We just got back from Disney World and he is now building a lego Tower of Terror. ;-)