Thursday, October 21, 2010

LEGOLAND Florida Hard Hat Tour

Today, LEGOLAND Florida is hosting a hard hat tour right now, and BrickJournal has two reporters, Todd Thuma and Robin Werner, onsite. They will be sending a report in the next day, but in the meantime, here are some photos being sent from the tour so far:

The venue for the beginning presentation in Winter Haven, Florida. The presentation began at 10 am, and set up looked a little like this:

Outside the theater

Inside the theater, with models built from the LEGOLAND California Model Shop.

 LEGOLAND Florida General Manager Adrian Jones presenting.

Admission for the park will be $65 adult/ $55 child

The presentation showed artist's conceptions of the various lands being built at the park:





We'll start at, well, the Beginning:
This is the entrance and will have a shop and restaurant.

The next section is 



Next is

and


then

followed by

 

continuing to

then

and

and finally

Those attending got a miniland figure:



 Press release will be at BrickJournal.com!

Friday, October 1, 2010

New Harry Potter Set Due in 2011!

From Julie Stern of the LEGO Group:

 
10217 –  Diagon Alley™
Ages 14+.  2,025 pieces.
US $ 149.99 CA $ 199.99 UK £ 132.75  DE  149.99 €
Expand your very own wizarding world of Harry Potter™!
No need to pass through the Leaky Cauldron. Now even Muggles can shop in Diagon Alley by building this fantastically magical set that includes 3 extensively detailed buildings and 11 minifigures! Join Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as they shop for their Hogwarts school supplies. Visit Ollivanders, Borgin and Burkes, and Gringotts Bank. Each Diagon Alley building is realistically detailed. Ollivanders offers an extensive selection of wands, storage shelves and a step ladder that allows Ollivander to gather wands from the top floor.  The front desk has an “exploding” function for those inconvenient times when a spell goes awry.  Borgin and Burkes includes a scary skeleton, “glow-in-the-dark” elements, a fireplace attached to the Floo Network and a Vanishing Cabinet that Dark wizards might use to sneak into Hogwarts. Gringotts Bank is an impressive two-story building with large double doors, and can be opened completely into one large building or closed to create one smaller building. The bank’s interior features a removable vault, along with the Philosopher’s Stone, a clerk’s desk, a chandelier and ‘wonky’ support pillars.  Includes 11 minifigures: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, each with magic wand; Rubeus Hagrid, equipped with his pink umbrella; Fred and George Weasley; 2 Gringotts goblins; Mr. Ollivander; Lucius Malfoy (with Death Eater disguise); Fenrir Greyback; and 4 new, decorated owls.


·       Includes 11 minifigures: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, each with magic wand; Rubeus Hagrid, equipped with his pink umbrella; Fred and George Weasley; 2 Gringotts goblins; Mr. Ollivander; Lucius Malfoy (with Death Eater disguise); Fenrir Greyback; and 4 new, decorated owls!

·       Diagon Alley is made up of 3 extensively detailed buildings: Ollivanders, Borgin and Burkes and Gringotts Bank!
·       Ollivanders features lots of wands, storage shelves and a step ladder that leads to the top floor!


·       Front desk at Ollivanders has an “exploding” function!
·       Borgin and Burkes includes a skeleton, “glow-in-the-dark” elements, fireplace attached to the Floo Network and even a Vanishing Cabinet!
·       Gringotts Bank is a two-story building featuring large double doors!


·       Open Gringotts Bank completely into one large building and explore inside or close it to create a smaller building!
·       Gringotts Bank features a detailed interior with a removable vault, the Philosopher’s Stone, clerk’s desk, chandelier and ‘wonky’ support pillars!
·       Includes 11 minifigures: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, each with magic wand; Rubeus Hagrid, equipped with his pink umbrella; Fred and George Weasley; 2 Gringotts goblins; Mr. Ollivander; Lucius Malfoy (with Death Eater disguise); Fenrir Greyback; and 4 new, decorated owls!

·       Ollivanders measures 8" (20 cm) high and 5" (13 cm) wide!

·       Borgin and Burkes measures 8" (20 cm) high and 7" (18 cm) wide!

·       Gringotts Bank measures 8" (21 cm) high and 4" (10 cm) wide when closed, 8" high and 9" (23 cm) wide when opened wide!
·       Completed model (depending on how much space is allocated between individual parts) measures 24" (60 cm) long and 12" (30 cm) deep and 8" (21 cm) high!

Available for order directly through LEGO® beginning
January 2011
via shop.LEGO.com or via phone:

US Contact Center                          1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center         1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center          1-877-518-5346
European Contact Center 00-800-5346-1111