So I caved in and bought this. It's now the most expensive set I've ever purchases, beating Ninjago City by about $80, and it's definitely looking to be the set that takes up most of the shelf space; it will be taking over the display space where I previously had Ninjago City and the Ferris Wheel. But it just looks so cool that I couldn't NOT get it, right? Now, this does kind of kill my Lego budget for the rest of the summer, and there are some cool sets still coming out, so I am going to have to show a little more self control over my purchases for a while...

But anyway, while I get started building this, I'll do a short documentary in my blog. Not a full on review because, well, I don't have THAT kind of time.

So Night 1 got me through the first 2 bags (although each number really includes two or three bags a piece, but this is the terminology I use for smaller sets, so I'm sticking with it here.) Basically, it builds the base and first level of supports for the right half of the full set. Now, I thought the Ferris Wheel had some tedious builds, but I have a feeling I'll be sick of constructing all these white columns after a while. That set, the design technique for using clips on the base really holds them together, although the various support beams look like they'll be only partially effective. It's cool how they're using Mixel joints to create some angled beams on the end, but I feel like it's more for show than true support. Seeing at this set is supposed to get three times taller than this, I think the top might be more rickety than I'd prefer, but I'll make that judgment when I get to that point. And one thing that I haven't seen stressed in other reviews is the hazard for pinching yourself while trying to snap these columns together. Maybe it's just due to my hap hazardous building style, but I got pinched a couple of times and actually drew blood once... so now I am being a tad more careful.

There are a couple of small builds that fit in with the base. The cotton candy cart is a neat design; nothing super impressive, but it works. (I would've liked to see a gear mechanism to spin the inside of the machine... but how one could pull that off at this scale, I do not know.) The beehive piece as cotton candy (or, as I learned from another British review, is called candy floss in the UK and fairy floss in Australia) is quite ingenious, and I'm kind of disappointed that I only get two of them here. The tree is another nice design for it's size. It's simplistic but manages to work, mostly thanks to various newish plant molds. Even the park bench (not quite visible in the photo) is a neat design, using a new spoiler element to build the backrest.

As for the figs... well, let's be honest, these theme park sets just create a bunch of standard city figs, which are useful but not exactly a reason to get these sets. The first bag includes a young girl (too small to ride the coaster, unfortunately), a cotton candy vendor, and a grandpa. The vendor's blonde hairpiece is new, I believe, but not exclusive. I guess points could be had since this set actually includes more female characters, which is a trend not often found in Lego sets. (Six ladies to five men.) Honestly, I'm going to use this Roller Coaster to display some of my more unique figs. Since the Marvel characters have taken over my Ferris Wheel, I'm thinking the Roller Coaster will go to DC, and Batman's already swinging in to claim his spot!

I'm not going to look into parts too specifically, because I don't plan on scrapping this for pieces, ever. But I mean, if you want white or gray plates or tiles, or if you're really hurting for some 2x2 round bricks in white... well, this set would have you covered. I haven't gotten to the new track pieces yet, but I've looked through the bags that contain them, and they look like they'll be fun. (For the record, outside of some spare track from the Black Panther set, this will be my first Roller Coaster set, so I won't be comparing it to the Batman set because, clearly, I don't own it.)

Anyway, expect more ramblings on this tomorrow when I get to build a little more after work. Maybe when I finish I'll do a short video review, but maybe not, since people generally aren't fans of my talking. (I'm not sure they're fans of me writing either, but if you got to this point in this entry, then you've got a lot of time on your hands. )