Honestly, the LEGO advent calendar 2024 season felt like a fever dream for collectors. We didn't just get the usual suspects. LEGO actually dropped six separate calendars, which is a record.
You had the heavy hitters like Star Wars and Harry Potter. Then, out of nowhere, they added a Disney Princess set that used micro-dolls. It was weird. It was cool. It was definitely expensive if you tried to buy all of them.
Most people just want to know if these sets are worth the plastic they're molded from. Every year, parents and AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO) argue about the "per-piece value." But let's be real. You aren't buying these for the price-per-brick ratio. You're buying them for that hits-the-spot dopamine rush of opening a tiny cardboard door every morning in December.
What Really Happened With the LEGO Advent Calendar 2024 Lineup
The 2024 collection was basically a split between "Classic" and "Licensed" themes.
If you went for the LEGO City Advent Calendar (60436) or the LEGO Friends version, you paid about $32.99. The licensed ones? Those jumped to $44.99. That’s a eleven-dollar "Star Wars tax."
Is it worth it?
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Well, the Star Wars calendar celebrated its 25th anniversary. That’s a big deal. They packed it with mini-builds that traced the history of the theme from 1999 to 2024. You got a tiny X-wing, a TIE Fighter, and even Darth Vader’s Castle.
But the real winners were the minifigures. Holiday Luke Skywalker and Holiday Princess Leia in Christmas sweaters? Yes, please.
The Spider-Man Surprise
For the first time, the Marvel slot was 100% focused on Spider-Man. No Avengers. No Guardians of the Galaxy. Just Peter Parker and his chaotic New York social circle.
- Minifigures included: Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider, Venom, Miles Morales, and Green Goblin.
- The Weird Stuff: A snow Spider-Ham. It’s exactly what it sounds like.
- The Vibe: Very "New York Winter." You built hot dog stands and traffic lights covered in snow.
Venom wearing a scarf and eating a hot dog is arguably the peak of LEGO design.
Why the Disney Calendar Divided Fans
The new LEGO Disney Advent Calendar (43253) was the wildcard. Instead of standard minifigures, it used micro-dolls.
Small. Tiny.
We’re talking Elsa, Tiana, Ariel, Moana, and Mirabel. Because they use the micro-doll format, the builds are mostly furniture and tiny castle accessories. If you’re a fan of the Disney Princess line, it’s a goldmine. If you wanted "real" LEGO people to populate a city, it was a bit of a letdown.
The box actually turned into a board game. It supported up to five players. It’s a nice touch, but let’s be honest: most of those boxes end up in the recycling bin by January 2nd.
The Harry Potter Nostalgia Trip
The LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar (76438) focused on the first movie. The Sorcerer's Stone.
It’s cozy.
You get the Great Hall tables for all four houses. You get the Hogwarts Express. They even threw in two of the fourteen collectible Hogwarts portraits.
The minifigure selection was solid: Harry, Susan Bones, Cho Chang, Draco Malfoy, Albus Dumbledore, and Professor Flitwick. Plus, a "Choir Ghost" which is just spooky enough for a winter morning.
A Quick Look at the Numbers
| Theme | Set Number | Piece Count | Main Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars | 75395 | 368 | 25 Years of History / Christmas Sweaters |
| Spider-Man | 76293 | 246 | Snow Spider-Ham / Venom with a scarf |
| Harry Potter | 76438 | 301 | Hogwarts House tables / Yule Ball vibes |
| Disney | 43253 | 253 | Micro-dolls / Built-in board game |
| City | 60436 | 195 | Santa & Mrs. Claus / Dog in a sweater |
| Friends | 42637 | 272 | Preschool versions of Paisley and Olly |
What Most People Get Wrong About These Sets
People think these are "toys for kids."
Wrong.
The secondary market for advent calendar minifigures is massive. If you wait until December 1st to buy the LEGO advent calendar 2024 sets, you're going to pay a premium to some reseller on eBay.
The Star Wars festive figures almost always hold their value. Collectors want those exclusive torsos. If you see one on a shelf in September, grab it.
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Also, don't sleep on the LEGO City set.
It’s usually the "boring" one, but 2024 was different. It had a baby in a Christmas sweater. A baby! And a dog in a matching sweater. It’s peak "wholesome content."
The Friends Set: A Lesson in Lore
The Friends calendar (42637) actually did something interesting with the story. It was a flashback. You were building memories of Paisley and Olly when they were toddlers.
It’s a bit sentimental for a toy box. But for kids who follow the Friends lore, it was a deep dive into the characters' pasts.
How to Handle the "Leftover" Pieces
By December 25th, you have 24 tiny builds scattered across your coffee table.
What do you do?
- Incorporate them into a Winter Village: The City and Harry Potter builds are perfect for this. The tiny Christmas trees and snowmen are scale-accurate for a larger display.
- MOC (My Own Creation) fodder: Advent calendars are notorious for giving you rare small parts in unique colors.
- The Ornament Trick: Buy some clear plastic baubles from a craft store. Shove the mini-builds inside. Boom. Instant DIY LEGO ornaments for next year.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors
If you are looking at the LEGO advent calendar 2024 lineup now, you're likely dealing with the "aftermarket" phase.
- Check Local Clearance: Big-box retailers like Target or Walmart often have stray calendars hidden in the back of the toy aisle or the clearance endcaps in January.
- Buy Individual Figures: If you only want the "Ugly Sweater Luke," don't buy the whole $45 box. Use BrickLink. You can search by set number (75395) and just buy the specific minifigure you want.
- Verify the Seals: If buying from a third party, check the tape. Scammers sometimes carefully open the side flaps, take the figures, and glue it back shut.
- Store the Box Flat: If you're a "box person," open the doors carefully. You can flatten the box and store it easily without taking up shelf space.
The 2024 sets proved that LEGO isn't slowing down. They are pushing more licenses and more niche builds into these countdowns. Whether you're into the high-stakes history of Star Wars or the micro-world of Disney, these calendars are a snapshot of where the brand is right now.