Toy Story 5 releases tomorrow, and it’s safe to say anticipation is high. It’s been seven years since Toy Story 4 released and there have been a few changes and updates to the Toy Story universe. Here is everything you need to know ahead of Toy Story 5.
Note: The below contains minor spoilers ahead of Toy Story 5!
New Toys and Familiar Faces
As with any Toy Story, we can expect all the usual suspects like Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Mr Potato Head and the gang are all back on the big screen. A number of supporting characters return too, including Toy Story 4 favourites Forky, Karen Beverly and Duke Caboom. Toy Story 5 also introduces a host of new characters, most notably the film’s villain, Lilypad, a smart tablet, voiced by Greta Lee. Fun fact, this is actually Greta Lee’s second Disney movie, having starred in Tron: Ares in 2025.
The Buzz and Woody Reunion
At the end of Toy Story 4, we saw Woody and Buzz part ways with Woody staying behind as a ‘lost toy’. From the trailers, We know Woody eventually ends up back with the gang and in Bonnie’s bedroom, however we don’t yet know how they reunite. Thankfully, the film does help bridge this gap and Buzz and Woody’s separation is not ignored. We will have to wait and see how it all it ties together, but I’m pleased it’s not being brushed aside!
Jessie Takes the Spotlight
Since Woody left Bonnie’s toys at the end of Toy Story 4, we see from the trailer that Jessie has taken over as the sheriff of Bonnie’s room. We know that Jessie goes head-to-head with Lilypad and they clash to protect Bonnie’s imagination and the film heavily resurfaces Jessie’s deeply rooted trauma and abandonment issues from Toy Story 2. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this plays out as I feel Jessie definitely played a much smaller role in the past few movies.
The Creative Team Behind the Magic
The fifth instalment of the Toy Story franchise is directed by two-time Academy Award winner Andrew Stanton (who directed Finding Nemo and WALL-E), alongside co-director Kenna Harris. Despite this being the first Toy Story movie Stanton has directed, he is well-versed in the Toy Story universe, having served as a writer for story and screenplay on all four previous films. It will be awesome to see the direction he takes Toy Story 5 in!
The Return of Randy Newman
There’s another familiar behind-the-scenes star returning for Toy Story 5 – none other than Randy Newman. Composer of the iconic “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and every Toy Story soundtrack ever since, it’s great to see Randy Newman return for the fifth instalment. The main single for Toy Story 5 is, however, provided by Taylor Swift, who contributed an original song titled “I Knew It, I Knew You”.
Are you ready for one more adventure?
It’s hard to believe we are finally getting a fifth chapter to a story that started all the way back in 1995. Whether you are rooting for Jessie’s new era as leader of the room, or just desperate to see how Buzz and Woody finally cross paths again, tomorrow is going to be an emotional day for Disney fans everywhere.
What are your predictions for the movie? Do you think a smart tablet will make a good Pixar villain? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
The vast, colourful cast of characters in the Toy Story franchise is a huge part of what makes the movies so enjoyable. From fan favourites like Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Jessie, to Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head and their adopted Alien children, every character brings something unique to the Toy Story universe.
But alongside the main cast, Toy Story also has a huge number of smaller characters who don’t always get the same amount of screen time, yet somehow manage to steal every scene they appear in.
For this list, I’ve decided to focus on some of the more underrated side characters, rather than the obvious choices like Hamm, Rex or Bo Peep. These are the characters that might only have a few moments on screen, but still leave a lasting impression.
Here are 10 of the best side characters in Toy Story:
Sarge & Bucket o’ Soldiers
As someone who spent most of their Saturday mornings growing up playing with toy soldiers and recreating epic battles across the living room floor, it’s no surprise that I have to include Sarge & the Bucket o’ Soldiers in my list! I really love the concept of the toys having their own personal army and the opening scene in Toy Story, where the soldiers spy on Andy’s birthday party, is just pure cinema! I’m a bit gutted we’ve not seen them since Toy Story 3 and even that was pretty much a farewell to the characters, but nevertheless, they are one of the best side character groups in the franchise.
Barrel of Monkeys
Based on the real life toy by Milton Bradley, Barrel of Monkeys actually appears in all four Toy Story movies. I really love how Pixar used a board game and created ‘toys’ from it to bring it to life for the Toy Story films. Their hooked arms actually serve a lot of purpose in the Toy Story universe too, whether that’s attempting to rescue Buzz or to save RC. The “Death by Monkeys” scene in Toy Story 3 is genius too and a great example of how a child’s imagination can run wild.
Chunk
Toy Story 3 introduced us to a huge number of characters, and Lotso’s henchmen crew provide some of the more interesting minor characters in the movie. One of my personal favourites is Chunk, a rock-like monster from Sunnyside Daycare. He is the epitome of a tough guy goon, providing the muscle for Lotso while also delivering some great comic relief – one of his best lines is: “He ain’t the sharpest knife in the…uh…place where they keep the knives!”.
Rocky Gibraltar
Rocky Gibraltar is another character based on a real-life toy; the collectible Wrestling Superstars figures made by Hasbro. The character features fairly prominently in Toy Story – I love the “Strange Things” sequence in the movie where he works out with Buzz and then helps him repair his ship with the tape dispenser. We don’t see much of him outside of the first Toy Story, albeit a few scenes in Toy Story 2, but he’s a character who really stands out for me.
Peas-in-a-Pod
A really unique set of characters, the Peas-in-a-Pod first appear in Toy Story 3 as one of Bonnie’s toys. I really love the concept of there essentially being three individual characters coming together to create one collective character and the Peas-in-a-Pod tie in works really well for this. They have a few funny interactions with both Woody and Mr Potato Head in Toy Story 3, but only have a minor appearance in Toy Story 4. Fingers crossed we see them again in Toy Story 5!
Lenny
Lenny is one of my favourite side characters in the Toy Story franchise, mainly because I had my own Lenny action figure way back in the late 90s which brings me so much nostalgia just thinking about! Lenny actually plays a fairly big role in Toy Story and then a bit of a smaller role in Toy Story 2, often acting as the eyes for the toys. I really love Lenny and Woody’s relationship in the first movie too, they really seem like good pals.
Hockey Puck
Very much the definition of a minor character, Hockey Puck is only seen briefly in Toy Story after Mr. Potato Head grouchily asked him what he was looking at, to which he just shrugged. Little is known about what happens to the character after that, he is not seen in the moving van later in the movie or in any subsequent Toy Story features. Despite the limited screentime, I think this is just such a fun minor side character and the fact we never see him again other than that one scene where he has beef with Mr Potato Head, make Hockey Puck even more of a mystery!
Mr Pricklepants
Another of Bonnie’s existing toys we were introduced to in Toy Story 3, Mr Pricklepants is pretty iconic as far as side characters go! Sporting a William Shakespeare-esque accent, Mr Pricklepants serves as a nice change of pace from some of the more excitable toys that Bonnie has. I also love the fact that Mr Pricklepants is voiced by former James Bond star Timothy Dalton – how cool is that! Interestingly, John Hopkins will voice the character in Toy Story 5.
Combat Carl
Combat Carl action figures appear in various forms throughout the Toy Story franchise. First, in the first Toy Story movie, Sid famously explodes a Combat Carl figure with a firecracker. In the short Toy Story of TERROR!, a Combat Carl figure and a 4-inch one called Combat Carl Jr both appear, voiced by Carl Weathers. Then in Toy Story 4, three Combat Carl Jr.s assist Bo Peep – this time voiced by Ernie Hudson. Combat Carl is based on G.I. Joe action figures and whilst they often only have minor roles, I really love the continuity to the ‘Combat Carl’ brand in the Toy Story franchise.
Buster
Of course, no side character list would be complete without a dog featuring! Andy’s dog Buster actually has a really great character arc over the course of the movies. Right at the end of Toy Story, Andy receives Buster as a Christmas present, much to the concern of the toys. By the time Toy Story 2 rolls around, Buster is an integral part of the toy group, with Woody even being able to train him. By Toy Story 3, Buster is old and a little chubbier than he was as a puppy – the scene where he falls asleep and falls on Woody will always make me chuckle!
Whilst it’s unlikely that we will see Buster again, he definitely goes down in my list of best boys in the Pixar universe.
In all honesty, this list could have been 30 of the best side characters in Toy Story, but I tried to keep this as concise as possible and based on my personal preference!
What characters would you add to this list? Who do you want to make an appearance in Toy Story 5? Let me know in the comments.
Pixar rarely ever gets it wrong when it comes to their movies and TV series, and the same can be said for some of the shorts they’ve published over the years. Believe it or not, there are nearly 50 different Pixar shorts available to watch on Disney+, ranging from movie-related spin-offs like Toy Story’s Small Fry, through to Pixar originals like The Adventures of André & Wally B — which was actually Pixar’s first ever production, all the way back in 1984.
Here are 5 Pixar shorts you need to watch on Disney+:
Piper (2016)
Piper is an Academy Award-winning short that released alongside Finding Dory, back in 2016 and honestly, it’s one of my favourite Pixar shorts ever released. The premise is simple; it follows a baby sandpiper learning to overcome fear and feed herself at the shoreline.
Despite the simple premise, the animation is absolutely breath-taking, with many viewers actually mistaking it for live-action at first glance!
There’s also an Easter egg where Piper appears in the background of one of the final scenes in Finding Dory — it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, but a lovely touch for fans paying close attention. (Pixar hasn’t officially confirmed it’s the same sandpiper, but the resemblance is pretty clear!)
Bao (2018)
Bao is a heartwarming story about a lonely Chinese-Canadian mother who gets a second chance at motherhood when one of her handmade dumplings comes to life. Yes, the premise is a little bit quirky that at first you may raise an eyebrow, but by the end you are an emotional wreck.
It’s a real testament to Pixar that they are able to explore topics like love, parenting and letting go, all through a dumpling!
Purl (2019)
Purl is a must watch for anyone who has ever worked in any kind of office environment! It follows a ball of pink yarn (again, stick with it!) who tries to fit in at a toxic, male-dominated corporate office. The tone of Purl is a little edgier than the vast majority of Pixar’s other works, but it does a great job of tackling a number of social issues.
It’s part of Pixar’s SparkShorts initiative – a platform where studio artists can tell more personal, experimental stories – and this one really hits the mark.
Kitbull (2019)
Kitbull is another absolutely fantastic short from Pixar, which is probably more relevant to watch now than ever! Kitbull brings together a fiercely independent stray kitten and an abused pitbull in a story about friendship and healing. As an animal lover, Kitbull really does tug at the heartstrings and I can’t recommend it enough.
Uniquely, it’s animated in 2D – which is rare for Pixar. With the recently announced Gatto (a new Pixar film set in the world of Luca) also using 2D animation, Kitbull is a great taste of what’s to come.
Luxo Jr. (1986)
Of course, I can’t recommend Pixar shorts without mentioning Luxo Jr., starring the studio’s very own mascot. The short follows a curious baby lamp playing with a ball under the watchful eye of its parent.
It may only be 2 minutes long, but Luxo Jr. is emotionally rich and hugely significant — it’s considered a massive breakthrough in computer animation. It was also the first CGI film ever nominated for an Academy Award, making it a must-watch for animation fans and Disney historians alike.
Final thoughts
While Pixar’s incredible feature films get most of the spotlight, their shorts are equally powerful, offering compact, creative storytelling packed with emotion and artistry. Whether you’ve only seen a few or you’re deep-diving into the full library, these five are a great place to start.
What’s your favourite Pixar short? Let me know in the comments!
Pixar surprised fans on social media yesterday with a major announcement: a new film set in the world of Luca, plus new images and concept art for their upcoming projects.
New Pixar Movie Gatto Announced!
Image Credit: Pixar
Slated to arrive in cinemas in 2027, Gatto comes from Luca director Enrico Casarosa and returns to Italy, whilst following a black cat named Nero. Pixar’s post states that Nero is “Indebted to a feline mob boss, he finds himself forced to forge an unexpected friendship that may finally lead him to his purpose…”.
I’m thrilled we’re heading back to the world of Luca! I’ve always felt the film flew under the radar due to its pandemic release, but I also like the fact that Gatto is a completely new original story, set in the world of Luca, rather than a direct sequel. I wonder if Nero will cross paths with Machiavelli, Giulia’s dads cat?
The image released alongside of the announcement shows the main character Nero exploring the streets of what looks to be Venice. At first glance, the image looks like concept art — but it’s actually the final animation style of the entire movie! This is super refreshing to see and credit to Pixar for trying something new.
The whole concept of a main cat protagonist in an animated movie is especially interesting, given that earlier this year the animated movie Flow won the Academy Award, as well as countless other awards. It may just be a coincidence, but those animated movie cat lovers out there are in for a treat!
New Image From Hoppers
Image Credit: Pixar
Pixar also released a brand new image from Hoppers, an upcoming Pixar film scheduled for release in March 2026. The image shows two joyful-looking beaver-like creatures, one wearing a crown and holding a stick. Whilst we don’t know a great deal about Hoppers just yet, the Pixar website states that the basic premise is that ‘scientists have discovered how to “hop” human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals!’.
Of course, the new image doesn’t reveal much in terms of plot, but I must say, the animation looks fantastic. Just look at how fluffy the beavers’ fur is!
New Concept Art Image From Toy Story 5
Image Credit: Pixar
Toy Story 5 is also set for a 2026 release, and Pixar has released a concept art image. The image depicts Buzz, Jessie and Bullseye facing off with a tablet, which again coincides with what we know about the premise of Toy Story 5: ‘it’s Toy meets Tech’. Again, the image doesn’t really give us anything more than what we already know, but it’s another sign that we’re edging ever closer to seeing Woody, Buzz and the gang back together!
Which upcoming Pixar film are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments.
Earlier this year, I stayed at Disneyland Paris’s Hotel Cheyenne and thoroughly enjoyed my stay. Hotel Cheyenne is a perfect blend of Disney theming, fun and affordability (in Disney terms that is!). I’ve broken this review down into four sections, the hotel itself, the room, the location and price.
The Hotel & Theming
Checking in to Hotel Cheyenne, you are immediately greeted with a fantastic Wild West themed lobby, complete with cast members all wearing authentic cowboy attire. The check in process was smooth and despite not being able to check in to our room right away, we were able to store our luggage securely to collect after our first busy day in the park.
The grand lobby of Hotel Cheyenne, setting the immersive Wild West tone from the moment you step inside!
The theming of Hotel Cheyenne is truly fantastic. Focusing on the Wild West theme, it leans into Toy Story to really provide that added Disney touch. There are numerous Toy Story posters, displays and statues located all around the hotel. There are a few areas where the theming could be a little more polished, but as a whole, I think it masters immersion very well.
Toy Story theming galore – found this classic poster brightening up the hotel halls!
Cheyenne is undoubtedly less classy than the likes of Hotel Marvel or the Disneyland Hotel, but it definitely focuses on the fun elements which are much more suited to younger children (or big kids like myself!).
The hotel itself is huge and actually more like a holiday village, rather than a standard hotel. Capitalising on that Western theme, there are numerous buildings that house their rooms, all aptly named to the theme, with the likes of Jesse James and Billy The Kid. All buildings are accessible and have ramps and elevators for those who need them, but the hotel grounds are pretty large so bear that in mind! It is probably a 10-minute walk from one side of the hotel to the other.
Dining
Hotel Cheyenne is home to the Chuck Wagon Café, an all you can eat tex-mex buffet. We didn’t eat here during our stay, however we did have a nosy around and looked at the food on offer, which mainly comprised chillis, barbecued meats and a few Asian dishes. As a vegetarian, there were some plant-based options, however not quite enough to justify the price tag (check out my top 5 plant-based meal options at DLP here). The restaurant’s theming perfectly complemented that of the rest of the hotel, designed to evoke a bustling wagon station.
Walking through Hotel Cheyenne’s main street feels like stepping straight into a classic Western movie after dark.
There is also a Starbucks at the hotel, located next to the General Store, however according to the Disneyland Paris website (as of June 2025), this is currently closed for renovation. I’m not really sure why it’s undergoing refurbishment – it looked great when we visited in January! But don’t worry too much, if you need your coffee fix, there is a Starbucks in the Disney Village which you will pass if you walk to the parks in the morning.
Shopping
As with all Disney hotels, there is a small shop onsite at Cheyenne which is aptly named the General Store. The selection on offer is fairly basic and pretty consistent with what you will see at some of the other hotel stores; mugs, pins, plushies, snacks. There were a few things we did see in the General Store which we didn’t actually see in any of the other shops, however, I don’t believe these were exclusives, more likely a matter of fluctuating stock.
We did utilise the Shopping Carry Service available at Disneyland Paris which worked an absolute treat; we purchased a few things in one of the parks that were too bulky to carry around all day so we sent them to our hotel and then collected them later that day from the General Store. We’ve used this before at various hotels and it is always a simple process that I’d highly recommend.
Things to do
There is a fair bit to do at Hotel Cheyenne to keep both children and adults entertained. For children, there is a very small ‘indoor play area’ located in the hotel lobby, which, in all honesty, is absolutely tiny and every time we walked past was consistently very busy with lobby traffic. There are some much more impressive outdoor fort style play areas for children scattered around the hotel grounds which provide countless fun, as well as the possibility to go for a pony ride – this was unsurprisingly closed when we visited in temperatures hovering above zero degrees!
The daily Cheyenne Gazette and our trusty MagicPasses – essential reading (and access!) for every stay.
For adults, Cheyenne is home to the Red Garter Saloon, a bar located along from the Chuck Wagon Café and the General Store. It has both indoor and outdoor seating and we popped in here for a brief drink one evening and we loved it. There’s a really nice vibe to the bar and there are even Western style drinks available on the menu like the Runaway Train (raspberry vodka, curacao, raspberry nectar and fresh lemon juice) and the Wild West Bandit (whiskey, peach liqueur, raspberry purée, passion fruit nectar and tonic water). We did visit in the evening but it wasn’t too busy and made for a cosy atmosphere.
Character Experiences
Whilst we didn’t do any character meet and greets at Hotel Cheyenne during our time there, it is possible to meet both Woody and Jessie at the hotel. These characters are generally considered exclusive to Hotel Cheyenne, so make sure you do not miss them if you want photos and autographs. During our visit, we were advised that you can meet Jessie or Woody at the entrance of the Red Garter Saloon between 8:15am to 11am.
NOTE: You don’t need to stay at Hotel Cheyenne to meet Woody and Jessie, or to visit the hotel for that matter. You can simply visit the hotel by walking from the Disney Village.
The Rooms
We stayed in a ‘Woody’s Roundup’ standard room and honestly, it was great! As with most Disney holidays, you never really spend too much time in the room itself as you are out at the theme park all day, but Cheyenne’s standard rooms are more than sufficient. The theming of the rooms is great; there are Toy Story pictures hung upon the walls, Woody lampshades, cow print pillows and even a horse shoe mirror! The theming works wonderfully and creates the perfect atmosphere to rest your head after a long day in the parks. I was a big fan.
Ready for a good night’s sleep after a long day of adventures – loving the subtle cow print touches!
There are tea and coffee making facilities in the room and complimentary bottles of water too. Unfortunately, these are not replaced with the maid service, however if you have a water bottle you want filling, I had no problem getting this topped up at the Red Garter Saloon by staff. It’s worth noting too, there is no mini-fridge in the room which isn’t the end of the world, however it would come in handy if you were preparing lunch or snacks to take into the parks.
There is a television in the room which has the standard international news channels available, as well as a few local French channels too. There is an on demand Disney TV where you can watch a handful of Disney documentaries, as well as a music channel where you can watch Disney hits in a video compilation; albeit this kept cutting out when we tried to watch it for some reason. The on demand stuff is pretty half-baked if I’m honest and I really think Disney are missing a trick by not installing Disney+ into every room, or at least giving users the option to sign into their accounts.
Even the TV screen gets in on the Wild West action, alongside our much-needed morning coffee fix!
The bathroom is fairly spacious and comes with a bath shower. Overall, the bathroom is fairly basic and doesn’t quite live up to the impressive theming of the bedroom. The shower curtain is a yellowish brown and is adorned with horseshows which on the surface looks quite cool but can actually look a bit dingy at first glance. Of course, this is just a minor gripe about the theming, the bathroom itself was absolutely fine, in fact the shower pressure was actually quite good!
Even the toiletries at Hotel Cheyenne are ready for a rootin’ tootin’ good time!
The Location
Located roughly a 20-minute walk from the Disneyland Parks and only a 10-minute walk to the Disney Village, Hotel Cheyenne offers the perfect balance of being close to the action whilst feeling out of the way. The walk to the village and parks is very nice, you essentially follow the river along to the lake at the Disney Village, before walking past the Marvel Hotel and then reaching the village.
If you don’t want to walk however, there is a regular shuttle bus which takes guests to and from the hotel to the parks. We never used this service as for us, on a cold winters morning, a brisk walk was the perfect start to the day. Plus, by the time you’ve waited for the bus and everybody is onboard, you will probably arrive at the park at a similar time anyway!
One thing worth mentioning about the location too is its proximity to Hotel Santa Fe. Santa Fe is the Cars themed hotel and sits directly opposite Hotel Cheyenne, on the other side of the river. There are a few bridges that do actually connect the two hotels, so it is possible to visit this hotel if you want to check it out. We did this and had a bit of a nosy round and in doing so, we found that there is actually a fuel station located a brief walk from Santa Fe. There is a shop here and they do sell snacks, drinks (no alcohol) and food, however the prices were just as expensive as those in the Disney complex. It’s handy for essentials that Disney may not stock, mind you.
The Price
We stayed during January, so managed to secure a good price on our hotel package and park tickets. In fact, Hotel Cheyenne was actually the cheapest Disney hotel available (bar Davy Crockett Ranch) to book for us at the time and this is something I’ve seen previously when looking at prices. This is despite Hotel Cheyenne being a 3 star hotel and Santa Fe being 2 star. It seems like these two both interchange as being the most affordable onsite hotels.
That being said, as with most things, prices can fluctuate very easily! Having looked at the DLP website and compared a few of the hotels for their cheapest nights in July of 2025, Cheyenne actually came in at more expensive than both Santa Fe and Sequoia Lodge (£218 versus £205 and £213 respectively, based on 3 days, 2 nights). It’s worth bearing in mind that price doesn’t always represent hotel quality class when it comes to Disney hotels, or all hotels for that matter.
Ultimately, if I were paying £218 a night to stay at Cheyenne in the summer (including park tickets), I would consider that fair value. There isn’t a huge amount to separate these three hotels; it’s more a case of personal preference.
The Final Verdict
Disneyland Paris’s Hotel Cheyenne is a fantastic, affordable option available for guests who want to stay on a Disney property and enjoy the perks that they have to offer. Personally, I’m of the opinion that if you have the budget to stay onsite, it’s well worth it to take advantage of the magic hours and fully immerse yourself in the theming; and this is what Cheyenne does brilliantly. With a mix of things to do, fun and vibrant rooms and a handy location, I can definitely recommend a stay at Hotel Cheyenne!
Have you ever stayed at Hotel Cheyenne, or is it on your Disneyland Paris wish list? Let me know your thoughts or questions in the comments below – I’d love to hear from you!
The Lego Group and Disney continue to expand their longstanding relationship with a brand new wave of Lego Disney sets which are set to release this summer. We are in for a treat too as there are some fantastic sets releasing, with sets covering Toy Story, Princesses and even 101 Dalmatians! Check out the details of each set below.
I am a huge fan of this set! I think it’s a great tribute set for Toy Story’s 30th anniversary, encapsulating some of the charm of the first two Toy Story movies. The train itself really reminds me of the sort of train you’d see at a Disney park parade. Minifigure wise, it’s also really nice to get a Bo Peep minifigure in her dress from the early Toy Story films; previously, we’ve only had her refreshed Toy Story 4 look in the previous wave of sets. Plus, there’s a fantastic-looking Billy, Goat and Gruff print to accompany Bo Peep, which I think is a really nice touch.
Price-wise, $39.99/£34.99/€39.99 isn’t too bad in the scheme of things. Unfortunately, Disney sets often come at a premium compared to Lego’s own, but I think for the 4 minifigures, 3 army men, Billy, Goat and Gruff print, and the overall build, the price is justified.
It’s been a few years now since we’ve had a Toy Story set release, so it’s great to see that the Lego Toy Story license is continuing – does this also mean we will get sets when Toy Story 5 releases next year?!
This is another absolute standout set for me! Usually I don’t pick up any of the Princess sets (not a huge fan of the mini dolls, much more of a minifigure man!), however, I don’t think I can resist picking this set up!
Firstly, I think the castle itself is really impressive, with 5 different sections to the castle all being designed specifically for the 5 different princesses included in the set. From left to right, we have a water-themed tropical section for Moana, an Arabian-style castle for Jasmine, a standout tower at the centre of the set for Rapunzel, elements of traditional Chinese architecture for Mulan, and then finally another water section, this time focused on the ocean for Ariel. I feel that having these five different sections will help keep the build fun and also offer great play opportunity for younger builders.
However, the standout from this set for me is undoubtedly the pet mini-doll figures that accompany their Princess counterparts. We’ve seen some of the pet figures in various sets before; however, I believe this is the first time we have seen a Lego Mushu figure! Being a huge Mulan fan, this is definitely a day-one purchase! Whilst the retail price may be a little high to justify the Mushu figure alone, I think the set as a whole offers fair value for money and is perfect for Lego fans young and old.
This is the first of two 101 Dalmatians sets releasing as part of this summer 2025 wave, and it’s aimed at younger builders. However, despite the 6+ rating, I think this set is going to have huge appeal for Lego Disney fans of any age! Featuring brick-built figures of Lucky and Penny, plus a small TV with a nice little tribute to Thunderbolt from the original 101 Dalmatians movie, I think the build looks really smart overall. I do question the use of tan pieces on the underside of the two Dalmatians, as Dalmatians are typically white all over; however, this is only a minor concern I have. At a retail price of $24.99/£19.99/€24.99, I think this set is fantastic value – the only issue is I would want to buy 50 more sets to have 101 Dalmatians!
While I appreciate I’m not necessarily the target audience for this Minnie Mouse Pet Hotel Lego Set, the set overall just seems fairly lacklustre, particularly given the price. While there is some playability with the slide and there are some nice characters, Figaro and Creampuff in particular, I think the set is grossly overpriced. When you compare the price of this set to the Toy Story Celebration set, it’s a no-brainer which one to pick up, if you were given the choice!
Again, this is another set that doesn’t quite tick the boxes for me. Firstly, the build seems fairly lacking in my opinion – rather than focusing on both the Arendelle Castle and Ice Castle, focusing on one, slightly larger build would have been a better route to go down. I get the impression that Lego are almost going for a Polly Pocket style build with this set; however, I don’t think this translates very well to Lego.
This is reinforced with the strange-looking mini-doll figures in the set too. Now, I mentioned I am not a huge fan of the mini dolls anyway; however, in this set the large heads and small bodies just frankly look rather odd. I am impressed with the wide selection of characters in this set, however, particularly Honeymaren, who is a bit of a random yet welcome inclusion. Price-wise, I’d argue that this set is a little overpriced and would definitely wait for a sale if you were looking to pick this up.
With the upcoming live-action Lilo & Stitch film releasing later this month, it makes perfect sense that Lego are releasing more Lilo & Stitch sets, and finally, Angel gets the brick treatment! I think the build looks fantastic and really encapsulates the charm and sassiness that Angel exhibits in Lilo & Stitch: The Series. While I feel like the playability of this set will be fairly limited, I think Angel will make a fantastic display piece, particularly when accompanied by the existing Stitch set. At $64.99/£59.99/€64.99, I think this set is priced pretty reasonably.
The second of the 101 Dalmatians sets releasing this summer is this 101 Dalmatians Puppy Set, coming in at a whopping 1722 pieces. 1 Given the piece count, it’s no surprise that this set is marketed as 18+ (People under 17 can’t build big sets too?!). Of course, that comes with a hefty price tag. At $149.99/£129.99/€139.99, the set actually represents a fair price per piece, but it is still going to be an expensive purchase for any collector.
What helps to somewhat justify the price is the seemingly interchangeable nature of the set. It looks like there are several options to modify the puppy as you please: a red collar, blue collar, tongue in, tongue out, or perhaps one black eye to recreate everyone’s favourite puppy, Patch? Whilst definitely an expensive set, this is definitely one that I will be picking up.
Last but certainly not least is the brilliant Luxo Jr. set! I’m over the moon that the iconic Luxo Jr. lamp and Pixar ball have been made into a Lego set, and I’m equally happy with the very reasonable pricing. For a Pixar fan boy like myself, this is the ultimate display piece. What’s more, the fact that you can display it with Luxo Jr. crushing the Pixar ball is just the cherry on top! It is worth noting, however, that I do feel like the appeal of this set is going to be fairly limited; ultimately, it is just a lamp and ball, and it doesn’t have the universal appeal that a Mickey Mouse or Lion King set would have.
Overall, I’m very impressed with this wave of Lego Disney sets. It’s great to see some iconic movies like 101 Dalmatians getting some love, as well as Lego catering to both Disney and Pixar fans with varying display pieces. It’s looking like this summer is going to be an expensive one for me!
All these sets release on June 1st at Lego and other select retailers. Which sets are you most excited to pick up? Let me know in the comments below!
Steamboat Charlie 