The LEGO Group has officially unveiled the highly anticipated 43263 Beauty and the Beast Castle, cementing its place as one of the flagship builds for Disney fans of 2025.
On March 5, 2025, LEGO.com revealed the first look at the set, confirming its price, piece count, and release date, making waves throughout the LEGO community. This set will be available to LEGO Insiders starting April 1, 2025, and to the general public from April 4, 2025. Pricing is set at £239.99 for customers in the UK, $279.99 for those in the US, and €279.99 across European markets, reflecting a significant drop from the previous Disney Castle set.
Comprised of 2,916 pieces and standing at 53cm tall, the Beauty and the Beast Castle offers both impressive stature and engaging build experience. It showcases the iconic architecture from the beloved Disney film, complete with dramatic elements like the grand ballroom, where Belle and the Beast can perform their famous dance.
LEGO has ensured nostalgia with this castle set, packing it with 10 character figures. Included are five standard minifigures: the titular characters Belle and Beast, along with Gaston, LeFou, and Maurice. The cast is completed by buildable characters such as Lumière, Fifi, Cogsworth, Chip, and Mrs. Potts.
While this set is smaller than its predecessors, such as the 43222 Disney Castle, which boasts over 4,837 pieces, it doesn’t skimp on details. One standout feature is the intricately crafted interior, which spans four stories and invites builders to recreate key scenes from the film. For fans, this feature might resonate deeply, especially the detailed spinning dance floor and the dining room with its enchanting rotating platters.
Beyond its visual appeal, builders may notice some clever design choices. A tiny nanofigure is cleverly integrated under the table supporting the enchanted rose, representing the small statues from the film. The inclusion of unexpected elements, such as upside-down doors on the ground floor, raises questions about design intent, whether intentional or quirky design oversight.
The grand hall itself is crafted for versatility. It's built to detach from the main structure, allowing it to be turned around to showcase Belle and the Beast leading to versatile display options.
The design also incorporates Chip’s mug form as a printed piece. A charming detail reveals how the handle of Chip’s mug actually forms his nose, staying true to the original character design featured earlier this year.
Fans are likely to appreciate Bella’s character build which includes a sitting dress mechanism, making it compatible with her famous dining scene. This clever adaptation echoes design techniques previously used, for example, from LEGO's 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell.
Even Beast isn’t left out of character customization; the model features dual headpieces, allowing builders to change his form from monster to human with ease. A hairpiece meant for Beast’s human form is attractively stored within the very top of the castle.
All these details contribute to making 43263 Beauty and the Beast Castle not just another set but rather, a heartfelt tribute to Disney’s legacy. It demonstrates how LEGO continuously integrates such narratives, allowing fans to build and celebrate these worlds through creativity.
LEGO’s relationship with Disney has been fruitful, birthing numerous sets over the years, and with the 43263 set joining the lineup, there’s little doubt it will quickly become sought after. Collectors and enthusiasts will want to seize this opportunity to expand their Disney builds as the April release date approaches.
LEGO is set to announce more surprises for 2025, with the Beauty and the Beast Castle positioning itself as the major foundation for Disney-themed building fans. Whether as sheer nostalgia or as part of extensive display collections, the new LEGO Disney castle is sure to enchant fans from all ages.
For the complete collection of LEGO Disney 2025 sets, it’s recommended to keep checking back on updates as March winds down, with more characters and stories waiting to be explored!