For the May 2015 LEGO Koala Monthly Mini Build we’re saying “hi” from sunny Florida!

…Although it didn’t look too sunny in the photo above. Instead of our usual Atlanta store, we visited the LEGO Imagination Center at Disney Village. Because of how busy the area is, we weren’t super excited to do the build here, but we made the trek anyhow.

While Mr. Family Brick waited in line at the store, The Little Brick and I played with the new Super Jumpers and built a few minifigures. When it was time for the build, we made our way back to the line and waited as patiently as possible.

Since we’ve never been to a build at another store, this was our first time with a different experience. This build had me appreciating the method in which our hometown LEGO store runs the monthly builds.

At our store, after waiting in line for the 5pm build to begin, they start letting in the kids and placing them at tables. If your turn in line comes after all the tables are filled, our store starts handing out tickets with times to return and work on the build.  This allows you to walk away and do other things in the mall instead of standing in line and waiting for your turn with a less than patient child. Then when you come back, you wait in line again (for a much shorter period) for an open spot at a table. Once you’re at the table, an associate opens your bag and let’s your kid get started building independently. All kids get to build at their own pace.

The experience at LEGO Imagination Center is much different. At this store, you wait in line until a full table of 6 spots opens up. There are no cards handed out, so if you don’t make that first round of people, you have to wait in line until a table opens up or you lose your spot. Once you get to the table, the process of building is not an individual, independent one. It comes with much hand holding. The LEGO associate walks all 6 kids through first, finding the pieces used in a step and then showing them how they go on the build. Wash. Rinse. Repeat… for every single step. Suffice to say, it makes for a much longer build. I wasn’t a fan.

Forty minutes later, (yes, I said “forty”), we were finally done.

After we left the store (empty handed, aside from the Koala), we walked through World of Disney and headed back home past the LEGO store. Of course, we took our standard photo with the LEGO family.

That’s also when I noticed I could actually see the other outdoor builds we couldn’t get at during last year’s visit to the store. We got to see the Snow White and Bashful build…

And we also saw the amazing Buzz Lightyear and Woody rocket build. I think this was my favorite. All those billow clouds of brick-built smoke were awesome.

Enough about our trip, since I know that’s not why you’re here…

In case you haven’t seen him, here is the Koala mini build from last night. (You’ll have to excuse my photos. My laptop is still full to the brim and I knew I wasn’t going to get the photos on here to clean them up, so my cell phone will have to do.)

And here is the build card with the parts list. Brickset and Rebrickable haven’t posted a list of parts with numbers yet, so I don’t have that for you. However, you can download the instructions for the May 2015 LEGO Mini Build Koala here.

There was one more interesting thing that occurred yesterday. While standing in line, we got notices of a new system for registering for the LEGO Monthly Mini Builds:

Introducing the NEW Online Registration Program for the LEGO Store Monthly Mini Model Build!”

Starting in July, you will be able to reserve your Mini Model Before you visit the LEGO Store!

What does this mean?

No more waiting in line!
Reserve your mini model build before your arrival!
Improved LEGO building experience!
Plan your mini model build according to YOUR schedule!
To register visit https://shop.lego.com/en-US/minibuild-registration July registration open 9am EST, June 1st – 11:59pm EST, July 6th.

In order to participate, guests must be between the ages of 6-14. All guests will be expected to complete the build in the store. Registration is on a first come first serve basis. Stores will no longer accept walk ups on the night of the event.

(Source: LEGO Monthly Mini Build Changes by Alan Tran of TheBrickFan.com)

Have you ever visited a LEGO Mini Build at another store? Was your experience better or worse than your home store?