Disney

Ariel's Underwater Palace

A candy-coloured coral castle that finally does King Triton justice.

Brick Rated Score

3.7/5

Set 43207 · 2022

Pieces498

Minifigs3

Year2022

Set number43207

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The verdict

This is the set that made me realise how much a good mini-doll can carry a whole build.

King Triton, with his shell crown and gold trident, is the reason to buy it. The palace itself is bright, playable and packed with little touches, but at 498 pieces for a full RRP it asks a lot for what you get. If you have a Little Mermaid fan in the house, they will adore it. If you are chasing piece-count value, this one will nag at you.

Best for: Little Mermaid-mad kids aged 6 and up who want a playset, not a display piece

The full review

What it is

The first thing that got me was King Triton. Disney mini-dolls can be hit or miss, but this one, with his flowing beard, shell-plated crown and gold trident, actually looks like the sea king should. Ariel and her sister Arista come along too, and the palace they live in is a cheerful stack of coral towers with the royal throne perched right at the top. Below sit little rooms with a dinner table, a bed, and, slightly bafflingly, a bath (I still do not know why a mermaid needs one), plus Ariel's stash of human treasures tucked away like the film. Two dolphin chariots round it out, one grand version pulled by three dolphins and a tiny one pulled by a baby, and honestly the baby chariot is the sweetest thing in the box.

The catch

I will be straight with you about the value, because it is the one thing that holds this set back. At 498 pieces for the original hundred-dollar price, the ratio is thin, and you notice it when the numbered bags run out sooner than you expect. The build is aimed squarely at younger hands, so it moves quickly and never really challenges you. There are no clever techniques to chew on, and once you have placed the furniture and accessories, a few of the rooms look a touch bare. This was never meant to be a display centrepiece for adult collectors, and judged as one it comes up short.

Who it's for

So who should get it? A child who loves The Little Mermaid will play with this for hours, swimming the dolphins around, sliding Ariel down the palace, staging little scenes with Sebastian and Flounder. It is bright, sturdy and endlessly rearrangeable, which is exactly what a six-year-old wants. If that is who you are shopping for, buy it happily. The people I would steer away are value hunters and technique lovers, who will look at the piece count and the gentle build and feel a little flat. It retired in December 2023, so if the figures are what you are after, grab one before prices drift. As a playset it earns its keep. As a collector's piece it simply is not trying to be one.

The parts story

What the build is actually like, and the pieces worth knowing about.

Building this is a breezy, cheerful hour. The palace goes up in bright coral towers, and because it is designed for kids the steps are large and forgiving, with plenty of that satisfying click as the reef structures lock together. Sebastian the crab and Flounder the fish arrive as their own moulded figures rather than brick-built, which younger builders love, and the four dolphins slot onto the chariots with almost no fuss. It never tests you, but it is genuinely pleasant, and the finished thing looks far more detailed than the parts count suggests.

The real reward here is the colour palette and the printed work. LEGO leaned into pearly pinks, teal shells and coral pieces that make the whole build read as underwater the moment it comes together, and the decision to print every detail instead of using stickers is one I wish more sets would copy. King Triton's crown and trident are the standout elements, and the clam and shell pieces scattered through the palace are lovely parts for anyone building their own reefs. For 498 pieces you get a surprising spread of useful shapes and soft colours, which softens the value complaint at least a little.

Fun facts

01All three mini-dolls, Ariel, her sister Arista and King Triton, are exclusive to this set and appear in no other LEGO release.
02The set arrived in March 2022, before the 2023 live-action remake, and retired in December 2023 after a short run.
03Alongside the three mini-dolls, the box packs six animal figures: Sebastian, Flounder and four dolphins.
04It launched at 99.99 dollars, and since retiring its value has actually drifted down rather than up, sitting around the low seventies on the aftermarket.