NOTE: I purchased the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs myself, and this review is not sponsored in any way. I strive to always provide my honest opinion on LEGO® products. If you are curious about how I generate scores in this review, I invite you to read about the True North Bricks rating system.

INTRODUCTION

I went into the LEGO® Store intending to buy something else. I walked out with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs(43242). What can I say? I’m a sucker for a good deal. This set had been on my radar already—mostly for its charming medieval cottage aesthetic and that thatch roof technique I’ve been wanting to study up close—but the clincher was a damaged box on the riser. One little crease, and suddenly I’m walking out with an extra $50 CAD in Insiders points, on top of the usual haul. Resistance was futile.

So no, it wasn’t a full-on impulse buy—but it also wasn’t part of my carefully budgeted plan. Still, I figured I’d get some good MOC inspiration out of it.

This set brings together classic fairy tale nostalgia, some genuinely lovely design work, and just a touch of accidental horror—because yes, LEGO® has included the glass coffin, that crystalline reminder that nothing says “true love” quite like kissing someone who is, for all intents and purposes, dead.

But before we get to that delightful little rant (don’t worry, it’s coming), let’s take a look at the set itself…

SET SPECIFICS

QUICK REVIEW

FULL REVIEW

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Value Score Breakdown:

Forgetting for a moment that I effectively got $50 cash back thanks to the damaged box deal (which made the whole thing a steal), I was pleasantly surprised by the set’s base value. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (43242) retails for $289.99 CAD and includes 2208 pieces, which works out to approximately $0.131 per brick. Based on my experience, the average LEGO® set lands around $0.141 per brick, so this one comes in a bit below average—nice to see, especially for a licensed set.

That said, although this is technically branded under Disney, I think it’s fairer to compare it to the Icons 18+ line. The box says 18+, and there are no mini-dolls in sight. When we do that comparison, the picture shifts a bit. Icons sets generally offer excellent value, averaging $0.107 per brick. From that perspective, Snow White starts to feel a little less magical.

Rating: 67% for price per part.

As for build time, I clocked in around five hours total. For a nearly $300 set, that’s not a huge return in terms of time spent building. While the final model looks great—and the cottage is a real visual treat—the build itself is technically quite straightforward. It’s a relaxing experience, but not a particularly intricate or challenging one.

Build time rating: 60%

Taken together, that gives Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs an overall value score of 64%. As general LEGO® sets go—especially licensed ones—it’s not a bad deal. But for AFOLs looking to maximize part value or complexity per dollar, most other 18+ Icons sets will deliver more bang for the buck.

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Build Score Breakdown:

We’ve already established that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs isn’t an overly complex build. Despite that, I genuinely like it—a lot. In fact, I’m hard-pressed to find things I don’t like about it. The cottage is beautifully designed and nicely detailed. The real chef’s kiss is the thatch roof: a simple technique, but one that looks stunning when complete. You could almost drop this straight into any medieval LEGO® scene… almost.

The one glaring flaw? The open-back design. This is an 18+ set—not a princess playset—and correct me if I’m wrong, but I think most AFOLs prefer a more enclosed, modular-style build. I certainly do, and I plan to rebuild the cottage with that in mind.

Beyond that, my complaints are minimal. LEGO® wisely stuck to the script—no pointless side builds, no off-theme flourishes—and the set actually resembles the cottage from the animated film. If I’m nitpicking: the interior is a bit too cluttered, and the central hinge adds very little. I assume it was intended to improve access to interior spaces, but it doesn’t really succeed—at least not for AFOL-sized hands. Since I don’t know many adult fans who actually play with their sets, that’s not a dealbreaker. A good pair of tweezers works just fine for placing minifigures inside for display.

I built this set in stages over several days and enjoyed the entire process. I’ve heard complaints that the roof is dull and repetitive, but I suspect those people haven’t built the Eiffel Tower. Compared to that architectural slog, this roof is a magical woodland stroll—complete with tweeting birds, chipmunk cuddles, and the occasional musical number. I rate the build at 90%.

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Minifigure Score Breakdown:

Let’s get the usual rant out of the way first: stumpy, unmoving legs. This set includes ten minifigures, and seven of them are cursed with those useless little bricks we still call legs. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—the LEGO® Group needs to retire that nonsense. We’ve had short, articulated legs since 2018. The dwarfs have chairs and benches scattered throughout their cottage, but not a single one of them can actually sit down. It’s absurd.

My other gripe? The Witch. She’s movie-accurate, no question—but her hair is printed directly onto her torso. I get that producing a new element isn’t cheap, but it’s still disappointing. A molded hair-and-hood combo would have elevated her design immensely. They could’ve easily reused it in the Disney Villains Icons set an a future minifigure series to justify the cost. As it stands, she’s not exactly the fairest minifigure of them all.

That said, this set delivers big time when it comes to character design and accessories. All the figures are nicely printed, film-accurate, and come with alternate expressions—even if some of those are barely distinguishable. Better still, the minifigure count is unusually generous for an 18+ set: ten characters is a lot, especially when most Icons sets give you far fewer. Compared to LEGO® sets in general, the count is solid if not exceptional, but it still feels satisfying here.

Design & Accessories: 100%
Minifigure Count: 88%
Overall Minifig Score: 94%

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Entertainment Score Breakdown:

Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the girl in the crystal-clear coffin. LEGO® gives us a surprisingly nice little representation of Snow White’s famously passive nap. It’s beautifully designed, with transparent bricks and ornate touches—but context matters. The prince shows up, sees a dead girl in a box, and thinks: “Yes. That’s the one.” No heartbeat? No problem! Who needs meaningful conversation when you’ve got a waxy, immobile dream girl?

It’s one of those fairy tale moments that, the older you get, the more it makes you go, “Wait… what?” And now it’s immortalized in adorable LEGO® form, complete with a kiss so magical it brings her back to life and smooths over about a dozen ethical questions. And of course, they live happily ever after—despite Prince Charming initially falling in love with a corpse and Snow White agreeing to marry a complete stranger who made out with her while she was comatose.

All joking aside, I probably could have done without the coffin side build. I get that it’s integral to the story… but I bought this kit for the house design. I won’t go so far as to say the coffin is pointless—but it is a little tasteless.

In the end, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has inspired me to build a new MOC for my Viking Village display. I’ll stay true to the spirit of the set—especially that thatch roof—but I’ll make it modular and sealed from behind. It will look great alongside the same trees, well, and woodworking. I was entertained by this set, but I wasn’t blown away by the final product. As such, I rate it at 80%.

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But let’s be honest: for adult builders, the glass coffin is… a choice. It’s both iconic and unsettling, and while it faithfully represents the story, it also invites some pretty grim reflection when viewed through a modern lens. That said, the build itself is fun, parts-rich, and brimming with potential for creative reinterpretation. I didn’t love everything, but I enjoyed the process—and any set that inspires a new Viking MOC is certainly worthwhile. Not flawless, but memorable.

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