Playmobil Advent Calendar Santas Workshop

★ PLAYMOBIL★ 5494★ 2015★ AGE GUIDE : 4-10 (Not for children under 3 years)★ 101 pc★ Assembly instruction booklet includedI always pop a chunky advent calendar in my basket to have from Amazon, and when the price decreases (which is usually the case); I place the order, which happened in October this year.The colourful, quality box measures around 40 cm x 30 cm x 8 cm overall and comes in a strong outer carton for safe transit.◄ SPOILER ALERT! ►Like a box of crackers, the box has a cardboard overlay detailing the contents, day-by-day, which I have gone on to show in my images to give an idea of the content this year. I discard this layer when giving as a gift so the recipient doesn’t know what to expect behind each window. If it is opened carefully, there is no evidence of this.Underneath, on one side of the box is a tree-framed, snowy scene with a path meandering off into the distance with an inbuilt hanger to put on a wall, if required. If just standing the calendar on a flat surface, which is quite successful due to its depth, the hanger just looks like the moon in the wintry night sky and doesn’t spoil the scene.On the other side are the advent calendar windows, showing Santa & his elves, busy with preparations and loading the sleigh, watched over by an angel. The windows vary in sizes and the numbers are easy to spot, each surrounded by a bright yellow star. They are relatively easy to open, by depressing and pushing back on the tab, and then tear the perforations. The rewards occasionally need basic assembling, adding to the fun.The contents are designed to go on the colourful backdrop – the base of which measures around 46 cm maximum x 24.5 cm maximum x 24 cm high maximum, and is a little fiddly to put together in terms of marrying up the cut-outs on the ‘roof’.I have included an image of the contents for the first four days, which are a mixed bag so far, IMO!Oh...and there is a bonus; an extra surprise (but we haven’t got there yet ~ Day 12, I think?):A great toy set...not just for Christmas, because the various pieces can be used in general play once all the windows are open...giving something extra for the big day onwards...and a solid reminder of a Christmas past!ooOooEDIT : January 2016I think that for a penny short of fourteen pounds (which I paid at the end of October 2015) this set was excellent value for money.The contents were exactly as described, with Santa appearing on Christmas Eve, as you would expect.The 'extra surprise' - a little boxed 'Memo Game' set is good quality, too ~ 20 thick cards each just short of 5 cm square with rounded corners ~ 2 sets of 10 different pictures to play, e.g. 'snap' with.That and all the other pieces have been played with on & off ever since.

My sister made me an advent calendar back in 2004 out of matchboxes, papier mache and the Playmobil nativity sets, after all this time it is getting rather battered and loved but my two young children adore it. I was delighted to discover Playmobil made their own calendars a few years ago but at the time the price was out of my range and I didn't think it looked like you got much inside for the price. How wrong was I! On the spur of the moment I ordered this the last week of November, my husband was not impressed when he realized I had spent nearly £25 on an advent calendar/Seasonal toy. However when it arrived one look on the back of the box swayed him. Note: Don't let the recipients of the calendar see the back of the box for it shows you what you receive behind each door! Each door holds something for Santa's workshop, e.g a blue basket with six teeny tiny animal figures (When I say teeny, I mean teeny! About half a cm in size. My five year old took to carrying them around in his pocket he was so delighted with them), a wheelbarrow and teddy bear, carrots for the reindeer, a "present" with toy racing car. There are four little card boxes behind various doors which you need to fold up into presents. This advent calendar comes with four figures - An angel, two elves and Santa himself (Who also comes with his list and quill on 24th), all hidden behind a different door. Inside the box there is a beautiful cardboard backdrop, you have to pop out some parts and fold it to make it stand. It really is gorgeous and the children loved setting up the scene each day. The card game you get is just a little box with a simple game of snap (Or pairs) inside. I think my children would have preferred an extra toy for the grotto but it is a nice idea. I will definitely be buying these annually. The excitement on my bairns faces each morning was wonderful and something you would not be able to get from a chocolate calendar. Plus they have a beautiful toy to get out every Christmas.

I bought this for my wife and I as a bit of fun and we actually had a ball with it. The scene was a little fiddly to put together (cardboard tabs fitting into difficult slots) but it wasn't impossible. Each day you get a little toy(s) that contribute to the Santa workshop scene. By the end our table was full of all kinds of toys. Some were quite fiddly to put together so if bought for a child, adult help is definately needed. Theres also some rather small parts so I wouldn't say it was suitable for very young children. After Xmas I put all the bits away with the decos and will be getting it out again next year. Great fun for kids and grown-ups too.

So far this has been the highlight of Christmas for my 3.5 y/o daughter. Every morning she opens a door to find a little surprise. And every day she sets up and rearranges her pieces and wonders what she will find tomorrow. I did a little rearranging of pieces to give her a more exciting start, but otherwise it's been fabulous. We will pack it up and save the pieces for her to play with next year.better than chocolate. would definitely buy another next year.

Fab set that kept my two girls (5 & 2) entertained for hours. They loved opening each door, so much so that we had to do it every other day so they could both open a door together! Some parts are very very tiny so small children would need close supervision. Great Playmobil quality. The only thing (in my opinion) to improve it would be a reusable calendar so we could do it all again next year rather than just play with the toys. But I imagine that by having a reusable calendar the price would increase accordingly. I will endeavour to make something to do this over the coming year!

This was a great purchase! My little girl loves it as she was getting a present each day in the build up to Christmas. The quality was excellent - the only very minor downside is that one piece was missing- we don't have the handlebars for the bike, so that piece meant we couldn't make the bike properly. Otherwise, a great alternative to the usual chocolate calendars.