LEGO Creator 3-in-1 31389 Iconic Ferris Wheel
LEGO Creator 3-in-1 31389 Iconic Ferris Wheel - First Look, Features & My Take
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The new LEGO Creator 3-in-1 31389 Iconic Ferris Wheel is a colorful amusement park set built around one of the best ideas for the Creator 3-in-1 format: three completely different rides made from the same collection of bricks.
With 916 pieces, the set can become a large Ferris wheel, a spinning UFO attraction or a classic carousel. All three models include moving functions, so this is not just about changing the appearance of the build. Each version actually behaves differently.
That is what makes LEGO 31389 particularly interesting to me. The three builds are connected by the same fairground theme, but they offer three distinct play experiences.
LEGO Creator 31389 at a Glance
- 916 LEGO pieces
- LEGO Creator 3-in-1 set
- Recommended for ages 8+
- Build 1: Iconic Ferris Wheel
- Build 2: UFO-themed spinning ride
- Build 3: Carousel with hanging swings
- 8 Ferris wheel passenger carriages
- Hand-operated rotating mechanism
- Ice cream stand
- UFO ride ticket booth
- 4 carousel swings
- 4 minifigures
- LEGO Builder app support
- Ferris wheel approx. 28 cm high
- Approx. 25 cm wide
- Approx. 16 cm long
What Makes LEGO 31389 Different?
The strongest thing about this set is that LEGO has not simply created three versions of the same ride.
The Ferris wheel is tall and slow-moving. The UFO attraction is compact and dynamic. The carousel is built around outward-swinging seats.
That means each rebuild changes both the shape of the model and the way you interact with it.
For a Creator 3-in-1 set, that is exactly what I want to see.
The Ferris Wheel Is Clearly the Main Attraction
The headline model is the Iconic Ferris Wheel, and it is also the largest visual centerpiece in the set.
At around 28 cm high, it has enough vertical scale to stand out in a LEGO amusement park without becoming too large for a normal shelf.
The wheel includes eight passenger carriages, which helps it feel like a proper fairground attraction rather than a miniature decorative model.
The Hand-Cranked Rotation Is the Most Important Function
A Ferris wheel only really works as a LEGO model if it can move.
Here, turning the handle at the rear rotates the entire wheel and carries the passenger cabins around the structure.
That simple mechanical feature transforms the build from a static display into something interactive.
It also gives the model a very clear play loop: load the minifigures, turn the handle and watch them travel around the wheel.
Eight Passenger Carriages Make the Wheel Feel Busy
The inclusion of eight carriages is important because it gives the wheel much more visual rhythm.
A Ferris wheel with only a few seats can look unfinished. Eight cabins create a proper circular pattern and make the model feel significantly larger.
They also give children plenty of room to add minifigures from other LEGO sets.
The Ice Cream Stand Adds Life to the Fairground
The small ice cream stand is not the headline feature, but it makes the Ferris wheel scene feel more complete.
Amusement parks are not only about rides. Food stalls, queues and small side activities help create the atmosphere.
The stand gives the minifigures something to do before and after riding the wheel, which helps extend the play beyond simply turning the crank.
The UFO Ride Is the Most Unusual Alternative
The second build transforms the same bricks into a UFO-themed spinning attraction.
This is probably the most visually unusual model of the three.
The ride can spin flat or at an angle, which creates a much more energetic movement than the slow circular motion of the Ferris wheel.
That difference matters because it makes the alternative build feel like a genuinely new attraction rather than a smaller version of the main one.
The UFO Theme Gives the Set More Personality
The extraterrestrial styling also gives the alternative build a stronger identity.
Instead of a generic spinning ride, the UFO design creates a mini theme inside the larger fairground concept.
The included ticket booth reinforces that idea and helps the model feel like a complete attraction rather than just a mechanical structure.
The Carousel Is the Most Traditional Fairground Build
The third model is a classic carousel with four hanging swings.
As the carousel rotates, the seats move outward, recreating the familiar motion of this type of fairground ride.
That mechanical movement is probably the most elegant of the three because it happens naturally as the model spins.
The carousel also has a smaller footprint than the Ferris wheel, which may make it easier to display or integrate into an existing LEGO city.
Which Build Is Best?
For display, I think the Ferris wheel is the strongest option.
Its height and circular structure make it the most visually impressive of the three.
For pure play, the UFO ride may be more exciting because the movement is faster and more dramatic.
The carousel sits somewhere in between. It is compact, recognizable and mechanically satisfying without taking up too much space.
That gives each build a clear reason to exist.
Four Minifigures Are Enough to Start the Scene
The set includes four minifigures: two children, one woman and a fairground worker.
That is enough to make the attraction feel active straight from the box.
The fairground worker is particularly useful because it gives the scene someone who can operate the rides, sell tickets or manage the food stand.
At the same time, an amusement park is one of those settings where adding minifigures from other LEGO sets feels completely natural.
Why Amusement Parks Work So Well in LEGO
Theme park rides are almost perfect LEGO subjects because movement is part of their identity.
A building can still work as a static model. A Ferris wheel, carousel or spinning ride becomes much more interesting when gears and handles make it move.
LEGO 31389 takes advantage of that by making all three options interactive.
That should help the set hold attention longer than a purely decorative build.
What I Like Most About LEGO 31389
The biggest strength is the mechanical variety.
All three models rotate, but they do so in different ways and create different visual effects.
The Ferris wheel emphasizes height and slow movement, the UFO ride focuses on speed and angle, and the carousel uses centrifugal movement to push the seats outward.
That makes the rebuilding experience more worthwhile than simply changing the shape of the same mechanism.
Possible Downsides
The biggest drawback is once again the main limitation of Creator 3-in-1: you can only build one ride at a time.
That feels particularly painful with an amusement park set because the Ferris wheel, UFO ride and carousel would look fantastic together.
To create a complete fairground using all three models, you would need multiple copies of the set.
Some builders may also find the main Ferris wheel less architecturally detailed than a dedicated premium fairground set because many of the pieces need to remain useful for the alternative builds.
Would Three Separate Rides Be Better?
For display, probably yes.
A fairground containing all three attractions would immediately feel more complete.
But the 3-in-1 format offers something different: one set can deliver three substantial building experiences without requiring three separate purchases.
For children who regularly rebuild LEGO sets, that trade-off makes sense.
Play Value
This is where LEGO 31389 should be strongest.
The moving attractions, passenger seats and minifigures create immediate interaction after construction is finished.
The set also naturally expands when combined with additional figures, food stalls or other LEGO City and Creator buildings.
A child can build an entire amusement park around the model without needing every addition to come from the same theme.
Display Value
The Ferris wheel has surprisingly good display potential.
Its circular structure creates a recognizable silhouette, and the colorful cabins add visual interest without making the model too chaotic.
At around 28 cm high, it is tall enough to stand out but still manageable for a normal shelf.
The amusement park subject also gives the model a cheerful appearance that works well in a LEGO city display.
Play vs Display: Which Side Wins?
I would put LEGO 31389 slightly more on the play side.
The moving mechanisms are too central to ignore, and the three rebuilding options encourage interaction rather than permanent display.
However, the Ferris wheel is visually strong enough that I can easily imagine many owners building it once and leaving it assembled for a long time.
How Does It Fit Into a Larger LEGO City?
Very easily.
An amusement park gives minifigures a destination that is completely different from the usual police stations, houses and vehicles.
The Ferris wheel could become the centerpiece of a fairground district, while smaller food stands and other rides could be placed around it.
Even if you only own this one attraction, it immediately introduces a new type of location into a LEGO city.
How Does It Compare With LEGO City 60501 Lava Land?
The two sets approach amusement parks very differently.
LEGO City 60501 Lava Land Roller Coaster Park is a larger themed destination built around a volcanic coaster and a complete story environment.
LEGO Creator 31389 is much more flexible because the same bricks can become three different rides.
If you want one elaborate themed park, the City set offers more environmental storytelling. If you enjoy rebuilding and experimenting with ride designs, the Creator model has the advantage.
Who Is LEGO 31389 Best For?
I think this set is ideal for children who love amusement parks, mechanical LEGO functions and rebuilding.
It should also appeal to LEGO city builders who want a large attraction without committing to a massive collector-scale fairground set.
The 916-piece count makes it substantial enough to feel rewarding but still approachable for builders aged 8 and up.
Collectors who never dismantle finished models may get less value from the 3-in-1 concept, especially if they strongly prefer the Ferris wheel.
Is 916 Pieces Enough for a Good Ferris Wheel?
Based on the official images, the answer looks like yes.
The model reaches about 28 cm in height and includes eight passenger cabins, four minifigures and an additional food stand.
That gives the main build enough scale to look complete while still preserving enough versatile elements for the UFO ride and carousel alternatives.
LEGO 31389 Size
The finished Ferris wheel measures approximately 28 cm high, 25 cm wide and 16 cm long.
The relatively compact depth is useful because the model creates strong vertical impact without consuming a huge amount of shelf space.
My Take on LEGO Creator 3-in-1 31389
Based on the official images and specifications, LEGO Creator 31389 looks like a strong use of the 3-in-1 concept because the alternatives change both the appearance and movement of the model.
The Ferris wheel is the obvious display centerpiece, but the UFO ride and carousel are different enough to justify rebuilding.
The moving functions are probably the set's biggest strength. Instead of creating three static fairground models, LEGO has made interaction part of every version.
The biggest weakness is also obvious: the three rides belong together so naturally that it is easy to wish they could all stand in the same amusement park.
One box cannot do that, but it can give you three very different fairground experiences.
For me, the Ferris wheel is the model I would keep on display, while the UFO ride is the one that would most tempt me to take it apart and rebuild everything.
Watch LEGO Creator 3-in-1 31389 Iconic Ferris Wheel
In my video you can take a closer look at the official images of LEGO Creator 3-in-1 31389 Iconic Ferris Wheel, including the Ferris wheel, UFO ride, carousel, minifigures and moving features.
Affiliate links. I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
What Do You Think?
Which version would you build first: the Ferris wheel, UFO ride or carousel?
And would you keep the main Ferris wheel on display, or dismantle it to try all three attractions?
Let me know in the comments.
#LEGO #LEGOCreator #FerrisWheel
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