Things for an 8 year old boy Not to Miss!

[karters*mom]

We are taking our Son for his 8th b-day in april.
I am looking for some ideas ..and stuff not to miss!

I've been advised about the Free Plastic Robot thing.
Free Lanyard full of Charms kids can Colour in Epcot..What else is there to take advantage of!

We are arriving on Fri April 18th..He is turning 8 on the 19th!

I'm trying to make a list of what not too miss!

#1 is making a Light Saber...I think my husband is more excited about that...lol

 

[golden]

What is the free plastic robot thing and a light saber?

 

[karters*mom]

What is the free plastic robot thing and a light saber?

For $19.95 your child can make their own Light Saber..its pretty cool..as I've been told..and yet to experience! Its suppose to be in downtown disney!

Here is the Article about Epcot and free things.

Here’s a list of 5 activities, crafts, and snacks you can get for free – with directions on where to find them.

1. A Lanyard Full of Charms that Kids can Decorate Themselves.

Sharpie sponsors the 6 Kidcot stations in Future World. You can pick up a lanyard (necklace) at any of them. Visit them all to collect the different charms with fun themes like Kim Possible. Color them to make them unique.

Locations: All stations are located in Future World:

1. Innoventions East – near the entrance
2. Innoventions West – near the entrance
3. The Seas with Nemo and Friends – lower level
4. The Land – on the top level near “The Circle of Life”
5. Test Track – in the gift shop after you exit the ride
6. Imagination! – after the ride

2. Personalized Plastic Robot

This is very cool! First you build your own virtual robot and race it against other guests’ robots using the properties of plastic to give you an edge.

Then you choose the parts and colors you like and create your own real plastic robot to take home with you. This robot stands about 7 inches tall - with moveable limbs!

Location: In Future World’s “Innoventions East” at “Fantastic Plastic Works”

3. Chef’s Hat & Toll House Cookie

Nestle sponsors the Junior Chef Program where kids learn to follow a recipe and bake real Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookies. When they're fully baked, they get to sample the cookies they made. And - if that’s not enough – they also get to keep their chef’s hat!

Note: This program is available for children aged 3-10.

They must sign-up for this in advance and book a time. The groups are very small so get there early.

Location: In Future World’s “The Land” on the lower level near “Living with the Land.”

4. Need a Drink to Go with that Free Cookie? How about free soda?

This chill zone called “Club Cool” is sponsored by Coca Cola and features samples of beverages they sell around the world. It’s self-served and you can drink as much as you like. Some are yummy and refreshing. Others are … well – find out for yourself!

Location: In Future World past the Epcot Character Spot.

5. A Mask with Charms to Attach and Decorate

Pick up a mask at any country in the World Showcase, and then add a different charm at each additional country you visit. Spend some time and personalize the mask and charms with the Sharpie markers that are provided.

At the China pavilion, you can learn your birth sign (according to the Chinese calendar) and how to write your name in Chinese.

Tip: If you collect all 11 charms, you get a special bonus!

Location: In the World Showcase.

Enjoy!

 

[annie1995]

Is this lanyard and charm thing new at Epcot? Last time we did it, it was face masks

 

[karters*mom]

Is this lanyard and charm thing new at Epcot? Last time we did it, it was face masks

Not sure? Never been before just searching things out on the web..trying to get some tips and ideas

 

[Minnie M6]

Great thread! I have an 8 year old son who turns 9 April 14 and a 7 year old daughter who will turn 8 before our trip in December. I printed off your post about all the fun stuff to do in Epcot- thank you

I know one thing my son is really excited about is the Lego store at DTD. I showed him pics of the store online, and he can't wait! There are bins of Legos all over the walls, and kids can fill different size containers with legos for set prices. I think there are other fun things at DTD like an arcade and a pin store. That's the other thing my son is looking forward to- pin trading. I ordered some from Mousepinsonline and they came in the mail today- they are great! They were $1.75 apiece and he can't wait to trade them at the parks.

One other thing to add/ suggest: If you have a local Disney store, they are having great clearance sales now. I bought some plush characters and hats for each kid- I plan to put the characters on their beds at the resort as a surprise

HAve a great trip, and thenks for starting the thread- I'm looking forward to reading more suggestions!

 

[collcass]

Any of the Pirate Adventure Cruises.

 

[karters*mom]

Great thread! I have an 8 year old son who turns 9 April 14 and a 7 year old daughter who will turn 8 before our trip in December. I printed off your post about all the fun stuff to do in Epcot- thank you

I know one thing my son is really excited about is the Lego store at DTD. I showed him pics of the store online, and he can't wait! There are bins of Legos all over the walls, and kids can fill different size containers with legos for set prices. I think there are other fun things at DTD like an arcade and a pin store. That's the other thing my son is looking forward to- pin trading. I ordered some from Mousepinsonline and they came in the mail today- they are great! They were $1.75 apiece and he can't wait to trade them at the parks.

One other thing to add/ suggest: If you have a local Disney store, they are having great clearance sales now. I bought some plush characters and hats for each kid- I plan to put the characters on their beds at the resort as a surprise

HAve a great trip, and thenks for starting the thread- I'm looking forward to reading more suggestions!

We are going to Try pin trading too.bought some to start off with!

We don't have a Disney store near by...an hour away is the closest one!

i'll post more things as I find them....

 

[golden]

Is there a sizable offering of Bionicles at the Lego store?

 

[BigMike10]

My son has always wanted the Darth Maul double lightsaber. It is a fortune on ebay and you can no longer buy it, but you can MAKE one!! We saw a boy with one when we were leaving Disney and my son ran up to him to ask him where he got it. He said he made it in Downtown disney. We are definitely heading there on our next trip to make one. I thought this might interest anyone who loves Star Wars like my boys do. Another thing that is a must do is a Buzz Lightyear contest. You can do a little research online as to tactics for getting the best score. We have a contest between cars(spaceships) and often ride multiple times. It is so much fun. Ride Pirates at night--much more piratey. We also enjoy Jungle Cruise at night. It seems a little more realistic. Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

The Lego Store, Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear! Check if the P&PP is happening when you are there.
If he is into trains they have the Steam Train Behind the Scenes.

Also Disney online is having some really good prices on pins if you are going to start to trade.

 

[BryceB's mom]

Where do you make the light saber? I know you said downtown but what store? I think my eight year old son would love this.

 

[saturday97]

If you are already hip to the make your own lightsaber in DTD (a BIG hit with my son last year, age 9), you probably already know about the Jedi Training Academy at Disney Studios. Also, my son really enjoyed the Sci-Fi Dine In for lunch, and it was a lifesaver-- getting out of the heat for an hour! Don't forget ADRs, because they are often booked solid for the day!

I second the Lego Store-- a big hit!

 

[DBarber600]

My son's b-day is also April 19th! He will be 7.

If your boy really wants to be chosen for the Jedi Training Academy - bring a sign. It worked for us and our friends. Ours said "My Midichlorians Are Off The Scale" (Weird Al reference as well...). We printed ours off our computer and packed it. My friend had the same message but forgot to make the sign at home, so they wrote it on a napkin while waiting. This actually may be a better plan as the Jedi made a big deal out of the fact that they were holding up a napkin.

I totally second Fantastic Plastics. DS loves it!

Lightsabers are at Once Upon A Toy at DTD. You can make a Sith or Jedi model. Batteries are included. You used to get a Sith or Jedi trading pin as well. We made one last summer, so I don't know if they still do that.

We found that the only place that handed out the "laynards" for the KidCot stations is at The Land (station was located outside of the Garden Grill). These are laminated cards with Small World-esque illustrations on them and like 6 holes punched along the bottom to attach the die-cuts. It is strung on a cord. It is way cuter and a lot more convenient to carry, pack, display. We got ours 2 years ago, maybe someone else can confirm that they still have these. All other stations give you the huge masks.

If he likes Pokemon, Mitsikoshi (sp?), the store in the Japan pavilion in Epcot, has some Pokemon merchandise. My son is looking forward to it this year. He just got into Pokemon so he's really excited. They have cards and maybe some figures.

One last "free" thing that my son likes to do. At Disney Studios, in the Art of Animation building, they have a 10 minute drawing seminar, where a CM will teach you how to draw a Disney character. They do a different one every so often. I saw some kids asking the CM in the queue which character was up next because they were trying to collect them all. So, if your boy likes to draw...

He also likes restaurants with games like O'Hana or Whispering Canyon.

 

[maxtomsmom]

At AK, encourage your son to raise his hand enthusiastically during the Lion King Festival -the kids get to play instruments and march around.

At EPCOT - There are two different Kidcot projects for lack of better words. My DS completed the ones at the countries. He loves to show it to people.

Biergarten is a lot of fun for kids. They get to dance around with the Oompah band.

At Hollywood Studios- If your son likes Power Rangers, make sure you get there early and try to separate (you stand with your son in one line while your husband stands in another), the line builds up very quickly and you can get more than one autograph. They are only there for a brief period of time.


I wasn't sure if you needed any info on any of the rides, but let us know if you do?

Also, I believe you said it was a birthday surprise. Make sure you let your hotel and a CM know. Your son gets a free birthday button. If you let the restaurant know, they will have a surprise for him as well. I do believe its for sit-down restaurants only.

 

[RachelNinja]

As the previous poster said, there are 2 different projects at the Kidcot tables. The lanyard one is in Future World. The mask is in the World Showcase. My brother didn't want the mask so we asked them to just attach the cardboard cutouts to the Future World one.

I don't know if there's a cost but you can get a passport at American Adventure? And then get it stamped at all the countries at the Kidcot tables or something like that. We saw girls that had it but it started raining so we didn't make it all the way to American Adventure.

Pressed pennies and quarters! Great souvenirs. As other DISers have posted, fill those mini M&M tubes with 2 quarters and a penny (always in in that order) so you have them ready. I did it this time and it was so much fun not having to search for coins! Epcot has mainly the automatic machines, but my brother (9) had a lot of fun doing the hand crank ones at MK.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

Ours said "My Midichlorians Are Off The Scale"

.

That is awesome and so is your picture in your signature.

 

[futurecastmember]

Disney Quest!- If your son likes video games- he will LOVE this- my 8 year old son did this for the first time on our last visit and LOVED it- he didnt want to leave!

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

I second the build your own light saber. My son is 7 and he built Darth Maul in May 07 and yoda at Christmas 07. He is already planning what will be the next one to build on our next trip. I also second or third the Jedi Training. This was the highlight of my sons trip at xmas. He also loves pirates to, so the pirate tutorial at MK by the Pirate ride is great as well. Have great trip! I am positive this will be a birthday to remember for your son.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Pressed pennies and quarters! Great souvenirs. As other DISers have posted, fill those mini M&M tubes with 2 quarters and a penny (always in in that order) so you have them ready. I did it this time and it was so much fun not having to search for coins! Epcot has mainly the automatic machines, but my brother (9) had a lot of fun doing the hand crank ones at MK.

You can print out a list of the pressed penny machine locations at allearsnet.com

If he likes star wars than there is the jedi training you'll want to check out.

My son who was eight last visit loved looking for hidden mickeys. We bought the book for him.

For pin trading I bought them off the internet. I think it was pinseller.com and I got 25 assorted pins for a great deal. The kids had no attachment to them so they were happy trading them.