lightsaber thoughts

[bumbershoot]

Now that we're back, having experienced the "build your own" light sabers, having experienced LOSING that one, and then having purchased TWO of the $10, no light, no sound, light sabers...thought I'd chat a bit about it.

Our son just turned 4. Along with the trip, a "build your own" was his present. Was I 100% on board with the present? No. He's too young for it. I don't know what the age recommendation for them was, but I think 4, especially a brand new 4, is too young. But I did it b/c hubby was whining about having to wait until whenever we go to WDW, and when I found out about the "byo" sabers I decided to go for it.

We got the l'saber on the 26th.

It's big and bulky. And heavy. The tube doesn't retract all the way into the handle, so you're always dealing with something twice as big as just the handle. The tube is LONG.

If you get a Darth Maul style, only ONE side lights up, ever. You will not get both sides lighting up, there is only one light bulb in it.

Luckily DS didn't want the Darth Maul style, as DS is a good guy ALWAYS, and besides that, he hasn't seen the movies with Maul in them. DS got the Luke l'saber, with the "new" handle (the one he makes after his first l's is lost), so it was relatively light, but still pretty heavy.



Alas, for a new 4 year old, even a fairly big, very strong one, that saber was too heavy. And at some point between making a crown at the Princess Fantasy Faire and going into ToonTown, it got so heavy that he entrusted it to one of us, and we lost it in a communal brain-free moment.

Sigh.


Once we figured out that it was an adult who lost it, we felt VERY guilty, and we ended up buying him not one but TWO of the cheapie, no light and no sound sabers for $10 each.

Guess what? Eamon loved those FAR more than he loved the "byo" saber. It's lighter, the action-end is shorter, and therefore more manageable for an under 42" kid.

And it has a belt clip. Very very important.


In retrospect, we both wish we had left the "byo" alone, and just waited on it until he's 5 or 6. It was too long, too heavy, and couldn't *really* be played with, not like he can play with the other ones!


I'm still hoping that someone found the "byo" and turned it in, and that we'll get a surprise in the mail soon, but it likely won't be given to him right at that time, b/c the smaller and cheaper ones are MUCH better for a kid like Eamon, and it will be more appreciated later on!


Those are my thoughts on the two kinds of light sabers we've now had experience with.

 

[audrabolster]

That's so sad to hear that it was lost, but it does sound like he ended up happier in the end. Hopefully they will find it, it always sucks to lose something in Disney, especially when it's something you paid for!

Thanks for the review of those too, I was curious as to what they were like.

 

[mommyarewegoingback]

I agree with you bumbershoot. My DS is 7, and is crazy Star Wars fan, reenacts and plays with his friends all the time. He has the BYO and the cheap walmart ones. He plays with the cheap walmart ones the most. The BYO is awesome when you build it, but like you said, even for a 7 y.o. it is way too heavy. One other thing I didn't like was that the saber tube part doesn't "lock" when closed (which the cheaper ones do), so it keeps coming out. Also, the light that comes from it, is very hard to see during the day, so it's just a see through tube during the day, and that is totally not fun.

Note he enjoyed the keychain light up light saber at the end of Star Tours better especially since he could carry it around while we were waiting in lines and at night when we were waiting for a show.

-Virginia

 

[godalejunior]

The belt clip is very important I agree. DS has been playing with lightsabers since he was three and I agree it sounds as if the cheaper models are easier to deal with. We have all the sabers (cheaper models) made thus far including the ones that shake and make sounds. I haven't decided if we are doing to do the "make your own" one yet. I believe it would be "cool" for a week or so and find its way to the bottom of the toy box.

 

[bumbershoot]

Note he enjoyed the keychain light up light saber at the end of Star Tours better especially since he could carry it around while we were waiting in lines and at night when we were waiting for a show.

-Virginia

I love the keychain sabers! They are such a cool light, they are WAY better than the big ones. We have three!

But hubby kept whining at me about it and I gave in, grr.

So now I've stolen the keychains (I'm sure DS will come back to them, when he realizes he wants something that actually lights up and he's not wanting to whack things like he can with the cheap ones).


Forgot to mention the dim light. They said that with little kids they give three color filters, to make the color stronger, but since the lightbulb is about 5 watts (I exaggerate) it really doesn't much matter!

 

[Quest4Kingdom]

i think there are small chokable parts too in the BYO saber... although my 3 yo swung it around as if he undoubtly had the FORCE! Getting hit by that from a 3 yo that doesn't know his own strength is reason enough that it's just too big for him! DH says he got it for DS, ya... suuuuuuure!

 

[GrumpyButHappy]

So the big ones that light up you can make your own, how about the smaller ones you were talking about can you do that there too?? And keychain ones where to get those?? I am interested it sounds like fun how you described it

Thank you for your input is has helped me to think maybe my lil guy needs the smaller one too!

 

[bumbershoot]

i think there are small chokable parts too in the BYO saber... although my 3 yo swung it around as if he undoubtly had the FORCE! Getting hit by that from a 3 yo that doesn't know his own strength is reason enough that it's just too big for him! DD says he got it for DS, ya... suuuuuuure!

Yes, the "crystals" that you put in the base to make different noises could definitely be chokable. I'm lucky in that Eamon has never been one to pop little things in his mouth, but if we had a littler kid around there's NO chance I would have the BYO saber around (if, indeed, we still had it, LOL).

So the big ones that light up you can make your own, how about the smaller ones you were talking about can you do that there too?? And keychain ones where to get those?? I am interested it sounds like fun how you described it

Thank you for your input is has helped me to think maybe my lil guy needs the smaller one too!

The ones we ended up getting are the most basic sabers in the Star Trader store. They aren't even in a box, they are hanging on the end caps of shelves.

I'll post some pictures later.

 

[Quest4Kingdom]

I heard that these BYO ones are the ones they use at the Jedi Training Academy. I wasn't sure, as my kids aren't big enough to do it yet.

 

[Laurabearz]

Wow.. I can't beleive you caved.

I fear those Light Sabers! I look at them and all I see an eyeball poked out, or a cheek ripped open... lol

Thanks for the insite, and I agree, with the little ones, simpler is better.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Unless they've changed things around since December, I'm pretty sure the JTA sabers are the lightweight $10 ones.

The ones that Vader and Maul appear to be Master Replica FX lightsabers and they cost around $120. They're considerably better than the BYO sabers, but are not built to endure a child's reenactment of Star Wars.

I think the $10 ones are really the best for younger children. Although I've never owned a BYO saber, I do have two of the Hasbro toy light up lightsabers with sound effects and they've got some bulk to them. I think the Hasbro ones are very similar if not virtually identical to the BYO sabers except for the BYO part.

 

[Corpsebride]

The cutest thing ever! I love seeing those little tiny kids up against Darth Vader. It is soo freekin cute! And I love seeing the girls, they really give him the business! Thank goodness our Universe is protected by these young Padewon! It is especially adorable when the young Jedi students are about 1/3 the size of the Light Saber really precious!

 

[jacky b]

I agree with the weight of those BYO light sabers. We were there the end of May and my 11 year old made one of the 2 sided ones and I was surprised how heavy it is. I told him he can't play in the house with it because he would break something. You should see him in the yard with it!!! He loves that thing. He thinks it's the best $22 he has spent at the resort (except for the Lego store )

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i never knew there was a byo lightsabor, how much is the darth maul one and is there vader ones? do any of the ones fromt he store light up or make noise whats the keychain ones

 

[Sleepless Knight]

The BYO light up and have sound effects. I think the keychain ones only light up though. As I understand it, the difference between the BYO ones and the light up Hasbro ones in the boxes that are modeled after specific characters is only that you get to choose your hilt, blade color, et all with the BYO.

 

[jacky b]

The single one is 19.95 and the double one is 21.95. You can pick different pieces to customize to the different character you want.

 

[bumbershoot]

I heard that these BYO ones are the ones they use at the Jedi Training Academy. I wasn't sure, as my kids aren't big enough to do it yet.

They are the $10 ones that E ended up with after the BYO disappeared.

i never knew there was a byo lightsabor, how much is the darth maul one and is there vader ones? do any of the ones fromt he store light up or make noise whats the keychain ones

The cheapie ones don't light up or make sounds, but there are ones in boxes that do light up. They are 5 years and up, I assume b/c they are a bit more intense than the cheapies (which are for 4 years and up) and have more breakable parts.

And the BYO ones light (though the double-ended sabers can only light on ONE side) and make sounds, based on the "crystal" you put in the hilt. You get three "crystals" and I have NO idea how they work (they are just colored plastic) other than I figure they hit little buttons differently, but they do make different sounds.

 

[bumbershoot]

Here's a shot of Eamon (41.5 inches tall, approx 40 lbs, to give you an idea of size) with his keychain light saber.

I'll get more later, but I've been doing other things today and couldn't deal with taking MORE pictures while dealing with last week's!

 

[stacymomof2]

So would it be safe to say that the BYO is more of a decoration than a toy?

How much do you think they weigh? It seems scary that little kids would be swinging this big heavy things around!

My DH would think they are cool though....and I'm sure both my DD's would love them too!

I'm ok with NOT having one though!!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I think the BYOs are definitely toys. The key issue becomes how big the child wielding them is.