Question about Kidcots at Epcot WS

[JodyLynC]

I apologize if this board isn't the best place for these questions.

My girls take a wonderful preschool class at the local Community Center called "Mary Ann's Tiny Travelers." The class meets once a week. Each week Mary Ann chooses a country to talk about. The children learn fun facts about the country. They sing songs, do crafts, and have a snack representing that country. (I wish I could take it. For the Netherlands, they and crackers and cheese such as Edam or Gouda. But I digress..)

When my girls visit WS, they will want to participate in mask building at the Kidcots. Here are my questions:

1) Would the CMs allow me to make a mask as well if I explain that it is for a preschool class? Should I bring a class brochure to help explain why I want to do this or should the CMs be okay with this request?

2) Does each country have any fun facts handouts? I'd love to bring these back to the class.

3) I am hoping to bring back a very inexpensive item from each country for Mary Ann to share with the class. We are on a budget and bringing something back from each country might be a bit expensive. Do you have any recommendations for items that might be only a few bucks each?

4) Anything that you personally recommend doing, bringing back, etc?

Thanks so much!!!

 

[wilde_oscar]

1. the CMs won't mind at all if ya make a mask... I did, for me, no big deal

2. ask the kidcot CM is they have fun fact hand outs, some times they are better stocked on them than others.

3. the gift stores have cheap things too.

4. there are lots of things I recommend doing, do you mean for Epcot, or all of WDW? and a backpack would not be unheard of in the parks.

 

[JodyLynC]

4. there are lots of things I recommend doing, do you mean for Epcot, or all of WDW? and a backpack would not be unheard of in the parks.

I mean for Epcot WS in gathering stuff for my girls' class.

 

[sjlupin]

We just got back and did the EPCOT WS kidcot stations last Tuesday. My kids (12, 11 and 8) loved it. The younger 2 did masks and all 3 did passports. I made theirs (with designs from the Creative DISigns thread) but you can also buy them at EPCOT. In each country the CM at the KIDCOT station would stamp it, and also write a message in their native language. It was really cool and I would think that would be a really neat thing for your kids to bring back to the preschool class.

Have a BLAST! We sure did!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

One of the things you might want to consider bringing back are different foods from each country. Each of the countries sell prepackaged food/snack items. For instance, in China, we bought a honeydew cake. I t was already cut into slices like fig newtons. In Japan, we bought shrimp flavored potato chips. In Canada, we bought maple flavored candies. In Germany, there were chocolate cookies. Most snack items have multiple pieces in the packages so they can be shared by the class. Some of the foods were really good and some were really yucky but we had a good time sampling the various foods.

In some of the World Showcase countries, you can find booths set up....kind of like travel agency booths. They will probably be able to give you some information to pass along to the class.

Another really neat souvenier from Epcot are the park maps that are written in different languages. Just inside the park turnstiles, you will see a large display type shelf. The park maps are usually right there. If they are not, I would suggest you head over to Guest Relations. They will surely be able to help you out. The maps are free so that;s a pretty cheap souvenier.

We always get the castmembers in the various countries to write my children's names in their native language. You could write each child's name on a pretty index card and then have the castmember write it underneath. I wouldn't think they would mind at all so long as you are pretty organized with it and don't take up too much time.

If I think of anything else, I'll post it.

 

[bradk]

see http://www.stitchkingdom.com/kidcot for full details on the masks, the passport and the 'wishing tale' cards which i will tell you are very hit & miss and many CMs I spoke to (you don't always get them at kidcot) didn't even know about them. the reality is your best bet for them might be to go to guest relations and ask as they also stockpile them. i was able to get them all except for Norway

 

[disnut8]

A cheap souviner to bring back from each country would be a postcard. You could have the KidCot Cast Member sign that with the native greeting and any other fun facts they can think of. Also, take a camera and have a picture taken of your kids or even you with the KidCot Cast Member. And also of the pavilion. Take photos of the explanation signs so you don't have to write everything down.

Taking a backpack to collect things in Epcot isn't a problem. Make sure you take a pad of paper and a pen or pencil. In case the Cast Member wants to add anything else you can use for the class. Also, talk to any Cast Member in the pavilion. Write down their hometowns. Find those on a map. The Cast Members usually love to talk about their home country and you can get lots of information from them.

No need to spend a ton of money on things when all you need to do is just talk.

 

[JodyLynC]

These are all fantastic ideas!!

I can't wait!!!