Barnstormer
The Barnstormer is a whimsical rollercoaster located in the Storybook Circus section of Magic Kingdom, designed for younger guests and those new to thrilling rides. Visitors can expect a gentle yet exciting experience as they zip through a colorful barnyard setting, featuring familiar faces from the beloved Disney film Dumbo. The ride features a series of dips and turns, providing a fun introduction to rollercoasters without overwhelming younger riders.
Beyond the thrill of the ride itself, there are educational experiences intertwined with the Barnstormer's theme. Guests can learn about the history of barnstorming—an early form of aviation entertainment where pilots performed stunts and acrobatics in the skies. The surrounding area of Storybook Circus offers interactive elements that engage children, allowing them to explore concepts related to physics, such as momentum and gravity, through playful experiences. Additionally, the vibrant design and storytelling connected to the ride encourage discussions about creativity, engineering, and the art of amusement park design.
Pre-K and Kindergarten
Circus Seek and Find: Seek and find activities offer valuable educational benefits for young children, particularly those in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. These activities enhance crucial cognitive skills such as observation, concentration, and critical thinking. As children search for specific items or characters in a bustling scene, they develop their visual discrimination skills, learning to identify differences and similarities among objects. Additionally, these activities promote language development as children learn to articulate what they are looking for, enhancing vocabulary and communication skills. Furthermore, seek and find activities encourage independent thinking and problem-solving, allowing children to formulate strategies for locating hidden items. Overall, these engaging experiences provide a playful platform for promoting essential learning skills in early childhood.
Engineering: The 6-in-1 STEM kits offer a wide range of educational advantages tailored for elementary school children. By engaging with projects such as a reptile robot, balance car, and bubble machine, kids not only enhance their understanding of fundamental scientific concepts but also foster problem-solving and engineering skills. Building their own robots instills a sense of pride and accomplishment, encouraging creativity and imagination. The inclusion of hands-on activities promotes active learning, allowing children to experiment with concepts like motion, energy, and circuitry in a fun and interactive way. Furthermore, these kits provide an excellent opportunity for family bonding as parents and children collaborate on scientific experiments, strengthening their relationship through shared learning experiences.
Lower and Upper Elementary
Engineering: Using a roller coaster building kit can provide a hands-on, engaging approach to learning for elementary students. As they design and construct their own roller coasters, children are introduced to fundamental concepts of physics, such as gravity, momentum, and energy transfer. The process encourages critical thinking and problem-solving as students must plan their structure, test its stability, and make adjustments based on observations. By integrating play with educational content, roller coaster building kits create memorable learning experiences that can inspire a lifelong interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
