K’NEX Amusement Park Sets – Rides & Roller Coasters! {Review} #KNEX

Disclosure:  I was sent the products below to review in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

When my brother was younger I remember he getting a K’NEX Roller coaster set and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world.  I was either in later high school or college at the time so it wasn’t really something appropriate for me to own at the time nor did I have the time to build it!  I remember being jealous of him building it and then getting to play with it, while I was stuck working and preparing for adulthood.  Well now my own kids are getting older and they are quite master builders themselves.  I of course couldn’t wait to introduce them to K’NEX Roller coaster sets, and now K’NEX not only features a roller coaster but they have a few other rides as well!

Now I wish we would have had the time to build the roller coaster because it seriously looks amazing, but it is going to be a winter break project for my family.  We did however get the chance to build a few of the smaller amusement park sets though and they are super cool!

K’NEX Building Set: Amusement Park Series Assortment-Space #13408, #13409, #13410 

Collect & build 3 space themed rides with the new Amusement Park Series assortment. Choose from the Star Shooter Coaster, Amazin’ 8 Coaster, or the Super Sonic Swirl! All three rides are motorized for exciting realistic performance. Each amusement park ride comes with over 400 parts including made in the USA rods & connectors. Collect & build them all and create your own amusement park—right in your living room! Each sold separately.  Suggested retail price is $29.99. Ages 7+. Available now on knex.com, Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com and at toy retailers nationwide.

Building these sets were fairly easy, but an adult is definitely required for younger kids.  I know for my boys they don’t have the patience or mentality necessarily to follow each step, but then again it also makes for some great parent-bonding with kids putting this together!  Some of the pieces are small and you really have to snap to push the pieces in for some spots.  You also could screw up the whole final creation if you mess up a step early on, so it is especially important to be diligent with the steps.  We actually missed a step early on and had to take some pieces apart to get it in.  Oh and the sets do require batteries because they actually do move!  Once together together I feel like it was held together tightly and not going anywhere.  The instructions are all visual, no words just pictures to show each step.  The sets worked like they should and it was not only fun to build them but then to enjoy the action of the ride afterwards!  My boys are literally amazed watching their creations go!  These sets are great whether you just have one or you have them all.  My boys can’t wait to have a whole K’NEX theme park going on in the corner of our basement!  They are uber-excited to open up the Thunderbolt Striker Roller Coaster set!

Thunderbolt Strike Roller Coaster Building Set

Build a shocking K’NEX coaster classic just like you remember!! You can build with over 850 all-classic K’NEX parts & pieces including rods, connectors and original tube style track to create this motorized storm that sends the coaster cars and 2 K’NEXmen figures hurtling through over 17 feet of heart-pounding excitement! All K’NEX rods and connectors are made in the USA! Ages 9+

This set is 893 pieces which is double the smaller sets and I want to make sure we have the time and room to work on it, especially because once its together I know my boys are not going to want to take it apart!  It is also for ages 9 and up, which is above my boys right now – so definitely my husband or I will be needed for assembly.  My boys have been excited for this ever since we headed to Cedar Point Amusement Park over the summer and saw the giant K’NEX creation they have there on display that kids had built, its amazing how huge it is and how it all works!

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BUY IT:  Look for K’NEX Building Sets at your local mass retailer or buy them direct through the K’NEX website (or click on the product links above!)

WIN IT:  (1) US winner will receive a Thunderbolt Strike Roller Coaster™ Building Set

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This Giveaway Ends January 1, 2014.