Hi Suzanne,
What a great question, to be looking for a special experience for your son while on your Walt Disney World vacation! My daughter is now 12 years old, but there were a couple of experiences that she had at Walt Disney World at about 8 years old that I think your son might really enjoy. Let me share them with you.
First, children as young as 8 years old can go on the
Wild Africa Trek as long as they are 48 inches tall. Your son would need an adult to go with him on this adventure. My daughter and I did this together and had a wonderful time! You get to see the animals along Kilimanjaro Safari from a completely different point of view. Your group will have a couple of guides, and they are wonderfully knowledgeable and make the experience both educational and exciting. You get to walk across rope bridges, and the adventure also includes the opportunity to have some delicious, exotic snacks from a magnificent vantage point on the savanna. I highly recommend this experience!
Another experience that my daughter really enjoyed was being transformed into a pirate at
The Pirates League. During this transformation, she was made over into a pirate and even received a new pirate name. To add to the pirate excitement, you could book your son for a
Pirate Adventure Cruise, on which he can sail with other young pirates in search of treasure!
I hope that these ideas are helpful for you, Suzanne. Have a great time planning your magical vacation, and please do let us know if you have any further questions!