Hound 109
<font color=teal>So non-screamin' family members c
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2006
Although over 3 years old,...... most (if not all) of the information & tips that are discussed in this thread would be helpful for young Padewans wanting to participate in the Jedi Training Academy. I had received great tips & advice here on the DIS on how best to be chosen by the Master Jedi....& the advice worked!
HydroGuy has included this post on his "Tip Thread" sticky so it gets bumped up from time to time. Most (if not all) of the information is still valid & good. But please feel free to add new information, opinions or experiences.
THE BEGINNING OF THIS THREAD WAS AS FOLLOWS:
Our 8 y/o DS - "Jedi Alec" - put the hurt on ol' Darth Maul this past Tuesday.
I wanted to let the parents with young sons (& daughters) aged (aprox) 5-11 years old know.....that the Jedi Training Academy can be a trip highlight - especially if your child is picked.
Note: DS was a fan (but not a fanatic) of Star Wars, but his getting picked & turning Darth Maul into chopped liver is all he has talked about since we got back yesterday.
The following link provides some good info & background:
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1466649
A few additional comments:
- Padewan Alec did NOT have a Star Wars T shirt, but it wouldn't hurt to have your child wear one.
- He DID have a sign. We simply took an 8X11 manilla folder and folded it out. Thus an 11 X 16 "sign". Wrote a little something & had Alec hold it over his head with instructions to show it and wave it (& he was jumping up and down) when the Master Jedi was making his picks. (note: i had folded it into a 4 X 4 size and carried it into the park in my cargo pants pocket.)
- There are two areas to stand...one closest to Buzz/SM & the other closest to Matterhorn/Nemo. (with a walkway from the stage to the food court separating them).
- The Nemo side had far less kids when we arrived at 10:15 (for the 10:30 show). Jedi Alec easily found "rope space" next to other Jedi applicants. (Parents stood behind their children). The other side (toward Buzz/SM) was more crowded and kiddos were standing two deep.
- (from the Hub) We walked down the path between the Matterhorn & the back side of Buzz & the entrance area for young Padewans was just past the food court on the right. We entered here to secure the desired front row rope position.
- After 5 minutes of music & light saber techniques by the Master Jedi & his two assistants, Master Jedi stepped up to the stage and began to select applicants for the training.
- He picked 3-4 from the Buzz side & then 3-4 from Nemo side (back & forth until about 25-30 children had been chosen).
- There were about 100 - 120 kids there, & I'm sure it was sad for the ones not chosen.
- A couple of girls were chosen (which made sense since there were 10 or so girls on the rope).
- All kids with Star Wars / Jedi outfits & all kids with signs were chosen first. (Alec was the 3rd chosen on the Nemo side after a couple of boys with Star Wars costumes were chosen, (& i believe it was because he was the only person on the Nemo side with a sign.) There were 3 kids on the Buzz side with signs & they also were among the first chosen on their side.
- After Jedi Outfits & young padewans with signs, it appeared to me that the Jedi Master then selected children with Star Wars T Shirts, etc.
- The remaining 8-10 kids were chosen at random (perhaps rounding out age/gender/ethnic mix, or perhaps they just jumped and yelled the most enthusiastically)
- I've also been advised that for siblings....if they have matching shirts or outfits, it is more likely that BOTH would be picked (as opposed to just one).
After being chosen, the kids were given brown Jedi robes & light sabres. Then learned many very cool Jedi moves for about 10 minutes.
Then each was given a chance to have a light sabre duel to the death with either Darth Vader or Darth Maul.
Padewan Alec is very sorry if Darth Maul is missing any arms or legs....but hopefully your child will be one of the lucky ones selected to have a light sabre duel with one of these evil-doers from the "dark side". 
===================================================================================================
UPDATE - Disney prefers that guests not carry huge elaborate signs when touring (they could get confiscated). Better to use a folded up Manilla folder & carry it in your pants pocket (or some other out of sight place) & only take it out for the Training Academy.
But signs continue to be an effective way to get a young padewan selected. In fact, not one person here on the DIS has reported NOT getting selected.... if their young padewan was waving a small sign.
Definitely read jjames's family experience on Page 3 of this thread. It's a great read & a great description of the JTA experience
hound
HydroGuy has included this post on his "Tip Thread" sticky so it gets bumped up from time to time. Most (if not all) of the information is still valid & good. But please feel free to add new information, opinions or experiences.
THE BEGINNING OF THIS THREAD WAS AS FOLLOWS:
Our 8 y/o DS - "Jedi Alec" - put the hurt on ol' Darth Maul this past Tuesday.
I wanted to let the parents with young sons (& daughters) aged (aprox) 5-11 years old know.....that the Jedi Training Academy can be a trip highlight - especially if your child is picked.
Note: DS was a fan (but not a fanatic) of Star Wars, but his getting picked & turning Darth Maul into chopped liver is all he has talked about since we got back yesterday.
The following link provides some good info & background:
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1466649
A few additional comments:
- Padewan Alec did NOT have a Star Wars T shirt, but it wouldn't hurt to have your child wear one.
- He DID have a sign. We simply took an 8X11 manilla folder and folded it out. Thus an 11 X 16 "sign". Wrote a little something & had Alec hold it over his head with instructions to show it and wave it (& he was jumping up and down) when the Master Jedi was making his picks. (note: i had folded it into a 4 X 4 size and carried it into the park in my cargo pants pocket.)
- There are two areas to stand...one closest to Buzz/SM & the other closest to Matterhorn/Nemo. (with a walkway from the stage to the food court separating them).
- The Nemo side had far less kids when we arrived at 10:15 (for the 10:30 show). Jedi Alec easily found "rope space" next to other Jedi applicants. (Parents stood behind their children). The other side (toward Buzz/SM) was more crowded and kiddos were standing two deep.
- (from the Hub) We walked down the path between the Matterhorn & the back side of Buzz & the entrance area for young Padewans was just past the food court on the right. We entered here to secure the desired front row rope position.
- After 5 minutes of music & light saber techniques by the Master Jedi & his two assistants, Master Jedi stepped up to the stage and began to select applicants for the training.
- He picked 3-4 from the Buzz side & then 3-4 from Nemo side (back & forth until about 25-30 children had been chosen).
- There were about 100 - 120 kids there, & I'm sure it was sad for the ones not chosen.
- A couple of girls were chosen (which made sense since there were 10 or so girls on the rope).
- All kids with Star Wars / Jedi outfits & all kids with signs were chosen first. (Alec was the 3rd chosen on the Nemo side after a couple of boys with Star Wars costumes were chosen, (& i believe it was because he was the only person on the Nemo side with a sign.) There were 3 kids on the Buzz side with signs & they also were among the first chosen on their side.
- After Jedi Outfits & young padewans with signs, it appeared to me that the Jedi Master then selected children with Star Wars T Shirts, etc.
- The remaining 8-10 kids were chosen at random (perhaps rounding out age/gender/ethnic mix, or perhaps they just jumped and yelled the most enthusiastically)
- I've also been advised that for siblings....if they have matching shirts or outfits, it is more likely that BOTH would be picked (as opposed to just one).
After being chosen, the kids were given brown Jedi robes & light sabres. Then learned many very cool Jedi moves for about 10 minutes.
Then each was given a chance to have a light sabre duel to the death with either Darth Vader or Darth Maul.
Padewan Alec is very sorry if Darth Maul is missing any arms or legs....but hopefully your child will be one of the lucky ones selected to have a light sabre duel with one of these evil-doers from the "dark side". ===================================================================================================
UPDATE - Disney prefers that guests not carry huge elaborate signs when touring (they could get confiscated). Better to use a folded up Manilla folder & carry it in your pants pocket (or some other out of sight place) & only take it out for the Training Academy.
But signs continue to be an effective way to get a young padewan selected. In fact, not one person here on the DIS has reported NOT getting selected.... if their young padewan was waving a small sign.
Definitely read jjames's family experience on Page 3 of this thread. It's a great read & a great description of the JTA experience
hound
had any idea what Star Wars was all about until she got picked for the Jedi Training. She is now a fan and when asked what her favourite part of 
And I have her jump up & down w/her hand up & still nothing!
If DH was just a bit younger and shorter.....!!!LOL
