You're the best parents in the world! I gotta pee! Where's My Tooth? Trip report!

[dismagiclover]

I can't believe you would leave us hanging like that (and you don't believe that I can't believe it, do you?).

Does this mean that someone is FINALLY going to tell me just exactly what Jedi Training Academy is? I swear I've asked on every TR I've read (plus my own). Or at least it feels like I have.

Based on the name, I know this is something my kids would LOVE, but I have no idea what it is, and I have no idea if kids as young as mine would have a chance to be "chosen".

Can't WAIT to hear.

And I think it is really REALLY cool that you started and ended your trip with the exact same phrase ("You are the best parents in the world"). Apparently you really are.

Except for us, of course.

Not trying to hijack the thread, but head over to my TR and check out the most recent two installments. I have tons of pictures of Jedi Training and my boys are 7 and 4 and they got picked and loved it.

Lisa, I can't stand the suspense either! I sure hope he got picked

 

[Angies1274]

I'm sure Hunter was so happy to be heading to DHS!! What a great surprise!! I can't wait to find out if he was picked for The Jedi Training Academy!!
Oh and YAY!!! for only 2 days left!!!!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Awww it's almost over... Now what am I going to read? - OH YA! You'll be back from another trip and you can make a new report - WOOHOO!!!

 

[aprilisis]

I don't want your report to end!!!!!

 

[bballbabe]

I finally get thru 20 pages of posts and you leave off with a cliffhanger. Well I guess it is now time for me to update my TR until you post the answer for us.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Morning!

Surprisingly, things are pretty slow at work this morning. I expect that all to change at any time now though. I've got three deadlines that absolutely have to go out today. I have the documents prepared but have to wait on the clients to get their supporting documents to me and look over what I have typed up. Knowing my luck, they'll probably wait until this afternoon to get back with me and it'll be a mad rush to the finish.

I'll found the Hollywood Studios pictures on Photobucket last night. Took me forever! I plan on working on the very last trip report installment today. I'd be extremely depressed about it ending if I didn't have another Disney trip coming up soon.

I'm going to see if I can respond to the most recent posts before all heck breaks loose around here.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

I shall patiently wait. I am amazed that for a Monday our phones are very quiet. I may be sorry I actually wrote that. Time will tell. Have a productive day.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I can't believe you would leave us hanging like that (and you don't believe that I can't believe it, do you?).

Does this mean that someone is FINALLY going to tell me just exactly what Jedi Training Academy is? I swear I've asked on every TR I've read (plus my own). Or at least it feels like I have.

Based on the name, I know this is something my kids would LOVE, but I have no idea what it is, and I have no idea if kids as young as mine would have a chance to be "chosen".

Can't WAIT to hear.

And I think it is really REALLY cool that you started and ended your trip with the exact same phrase ("You are the best parents in the world"). Apparently you really are.

Except for us, of course.

I'm sorry that I left ya'll hanging but I was about to fall asleep at the computer last night and still had to iron my work clothes. It's been a really busy last week or so.

You'll be glad to know that I've got lots of pictures to post. And, I'll explain The Jedi Training Academy info too.

I think that there are a whole lotta "best parents in the world" parents.....including all my readers!

Loving your trip report! I've been lurking until now but just wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed it. Your family seems to have a great time together! Hope you do a TR for your upcoming trip as well.

Hey, it's never too late for a lurker to come out and post. I'm glad that you've been enjoying the report. We do have a wonderful time together for the most part. Of course, we have our moments but most times, we are all happy go lucky!

Hi Lisa!
can't wait to hear what happens at DHS...
if I don't post again before you leave ya'll have a safe drive over and have a magical trip in WDW

Have a great day!
Connie

I'm trying to get a post typed up and posted in just a little while. You have a great day too!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but head over to my TR and check out the most recent two installments. I have tons of pictures of Jedi Training and my boys are 7 and 4 and they got picked and loved it.

Lisa, I can't stand the suspense either! I sure hope he got picked

You know that I totally don't care if there is a hijack on my thread. I just hope everybody gets the information they need/want even if it's not from me.

I'm sure Hunter was so happy to be heading to DHS!! What a great surprise!! I can't wait to find out if he was picked for The Jedi Training Academy!!
Oh and YAY!!! for only 2 days left!!!!

He was so happy when we told him we would give The Jedi Training Academy another try. We were all dead tired and had a long drive ahead of us but somehow we mustered up the strength to get over to Hollywood Studios.

Awww it's almost over... Now what am I going to read? - OH YA! You'll be back from another trip and you can make a new report - WOOHOO!!!

Oh there will be plenty of other stuff to read while I am gone. I have already said that I hope everybody will continue to chit chat on this thread so that I can come back and catch up with what's been going on with everybody.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I don't want your report to end!!!!!

I know...me either. At least I'll come back from another Disney trip soon and can start all over again.

By the way, how are you liking the discussion boards over here? They are lot more fun that the Intercot boards aren't they!

I finally get thru 20 pages of posts and you leave off with a cliffhanger. Well I guess it is now time for me to update my TR until you post the answer for us.

I really didn't want to leave ya'll with a cliffhanger but I could hardly hold my eyes open any longer last night.

I shall patiently wait. I am amazed that for a Monday our phones are very quiet. I may be sorry I actually wrote that. Time will tell. Have a productive day.

Yeah, our's have been pretty slow too. Usually Mondays are the days that everybody calls and fusses about their spouse not getting the kids back on time or they didn't get their child support, etc. etc. I fully expect them to start ringing off the hook any minute now.

 

[racefanof88]

Lisa, I can't wait to hear if Hunter was chosen or not. Dallas wanted to try in July, but by the time we were finished eating it was going to be a wait of about an hour before the next training session so we missed it.

I know you are so ready for this next trip to get started . I'm excited for you . I do have to say though I hope you start your TR as soon as you get home because it is now my daily habit to come over to your report to look for your next post .

I know this trip will be extra special .

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Dana

You should really give it a try. Alex had a ball. He is 10 and tall for his age. We were kind of surprised he got picked. They normally go with the 7-10 year olds. I have tricks that can help as I'm sure all of those Diser's can tell you.

Ginny

 

[mickeystoontown]

Since we weren't planning on staying long at Hollywood Studios, I put just the camera and video camera in the backpack. I had to go through security with the backpack so I told John and Hunter to go ahead of me and I'd catch up. Security took just a few minutes so I was able to catch with them while in line to get in. Of course, this would be the morning that the finger scan thingie took forever to scan Hunter's fingers. They tried it three times when the castmember finally just told him to go through.

We took the first left and went by Hollywood and Vine to get to The Jedi Training Academy. There was absolutely no one other there yet so I backtracked and we to the nearest store to get a times guide. We still had a little while before it started. We looked around in the Star Tours store for a few minutes but Hunter was really too excited to pay attention to what he was looking at. So, we went back outside and saw that a small crowd had gathered around the Jedi Training Academy stage.

Hunter got in amongst the other kids and, not long after, a few castmembers came out and told the parents that they'd have to leave their kids and stand over to the side because the show was going to start soon.

For those of you who don't know how the training academy works, let me fill you in. All of the kids stand in front of and to one side of the training academy stage. Then this guy (Hunter would kill me if he could read this because I know the guy has a name but I am soooo not a Star Wars fan) who apparently some kind of training master comes out and does this spiel about how they need to train new Jedi's to help battle Darth Vader. He walks around and looks out into the crowd of kids and picks out about a dozen to participate. The ones that are chosen are given robes and go on stage where they are given lightsabers. Then the Jedi Master starts training the kids on how to use their lightsabers. After a little while, Darth Vader comes out and each child gets to fight him with their new lightsaber skills.

So, we've been standing there quite some time when the Jedi Master guy comes out and starts picking kids from the audience. Hunter is holding his hand up over his head and screaming "pick me". Kids all around him are getting chosen but then, the picking is over and Hunter is still standing in the audience. Bummer! He watches the show for a while and then comes over to where we are standing. I give him a hug 'cause I could tell he was really disappointed. John looks at me. I look at him. I pull out the Times Guide and see that another show is scheduled for later in the morning. Yep, we were gonna try again.

In the meanwhile, John and Hunter go over to see Sounds Dangerous while I sit outside on a bench and people watch. You know how I like to people watch.

Once Sounds Dangerous was over, we go back over to the training academy stage and this time there are just two families there. Hunter gets to stand center stage. Surely, he's going to get picked this time. While waiting for the show to start, Hunter starts up a conversation with the little boy to the left of him and then the little boy to the right of him. Soon, they were all chatting up a storm as the crowds behind and beside them grew.

The Jedi Master comes out and starts his speech again and then, again, starts picking kids from the crowd. This time, Hunter jumps up and down and waves his hands in the air. Wouldn't you know it....both boys beside him get chosen. Both of them! Hunter doesn't. Crap and double crap! His expression just broke my heart. While he wiggled his way through the crowds, John says "what time is the next show?". Man are we softies!

We told Hunter that we only had time for him to try just once more. Just once and that was it. We absolutely had to get on the road home. We jumped in line for Star Tours because the wait was short. We had a little bit more time to kill so we walked over and looked around at the Indiana Jones cart things. Bought nothin' but did waste some time.

Again, we go back to the training academy stage and Hunter was front and center and there was no one else in the crowd. I had an idea so I told John I'd be right back. John talked with a castmember while I was gone and told her that this was Hunter's 3rd time today to try to get chosen. I ran into the nearest bathroom, pulled off about a two foot long piece of handtowel/napkin. I took it outside and pulled out a bright red marker from the backpack. On the napkin I wrote "Third Times The Charm!". I rolled it up and walked back over to Hunter and gave it to him. I told him to unroll it when it the Jedi Master came out and then hold it up over his head and jump up and down.

To say I was anxious/nervous for Hunter is an understatement. I knew that this would be the last chance for him to get chosen. John took out the video camera and I had the camera ready just in case. I could see Hunter's lips moving and realized that he was saying "Please let me get picked." over and over again. If he didn't get picked, he was going to be heartbroken.

Here are two pictures I took while we waited:

The music started, the Jedi Master came out and started picking kids. Hunter unrolled his banner and started jumping up and down with it. One, two, three, four, five kids got chosen and I was getting worried and then......the Jedi Master chose......Hunter! Hunter leaned over and handed the banner to his dad and up he went onto the stage. I don't think he could have been smiling any bigger. He was sooo happy!

The Jedi Master guy walked around and told them something about the importance of the training, yada yada yada.....

Next, they gave the kids their training lightsabers and taught them some moves:

Then, more music and the Storm Troopers came out:

From admist the smokes comes Darth Vader who taunted the crowd. (This picture is blurry...sorry)

The Jedi Master and his helper pull the kids aside and told them they have to use their new skills to fight Darth Vader.

All but two kids go before Hunter and finally it's his turn:

He goes through all but one of his newly taught moves and it thunders. The Jedi Master stops Hunter mid-swing. Notice Hunter's p.o'd face:

The Jedi Master announces that the show must end because of incliment weather. We all look up to the sky and see that it did look like it'd start raining soon.

The kids were ushered to the side to take off their robes and give back their lightsabers. Then, they gave them all Jedi Training diplomas.

We asked Hunter how he liked it and he said he LOVED it even though he didn't get to throw that last swing in. We put the cameras in the backpack and started our walk out of the park. Hunter unrolled his diploma which was tied with a ribbon. He was grinning from ear to ear. So worth the half day we spent in Hollywood Studios.

We made our way to the front of the park and over to the tram loading area. Hunter wouldn't let me put his diploma in the backpack because it might get smooshed. We hopped on a tram and rode it to where our car was parked which was, of course, almost all the way down to the end of the row. Just as we got to the car, it started sprinkling rain. Perfect timing.

Hunter put his diploma safely on the little ledge on the backseat, we buckled in and pulled out of the parking lot. We waved goodbye to Hollywood Studios but this time with smiles on our faces because Hunter had finally gotten chosen.

******I am going to stop here. I've got to get a little work done. I do have one more installment to post though.

 

[mickeystoontown]

LOL! My parents are the same exact way! Whenever they go on any kind of road trip they HAVE to wash the car!!!

I think I totally forgot to respond to your post. I am sorry. John refuses to get on the road without washing the car. It's funny because we have, literally, been in a drive through carwash while it was sprinkling. Gotta have a clean car before hitting the road.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Lisa, I can't wait to hear if Hunter was chosen or not. Dallas wanted to try in July, but by the time we were finished eating it was going to be a wait of about an hour before the next training session so we missed it.

I know you are so ready for this next trip to get started . I'm excited for you . I do have to say though I hope you start your TR as soon as you get home because it is now my daily habit to come over to your report to look for your next post .

I know this trip will be extra special .

Dana, I just posted the results of whether or not Hunter got chosen. You really should let Dallas give it a try. Hunter had the best time.

And, yes, I am getting pumped about our trip. We hit the road as soon as I get off work this Wednesday. I'll definitely be doing a trip report.

Dana

You should really give it a try. Alex had a ball. He is 10 and tall for his age. We were kind of surprised he got picked. They normally go with the 7-10 year olds. I have tricks that can help as I'm sure all of those Diser's can tell you.

Ginny

Ginny, I agree. As you can see from my last installment, there are certain things you can do to draw attention to your child.

 

[aprilisis]

I know...me either. At least I'll come back from another Disney trip soon and can start all over again.

By the way, how are you liking the discussion boards over here? They are lot more fun that the Intercot boards aren't they!

I have to say that I am a lot more comfortable posting here. I'm always worried about offending everyone over there!
By the way, you are inspiring me to write a trip report for my September -October trip.

 

[dismagiclover]

Hunter got chosen! And you really are the best parents in the world trying 3 times. FYI when we were there in June they didn't group all the kids together and ask the parents to move out of the way when they did the picking. They just picked kids from the crowd though most of the kids they picked were up front. They must have recently changed. What a bummer for those last 2 kids that didn't fight Vader because of the "inclement weather." It sure seems like they could have at least let all the kids fight Anyway, I'm glad your story had a happy ending

 

[Jareds_mommy]

I am so happy he got picked
DS tried twice last time but didn't

 

[dd50]

Doesn't every one get there car washed and oil changed before a trip? That is on my to do list with many other things.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Danny changes the oil, washes the car--usually a wax job if we are in our car, skips it if in the truck, rotate the tires and than does it all again when we get home...my dad does it all also. I just figured everyone does these things...

Lisa, sounds like it was a very magical ending to a wonderful surprise vacation :
So, glad Hunter had he wish to complete his quest on having magical adventure in the land of magic...