Jedi Academy.... You don't get "picked" anymore?? What time??

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

Originally Posted by rescuetink

I'd be VERY upset if my son was in line and would make the cut off, and suddenly other kids showed up late to join their group who were "holding spots" for them and then my son got cut off from participating!!

I'd actually end up saying something to the CM running the show!!

Sorry, that just would not be fair to others!!!

100% agree with this! I would certainly make a stink if this should happen!

[deerhart]

Originally Posted by rescuetink

I was recently told that they no longer pick kids for the Jedi Academy, and that now you get there and stand in line. I understand why they would do this, how would your kid feel if they weren't "picked"... like the last kid on the playground to be picked, but only worse because your in Disney!?!? I know it's gotta be easier to tell your child that you just didn't get there in time, rather then telling them they weren't picked!!

So glad they have gone to lines. Each time my oldest tantrumed hard when he wasn't picked (especially last time when a kid right in front of him got selected). And with a line, BOTH boys can go!

[MnMomtoboys]

How strict are they about the cutoff? I have a son that is developmentally delayed who will turn 13 2 weeks before we go. He looks and acts more like a 10 year old and will have a hard time understanding if he can't do this.

[charity]

Originally Posted by GAmommy

We were there over President's Week. We got in line at 9:25 for the 9:50 show. My kids were # 18 & 19 and both made it to the ground training. They took 24-30 for each show. If you are in the first 12-15 you will be on stage and the others on the ground in a roped off area. They do ask their age (you need to be 4-12) and two other ?'s. If they won't answer them they may not let them go is what we were told. They all did the show at the same time. Darth Vader fought the kids on stage and the Dark Sith fought the kids on the ground.

What type of questions do they ask?

[LilGMom]

Originally Posted by Sydnerella

What time do they arrive to "pick you" prior to the show? Is the queuing area outside or inside. I ask because I wondered if I could arrive 5 or so minutes before my DS5 and "hold a spot" - we have very slow movers coming with on this trip!

Sydnerella's Mama

The line is a que area. The first part of the que is for the first 12-15 kids that will be in the next show and where they put on the Jedi robes and get the lightsabers. The next part of the que is where the kids get asked the questions and wait to move into the first part. You might be in the second part of the que but have to wait through 2-4 shows depending on just how many kids are there. You can't "hold a spot" for your child or other children. There has to be a warm body aged 4 - 12 in the que if they want to do the show.

Originally Posted by MnMomtoboys

How strict are they about the cutoff? I have a son that is developmentally delayed who will turn 13 2 weeks before we go. He looks and acts more like a 10 year old and will have a hard time understanding if he can't do this.

I would imagine that there are as strict about the age as they are about the height restrictions, there has to be cut-off somewhere. You could always ask the CM at the que area but I would explain to your DS that it is for kids 4 - 12. The worst that happens is that they say "sorry, no".

We tried for numerous trips and during one six day trip we tried every day (DHS is our favorite park so we are usually there) and on day five DS7 finally got picked. It was hard on him when four kids around him got picked during one show and when one kid got on the stage even though he wasn't picked because his mom pushed him forward so while I liked the randomness of it before this will do away with the stage parents and help the more reserved kids have a shot.

[ebaymommy2two]

Great thread! My ds and dd are VERY into Star Wars and this is a "must do" item on our list for our trip next week.

[Sydnerella]

Originally Posted by momtoBrandon&Jacob

100% agree with this! I would certainly make a stink if this should happen!

I hear ya - no worries, I will not mess with your kids star wars dreams

THANKS to Lil G Mom and Sign-me-up for the "split up" suggestion and taking my young man on my own - DUH!!!! Talk about not being able to see the forest for the trees.

Sydnerella's Mama

[bwilcox]

Originally Posted by billwendy

Question for you guys. My 12 yo nephew will be at WDW for his Make a Wish trip in a few weeks. He has battled brain cancer, and will hopefully be declaired in remission very soon. He and his 2 brothers are Star Wars finatics!!! I dont think though that he could be out in the sun waiting - is there shade in any part of the line? Also, how long do you have to stand if you make it into the show? Im not 100% sure how long he can stand before needing to sit in his wheelchair???
Thanks for your help|!!

If you were there within the first 15 kids and talked to the CM there, I am POSITIVE they would make accomodations for a Make A Wish child.

[triplejen]

Originally Posted by rescuetink

I'd be VERY upset if my son was in line and would make the cut off, and suddenly other kids showed up late to join their group who were "holding spots" for them and then my son got cut off from participating!!

I'd actually end up saying something to the CM running the show!!

Sorry, that just would not be fair to others!!!

I would be upset too if more kids showed up with no notice and bumped my kid at the last minute. But it would be the "no notice" part that upset me - not the fact that the other kids hadn't waited in the line.

If I joined a line with what appeared to be only a handful of kids ahead of me, but then as I joined one of the adults in front of me turned to me and said "I am waiting for my 3 boys to arrive, so we are actually a party of 4" that would be perfectly fine with me.

I see no need for kids to prove their worthiness by standing in a hot shadeless area for an hour or more just for the brief chance to do something fun. I would far prefer for the adults to be able to hold spots while the kids got to stay in the air conditioned gift shop, or having lunch, or on a ride, until close to the start of the show.

I would only be annoyed if I'd waited a long time without that crucial piece of information - since it would of course be relevant to whether I was willing to put in the time waiting as well.

IMO what shows like this would benefit most from would be a number system, where kids would go to a check-in station and receive their number and show time. Then they could go walk the park at their leisure and show up right before the show they were going to participate in.

[Iwant2BAprincess]

this does seem like a much better system-We tried the first year (2DS's) and neither one was picked-they were pulled in to block party boot camp with the army men that same day so that seemed to help. Last year they were both picked but with a few kids inbetween them (I didn't think it was possible to sweat any more than I already was since it was Sept.) But both years it seems like a couple of cute but obviously out of place little girls come up at the last minute and would always get chosen. Yes I know girls can like Sw but if you don't know which end of a light saber to hold get off the stage and leave it for the boys that do

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Originally Posted by bwilcox

If you were there within the first 15 kids and talked to the CM there, I am POSITIVE they would make accomodations for a Make A Wish child.

If they arrive within the first 15 kids there wouldn't be a wait, they would be in the first show.............

[LilGMom]

Originally Posted by Iwant2BAprincess

this does seem like a much better system-We tried the first year (2DS's) and neither one was picked-they were pulled in to block party boot camp with the army men that same day so that seemed to help. Last year they were both picked but with a few kids inbetween them (I didn't think it was possible to sweat any more than I already was since it was Sept.) But both years it seems like a couple of cute but obviously out of place little girls come up at the last minute and would always get chosen. Yes I know girls can like Sw but if you don't know which end of a light saber to hold get off the stage and leave it for the boys that do

If they weren't practice lightsabers they'd lose their fingers.

[rescuetink]

Originally Posted by triplejen

I would be upset too if more kids showed up with no notice and bumped my kid at the last minute. But it would be the "no notice" part that upset me - not the fact that the other kids hadn't waited in the line.

If I joined a line with what appeared to be only a handful of kids ahead of me, but then as I joined one of the adults in front of me turned to me and said "I am waiting for my 3 boys to arrive, so we are actually a party of 4" that would be perfectly fine with me.

But what about the 3 kids that joined the line way behind you... and suddenly those other 3 boys arrived in front of you... and suddenly the 3 kids in line way behind you were cut off because they were going to be the last three for that show?? Who get's to explain to them why there are 3 kids in the show that weren't in line before them??? I'm not in any way trying to start an argument, but the nice thing about this site is we can all have a friendly discussion, and agree to disagree to some things!!

I see no need for kids to prove their worthiness by standing in a hot shadeless area for an hour or more just for the brief chance to do something fun. I would far prefer for the adults to be able to hold spots while the kids got to stay in the air conditioned gift shop, or having lunch, or on a ride, until close to the start of the show.

I agree, except this is the cost of doing something fun sometimes!! And if the other kids are doing it, then every kid needs to do it if they want to participate!! Bring an umbrella and something to drink!!

I would only be annoyed if I'd waited a long time without that crucial piece of information - since it would of course be relevant to whether I was willing to put in the time waiting as well.

IMO what shows like this would benefit most from would be a number system, where kids would go to a check-in station and receive their number and show time. Then they could go walk the park at their leisure and show up right before the show they were going to participate in.

BRAVO!! Great idea!! Kinda like fast pass!!!

[triplejen]

~~But what about the 3 kids that joined the line way behind you... and suddenly those other 3 boys arrived in front of you... and suddenly the 3 kids in line way behind you were cut off because they were going to be the last three for that show?? Who get's to explain to them why there are 3 kids in the show that weren't in line before them??? I'm not in any way trying to start an argument, but the nice thing about this site is we can all have a friendly discussion, and agree to disagree to some things!!~~

I hadn't considered this. You're totally right. It wouldn't bother me, because I would have gotten the scoop already, but if the news didn't make it to the end of the line then those people would absolutely have a reason to be mad.

I guess I could amend it to say that the person holding the spot would have a responsibility to notify every person arriving on line behind them, for as long as it took until their party to come together. It starts to get more complicated/cumbersome at that point, though.

I will abandon my first point entirely, and instead place my full advocacy behind the idea of a number/fastpass system.

[bwilcox]

Originally Posted by PIRATEGIRL007

If they arrive within the first 15 kids there wouldn't be a wait, they would be in the first show.............

If you are one of the first 15 kids, that means you got there way before the show starts and have to wait in line until the show. That's the way I understand it, anyway.