A Star Wars Jedi Training rant

[LilGMom]

I understand your frustration and I do hope your the rest of your trip was filled with magical moments.

We went three times last year and each trip we'd stand there hoping that our oldest (6 at the time) would get picked. We made sure that DS had a Star Wars shirt on each time we were at DHS but that didn't even seem to help. We spent more time at the Jedi Training than at any other attraction . Each time kids around him would get picked but he'd get passed over. Luckily he really enjoyed watching the show so even though he was a little disappointed to not be up on stage he still enjoyed the show.

I do wish that they'd find a different way of picking kids because there have been times when I've seen a parent shove their kid forward even though that child might not have been picked which then takes a slot that would have gone to another child.

 

[stephensmum]

I understand how you feel, this happened to my son last May, we were one of the first in the queue and when they let the rope go everyone ran, which i thought dangerous as everyone was so hyped up. My son got to the front & boys at each side of him both got picked, he was so dissapointed & it put a real damper on our day. He wants to try again this year, to be honest i'd rather he didn't. I wish they had a better way of organising it.

 

[DeblovesPoohbear]

This is waht I did last year
I read all about the Jedi Training last yr on The Dis
and decided to get my 7 yr old son to do it
However, we didn't tell him about it at all, he had no clue

We went to one show, got him on the "blue carpet" and he kept asking
why he had to stand there
Well, he was extremly lucky and got picked the very first time
I am always reminding him how lucky he was too, I know so many kids
are disappointed

 

[Suzie Zoo]

Hey, I'm 36 years old and probably even more disappointed than the kids!!! I'm a ginormous Star Wars fan and hugely disappointed that adults can't participate.

 

[perkinsrose]

This is something that's been worrying me for awhile now. Both DS's know there is a chance they won't get picked when we go but they have their hearts set on fighting Darth Vader. I think it's unfortunate that they're most likely to pick the kids that are jumping up and down and going crazy. I understand that they're putting on a show but the well behaved shy kid who loves star wars and who just raises his hands because that's what he's taught to do has no shot.

They'll be wearing Star Wars shirts that we got from Kohls 2 months ago and I'm toying with the idea of bringing their toy light sabers and costumes from home. It's more to carry but if it helps...

Another fear is what if 1 gets picked and one doesn't . Like the pp said, if I could get fastpasses for it, I'd be up at 6 am trying to get them.

It CAN happen--my DS8 is polite and reserved but enthusiastic and merely raised his hand and got picked. I hope your kids get it!

 

[livndisney]

Hey, I never said it was unfair, we are talking about what a frustrated and overwrought 10 year old was saying. I was upset that it meant so much to him. I had warned him that the likelihood was that it would not happen, but it was what he wanted more than anything for his birthday. As we are fromm Australia, there wont be another time. He was disappointed and I was upset at his disappointment. I explained that it was a random selection thing, but they were also picking adults and late teens!!

We had a wishes cruise last night too, and I rang to confirm the time we were to get there, and was told I had to be there by 7.30 which meant I had to cancel our 7pm Sci Fi reservations and when I got there I was still crying because my son kept talking about how unfair it was and it turned out we didn't have to be there till 8.45. A manager got us into Chef Mickey's though even though it was packed so that worked out OK. The cruise was great though.

I don't want to argue-but you DID say your son was talking about how unfair it was. I don't understand what was unfair. It is random selection. I can understand some disappointment. You felt that since you came all the way from Australia and it was his birthday he should be chosen. I would have and HAVE used it as a lesson to my child. (For what it's worth, my child has never been picked to be a Jedi either, but is grateful for the chance to go to WDW).

 

[perkinsrose]

We had a wishes cruise last night too, and I rang to confirm the time we were to get there, and was told I had to be there by 7.30 which meant I had to cancel our 7pm Sci Fi reservations and when I got there I was still crying because my son kept talking about how unfair it was and it turned out we didn't have to be there till 8.45. A manager got us into Chef Mickey's though even though it was packed so that worked out OK. The cruise was great though.

I can totally see how in the 10 year old frame of mind--"Its not fair!". I know i have alot of those issues at our house and trying to explain actually it IS fair but still disappointing/frustrating/upsetting.

Hopefully he's able to focus on the rest of the good parts of your trip and remember those!

 

[inkkognito]

Parents and schools and societies try so hard to build kids' esteem and to convince them that "you are special" and "everyone is special." Then they get out in the real world and find out that some are more "special" than others, i.e. not everyone gets the same rewards/opportunities/whatever. Yes, it's painful for the poor kid, but it's also an important life lesson.

 

[madfelice]

Hey, I'm 36 years old and probably even more disappointed than the kids!!! I'm a ginormous Star Wars fan and hugely disappointed that adults can't participate.

They were picking adults over mmy son so apparently they can do it.

 

[madfelice]

Hey, I never said it was unfair, we are talking about what a frustrated and overwrought 10 year old was saying. I was upset that it meant so much to him. I had warned him that the likelihood was that it would not happen, but it was what he wanted more than anything for his birthday. As we are fromm Australia, there wont be another time. He was disappointed and I was upset at his disappointment. I explained that it was a random selection thing, but they were also picking adults and late teens!!



I don't want to argue-but you DID say your son was talking about how unfair it was. I don't understand what was unfair. It is random selection. I can understand some disappointment. You felt that since you came all the way from Australia and it was his birthday he should be chosen. I would have and HAVE used it as a lesson to my child. (For what it's worth, my child has never been picked to be a Jedi either, but is grateful for the chance to go to WDW).

No, I didn't think he SHOULD have been chosen, I HOPED he WOULD be chosen. HE was the one who thought it was unfair, and that he should have been chosen for those reasons. I kept warning him he may not, but an excited 10 year old does not always listen. What upset me was that HE was so upset. No one likes to see their child so upset at continually being passed over. Even the cast member manning the fast pass at Star Tours said it was unfair that adults were getting chosen ahead of kids. Oh, and I didn't even say anything to the cast member, he volunteered his comment, saying he usually keeps his opinions to himself, but that he felt it was wrong.

 

[hentob]

So sorry about your son

I think it is best to go into those kinds of situations by saying "You will most likely not be chosen, are you sure you want to go watch other children doing it?" Or even "Do you know how many children are celebrating their birthday today? Yes, it is special to us, but Darth doesn't care"

For mom to be crying for a long period of time over her ten year old not being chosen means you guys really had yourselves built up. You all really thought he had a chance. It's like the lottery. VERY slim chances. Better to tell them right off the bat that they won't be chosen and ask do they want to enjoy other children participating or skip it all together.

That is the method we chose, and it has worked well with the kids. Never chosen, but they do like to watch the others battle the Big Meanie They also don't want to stand there all day (and I would never allow it). They figure it is a waste of a GREAT day at MGM to just stand around all day.

 

[JuliaK+3]

It's nice to see that they don't just go for the most "energetic" kids. Every tip site I've seen suggests that the kids jump up and down like crazy to get the CM's attention. The boys have similar but not the same shirts. I'm sure they wouldn't pick siblings together but if one gets picked and the other doesn't, oh well. DS3 is the type to be genuinely excited for his brother if DS5 got picked. DS5 on the other hand would pout and groan and moan about it so if anyone gets picked, I hope it's DS3.

I'll share the same sentiment as the OP. Our kids aren't entitled to get picked but we sure hope they do.

Sorry your DS was so upset madfelice. It's hard for kids to understand the process. I've warned my kids that there's a great chance they might not get picked and still everyday, they talk about fighting Darth vader and Darth Maul. Oh well. 2 weeks from now, we'll know how it plays out.

 

[eliza61]

I know theres no guarantee to this but we just stood there all day and went to every show and my son didn't get picked and we're from Australia and it's his birthday. We are VERY sad!

Sorry you guys are still sad over this.
Generally what I use to do in these situations is give my kid one shot at it then move on. I just say "Oh well, it's not our lucky day, let's do some thing else". Not enough for me to allow them to dwell on and if they get upset unfortunately I have to give them the old "that's life" speech (definitely a little nicer for a 10 year old). It's a life lesson they have to learn even at Disneyworld.

 

[hentob]

I explained that it was a random selection thing, but they were also picking adults and late teens!!

That is awesome! Everyone gets a chance--Cool

I would LOVE to see a grandmother get chosen How great would that be to watch

 

[pickles]

I totally understand your frustration. When he was very young, my son always wanted to pull the sword from the stone over in Fantasyland, and rather than have him feel disappointed for not being chosen, I always whisked him right by and told him they weren't doing the show that day.

Hope your son's birthday was a happy one anyway!

How sad your son never got a chance because there was fear of failure.

I don't know about doing a show there, but i can tell you that your kids can try and pull the sword and there is a chance they may be able to. My one son pulled it the first time, my other son was not so lucky. It took another trip or 2 before he finally pulled it.
I think it is better to have tried and failed than to have never been given a chance.
The OP tried their best to get picked, totally frustrating and heartbreaking that they didn't. but at least they know they did heir best to make it happen.

 

[dreamergirl78]

Sorry your kiddo was so upset however, it's one moment out of a really fab vacation! I know it was disappointing, but that is how life can be at times. Please remember that people come from all over to go to WDW and they all pay lots of money for similar expereinces. I liked what a pervious poster said.. "It's special to us but Darth just doesn't care!" It's just the way it goes. We have gotton picked for things and it has almost always been completely random and out of the blue which made it even more exciting! I think the parent's attitude has a lot to do with how the child reacts and how much the parents build it up. Our son didn't even know about Dreams promotion. I didn't want him to think that he was going to get anything special just because he was there.
One year we were at MNSSHP and every time we got into a character line we would be like 1 or 2 people away and they would shut the line down. We must have tried 10 character lines throughout the night and did not get one single autograph or picture. Now, we could have been upset, but we turned it into a joke and then enjoyed a super short line ride!
Anyway, I hope the rest of your vacation was awesome and you have some really happy memories!

 

[LilGMom]

I explained that it was a random selection thing, but they were also picking adults and late teens!!

When were you there? In all of the trips that we made in the last year, or so, and since they started doing the Jedi Training we have never seen them pick an adult or anyone that looked to be over 12. If I've been passing up on a chance to battle Darth Vader I'm going to kick myself!!!

 

[mrbghd]

Parents and schools and societies try so hard to build kids' esteem and to convince them that "you are special" and "everyone is special." Then they get out in the real world and find out that some are more "special" than others, i.e. not everyone gets the same rewards/opportunities/whatever. Yes, it's painful for the poor kid, but it's also an important life lesson.

I am standing here applauding your comments. Well said. Life is not always fair even on your birthday. I would be upset if my child was so built up that he SHOULD be choosen becasue it is their birthday that when they did not get choosen they pouted and complained through a different wonderful experience.

 

[TDC Nala]

I only watch during Star Wars weekend. I have NEVER seen anyone pick an adult to participate in the Jedi training. The oldest participants I have seen are about 13.

 

[Finally08]

I remember thinking when we went that they really had no rhyme or reason to who they picked - I mean, there were kids there (like my ds) in star wars t-shirts, obviously more into the star wars "thing" (being older boys) jumping up and down acting crazy - and they grabbed like 4 little girls none of which looked more than 5 years old, dressed like princesses and barely even paying attention to what was going on.

If it were a princess show, it would seem odd to grab a bunch of 13 year old boys, right? So why for this don't they look at pulling more of the "target market" star wars fans?

My ds was very sad - but hey we just saw a whole crew including darth vader at a local event (not disney related) so we had our fun eventually.