DHS- Jedi Training Academy or TSM?

[Gru]

We are only spending one day at DHS this trip. Three of my four children really want to do the Jedi Training Academy. On previous trips we have run over to TSM and rode standby two times at opening, and then grabbed a fastpass for later in the day (my favorite ride!). I know you have to sign up for the Jedi Academy- how quickly do the slots get filled up? Can you choose the time? I am just trying to figure out if we would be able to ride TSM two times at opening, and still be able to sign up for the Jedi Training. Our previous trips have been at the end of August with low crowds.....this year we are going August 10, with a crowd level of 8, so we don't even know if it would be possible to ride TSM twice within the first hour of park opening. Any advice? Thanks!

 

[ghtx]

I haven't done JTA, but the consensus here on the boards (there was just a thread about this very question earlier today) is that yes, JTA sign-ups will fill up fast, and if you go first to TSM to ride or to pick up a FP you run a serious risk of missing all of the sign-up slots for JTA. Especially on a busy 8/10 day. Sounds like you've got a tough decision to make! Good luck!

 

[Gru]

Thanks for the quick reply! I guess we will have to split up...my hubby will have to take the three young ones to JTA sign ups, and oldest son and I will get to ride TSM until they can meet up with us. The price they will have to pay for voting down a day at EPCOT (my favorite park!).

 

[ghtx]

FYI Any kids who wants to sign up for JTA has to be there for sign up. I.e. you can't send a runner to JTA sign-up for others.

 

[RalphinSC]

Why don't you just be sure to get there about 45-60 minutes prior to opening so you can be first in line for a turnstile? Even with a heavy crowd day, with the new DHS opening procedures as long as you are in the front of the line you should be able to briskly walk over to sign up for JTA while one person goes and grabs fastpasses for TSM. Then you can all meet back up and ride standby before the line even builds to 10 minutes. Did this exact thing on an 8/10 day back in June.

And yes, you can pick your JTA time if you want to. We were among the first in line and picked a 1:20pm show so we could get all our early morning touring out of the way. The only downside to that is that there are no guarantees with weather. It could be raining later in the day and the show could be cancelled. We got in on our show but a storm rolled in right as we finished and the next group got cancelled. They do usually do a special M&G with Darth Vader for consolation inside of Star Tours but that is not guaranteed.

Still, I think a later show time is a good bet if the weather forecast is good so that it doesn't interfere with your early fastpass return times and you get to ride the big three rides at DHS as much as you want. It worked like a charm for us as we got TSM 2X (1fastpass), RnRC 2x(1fastpass), and TOT once all before lunch and then had JTA after lunch along with Star Tours and all the other things we wanted to see.