How early to sign up for Jedi Training Academy?

[magickingdomprincess]

I'm trying to plan our DHS day, but not sure how early we need to sign up for this. I know it used to be that you had to be there early, but I think I've read that now it's not as important to get there early. We'll be there on a recommended day - Sat, June 11th. Can anyone share any recent experience with this? Thanks!

 

[mesaboy2]

I would still get there early. I wouldn't count on availability for more than an hour or so after the park opens.

 

[AngiTN]

It's still important to get there early. Just not as critical, if that makes sense. The added shows and capacity give you some breathing room. But the slots are still gone each day, usually early. Just not as early as before.

Really, as important as getting there early to get a spot you want to be there early so you don't spend the first hour the park is open in line. I would aim to be at the turnstiles about 45 min before HS is scheduled to open. Knowing they will probably let you in about 15 min before opening and then hold you at internal ropes.

There are some reports of people being allowed to sign up early but it seems to be very inconsistent and pretty hard to plan for. So if you do get lucky and get to sign up early it will just leave you in position to go over to head to your preferred ride.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Thank you both very much for the info! Very helpful!

 

[ajfd]

On Monday, DW was at the park 45 min before opening. She was roughly 50th in line at the signup.

She was able to get the second show, which worked out great because we were able to hit a few rides first.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

On Monday, DW was at the park 45 min before opening. She was roughly 50th in line at the signup.

She was able to get the second show, which worked out great because we were able to hit a few rides first.

Was she let in before RD to sign up or no?

 

[Crystal824]

Last month we were let in early to sign up for JTA. We had early entry breakfast reservation for 8:05, but they were letting in people for either breakfast or for JTA. We went to sign up prior to breakfast and only had a few people in front of us. My daughter signed up for the 11:40 show. We choose that time. She could have gotten the first show, but I didn't want to rush breakfast. When we came back around 11:00, there were still slots open for later shows because I heard people signing up for those when I checked my daughter in for her show. It wasn't a a particularly crowded day so...take it for what it is worth. If it is really important to your child, I would still get there no later than RD or only a little after just in case especially if it is predicted to be a busy day.

 

[ajfd]

Was she let in before RD to sign up or no?

She was directed to the path to the left (?) of the tapstyles to go into the park and get in the signup line by the Indy show. The kids were signed up at 8:25a at which point she was able to head over to Starring Rolls to grab a bite to eat.

She was told that the procedure at that point was for CMs to hold them from venturing further than Starring Rolls until the RD crowd passes.

Note this is all second hand ... I grabbed a little extra snooze time and was at the back of the RD crowd.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Last month we were let in early to sign up for JTA. We had early entry breakfast reservation for 8:05, but they were letting in people for either breakfast or for JTA. We went to sign up prior to breakfast and only had a few people in front of us. My daughter signed up for the 11:40 show. We choose that time. She could have gotten the first show, but I didn't want to rush breakfast. When we came back around 11:00, there were still slots open for later shows because I heard people signing up for those when I checked my daughter in for her show. It wasn't a a particularly crowded day so...take it for what it is worth. If it is really important to your child, I would still get there no later than RD or only a little after just in case especially if it is predicted to be a busy day.

We're having a hard time fitting in everything we want to do so I'm hoping we're be able to sign up before RD to give us more time.

 

[Crystal824]

With the current procedures, you should be fine for signing up before RD.

 

[ArielSRL]

On Monday, DW was at the park 45 min before opening. She was roughly 50th in line at the signup.

She was able to get the second show, which worked out great because we were able to hit a few rides first.

Being 50th in line, do you know how long she had to wait to get up to the front of the line? I'm hoping to get there about 8:15 and I have 20 minutes built into our touring plan at a 9am opening....so starting our touring at 9:20. I'm just wondering if it will take longer IF they don't let us in early for sign ups.

 

[AngiTN]

With the current procedures, you should be fine for signing up before RD.

They do not allow sign ups before RD every day. It is inconsistent.

 

[Crystal824]

They do not allow sign ups before RD every day. It is inconsistent.

Maybe it is inconsistent, I'm not there everyday. I only know what I experienced. I have a friend that was there a week before us who experienced the same thing. She is the one who told me to be prepared to sign up early even before I saw it on the Dis. Even if Disney was consistently allowing this, Disney could change the procedure at any time. You can only hope to sign up pre opening. The good news is if you get there before opening even if you have to wait, you should be at the front of the pack for sign-ups.

 

[JaimeK]

We were there on a level 8-crowd day in March. We arrived later than planned and then bag check took forever. Got to Jedi signups at around 9:40. There was no one in line! They had shows from 4pm and later at that point. It took just a few minutes and was a breeze. When we went in 2014 we waited a solid HOUR in line to sign up.

 

[mesaboy2]

We were there on a level 8-crowd day in March. We arrived later than planned and then bag check took forever. Got to Jedi signups at around 9:40. There was no one in line! They had shows from 4pm and later at that point. It took just a few minutes and was a breeze. When we went in 2014 we waited a solid HOUR in line to sign up.

You can show up early and pretty much guarantee both a) a spot and b) a wait. Or you can show up later and get one, both, or neither. If you want to increase chances of a spot, show up early and be prepared to wait.

 

[Disneytwinsmom]

My son is so excited about doing this again now that they have updated it. Would love to hear how it has changed if any one had also done it prior.

 

[ajfd]

Being 50th in line, do you know how long she had to wait to get up to the front of the line? I'm hoping to get there about 8:15 and I have 20 minutes built into our touring plan at a 9am opening....so starting our touring at 9:20. I'm just wondering if it will take longer IF they don't let us in early for sign ups.

She texted me at 8:12a telling me she was in line and then again at 8:24a with the slot the kids got. The line moved really quick.

 

[Dreamin192]

I am so torn for our end of May trip. I have an 8am H&V ADR but now I don't know if I should keep it or push it back. It seems like if the line starts outside of the gates before open we'd actually be at a disadvantage with an PPO ADR

 

[ArielSRL]

She texted me at 8:12a telling me she was in line and then again at 8:24a with the slot the kids got. The line moved really quick.

Thank you!

 

[Mamaoftwo24]

On our trip this week, we went straight to TSM because we didn't have a fast pass and by the time we made it through there and back to the sign up by Indiana Jones there was a line backed up maybe 100 people deep and heard people talking that it was already full... My son was heart broken... Learned my lesson..

We also were at the park at RD...