HS: Jedi training on Star Wars Weekend - worth it?

[hemmie]

We will be hitting HS on the Friday of a Star Wars Weekend with sons ages 8 & 10. They love Star Wars but have sort of moved on to Harry Potter (yes, we will be doing Universal earlier in the week). I'm sure they'll get caught up in the fun at HS though.

I'm dreading the earlyearlyearly arrival and subsequent stampede to get them signed up for Jedi Training Academy - if they get in the show, is it worth it? Seems like the kids really love it, but to me the trade off is getting to ride TSM and Rock n Roller Coaster with minimal lines.

How long do people wait in the JTA line to sign up on a Friday of a Star Wars Weekend? How early do we need to think about getting to rope drop? (and would we have to take a taxi, or does the bus run from AKL that early?)

Thanks!

 

[yulilin3]

We will be hitting HS on the Friday of a Star Wars Weekend with sons ages 8 & 10. They love Star Wars but have sort of moved on to Harry Potter (yes, we will be doing Universal earlier in the week). I'm sure they'll get caught up in the fun at HS though.

I'm dreading the earlyearlyearly arrival and subsequent stampede to get them signed up for Jedi Training Academy - if they get in the show, is it worth it? Seems like the kids really love it, but to me the trade off is getting to ride TSM and Rock n Roller Coaster with minimal lines.

How long do people wait in the JTA line to sign up on a Friday of a Star Wars Weekend? How early do we need to think about getting to rope drop? (and would we have to take a taxi, or does the bus run from AKL that early?)

Thanks!

you might find this thread helpful: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3183780
If you are going during SWW you must be at the entrance by 7:30am, oficial opening time is 8am but they do open earlier during SWW, stay to your left and you will be directed to the Indi Theater to sign up for JTA, your kids have to be with you, depending on how early in line youa re the entire process can take no more that 10minutes, if you're further back then maybe about 20 to 30min. After that you could go ride TSM and the other rides.
The only difference of JTA during SWW is that it's 2 tiered with Darth Vader on stage and Darth Maul or Asajj Ventress at the bottom, and of course, the general SW atmosphere

 

[dancingswiffer]

My DD8 (7 at the time) LOVED doing it. It wasn't bad the week we went, we just got there as soon as the park opened and went directly to the sign up room (right beside the American Idol building on the back side of the "lake").

 

[jtowntoflorida]

My daughter loved it during SWW because she got to fight Darth Maul. She's done JTA 3 times with Vader so it was nice to have a different Sith to fight!

You absolutely have to be there early, and you absolutely have to be ready to fight for a spot. The line forms quickly and is totally insane. If the kids are lukewarm about it, I'd skip it, because the old TSM stampede looks like amateur hour compared to the SWW JTA stampede!

 

[jco_direwolf]

I think it's worth it. But you know your kids better than I do. My Son (4.5) now has done it 4 times. He enjoys it.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

Only if you can ARRIVE at DHS no later than 7 AM. Seriously. I did it last year and it was a total nightmare.

We got in line for the bus to DHS at Pop (a 5 minute bus ride from DHS) at 7 AM and the bus line was so long that we were the THIRD bus to leave. We got to DHS around 7:35 (25 minutes before posted opening, and 5 minutes after they actually opening) and waited 50 minutes in the JTA sign up line. It was insane and a huge waste of early morning touring hours.

I would never do JTA on a SWW again unless I had no other choice (which was the situation last year...traveling with first time little boys who are obsessed with Star Wars, and we only had the weekend days to choose from). We were in line ahead of some obnoxious dad who was loudly complaining that they should do this every day and not just during SWW. I tried to tell him that JTA DOES happen every day, but he insisted he was right, so I didn't argue...but it made me wonder how many other people in the park for SWW think that JTA only happens during those times. This guy was really adamant that he had the correct information. I had no interest in arguing with him.

Bottom line, starting our already super early DHS day with a 50 minute line just to sign up for JTA made for a long day. We really had to push it to keep the kids in the park and make it to our 1:45 showtime - which by the way was miserable in the June heat.

 

[jco_direwolf]

His info was correct but outdated for years it was SWW.

 

[henry72]

I had been wondering the same thing. Both kids want to do it. We will be going to DSH on Friday of the last SWW. I know they would love it but worry about getting there that early. We just added a day to our trip so we could always try the Monday or Tuesday after SWW. How early would we have to be there on a non-SWW day?

 

[jco_direwolf]

I had been wondering the same thing. Both kids want to do it. We will be going to DSH on Friday of the last SWW. I know they would love it but worry about getting there that early. We just added a day to our trip so we could always try the Monday or Tuesday after SWW. How early would we have to be there on a non-SWW day?

In general it's about an hour before published park opening. That factors in enough time to handle DHS early opening and being in the front when being let in.

I would suspect Monday after could be an issue for just what you are doing "let's do it AFTER SWW weekend".

They do larger classes (2x sized with one group down infront of the stage) and more or less continuous shows for SWW.

As far as I can tell signup is always a cantina scene just a question of how big.

 

[Itinkso]

I had been wondering the same thing. Both kids want to do it. We will be going to DSH on Friday of the last SWW. I know they would love it but worry about getting there that early. We just added a day to our trip so we could always try the Monday or Tuesday after SWW. How early would we have to be there on a non-SWW day?

At least 30-45 minutes before scheduled park opening. The CMs will schedule your kids in around your Fp+ schedule... it's best to try for an early session to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. If the session is canceled, your family will have a meet and greet with the cast.

 

[lorihannahgwen]

My two girls love it (ages 5 & 7 at the time). We are going again this summer and I asked them if they wanted to run to the line to sign up for JTA or run to the line for TSM. They chose JTA. Yes, they were hot in the July sun, but they had a blast fighting Darth Vader.

 

[wiigirl]

I think it's worth it. But you know your kids better than I do. My Son (4.5) now has done it 4 times. He enjoys it.