Is RD a must in order to do Jedi Training?

[Djsbride]

My trip to WDW is around the corner and I'm sure I'll be posting more often with questions as the date approaches. We're not early risers, as a matter of fact my husband is super slow getting out of the house and he's late every day everywhere he goes. My kids are Star Wars fanatics and I know that the Jedi training will be the highlight of their trip. Is it necessary for us to rope drop in order for my kids to do it or can we show up to the park at around 9ish and still have a chance?

 

[hiroMYhero]

My trip to WDW is around the corner and I'm sure I'll be posting more often with questions as the date approaches. We're not early risers, as a matter of fact my husband is super slow getting out of the house and he's late every day everywhere he goes. My kids are Star Wars fanatics and I know that the Jedi training will be the highlight of their trip. Is it necessary for us to rope drop in order for my kids to do it or can we show up to the park at around 9ish and still have a chance?

If you want to be able to select a session that fits your schedule, you’ll need to be in line before the park opens. Only one adult needs to be with the kids to sign up. Have your DH join you later.

 

[tlmadden73]

When I went back in March 2017, we hit DHS during the EMH. We weren't at the front of the pack, but my group was walking up the street at rope drop. They went over to sign up while my son (who was too scared to do this) and I went on Star Tours.
After our ride they still weren't through the line, so we went to TSMM - not sure when they finally got through the line .. I think they spent most of their EMH waiting in line and had a 3 in the afternoon sign up. I can only imagine during a regular park opening that it would be just as bad. Seems like the available slots would fill up pretty quickly.

So I would say, yes, you need to get there at RD.

While I would love my son to do that, I am sorta glad he was too scared to try it -- that would have wasted our EMH (on a day we were only planning on spending half the day there anyway).

Frankly, it seems so popular that I am surprised they haven't changed this to a hard ticket event type of thing (would keep demand down and maybe let the kids keep their lightsaber or something). It would probably be just as popular.

Maybe they will with the opening of SWGE ..

 

[Djsbride]

When I went back in March 2017, we hit DHS during the EMH. We weren't at the front of the pack, but my group was walking up the street at rope drop. They went over to sign up while my son (who was too scared to do this) and I went on Star Tours.
After our ride they still weren't through the line, so we went to TSMM - not sure when they finally got through the line .. I think they spent most of their EMH waiting in line and had a 3 in the afternoon sign up. I can only imagine during a regular park opening that it would be just as bad. Seems like the available slots would fill up pretty quickly.

So I would say, yes, you need to get there at RD.

While I would love my son to do that, I am sorta glad he was too scared to try it -- that would have wasted our EMH (on a day we were only planning on spending half the day there anyway).

Frankly, it seems so popular that I am surprised they haven't changed this to a hard ticket event type of thing (would keep demand down and maybe let the kids keep their lightsaber or something). It would probably be just as popular.

Maybe they will with the opening of SWGE ..

Thank you! RD it is

 

[jilldw]

We were there about a week and a half ago. This was a 7am EMH. We got there about 645 and they had just started letting people in. The crowd went right to Toy Story Land and we booked left. What a change from November '17. No running of the bulls (parents) to the sign up line for JTA. We walked and were 2nd in line. No one behind us. Later that day there were still spots available. I would still make it the first thing I do, but you may find with TSL that the crowds running and shoving to JTA diminish slightly. Have fun...my boys have done it several times and had a blast each time.
I would also note that when we came back for our appointed time that they had the kids under the shade to the immediate left of signups. The previous training group waiting had been to the left of the store. If you are there at the appointed time and don't see any cast members look around the building!

 

[otten]

This is one of those questions that's really impossible to answer accurately since it's going to depend on the day.

Our experience was this: we went to HS on Dec 30 (so a pretty high crowd day). We arrived on a red eye that morning and got into the park around 9:30. We waited about 30 minutes in line to sign up but there were still a lot of spots left. I wouldn't say it's always critical to sign up at rope drop but if it's a must do and you can do rope drop you should but you could probably do an attraction first.

 

[dumbox2]

the change is interesting from when we did it in Aug 2015 and then earlier this month. in 2015 rd was a must with everyone running to get to jedi training and be first in line. now with toy story land open everyone heads there first. we did rope drop this year and we were the only people waiting by the jedi guy to be walked over (and sign up is in a different location than in 2015). we wanted to be in the first show which is why we went over so early. I went early with my kids, got them signed up, rode tsmm a couple times (all crowds headed toward sdd), rode alien saucer once, got breakfast at andy's lunchbox before the rest of our party arrived. if jedi training is a must do I personally wouldn't risk waiting.

 

[MomOTwins]

Our experience signing up was in summer 2017 before TSL, so maybe it is better now, but we had a 40-minute delay on our disney resort bus and got to the jedi signups 10 minutes after park opening. The only times left were right at the hottest part of the day in early afternoon. We booked it but it was soooo miserable being stuck in the heat with no shade.