Jedi Academy and Building Your Own Lightsaber

[katybugsmom]

Hey everyone! My son is really into Star Wars right now and I need some info. from you guys!
1. How early should we line up in order for DS5 to be selected for the academy?
2. Does he need to have his own lightsaber or will one be provided if he is selected?
3. What is the cost for building your own lightsaber and would you do this first before lining up for the academy?
We've been by there many times, but DS was never old enough to really know what was going on and our DD now 11, never had an interest in it.
We will in the world from December 15-21, so I know the crowds will be above normal.
Thanks for any tips you can give me!

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

You will want to go first thing. We walked quickly when they first opened (sent Dh for fast pass to TSM) and we were 8 & 9 in line. They only take 15 per show.

It was 19.95 to make a single lightsaber and $23.99 for a double. The prices may not be exact, but verry close. You make them in the Star Wars store. They will provide one for the jedi training. I do not think you can use your own. I would make it after to make sure you get in the first show!

Your DD11 can do it, too if she wants. It is for kids ages 5-12.

 

[twokids0204]

Hey everyone! My son is really into Star Wars right now and I need some info. from you guys!
1. How early should we line up in order for DS5 to be selected for the academy?
2. Does he need to have his own lightsaber or will one be provided if he is selected?
3. What is the cost for building your own lightsaber and would you do this first before lining up for the academy?
We've been by there many times, but DS was never old enough to really know what was going on and our DD now 11, never had an interest in it.
We will in the world from December 15-21, so I know the crowds will be above normal.
Thanks for any tips you can give me!

1) We went right at rope drop for the first show. We didn't have any problem.

2) They will provide the lightsaber.

3) Building your own - I believe starts around $20. However you do not need one for the show.

Be sure to go to the photo store at the front of DHS, and let them know what show your child was is, they will give you all the photopass pics of your child (on your card) for that show.

 

[SignMeUp]

Definitely get to DHS at rope drop and go directly to stand in line for the first Jedi Training Academy show. You can send someone else in your party to get TSM FPs, but remember that any child that wants to participate in JTA must be in line with you. They will give him a lightsaber and Jedi robe to use during the show.

You can make your own lightsaber at Tatooine Traders (near the Star Tours ride) or at DTD. There is no rush to do this, just whenever it best fits w/your schedule. I opted to have my boys make theirs in DTD so we could take them to our rooms right afterward and they could play w/them. If you make the lightsaber while at DHS, you will have to carry it around with you or arrange to pick it up as you leave the park (or sent to your resort the following day). Your ds may not be happy with just having made an awesome new lightsaber and then not being able to play with it right away. It might also be a pain to carry around the park w/you. Maybe make it at DHS just before you plan to leave the park.

 

[DaniB]

Ohh, we just did this on the 16th and it was great! I video-recorded the entire event on my camera. My son loves watching it again and again.

Unless you want to wait in line for a long time, I would go straight there after rope drop. We did this and our son was 4th in line. The first 15 kids filled up quickly. You still have to wait over 1/2 an hour as the first show begins just before 10am, but you end up waiting longer and longer as the day goes on.

When the CM comes around, he/she will ask the kids a few questions and give them a card to hold on to. Don't lose this card! It guarantees your child his/her spot to be in the show.

The kids all get brown Jedi robes and "training" light sabers. Both of which gets returned after the show. The kids get official certificates afterwards.

The Jedi Knight training them is funny with lots of side jokes for the adults. Darth Vader and the Storm Troopers are awesome!

Be warned - there is NO breeze in this area. Very hot!

Ohh, and after the show go up to the Photopass Photographer. He/She will give you a slip of paper that you take to a store on your way out of the park. I forget which... then they will add the photos to your photopass card.

Before we left Hollywood Studios, we took our son back to build a lightsaber. It was $19.95 for the single blade. I think the double-blade option was $29.95.

In this next picture, my son is the last kid (back row) on the left-hand side.

My son fighting Darth Vader.

 

[PrincessP]

Our son built his light saber at Once Upon a Toy in DTD. That way we didn't have to use valuable park touring time to do that. We went on a Wed. afternoon and had the "building station" to ourselves. The single was $19.95 or thereabouts.

Have fun!

 

[katybugsmom]

Thanks everyone for the quick responses! We will plan on going over first thing after the rope drop and check out the pictures later on with the Photo Pass! My DS will think this is the most awesome thing in the world! Thanks for the heads-up about the store in Downtown Disney! We will either go there to make the light saber or make one right before we leave HS!!! Thanks again everyone!

 

[SignMeUp]

One other tip about lining up for the first Jedi Training show: Do not go to DHS on a morning EMH day. You will end up wasting your EMH time standing in line for JTA and the first JTA show is still not till 9:55am. If you wait until 9am to line up for JTA on a morning EMH day, you may miss getting into the first show and still have a really long wait until the 2nd show. If JTA is a priority, then go on a day when there are no morning EMH.

 

[claryche]

You will want to go first thing. We walked quickly when they first opened (sent Dh for fast pass to TSM) and we were 8 & 9 in line. They only take 15 per show.

It was 19.95 to make a single lightsaber and $23.99 for a double. The prices may not be exact, but verry close. You make them in the Star Wars store. They will provide one for the jedi training. I do not think you can use your own. I would make it after to make sure you get in the first show!

Your DD11 can do it, too if she wants. It is for kids ages 5-12.

I thought the age was 4-12. I sure hope it's 4, because I have already told my DS about it and he is 4 and half and we go in a month and a half.

 

[SignMeUp]

Yes, it is 4 to 12