Jedi Academy question

[lovndisney12]

First post so sorry if I have a few things wrong. We will be at Disney Dec. 14th-21st. My DS 7 and DS 10 both love Star Wars. I saw that the Jedi Training academy is now available every day (rather than Star Wars weekends). They would love to do this. Has anyone done it? Do you need to be there way ahead of time to make sure to get picked?

 

[Disney1976]

There's no guarantees that you will be picked, regardless of when you get there. Yes, as a general rule, I'd get there at least a half hour before showtimes, since people do start getting there at least that early, but unless they've changed something recently, numerous people have posted threads here about how they went to multiple show times, and their child never got picked. It's completely random, unfortunately.

Sometimes, kids have luck being picked by having Star Wars posters, or a funny Star Wars shirt, but again, no guarantee.

Good luck!

 

[lklasing]

We did this last May and it really was one of the best highlights of our trip. I included it in my trip report - see my signature below - check out post 24 (page 2) of the "Fun at FW cabins" report. We had 2 kids picked, my daughter who was 9 and my nephew who was 5, and they loved it. I highly recommend giving it a try. Good luck!

Leslie

 

[OB1]

This is such an entertaining show. We don't have kids, but we watch it at least once per DHS visit. I have seen kids picked that showed up 5 minutes early, so timing is not everything. HOWEVER, we go at slower times, so the crowd level will determine how early you arrive. You do need to be towards the front to have a chance. I advised a family in SEP to actually leave when they were not picked and come back later to try again. This way, the kids had not seen the show & would be more surprised.

 

[lovndisney12]

Thanks for the great tips! Read your trip report about it and we have a variety of Star Wars costumes from over the years along with t-shirts. So we will give it a try. It is our first park and we have two open days at the end. If they don't get picked the first time, we can always try again if they want to.

 

[TheGoofster]

My daughter was picked during our trip, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. We got to the show a few minutes before it started, but because it was a slower time of the year, we were still able to get near the front. I think that if you want a chance to have a child chosen that you do need to be in a spot that the choosers can actually see your kids.
This and Captain Jack's Pirate Tutorial (for which my daughter was also chosen - just as a crew member though, not as one of the main pirates) are both incredible shows in themselves, but become so much better when one of your kids are chosen to participate.

 

[tmclanton]

We went in May and my son got picked for both the Jedi Training and the Pirate Tutorial. We got there really early and sat front and middle. I think it helps if your child seems very enthusiastic when they ask for volunteers. At the Jedi Training there were a couple of mothers that were trying to get their children picked and when he picked them they seemed nervous. He then told the kids, "I only want you to do it if you want to do it... it doesn't matter if your mother wants you to do it... do you want to do it?" Both kids said no!
Doing these 2 things were my son's favorite things. He was the one that actually got to fight Captain Jack!

 

[ScarletFire]

As long as you arrive before the beginning of the show, kids can move to the front. We went to the first show last month. My friends son was picked. He was wearing a very bright tie-dyed t-shirt. The jedi trainer made a comment about the shirt. Later the same day, another friend's son was picked, also wearing a tie-dyed t-shirt. Once again, the trainer commented on the t-shirt.

I was traveling with a group of 15; we all wore tie-dye shirts the day we traveled to DHS. We drew a lot of attention. The boys did not attend the same training show.

 

[snickerboo]

Kids wearing Star Wars gear have a better chance of being picked, it seems. We are just back and ds5 did it. It was truly the highlight of his trip. We did show up early to be in the front but did not have to be super early. DS chose to wear his Luke Skywalker costume to DHS for all the Star Wars fun and he was picked. Another boy had on a Star Wars shirt and was picked, too. DS was also jumping up and down (no push needed for mom or dad in his case! LOL The Jedi guy referred to him as "Sugar Boy" because ds was so hyper and excited. LOL) It is very cool for the kids but several kids there when we were had their hearts set on it and cried when they weren't picked. I think you have to prepare them that they may not get picked so that it's not terribly disappointing if they aren't.

 

[Minnie & Me]

Your 10 year old might have a hard time getting picked. I noticed they like to pick younger kids between ages 4-7. Older kids strike harder with their sabers, so CM's don't want to get hurt. Plus younger kids seems to really believe they are fighting Darth Vader, so audience are more entertained.

The Disney photographer take many many pictures. Just remember to add these to your photopass card at the photo place before you leave the park.

 

[mom2aandj]

my DS was picked for this when we went this June. Here are the things we did to increase our chances: we went to DHS on what was supposed to be a lower crowd day and we went to the very first show of the day. It was at 9:55 am, I believe, and my DS and I showed up to wait at the stage at around 9:25. There were probably 4 other kids there at that point and I think they, and my DS, all got picked. My DS also wore a Star Wars shirt and was very enthusiastic when they asked for volunteers.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

My advice: Try to dress them in the SAME STAR WARS OUTFIT! Therefore, they may be picked together.

 

[squidmo]

The Disney photographer take many many pictures. Just remember to add these to your photopass card at the photo place before you leave the park.

How exactly does this work? Does it take them a lot of time to figure out which ones are yours, or do they end up giving you all the pix from that session.

 

[emmsmama]

How exactly does this work? Does it take them a lot of time to figure out which ones are yours, or do they end up giving you all the pix from that session.

I'm wondering this as well.

 

[Minnie & Me]

Make sure you write down the show time you attended. At the photo store, they have a binder with codes listed according to date and time for the pass couple of weeks.(not sure how long they keep them for) They enter the code into the computer and up pops all the photos of all the kids for that particular show. You go thru them on the screen with the CM and pickout all the ones with your kid. Give them your photocard and they will load them on. Easy. Tip: don't wait too late, at park closing the store closes right on time and there will be a long line up.

 

[sunlover13]

How exactly does this work? Does it take them a lot of time to figure out which ones are yours, or do they end up giving you all the pix from that session.

The photopass photographer will tell you to go to the Dark Room which is on your left as you leave DHS. The CM at the Dark Room will pull up the session and scroll through the pictures with you and add the ones of your child to your card. So, no, they do not put all the pictures on your card, only the ones you select.

Advice - Do not go right away as we went about 1 hour after the show and they were still adding the pictures. Also, be prepared to wait as they only had about 3 or 4 stations to view pictures.

Good luck!

 

[sticker231]

My older son got picked during our trip. It is completely random who they pick. Both of my sons were raising their hand and the older one got picked. We were surprised. he is high functioning autistic and was right at home up on the stage. My younger son was hiding behind my back pack when Darth Vader came out, before the show he was telling us how he was going to kill him.

I doubt there is any rhyme or reason to the selection but it is enjoyable to watch your kids up on the stage.

 

[Tracie]

This might help:

PM me if you would like the design(personalized) to iron on a shirt for your kids. My friend's DS wore this and was picked by name. Of course he was also jumping up and down like crazy too.

Tracie

 

[angelegod]

This might help:

PM me if you would like the design(personalized) to iron on a shirt for your kids. My friend's DS wore this and was picked by name. Of course he was also jumping up and down like crazy too.

Tracie

That is so kool

 

[chessie2008]

We tried in Sept and we got really lucky to have my dd and my ds picked for the same show. We got their about 10 mins before it started and they were standing up front. My ds did have a Star Wars shirt on. My dd was one of 2 girls that were picked. (I didn't count but it seemed like they had about a dozen or so kids up there) It is definitely a must-do if you have Star Wars fans. I did warn my kids before we got there that they would be lucky if they got picked and there was good chance they wouldn't. Next time I say that they won't believe me now right? Anyway - good luck!