Jedi Training Academy ~ Experiences Please

[nateryan]

I was surprised when my 5 year old didn't want to try and get picked. I took pictures anyway.

 

[earthfaries]

I was surprised when my 5 year old didn't want to try and get picked. I took pictures anyway.

Those are great, thanks so much for sharing them
Was your 5 year old scared of Darth Vader?

 

[nateryan]

Those are great, thanks so much for sharing them
Was your 5 year old scared of Darth Vader?

He doesn't like to be up in front of strangers. It's too bad he didn't want to because he is a huge Star Wars fan!

 

[Atchley]

I'm sure that we'll be making at least one. DS is going nuts right now finding out that he can. Thank Goodness he has Christmas Money to spend. He is saving it for vacation to spend at WDW.

 

[gowensby]

We were there December 21st and saw the second show. It was a blast. We didn't arrive early enough for one of our boys to be selected. The age range was probably 5-14 with a pretty even distribution between boys and girls. There was one boy almost as tall as the instructor. I loved the interaction between Darth, the Stormtroopers and the children. Some of the children took their roles very seriously when battling Darth. This is an excellent addition to the Studios IMO.

 

[glass slipper girl]

We were at MGM on 12/23 and both my 5 year old and my 7 year old were picked for Jedi Training. We had been to Star Wars Weekend in 2006 and sat through several shows without luck (I was 5 months pregnant at the time...not fun in that heat especially when my then 6 yo wanted to be on my shoulders ). They were beyond excited and are still talking about it. They've told everyone we meet that they got to fight the real Darth Vader. I sat there almost 40 minutes before the show started. DH took the boys to get fast passes for Indy and to the restroom then they came and sat with me. Another lady and her son were in there too so my sons had her and her son between them (that kid got picked too) but they both had on Lego Star Wars shirts. DH thinks that helped at getting them both picked...the Jedi Master guy may have been able to tell they were brothers. No idea if that is true, I was just beyond thrilled that (1) we got lucky at the first show we tried and (2) that they BOTH got picked for that show! Anyway, they loved it! The kids they picked at our show all seemed to be very enthusiastic but not with parents who were, errr...overly excited during the selection. There were one or two very um, enthusiastic Moms and neither of their kids got picked. No other reason though. He picked from the front row and from kids a little further back too. Boys and girls though for our group it was probably like 2/3 boys. I didn't pay attention to if there were a lot more boys in the crowd or not so it may have been that there were not as many girls looking interested at that show. No idea there.

Good luck to your son! I hope he gets to experience it. The kids LOVED it. It was the highlight of their trip for sure! We did the build your own lightsaber thing too, also a highlight. I'll post a couple pics of those too...

 

[glass slipper girl]

Whoever mentioned that the Darth Maul lightsaber doesn't light up at both ends is correct. Only one side lights up. Still looks cool though. Just a warning though...it is taller than my (quite tall) 5 year old! Maybe even my 7 year old, I'm not sure. My 5 year old is almost 52" tall so he's not a munchkin at all!

Both of my kids built the Darth Maul saber but my 7 year old did one end red and one with a clear blade and got the blue, green and purple color discs. You can take one side off and use it as "a single" so he figured that way he had one of each color. They are all $19.95 no matter which options you pick. We had to have some help building them but the CMs working there were great and seemed to have fun with the kids with it.

Here's one to show how tall the Darth Maul one is...

And one that shows how it can be used as a single too...

One of my kids wanted the Jedi pin and one wanted the Sith pin. The file with the pic of the Jedi pin somehow became corrupt so I can't pull it off the card and DS has since lost the pin (typical ) but here is the Sith pin...

It doesn't matter what type of light saber you build, you get to decide if you are a Jedi or a Sith when you get the pin.

My 7 year old asked how much money the man who made Star Wars made from it. We explained that he is still making money from it and that every time someone buys a lightsaber or a star wars toy or tee shirt, he makes more money. We figure that my kids have bought enough light sabers over the last 2 years that we have likely put dinner on the table at Skywalker Ranch at least once.

If you have a little Star Wars fan, check out the pictures they do in Tatoine Traders (the store you walk through at the exit of Star Tours). They put your face into a pic of the movie characters. We have a hysterical one of my boys as Anakin and Obi Wan. I'll have to scan it in and post it. Watching them work with these little kid faces and match them up was too funny. Even our 1 year old was laughing.

 

[madfelice]

I have read in other threads that one way to get your child picked is to have a sign and have them hold it up or hold it over their heads. You know, like "The force is strong in this one" or "Future Padawan" and the like. I don't know how effective it is, but some people swear by it.

 

[dpuck1998]

We've been twice and got picked both times. First time just my oldest and second time both my boys. Both times we went to the first show and my kids wore star wars tshirts. I think the tshirts and/or something star wars really helps!!

I'll post some pics as soon as I can...we just got back last night

 

[nooneshome]

Our son, who loves Star Wars, has bever been picked. Our daughter gets picked for everything. She has been a jedi, got to drive the remote control car at LMA and has been picked by the candy lady in EPCOT/Japan each time. last trip we took our daughter's good friend and she got picked to be a jedi too. Maybe this last trip our son will finally get picked to be a Jedi.

 

[earthfaries]

We were at MGM on 12/23 and both my 5 year old and my 7 year old were picked for Jedi Training. We had been to Star Wars Weekend in 2006 and sat through several shows without luck (I was 5 months pregnant at the time...not fun in that heat especially when my then 6 yo wanted to be on my shoulders ). They were beyond excited and are still talking about it. They've told everyone we meet that they got to fight the real Darth Vader. I sat there almost 40 minutes before the show started. DH took the boys to get fast passes for Indy and to the restroom then they came and sat with me. Another lady and her son were in there too so my sons had her and her son between them (that kid got picked too) but they both had on Lego Star Wars shirts. DH thinks that helped at getting them both picked...the Jedi Master guy may have been able to tell they were brothers. No idea if that is true, I was just beyond thrilled that (1) we got lucky at the first show we tried and (2) that they BOTH got picked for that show! Anyway, they loved it! The kids they picked at our show all seemed to be very enthusiastic but not with parents who were, errr...overly excited during the selection. There were one or two very um, enthusiastic Moms and neither of their kids got picked. No other reason though. He picked from the front row and from kids a little further back too. Boys and girls though for our group it was probably like 2/3 boys. I didn't pay attention to if there were a lot more boys in the crowd or not so it may have been that there were not as many girls looking interested at that show. No idea there.

Good luck to your son! I hope he gets to experience it. The kids LOVED it. It was the highlight of their trip for sure! We did the build your own lightsaber thing too, also a highlight. I'll post a couple pics of those too...

Wow, thanks for all the info That is so great both your sons got picked at the same show. I hope that both my sons will get picked for the same show too My 5 year old already plans on wearing his lego star wars shirt with Darth Vader on it that day. I love the pictures! They're great and I can tell you boys had so much fun. I know this will also be the highlight of our trip, along with the build your own lightsabers. It will be one of those things he can say he did only at Disney, battle Darth Vader!

Whoever mentioned that the Darth Maul lightsaber doesn't light up at both ends is correct. Only one side lights up. Still looks cool though. Just a warning though...it is taller than my (quite tall) 5 year old! Maybe even my 7 year old, I'm not sure. My 5 year old is almost 52" tall so he's not a munchkin at all!

Both of my kids built the Darth Maul saber but my 7 year old did one end red and one with a clear blade and got the blue, green and purple color discs. You can take one side off and use it as "a single" so he figured that way he had one of each color. They are all $19.95 no matter which options you pick. We had to have some help building them but the CMs working there were great and seemed to have fun with the kids with it.

Here's one to show how tall the Darth Maul one is...

And one that shows how it can be used as a single too...

One of my kids wanted the Jedi pin and one wanted the Sith pin. The file with the pic of the Jedi pin somehow became corrupt so I can't pull it off the card and DS has since lost the pin (typical ) but here is the Sith pin...

It doesn't matter what type of light saber you build, you get to decide if you are a Jedi or a Sith when you get the pin.

My 7 year old asked how much money the man who made Star Wars made from it. We explained that he is still making money from it and that every time someone buys a lightsaber or a star wars toy or tee shirt, he makes more money. We figure that my kids have bought enough light sabers over the last 2 years that we have likely put dinner on the table at Skywalker Ranch at least once.

If you have a little Star Wars fan, check out the pictures they do in Tatoine Traders (the store you walk through at the exit of Star Tours). They put your face into a pic of the movie characters. We have a hysterical one of my boys as Anakin and Obi Wan. I'll have to scan it in and post it. Watching them work with these little kid faces and match them up was too funny. Even our 1 year old was laughing.

That light saber IS huge Does it , what's the word, retract? Probably not. It's really cool though! My 5 year old is def. getting one of those, that is all he talks about! I am going to show him the pics as soon as he wakes up. He will be so excited to see them!
Thanks again for the info and all the great pics!!!

I can't wait to see the pic you had made with your sons in it. Please post it

 

[Selket]

I agree with the poster who said to wait close to the stage near the CS restaurant. When we did this in 2005 that is the area where the Jedi Master came out (from behind the stage - he didn't come from the restaurant but that area is close to the restaurant). We arrived at the end of one show and were there as the Jedi Master was leaving and signing some autographs. We didn't ask for one but I'm sure he saw us. I asked a CM for any tips on getting picked and she said he tends to pick kids towards that side (which is the left side if you are facing it) of the stage. Sure enough - BOTH of my kids were picked - my 3 year old was the youngest up there to fight Darth Vader. This was the TOP thing he wanted to do and was so excited (and brave - Darth is big!).

If you really want to get picked I would plan a big chunk of time so you can attend more than one show. Maybe you'll luck out and get picked right away but if not - at least you don't feel like you're missing the attractions. For that day this was our only "must-do" for the afternoon.

 

[glass slipper girl]

You know, at our show more kids got picked from the side closer to Star Tours than by the counter service place. Both of my sons were in that area. My guess is being on the front row not at the very end on either side is more important than being towards the counter service place. Being there when they leave and then again when they come out probably does help b/c then they know it's a kid that REALLY wants to do it. I can't remember where the Jedi Master came in from at our show but I know he left closer to Star Tours. This was 12/23/07 so maybe it has changed recently.

One thing we did that ended up being neat was that I was on the side of the stage near Star Tours. I had sat there waiting for a while before the show. DH had taken our boys to go get fast passes for Indy and to the bathroom. BY the time they got back it was getting crowded in that area so DH sent the boys to me but then he stood off to the side over on the side near the back wall between the counter service place and the stage. Our 1 year old was asleep in the stroller at the time so DH was able to take pics too. Because we were in different places, we have different angles. In mine, I can't see the kids faces well but I see Darth really well. In DH's it's more a profile or the back of Darth but the kids faces. When I sat down, I just sat in the first spot I saw where the kids could be on the front row (well, DS5 did have a little bitty kid in front of him but he's 52" tall so he was not hidden at all). I didn't think about getting a more central spot for pics in case they were picked.

I love that they made this permanent! They have so many experience things for little girls and so few for little boys. This is one thing lots of little boys flip for so it's nice to see something for them. Now if they would only do a Star Wars character meal... (seriously, Disney. If you had a Star Wars meal, we'd plan an entire trip just to be there for that. Think of it, Troopers guarding the door, Darth Vader could be in one stationary spot where you come to him but you could have some of the other characters circulate. Not only would the little ones love it but the grown up Star Wars fans would too. )

 

[#1TiggerFan]

i have seen it too many times but love it! i did it once it was cool and my friend did it too! so if u r kid wants to get pick tell him/her to stand or sit wave their hands like crazy and point at them and they might get pick! thats how me and my friend got pick!

 

[glass slipper girl]

That light saber IS huge Does it , what's the word, retract? Probably not. It's really cool though!

It retracts a bit. As in you can push it back in to the bottom section. Not in to the handle, just the bottom section of the tube. It doesn't lock in there either. That's the one thing they don't like about it. It won't lock in so it makes it harder to carry around. The plain plastic ones like they used for the Jedi Training lock in the handle and the newer force action ones lock (DSs love those...Santa brought them...they spring out when you push a button. Very cool). These are like the ones that light up and make sound. DSs still like them though! We have so many different light sabers it is ridiculous! Yesterday my kids had a pack of neighborhood kids in the cul-de-sac all with their light sabers (DSs sabers they shared) doing their own version of Jedi Training.

Here is the picture of the boys as Anakin and Obi Wan. My 5 year old is Anakin and my 7 year old is Obi Wan. Watching them do this was hysterical! The boys loved it though and spent their own money to get the pic. It was not cheap (you can do it without buying the pic if you want though). For 2 faces it was $35. I think it was $27 for one person. They were thrilled with it. They want this and their Jedi Training certificates framed and hung in their room.

 

[dpuck1998]

I don't think anyone mentioned this yet. When we were there last week they brough out carpets and had all the kids sit on the carpet and the parents had to stand behind the carpet. Once the carpet was full then no more kids could sit on it. Of course a few pushed there way onto the carpet, but you get the idea. Once the show started they had the kids stand up and they picked them from there. I think that helped the "stage rush" a bit.

 

[earthfaries]

It retracts a bit. As in you can push it back in to the bottom section. Not in to the handle, just the bottom section of the tube. It doesn't lock in there either. That's the one thing they don't like about it. It won't lock in so it makes it harder to carry around. The plain plastic ones like they used for the Jedi Training lock in the handle and the newer force action ones lock (DSs love those...Santa brought them...they spring out when you push a button. Very cool). These are like the ones that light up and make sound. DSs still like them though! We have so many different light sabers it is ridiculous! Yesterday my kids had a pack of neighborhood kids in the cul-de-sac all with their light sabers (DSs sabers they shared) doing their own version of Jedi Training.

Here is the picture of the boys as Anakin and Obi Wan. My 5 year old is Anakin and my 7 year old is Obi Wan. Watching them do this was hysterical! The boys loved it though and spent their own money to get the pic. It was not cheap (you can do it without buying the pic if you want though). For 2 faces it was $35. I think it was $27 for one person. They were thrilled with it. They want this and their Jedi Training certificates framed and hung in their room.

That is a great picture. How neat! Thanks again for all the details! Hopefully they will both get picked next week during the same show

I don't think anyone mentioned this yet. When we were there last week they brough out carpets and had all the kids sit on the carpet and the parents had to stand behind the carpet. Once the carpet was full then no more kids could sit on it. Of course a few pushed there way onto the carpet, but you get the idea. Once the show started they had the kids stand up and they picked them from there. I think that helped the "stage rush" a bit.

Okay, first of all, your bug startled me

That carpet idea sounds like a good idea. Maybe it is something they started doing to help organize the show and all the kids who are interested. I guess I will just have to wait and see!

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Think of it, Troopers guarding the door, Darth Vader could be in one stationary spot where you come to him but you could have some of the other characters circulate. Not only would the little ones love it but the grown up Star Wars fans would too. )

Oh, wouldn't that be fabulous!!! I'd love that so much!

 

[earthfaries]

Oh, wouldn't that be fabulous!!! I'd love that so much!

I think that is a wonderful concept. They wouldn't have to worry about not making enough money...with the amount of kids and esp. adults that love Star Wars it would be sold out all the time!!!

 

[mom2aandj]

I love that they made this permanent! They have so many experience things for little girls and so few for little boys. This is one thing lots of little boys flip for so it's nice to see something for them. Now if they would only do a Star Wars character meal... (seriously, Disney. If you had a Star Wars meal, we'd plan an entire trip just to be there for that. Think of it, Troopers guarding the door, Darth Vader could be in one stationary spot where you come to him but you could have some of the other characters circulate. Not only would the little ones love it but the grown up Star Wars fans would too. )

ITA--so glad they made this permanent!!! This will be mine and DS' must-do when we go! And amen, a Star Wars meal would be HUGE!!!!