My son loves Star Wars and was really excited to see the Jedi Training Academy. My son was 10 when we were there in February, but he is large for his age, so he looks about 12 or 13. We noticed that they invariably choose many small 4-5 year olds who do look rather cute but who don't enjoy the actual experience.
Darth Vader is daunting and Darth Maul is the stuff of nightmares. Each time we went many of the kids chosen were very young and every time most of those little ones either totally froze, didn't follow directions, or started crying. My son, old enough to enjoy the experience, was never chosen.
There were many 7-9 year olds who were choosen for the training, but for the most part they enjoyed the experience, and as such weren't a source of frustration for my son. He didn't mind other kids who wanted to do the training were picked instead of him, but he was really frustrated that they kept choosing kids who weren't the least bit personally invested in Star Wars.
Over and over again the Cast Members choose children who were being lifted up and put on display by their parents. I am not physically capable of lifting my five foot three inch tall 100 pound son over my head. He wanted to be chosen so much, and he even purchased a Star Wars T-shirt, from his own hard earned money, and made a sign the last night before we hit the park. Even outfitted in Star Wars gear and bearing an obviously child made sign, he wasn't chosen.
It ended up being a very sad experience for my son. He sat through that show over and over and over again and watching while little girls, dressed as princesses were held up and shaken/jiggled by dads who obviously loved Star Wars were chosen each and every show. He would then watch as most of those little girls either didn't participate or totally freaked out. He couldn't understand why the Cast Members didn't pick kids who themselves wanted to participate. He held his hand up enthusiastically, but he didn't act like a jerk, push smaller children out of his way, or move in front of the baracade area.
I explained to him that the event was listed for kids up to 12 and that he looked mature for his age.
Thinking about it now, I wish I could sign him up for this, I would be willing to provide a copy of his birth certificate. He would be willing to pay. My daughter has done the Tea Party at the Grand Floridian, and he would be willing to save his "family paychecks" for a guarateed Jedi Training Experience.
We were in Disney World in September, and I asked him if he wanted to try again, and he actually got tears in his eyes and said, " I don't want to ruin this vacation trying to do something impossible."
He was 11 years old at the time, and it made me sad to see him so crestfallen. We took him to Downtown Disney and he made his very own lightsaber, and we even picked up the tab, something pretty rare around our house. The kids know that unless it is Christmas or a birthday, they are expected to earn money for toys and extras. He was so excited and appreciative of his lightsaber. On the bright side, I appreciate that my son is capable of gratitude.
I agree that kids need to learn to accept that they aren't always picked, but the systems seems set up in such a way that he was penalized for being large for his age.
--Mom of a Tall Kid.
As for kids being scared, I've witnessed on three different occasions kids starting to cry once they get up to fight Vader. It never seemed to me that the Padawans were controlling, but I guess I've never been able to participate. 
.. In my defense, I wasn't the only one!
I think they forget there child is not the only one in the park. We had two parents stand in front, at the rope, pratically throw thier child out to the stage. He did get picked,but then they continued to STAND in the front, so none of the other parents could see their children who were also chosen. 
I can totally picture DS taking on 'ol Dearth Maul, no sweat!
