Jedi Training Academy questions

[CoopTroop6]

10 days to go!!! My 3 oldest kids (ds10, dd6, ds4) all love SW (our oldest is Lucas - can't tell you how many times a week he hears Dad telling him "Luke, I AM YOUR FATHER" ) and I'm hoping to get them in to the Jedi Training Academy. From what I understand, kids 4 & up can participate, right? Can I sign all 3 up or is there a limit? And my 4yo is really tiny (as in his 2yo little brother is the same size, >2% on the growth charts tiny) - will they still let him? He's in PreK and has no problem following directions (most of the time...).

We've also pre-purchased a regular photopass cd. How does this work w/JTA?

TIA for any info!

 

[mm1971]

10 days to go!!! My 3 oldest kids (ds10, dd6, ds4) all love SW (our oldest is Lucas - can't tell you how many times a week he hears Dad telling him "Luke, I AM YOUR FATHER" ) and I'm hoping to get them in to the Jedi Training Academy. From what I understand, kids 4 & up can participate, right? Can I sign all 3 up or is there a limit? And my 4yo is really tiny (as in his 2yo little brother is the same size, >2% on the growth charts tiny) - will they still let him? He's in PreK and has no problem following directions (most of the time...).

We've also pre-purchased a regular photopass cd. How does this work w/JTA?

TIA for any info!

Yes, you can sign them all up if there are sufficient openings. The CM's won't ask you DS age, they are not allowed to. Unless it has changed, I think you are correct on the age 4 requirement. JTA is a lot of fun for the kids. We did it when DS was 8.

The photo pass works the same everywhere. I can't remember if there were PP CM's there or not. We took our own camera and took pictures for JTA. If the photographers are there, you would just give them your card to scan after he is done taking pictures. Maybe others have used PP there.

 

[MSSANDRA]

They do ask the kids a few questions (they have to be there in person) to be sure they have the ability to follow directions. I could have sworn I have heard them ask a kid how old they are but I could be wrong. If they did, I think it was more of a conversational thing and not a inquiry. They have quite a few camps through out the day but you want to get there early to try to get them all in the same one. Have fun....and may the force be with you!

 

[taylor3297]

There was a photopass photographer there this past August. Before Jedi Training started he asked if you had a photopass card.

 

[msmama]

I've asked my son if he wants to do this and he says no, but I'm wondering if he might change his mind once he sees it (we can plan 2 days in HS if necessary).

My son will be 5, and can follow directions, BUT I could see him getting on stage and freezing or trying to bolt off the stage. With kids, I'm sure this wouldn't be the first time it happened, but has anyone seen it and know how they deal with it?

 

[pooh4evr]

My 3 girls did it Oct '11, and had fun, youngest was 4. There was also another little girl , when Darth Vader came out she LOST it screaming crying, CM carried her offstage to her parents. It was funny watching DD#3 fight- she had trouble getting the lightsaber to open but the Jedi trainer helped her and "held off" varer for her. The PP was great we have TONS of pics of the girls, parents have to stand about 4 feet back from the stage behind a roped off area because the photographer moves alot, he was on a rolling chair going everywhere getting lots of different shots. The funniest shot was of DD#3 o her tip toes trying to go high on Darth Vader. I think after the show he gives everyone a card or scans your card and you can go to the photo palce and pick your shots because everyone from the show will be on the scan, so just edit it down to your kids. TIP- take your kids to the bathroom before you check in, (at least when we did it) you check in at sounds dangerous, wait around until about 10 min before your show,the CMs lead the participants to the staged area and parents go the get their spots to watch, the kids are with the CMs until show is over. I think we go to the turnstiles maybe 8:15ish, gates opened at 8:45, we went straight over to the sign ups - follow CM signs- and were in the 2nd show- others ran we didn't. Signed up , Dh got FP for TSMM, we got pics with Daisy, Minnie, Piglet and Stitch and had a bathroom break before checking in for the show.

 

[cmsb]

I've asked my son if he wants to do this and he says no, but I'm wondering if he might change his mind once he sees it (we can plan 2 days in HS if necessary).

My son will be 5, and can follow directions, BUT I could see him getting on stage and freezing or trying to bolt off the stage. With kids, I'm sure this wouldn't be the first time it happened, but has anyone seen it and know how they deal with it?

This happened to my 6yo. He made it through the training part, but got freaked out when Darth Vader came out. They quietly helped him out of his robe and let him exit through the Star Tours line. If we hadn't have been watching him, we wouldn't have known, so you have to keep an eye out. He still talks about getting to do the training, so it was definitely worth it!!

The minimum age is 4 and they will ask you the kids' ages when you sign up.

 

[AJRitz]

JTA is my kids' favorite thing in all of Walt Disney World. Yes, you can sign them all up at once, BUT make sure you have them with you for sign up. If the child isn't present, they won't let you sign him/her up.

There is a PhotoPass photographer right up front. He or she gets pictures of everything and all of the kids, and then give you a PhotoPass card that is keyed to your show. You take that card to the PhotoPass location near the park entrance, and give that card to them. You go through all the pictures and pick out the ones with your children in them, and they'll add those to a PhotoPass card (either one you already have or another card), so you don't have to deal with pictures of everyone in the show and can just work with photos of your own kids.

 

[Leajess99]

Yes, you can sign them all up if there are sufficient openings. The CM's won't ask you DS age, they are not allowed to. Unless it has changed, I think you are correct on the age 4 requirement. JTA is a lot of fun for the kids. We did it when DS was 8.

The photo pass works the same everywhere. I can't remember if there were PP CM's there or not. We took our own camera and took pictures for JTA. If the photographers are there, you would just give them your card to scan after he is done taking pictures. Maybe others have used PP there.

My daughter has done it twice and both times they have asked her age. She loved doing it but we skipped it this last trip.

ETA: OP we had 7 kids in our group all do JTA together in October 2011. They ranged from 5 to 12 and the younger 12 year old was actually taller than our oldest 12 year old and almost as tall as Darth Vader. It was funny to watch. Disney CMs are used to kids of various sizes. My dd was 7 and taller than a 10 year old boy on her first trip doing it.

 

[Fielhol]

My kids did the JTA this past December when we went. What an experience!!! My youngest DS got to do the Jedi push and then all day he kept 'threatening' us with it

 

[dalayney]

My kids did the JTA this past December when we went. What an experience!!! My youngest DS got to do the Jedi push and then all day he kept 'threatening' us with it

OMG, I love it!

 

[Momloveshockey]

My 7 year old will so be all over this. He is in love with Lego Star Wars. We will be heading straight there when the gate opens. Can't wait...2 weeks!

 

[monicainindy]

So how do you sign them up?

 

[CanuckTraveller]

Sorry to go somewhat off topic, but can you have one parent with the kids go to sign up for Jedi training academy, and the other parent go get fast passes for toy story? If I understand the whole system correctly, this should work because you don't need your tickets to sign up for the Jedi training academy, but do need them to get fast passes?
Sorry for the potentially dumb question, I'm a well travelled adult but only have one trip to WDW under my belt...which was over 20 years ago

 

[tinkermom23]

Our boys did this last spring and loved it!!! We went first thing after ropedrop to sign up and they gave us a time to come back. (4:30)
DS12 and DS5 both did it since DS5 really wanted to do it but was scared of going alone so big brother went with. DS12 is very tall and looked out of place but I could the CM are used to all ages/sizes/heights of kids.
They gave each of us a photopass card afterward with about 120 photos of the training presentation and we added that number to our photopass account.
It was definately the highlight of the whole trip for DS5!!

 

[letsgoreds]

Here's a summary I posted a couple of weeks ago...all kids must be present to sign up, other parents/adults can run to TSM to pick up fast passes. They will ask your children their age, and a couple of other questions. No issue if they chicken out. Great experience! Only other advice I would add is that if this is a high priority for your trip/family...do it early in your vacation. The shows are weather permitting (outdoor theater), so if it rains, you are out of luck. This way you can plan on trying again another day.

Here is how it worked for us this past Sunday.

Arrived at 8:40 (9am opening) and people were already walking back (REMEMBER THE PARK OPENS BEFORE LISTED TIME). My mom and cousin headed to TSM with everyone's tickets to pick-up fastpasses. The wait at that time was only 15 minutes so they jumped in line after obtaining FPs.

My sister, myself DS7 and DN4 B-lined it to JT sign-up. Made sure to stay left, walk past 50's Prime time and then straight along the left side. There was a gentleman sitting out in front of a building past Indiana Jones with a sign, and guiding people inside a building on the right. There was a winding waiting area, and we were maybe the 20th group in line. Got in for the 11 am show (arrive at 10:40). They will give you a slip of paper with your how time for each child. DON'T LOSE THIS...it is your ticket into the show, and they will need this.

By 9am the line was wrapped around inside and a good 20 feet out the door. This was not a busy day. I wouldn't send a child with grandma. Took us 10+ minutes to get through the line, would expect longer for those deeper in the line. They were initially asking the questions of the kids at the end of the line, and then started sending a girl into the line to speed things up.

As we walked to meet our group at TSM, the characters were coming out in front of the sorcerers hat, so stopped to meet chip and dale, and then onto meet our group at TSM. Our FP return time was 10:20, too close for my comfort. We talked to a CM and they let us in 5-10 minutes before the posted time.

REALLY enjoyed the Buzz and Woody M&G across from TSM...and I am not a character person. I told Woody he had a snake in his boot and it was fun to watch them...tons of other suggestions out there on the web, or maybe Kenny The Pirate's site. One of the highlights of our trip.

In reality we were the first to arrive at JTA at 10:40, they sat the kids down inside and conducted some Star Wars trivia Q&A. The kids trickled in over the next 10-15 minutes, offered a potty break, and then onto the show.

The show was fun! DN4 was escorted off the stage because he looked sad...turns out he thought he would have to battle Vader without a saber. He didn't care, and received a certificate after the show anyway.

Oh...and if you are doing Photopass...the JTA photographer (she will introduce his/herself before the show) is the only one who has the Vader magic on their camera...you can get 'magic' pictures battling DV if you ask them...great for those who want a fun shot but who are not participating in the show. She will hand out a card to all families after the show that contains all of the images from the JTA session.

Have fun!

 

[writersblock42]

How old is too old. My son will be 14 and he would love to do it. No way, he will pass for 12 though. He is 5'9" now and I don't know how tall he will be come summer the way he is growing.

 

[letsgoreds]

Um, no. Still fun to watch! It is geared towards younger kids, anything older than 10/12 is too old. I would say the average age of kids for our show was 7, with noone older than 9/10.

 

[Suzanne74]

Um, no. Still fun to watch! It is geared towards younger kids, anything older than 10/12 is too old. I would say the average age of kids for our show was 7, with noone older than 9/10.

That depends. When my daughter went she was 6, 8 and almost 10 and there were a lot of older boys and girls each time. We go in Aug and she and her cousin will be 11 and 12. I personally think 4 is too young. Most leave the stage crying or don't open up their light saber and just stand there. I think even more older kids would do it if preschoolers weren't up there kinda clueless. Or they should have age group sessions.

 

[Leajess99]

How old is too old. My son will be 14 and he would love to do it. No way, he will pass for 12 though. He is 5'9" now and I don't know how tall he will be come summer the way he is growing.

It is for kids 4 to 12. My oldest daughter was 13 when we went ad could not do it because she as too old. We probably could've lied about her age but I feel if I lie about her age than how can I punish her if she lies to me?? She was okay with the other kids doing it and she took some awesome pictures for me.