Jedi Training Academy Sign-Ups

[matthewhavens]

Trying to figure out the best way to sign up for JTA without waiting in line from 9am-10am (missing prime park time).

Can anyone confirm if an 8am ADR for H&V allows you to sign up for JTA before breakfast? I thought I read this somewhere.

 

[Ladcassidy]

Latest intelligence is that we can sign up before breakfast at H&V, but that's always subject to change.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

We were just there last week and we did exactly that ---- we had a 8:25 at H&V and signed up before going into the restaurant. Our son wound up being in the first show.

 

[Barbara76]

We were just there last week and we did exactly that ---- we had a 8:25 at H&V and signed up before going into the restaurant. Our son wound up being in the first show.

Do you sign up at the same place?

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

You sign up at the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost which is just next to 50's Prime Time Cafe (which is right next to H&V.) It's really close to H&V. It took 2 minutes to sign up. There was no lineup at all.

 

[Barbara76]

I wish the Sci fi still did breakfast, the characters at H&V are not ones my kids care about, but not having to wait in line for Jedi Academy is awesome!

 

[matthewhavens]

We were just there last week and we did exactly that ---- we had a 8:25 at H&V and signed up before going into the restaurant. Our son wound up being in the first show.

Were you assigned the first show because you were amongst the first to sign up or could you have picked your show time (and you selected the first one of the day)?

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

Were you assigned the first show because you were amongst the first to sign up or could you have picked your show time (and you selected the first one of the day)?

They had spots open for every show during the day available. They asked when we wanted and we picked the first one only because it worked best with our plans for the day.

 

[matthewhavens]

They had spots open for every show during the day available. They asked when we wanted and we picked the first one only because it worked best with our plans for the day.

I just read your full post-trip report. Wow - what a vacation! You obviously did a lot of sit-down dining. H&V gets mixed (to poor) reviews. How did your son like having breakfast there (pros/cons)? I have a DD(8) & DS(6). I plan to schedule an early ADR, primarily for the early JTA sign-up but also to avoid some of the rope drop chaos. Did you go right from your ADR to dropping your son off for JTA? Did the day lay out well for you by starting this way?

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

I just read your full post-trip report. Wow - what a vacation! You obviously did a lot of sit-down dining. H&V gets mixed (to poor) reviews. How did your son like having breakfast there (pros/cons)? I have a DD(8) & DS(6). I plan to schedule an early ADR, primarily for the early JTA sign-up but also to avoid some of the rope drop chaos. Did you go right from your ADR to dropping your son off for JTA? Did the day lay out well for you by starting this way?

We had a great vacation!

Our breakfast ADR was primarily for the JTA signup --- if your DS and DD like Disney Junior they'll enjoy the character interaction (they definitely try to engage the kids.) Our DS turned 10 on this trip so he's sort of moved on to Star Wars now and so Disney Junior wasn't his thing this trip. Probably your kids at 6 & 8 will still enjoy the Disney Junior characters - they try to make it really interactive.

H&V food-wise was pretty average for a Disney breakfast buffet --- not horrible or great quality but we all found something we enjoyed and since it was early the buffet was quite clean.

For us avoiding rope-drop and the line to sign up for JTA (which when we came out of breakfast was VERY long and moving slowly) was our main reason for booking H&V. We didn't want a mid-day show since the heat was worse and the kids are in robes out in the hot sun during the show. On our last trip we had signed up for a later show and weather came through that cancelled show so we knew we wanted something earlier. We booked our fastpasses starting at about 10:45 and went directly from JTA to our first fastpass. It definitely worked well for us.

I'm sure you guys will have a wonderful trip!

 

[teetee830]

Who are the characters now? I've been trying to decide if we want to do this exact thing. My DS is pretty much past Disney Jr, or wouldn't admit if he did still like it, but really wants to do JTA again so it might be worth it. We've done breakfast here twice and it's been ok but then it was more for the characters I'm not sure if it's worth the price just for early sign ups? I'm torn.

 

[DWFamilyof6]

I would love some advice on our HS day. We are first timers to DW and will be at HS on Memorial Day. Our must do's: JTA (4 kids- preferably am), TSM once with FP and once stand by, & Fantasmic.
Which is the better plan?

A. JTA sign up at rope drop (I've heard we should be in line by 8am).
H&V Fantastmic Lunch (I have a 12:35 adr),
TSM standby 1st hour and FP at 7pm (earliest I could get 30days out).

B. H&V adr 8:05 (sign up for JTA then)... side note we have Ppo Crystal Palace breakfast the day before. Is that breakfast buffet overload?
TSM standby first Hour and FP at 7pm,
Try for a 4th FP to Fantastmic or hope a Fantasmic Dinner package pops up or stand by for Fantasmic.

While I'm at it>>> Anyone have a tip for exiting Fantasmic and heading to see Star Wars Fireworks?
thanks!

 

[ElsasFan]

We were there last week and arrived at HS a little bit after 8 am for a 9 am opening. We were the second family at our tapstile (is that what they are called?). Those with dining reservations were let in to the left, and the word on then street was that they could sign up before their ADR. They let everyone in a few minutes before 9 and people hurried to the JTA sign- up area. We did not run, but walked very quickly, and only had to wait about 5 minutes to sign up. At that point, the CMs were holding the crowd back at various points in the park, so we got in the mob for TSMM. It was a sea of people going to it once they dropped the ropes and I remember thinking that the line would be an hour long with all of those people going there, but somehow it was only a few minutes.

Whether the pre-opening ADR is valuable to you depends upon what your priorities are. It would have been nice to have been signed up for JTA and enjoying breakfast instead of waiting to be let in the park, but I doubt we would have been done in time to catch TSMM without a long line.

BTW, my kids could have signed up for the 10:30 show, but we elected for the afternoon so we could do the other things we had planned without rearranging our schedule.

 

[mbh106]

On our last trip we had signed up for a later show and weather came through that cancelled show so we knew we wanted something earlier

How do they handle that when they have to cancel shows? Were you allowed to sign up for another day instead, or would you need to go through the whole process again?

 

[megster1123]

How do they handle that when they have to cancel shows? Were you allowed to sign up for another day instead, or would you need to go through the whole process again?

I believe you just get rained out and have to start over the next day or maybe try and grab a spot (if there are any still open) for a later show. Sign-ups do not carry over.

 

[megster1123]

We were there last week and arrived at HS a little bit after 8 am for a 9 am opening. We were the second family at our tapstile (is that what they are called?). Those with dining reservations were let in to the left, and the word on then street was that they could sign up before their ADR. They let everyone in a few minutes before 9 and people hurried to the JTA sign- up area. We did not run, but walked very quickly, and only had to wait about 5 minutes to sign up. At that point, the CMs were holding the crowd back at various points in the park, so we got in the mob for TSMM. It was a sea of people going to it once they dropped the ropes and I remember thinking that the line would be an hour long with all of those people going there, but somehow it was only a few minutes.

Whether the pre-opening ADR is valuable to you depends upon what your priorities are. It would have been nice to have been signed up for JTA and enjoying breakfast instead of waiting to be let in the park, but I doubt we would have been done in time to catch TSMM without a long line.

BTW, my kids could have signed up for the 10:30 show, but we elected for the afternoon so we could do the other things we had planned without rearranging our schedule.

So you still could have snagged a 10:30 show even with the ADR crowd signing up before you? That's good to know.
Arriving a little after 8 ... after you signed up for your show was the line behind you for JTA? Just trying to gauge if keeping our PPO ADR is worth it (I've heard so many bad reviews of H&V) or brave the RD crowds.

 

[DWFamilyof6]

We were there last week and arrived at HS a little bit after 8 am for a 9 am opening. We were the second family at our tapstile (is that what they are called?). Those with dining reservations were let in to the left, and the word on then street was that they could sign up before their ADR. They let everyone in a few minutes before 9 and people hurried to the JTA sign- up area. We did not run, but walked very quickly, and only had to wait about 5 minutes to sign up. At that point, the CMs were holding the crowd back at various points in the park, so we got in the mob for TSMM. It was a sea of people going to it once they dropped the ropes and I remember thinking that the line would be an hour long with all of those people going there, but somehow it was only a few minutes.

Whether the pre-opening ADR is valuable to you depends upon what your priorities are. It would have been nice to have been signed up for JTA and enjoying breakfast instead of waiting to be let in the park, but I doubt we would have been done in time to catch TSMM without a long line.

BTW, my kids could have signed up for the 10:30 show, but we elected for the afternoon so we could do the other things we had planned without rearranging our schedule.

Thank you for the info. This helps me a lot, so tempted to drop the PPO at H&V and stick with our lunch Fantasmic H&V.... Meeting the Disney Jr Characters is a priority for my 4 year olds.... but I'm worried Memorial Day is going to be a mad house. I guess I'll search a little longer for a Fantasmic dinner then drop the lunch and keep the PPO. Fight the crowds at rope drop or fight the crowds at Fantasmic...

 

[yaya74]

Thank you for the info. This helps me a lot, so tempted to drop the PPO at H&V and stick with our lunch Fantasmic H&V.... Meeting the Disney Jr Characters is a priority for my 4 year olds.... but I'm worried Memorial Day is going to be a mad house. I guess I'll search a little longer for a Fantasmic dinner then drop the lunch and keep the PPO. Fight the crowds at rope drop or fight the crowds at Fantasmic...

I was in the same boat as you... Fantasmic or JTA.. Later I chose breakfast at H&V over F! dinner at Mama Melrose... I have been told F! theatre is huge and there is no problem getting FP+ for the show. There could be two F! showings during the Memorial weekend.

 

[mousehappync]

Any thoughts on an EMH morning? We are staying at BC and plan to leave the room around 7 and walk over for an 8 am opening. Will we be better off with another day ppo breakfast?

 

[ElsasFan]

So you still could have snagged a 10:30 show even with the ADR crowd signing up before you? That's good to know.
Arriving a little after 8 ... after you signed up for your show was the line behind you for JTA? Just trying to gauge if keeping our PPO ADR is worth it (I've heard so many bad reviews of H&V) or brave the RD crowds.

Yes, the first available show was 10:30. Are you going soon, or during summer crowds? It definitely helped that we arrived so early and were at the very front of the pack when they started letting people in. FYI, you will go down the street and turn to the left, so use a tap stile on the left side.

Also, when the kids go back for JTA, they sign them in and tell them to pick a spot in one of the rows and sit down. They will be in a sort of porch attached to a long building and there are dots painted on the ground for the kids to sit on while they wait. The lines run parallel to the wall. When my kids were in it, those who chose the front row, closest to the railing, got to battle Vader. The back row battled the Seventh Sister (hope I got that name right. I am a late entry to the Star Wars party).