Jedi Training Academy Tips

[TigersLions]

Hi Everyone,
Can you please tell me anything I should know about this (tips/strategies)? Both of my boys will do this and I just want to be prepared for the best experience. Thanks!!!

 

[TinkerElsasMom]

Best tip in the role. Be there at rope drop. Be the first in the park and "walk with purpose" to go sign up for it. Don't run. The CMs will yell at you!! Bing a camera, and a video recorder. My DD did it last year. We got there before park opened and had a muffin, granola bar picnic at the front of the park.

 

[iheartjuppy]

If you have MemoryMaker, there is a dedicated Photopass photographer who shoots the entire thing and gives you a card at the end so you can add them to your acct. Beware that, like ETWB, it's ALL the pics of ALL the kids so you have to spend some time deleting other people's kids from your acct but he got some awesome shots of our DS last year and I was able to record video instead of worry about photos.

 

[OtherScott]

Know where the sign up is for the day you're visiting. It's different on Star Wars Weekend days.

Read these 2 threads for maps and other good stuff:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3252052

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3264520

 

[TigersLions]

Many thanks everyone!~!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

remember the kids have to be with you to sign up and be there early

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Yep, remember that you have to bring the kids along. You won't be allowed to sign up for them, if they are not with you.

 

[aa87]

Ok this is a little weird, but I just called Disney to find out the process to signup for Jedi Training Academy.... the woman on the phone told me that they randomly select audience members. I told her that I've read online that you signup early in the day, but she said that's the old process.

Has anyone heard of this new "randomly select people" process? Maybe I should call back and ask someone else.

 

[Itinkso]

Ok this is a little weird, but I just called Disney to find out the process to signup for Jedi Training Academy.... the woman on the phone told me that they randomly select audience members. I told her that I've read online that you signup early in the day, but she said that's the old process.

Has anyone heard of this new "randomly select people" process? Maybe I should call back and ask someone else.

Don't waste your time calling back. All the info in this thread and the linked threads is correct. My DD is a member of the onstage JTA cast and there is no way they will change the process... there are enough upset parents and kids as it is with the rope drop process. Can you imagine what would happen if it were returned to a random selection process??

 

[aa87]

Don't waste your time calling back. All the info in this thread and the linked threads is correct. My DD is a member of the onstage JTA cast and there is no way they will change the process... there are enough upset parents and kids as it is with the rope drop process. Can you imagine what would happen if it were returned to a random selection process??

Thanks! That's good to hear. I wonder why they give information like that when it's just wrong??

 

[Itinkso]

Thanks! That's good to hear. I wonder why they give information like that when it's just wrong??

Disneyland has the random selection because there is no way locals will rush at rope drop at DL. Call center CMs may not even be in the general Florida area.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Ok this is a little weird, but I just called Disney to find out the process to signup for Jedi Training Academy.... the woman on the phone told me that they randomly select audience members. I told her that I've read online that you signup early in the day, but she said that's the old process.

Has anyone heard of this new "randomly select people" process? Maybe I should call back and ask someone else.

They used to randomly select (and in fact they still do at Disneyland) but it was such a disaster at WDW that they changed to the signup process. Multiple complaints. Kids getting chosen more than once. A kid getting chosen and their siblings not getting chosen. A kid dressing in full Jedi regalia, holding a sign and jumping up and down and still never getting chosen. For wDW the signup process works much better. However, there isn't going to be any way to make everybody happy.

Who did you call?

If you called 407-WDISNEY, that's the room reservation line. They have no idea what goes on in the parks. They are probably not even in Florida. Unfortunately they try to guess rather than saying they have no idea. I'm guessing she looked it up online, and found either old info or Disneyland info.

 

[brandon1022]

I also have a question about the Jedi Training. We are planning to get there at Rope Drop, but wondering how busy it usually gets at that time. What are our odds of not getting in? At what time does it fill up for the day?

 

[Itinkso]

I also have a question about the Jedi Training. We are planning to get there at Rope Drop, but wondering how busy it usually gets at that time. What are our odds of not getting in? At what time does it fill up for the day?

If you arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled park opening and head straight to sign-ups when the gates open, you'll be able to sign up. Don't try this on an EMH day unless you are an onsite guest. Slots can be filled for the day within the first 45 minutes - 1 hour after park opening.

 

[Ocean]

I'll throw out a tip based on something we experienced during spring break. Our son is on the shy side. He's not one to jump right into new things, so it took a couple of trips to WDW and watching the show several times before he worked up enough nerve to try it.

The day we went to sign up HS was fairly crowded, and the Jedi Training Academy groups were double the size we've seen in the past. This meant that one group was on the stage and one group was on the ground in front of the stage. Our son was in the ground group, and they wound up facing Darth Maul. For most kids this probably wouldn't be a big deal. He had steeled his nerves for facing down Darth Vader (and by that time he was actually looking forward to it), so we wondered how he would handle the surprise of facing a different enemy. In the end everything was fine. He had a great time, and he couldn't stop talking about it once it was over.

Darth Maul was great in the show, and definitely much scarier-looking than Darth Vader. However, for kids who need to work up the nerve to try something like this, it's worth keeping in mind that the actual show could play out a little differently from what they may have seen.

 

[KelleyK75]

If you have any interest in eating at Hollywood and Vine, try to get an 8am ADR for a day the park opens at 9am. We did this a few weeks ago, and it worked perfectly. We were done eating and seeing characters by 8:40, we hung out for a few minutes because it was raining, and headed over to the sign-ups around 8:50. The park was already opened so some people were already at sign ups, and we got in line. We got into the 10:10 training. There was no worries about being at rope drop or if we were going to make it into the training.

Also, if it's raining, or forecasted for rain, try to pick a time of day when you don't think it's going to be raining. Like I said when we signed up, it was slightly raining, and luckily we got into the 10:10 class, and not 9:20, because that one got cancelled. So if it's raining, they will cancel it. They give you a choice of when you want into the training (from whatever they have left).

 

[Disneytwinsmom]

Great information! I had no idea about the sign up. I thought it was random. Thanks everyone!

 

[sbrost13]

Our experience a few weeks ago was great, but a little different. Like a PP stated, half the kids were on stage fighting Darth Vader and the other half fought Darth Maul (sp?). However, when we checked in 30 minutes prior to our show time, they said 1 of the dark side participants couldn't be there so they needed half the class to switch to another session. This was at the 11:00 show. It actually worked better for us to switch so I volunteered my son to do the show around 4:00. My DD had been sleeping off her fever in her room that morning so she wasn't with us at RD to sign up. When she and DH finally got to the park around noon, she decided she wanted to do it too. We went to see if they had any more spots open and they had 2 for the 4:40 show, so we switched them both to that one. This was our first time doing it, so I was surprised we there were still spots open at noon. However, if classes are normally half the size, then I can see why everyone rushes to sign up at RD. Both kids had an awesome time!

 

[alexpgoldman]

Hi There, Can someone please confirm if I am getting this right... Best time to signup is to get to park 15-45 min before rope drop on non-EMH days. WALK not run to the sign-up sheet with child. The sign-up sheet might be in different location during Star Wars Weekends.

This is the part that is hazy, can you choose any time that is available or are you given a time? I also assume since you know what time your child it in the show you can also stakeout a prime location near the ropes.

Anything else I am missing?

 

[Itinkso]

Hi There, Can someone please confirm if I am getting this right... Best time to signup is to get to park 15-45 min before rope drop on non-EMH days. WALK not run to the sign-up sheet with child. The sign-up sheet might be in different location during Star Wars Weekends. This is the part that is hazy, can you choose any time that is available or are you given a time? I also assume since you know what time your child it in the show you can also stakeout a prime location near the ropes. Anything else I am missing?

1. You and the child must sign-up with a CM at the sign-up area. For SWW, it will be at the Indiana Jones Stunt show.

2. Have your Fp+ and Dining schedule with you and ask for a session that fits your schedule. The earlier you sign up the better choice of sessions you will have.

3. Your child has to report for his session 30 minutes before his scheduled time. You can go and wait at the ropes at that time.