Jedi Training at HS tips

[ny3boys]

We are going on our first WDW trip in a couple of weeks. My 3 boys are 9, 8 and 6 and LOVE Star Wars. We want to try and sign them up for the Jedi training on our HS day. We have FP+ for TSMM, so we aren't too worried about not getting in line for that. We also have lunch reservations at the 50's Cafe at 12:30. HS opens at 9am that day. How early do we need to be there? We are staying at POR. What time should we go for the bus? Can we choose a time for the Jedi training so that it doesn't conflict with lunch? Any tips are appreciated!

 

[Gorechick]

I would suggest getting to HS for rope drop and heading straight to Jedi Training sign up. Let them know your ADR schedule, I'm sure they'll be able to work with you to secure a time.

 

[letsgoreds]

8:30 at the latest, 8:15 will get you closer up to the front of the line. We drive, so I am no help with bus times. Ropedrop (park opening) will be between 15 and 30 minutes before scheduled park opening.

The start booking the first time slot, and go out from that. Yes, you should be able to ask for a later time if you have a conflict.

Have fun! Consider pre-purchasing PP or PP+ in advance, they take a ton of great shots, and have some fun Jedi borders.

 

[ny3boys]

8:30 at the latest, 8:15 will get you closer up to the front of the line. We drive, so I am no help with bus times. Ropedrop (park opening) will be between 15 and 30 minutes before scheduled park opening.

The start booking the first time slot, and go out from that. Yes, you should be able to ask for a later time if you have a conflict.

Have fun! Consider pre-purchasing PP or PP+ in advance, they take a ton of great shots, and have some fun Jedi borders.

We have PP+! We will have use of my FILs car. Although we had planned on just parking it in the resort lot and using disney transportation the whole time. Maybe we should rethink that?

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

As the PP said, get there at rope drop (no later than 8:15) and head straight to Jedi Training sign up.

I would allow 30-45 minutes for transporation. You never know how long you will have to wait for a bus.

That being said, we've done JTA during the past two years at SWW when it is super crowded and we've never had a problem getting a time slot. We usually end up with mid morning. On a non-SWW day you shouldn't have any problems getting an early time slot, as long as you sign up right away.

Enjoy! And May the Force be with you!

 

[letsgoreds]

We have PP+! We will have use of my FILs car. Although we had planned on just parking it in the resort lot and using disney transportation the whole time. Maybe we should rethink that?

Totally up for you. Plusses/minuses to each. For most of our trips, we relied on WDW transportation, without incident, then last January drove from park to park for the first time since my cousin (CM) was driving...and I LOVED it! No more...is that our bus?....nope....is that our bus?.....nope...are we all going to fit on this bus (end of day)...nope. No more dealing with strollers on the bus, or finding seats. We just walked to our car and went where we liked!

It also helped tremendously that we were at Kidani which has outstanding parking options, and it took 1 minute (no joke) to get from our room to the car. If I were staying at WL or Jambo or other resorts with one big parking lot, where sometimes it is harder to find a spot, I would just take WDW transportation. This next trip we are at BLT, so definitely walking to MK, but unsure what we're doing for the other parks.

Have fun. JTA is totally awesome! Oh, and hit the restrooms before you go. They ask if anyone needs to go right before you head over to the stage, but there isn't much time. We had a bigger group of adults, so I stayed with the kids, and the others lined up for the show, saving room for me to jump in at the last minute : )

 

[ColonelHathi]

Last week we got to HS at 8:30, DS saw Stitch at the entrance so we grabbed the opportunity for a photo with no line, popped in line for the gates about 8:35 about 20 or so people ahead of us in our line, gates opened at 8:50. Just did a fast walk to the sign-up, no problems. By the time we got up to the stands to JTA, they were taking slots for 11:30 or later. We had a 1:25 ADR, and they let us select the 3:30 (or 3:40) slot, no problems. The line did build considerably after we got there though. DH headed over to the FP- line at TSM while I signed up DS for JTA. We had both FP+ and FP- for TSM that way, worked perfectly! I think we grabbed a bus from CSR at about 8:00 am (got there maybe around 7:45 at the earliest, but I think the bus came right away, then had to hit 2 more stops).

 

[dtats]

Although you didn't ask, I thought I'd mention it. My son, age 12, just did the Jedi Training for the first (and last; he's aged out!) time during our recent trip in August. He's tall for his age, so the Jedi robe was not a perfect fit. Bear that in mind if you're children are big or tall - - ask them to take that into consideration when the CM's fit your child for the robe (this happens about 30 minutes prior to your actual "training time").

Also, when there are a lot of kids in the training class, they will divide the class in two, and one section's class will be interrupted by Darth Vader, while the other section of the class will get Darth Maul. Depending on how much your child like either character, this could be a great treat or a potential disappointment. My son fought Lord Vader, and loved it!

Hope I didn't give out too many spoilers, and I hope your kids enjoy it as much as mine did!

One last tip - - if the weather calls for temps above 70 and sunny skies, bring sun-block, and have a bottle of water handy for your little padawans, 'cause it gets real hot in those robes out in the Florida sun!

 

[ktmo]

We went on a Saturday in October. We got to HS at around 8:30, so before they open, but were pretty far back in line, just to get into the park. We rushed to sign up for Jedi Training, along with everyone else. We got in line and waiting. It took about 20/30 minutes to get into the building to sign-up, but the line was still at least 20 minutes to get to the CM to sign up. By this time they were already on 1 or 2 pm time slots, so we left. We were just staying for the morning.

I had better luck last June. There we rode TSM stand-by and then went to sign up for Jedi training and we got a noon time slot.

 

[Ariel on Land]

Our boys just did this last week. Get there EARLY. We were literally the second family through the turnstiles, rushed straight there and didn't get slots until the 3rd showing. I think we arrived at the park shortly after 8:00. I was shocked at how many people managed to still beat us to the line. I don't know if there were a lot of folks already in the park from eating breakfast at H&V or what, but it fills up quick!

 

[Carolejm]

We just did this 2 weeks ago (it's already been 2 weeks... sigh) (1st timers). We caught our resort bus at 8, were about 15 people back in line for rope drop. But let me tell you people BOOTED it to get signed up. My son got in around the 4th group, but it was filled right away. If this is something your boys really want to do plan on being there early.

For the record this was totally the highlight of my son's trip to Disney World altogether. Jedi Training was the be all and end all for him and going early, waiting in line, running etc... - all worth it.

 

[daytondisney]

What everybody else said.

We were there as they opened, although a bit back in line. Walked past the sign up location to the show location, then back to sign up. We were offered a slot in either of the last 2 shows and took the last (7:10).

My thoughts on driving and parking.

It's a breeze. Disney knows what it is doing with parking and trams. Access roads are clearly marked, parking attendants are plentiful so no back up to pay, cars are parked in sequence to minimize walk to tram, and trams run continuously and are timed so that you wait mere minutes for them to load. No standing, everyone gets a seat, and you get dumped out slightly closer to gate than resort buses.

Worst case is you have to walk from the far end of the row you parked in to the center lane where the tram is waiting. Every slot closer is all the better, and you may even luck out and get the closest slot.

From resort door to park gate, no question that driving and self park is faster than bus. (I guess conceivably your resort room could be right next to a bus stop and the first bus by could be a DHS bus, in which case you'd probably tie someone driving.)

 

[letsgoreds]

One last note. Depending on if your kids are great with surprises/rolling with it or need to know what happens, Youtube has a lot of videos of JTA. I think it is more fun to be surprised (even as a parent)...but I will tell you that the choreography with the light sabrre that they will be taught (to fight DV) hasn't changed one bit.

My youngest will be a very new 4 for our next trip, so I need to prepare him...but I didn't do this when we were there in Jan for DS7. DN4 was with us, and left the stage early, upset. He was afriad they weren't going to give him a light sabre to fight DV...there is talking first, and then they pass them out. I'm wondering if we had showed him the video first, he would have handled it better...just something to consider. He still had a blast, and received his certificate.

I left with the most ridilously adorbale of DN4 cryring in in his jedi robe on stage (thanks PP)...which I proceeded to frame in the 'Happiest Place on Earth' border on the PP site...yes, I have turned to the dark side

 

[sarga]

I'll go with everyone else - get there early!!!! We were there on Wednesday Oct 16. We reached the gates by 8:30 and we were probably 15 - 20 people back. The park did not open early that morning - they didn't let anyone in until 9 exactly. We headed straight to sign ups as soon as we got in, and the line was out the building and we were next to the gift shop area when we got in line. Within 15 minutes the line almost reached the Chinese theater. We waited in that line for over 45 minutes, and when we finally got to the front, the last three shows were the only ones with time slots still available. When we let the building, the line still was stretching way back towards the Chinese theater. I will say the 7:10 show ended up being great. I think the darkness made for a more exciting battle against Vader, and I think our pictures look a bit better with the night sky in the background.

 

[dskib]

How exactly do you get to Jedi training sign ups?

 

[ny3boys]

Thanks everyone! Just quick question. If we get there really early and wait for an hour- plus travel time, we are going to have bathroom issues with my youngest. He has some medical problems. Is there access to a restroom while waiting? Is it possible to leave the line to use it, then get back in if my husband and other boys stay there?

 

[ny3boys]

Hubby wants to know if one adult can get there super early and run ahead and sign the boys up, and the boys come with the rest of the group at regular park opening? Do the kids have to be there for the sign ups?

 

[mesaboy2]

Hubby wants to know if one adult can get there super early and run ahead and sign the boys up, and the boys come with the rest of the group at regular park opening? Do the kids have to be there for the sign ups?

The young Jedi must be present at the signup location.

And to answer your prior question, there are restrooms at DHS outside the gates. Ask any CM for their location.

 

[Itinkso]

How exactly do you get to Jedi training sign ups?

Sign-ups are located in the Sounds Dangerous building which is located between the American Idol screen and the Jedi stage.

 

[daytondisney]

Thanks everyone! Just quick question. If we get there really early and wait for an hour- plus travel time, we are going to have bathroom issues with my youngest. He has some medical problems. Is there access to a restroom while waiting? Is it possible to leave the line to use it, then get back in if my husband and other boys stay there?

Get in line first, then get in and out as needed. The RR is right there in full view of everyone and every parent in this particular line will be sympathetic. Use common sense and you'll be fine.