Jedi Training Fiasco (SP???)

[blondinkaya]

Neither of my boys were picked, and they were in the front and wearing Star Wars shirts. We went to the show only once; I didn't see the point in returning to try to get picked in a future show.

I didn't make a big deal out of it, and neither did they. Yes, they're Star Wars fanatics and had fun watching the show, regardless.

Some kids get picked; others don't. It's just a shame that there are some parents out there think it's the most important thing and let manners fly out the window when it comes to pushing and shoving to get towards the front and be more visible to those who do the selecting. What does that teach the kids, kwim?

 

[CanadianGuy]

I can't tell you the number of times we have watched the Jedi show and my child has never been picked. As much as she would LOVE to battle Darth it has not happened. No big deal, it may happen it may not. We just enjoy the parks.

Seriously they ran out of CHURROS? How is that even possible? Was security called? I would have been so BUMMED to find out they ran out of churros. Would not have ruined my trip, but would give me a GREAT reason to plan another one LOL

Well.. the two times I tried to buy them at the same location .. was around 1pm and they were sold out of the morning allotment.. and they said both times "more are on the way.."

Of course, I'm a bit of a crazy... I was prepared to wait in the hot Florida sun and do nothing else but wait for those churros.. not matter how long it took (sound familiar?) but the rest of my party was like:

"Hey, Churro Boy! It's a donut stretched out.. You'll live, come on.. LET'S GO!"

Grumble Grumble..

Knox

 

[glitterkittyy]

Well.. the two times I tried to buy them at the same location .. was around 1pm and they were sold out of the morning allotment.. and they said both times "more are on the way.."

Of course I was prepared to wait in the hot Florida sun and do nothing else but wait for those churros.. but the rest of my party was like
"Hey, Churro Boy! ... You'll live, come on.. LET'S GO!"

Grumble Grumble..

Knox

Maybe the "Churro Guy" from Monster's Inc actually *did* buy churros for everyone that day!

You may have missed a free churro.

 

[DVC Mary]

Funny related story:

There was a little girl, who turned out to be quite strong when she dueled Darth Maul.

She made a quick upper cut between his legs & poor Darth had a hard time hiding his reaction.




This was the 1st year they ever did Jedi Training or Padawan Training as it used to be called. I wonder if Darth added some protection since then.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Maybe the "Churro Guy" from Monster's Inc actually *did* buy churros for everyone that day!

You may have missed a free churro.

Glitter.. a simple formula that will never steer you wrong.. In fact, Don Rickles made his career on it.

INSULT + INJURY = COMEDY

Well done!

Knox

PS> Seriously .. telling me that I missed a free one? That's just borderline mean!

 

[glitterkittyy]

Glitter.. a simple formula that will never steer you wrong.. In fact, Don Rickles made his career on it.

INSULT + INJURY = COMEDY

Well done!

Knox

PS> Seriously .. telling me that I missed a free one? That's just borderline mean!

Next time you're in WDW, I'll buy you one to make up for it.

 

[chrisann]

is since some parents don't have the common sense to teach their kids proper values, have a cm ensure parents keep to the back. That way if you feel your kids are too small to be by themselves upfront while you're watching them, they're too young to be onstage and probably wouldn't like it as much as the parent would!!!!

 

[drinkme]

I think kids are used to not being picked for everything, it's the parent's who can't get over it!

We were at DLR last summer and it took us 2 times at the Jedi Training for my ds6 to be picked. He is a HUGE STar Wars fan.

We were at WDW last November, and we got to the Jedi Training about 30+ minutes before it started. My ds was the first child there, wearing his SW shirt and waving his light saber. He wasn't picked. He seemed fine with it, but I felt so bad for ds. There were kids pushing him out of the way (of course these kids showed up right as the show was starting), and these rude kids got picked.

You see, my ds just had his 5th surgery and we took a long weekend away to WDW to just get away from hospitals, doctors, etc. I wanted to make his time at WDW perfect. When ds wasn't picked, I wanted to go up on the stage and shake that Jedi master and scream, "don't you know how special my little boy is??!!! He's going in for more surgeries in a couple of weeks!!"

However, ds was content to just stand there and watch the other children. In fact, ds stood there and moved his light saber along with the rest of the kids on stage (he didn't need the stage to perform...lol). So, even though he didn't get to fight Darth Vader, he was ok with it. It was ME who was so upset!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Drinkme, I think you made a very wise observation there. Kids are a lot stronger than we give them credit for.

 

[teach22180]

I agree 100%. It drives me nuts that my kids have a "trophy" from every single season of soccer they have played in the local community league! I don't say anything to them about it, but I think "Geez, when did just showing up earn you a trophy?"

Do we all live in Lake Wobegon -- where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average?

Well...I have to tell a LONG story in a short space to say that I'm glad my little community soccer league gave trophies to every participant. I'm a foster mom, and when my youngest moved in at 10 she had never participated in organized groups. She tried bunches of them that next year or so...tennis, karate, scouts, church choir and finally settled on cheerleading as her "thing." Along the way she played a season of soccer at age 11. We were so blessed to have the BEST coach who put her out on the field with the other girls who had been playing for 5 or 6 years and never said anything to her that was not totally encouraging. We missed the end of the year event for some appt. or something, and later that week we had that wonderful man knocking on our door to BRING HER the trophy! Let me tell you that 21 year old has moved a great deal in the last few years, and that trophy has gone with her to each new place. Just wanted to give you another view!

 

[One Year Pin]

Start with the cake. Build up. Kind of like life.

This should be the National Motto of the United States! I love it!

 

[Dizdad321]

Hi Guys,

I'm a big Disney fan and a fan of this forum but I have to chime in here.
Before the Academy became a year round event, I took my 10 year old who spent weeks before the trip hoping to be picked. By the time of the trip, he was excited but knew the chances were slim. After arriving early, not only was he not picked but got pushed by rude parents / bigger kids who arrived late and "suprise" got chosen. He handled it well. I do think that the cast members can do a better job at "crowd control". If you think that it is not possible, try to cut to the front of the line for a character photo.
Are those of you who think that this is just part of life so philosophical when these same rude actions take place in your world ? (the bank, DMV, traffic, while in line for concert / sporting event tix, etc)
I'm not saying that you should be able to knock someone out for shoving your kid. But I am saying that if I invite you to my home, and your kid is treated poorly by another of my guests and I do nothing, I'm partly to blame.

 

[Stinkerbell317]

I agree I wish there was a better way to choose the kids. I've taken my DS8 SIX, count em, SIX times on different trips, and he's still never been picked. He's handled it very well I think. He's never thrown a fit or anything, but it certainly is frustrating for me at least to spend all that time trying when we could be doing other things. I think it would be less of a spectacle if the CMs chose the kids before the Jedi Master comes out. That would alleviate some of the craziness maybe.

 

[perkinsrose]

I think we're seeing a side effect of the trend in society so nicely spotlighted in "The Incredibles" in which many parents, and even schools and other institutions, push the idea that every kid is special. You have everyone telling you "You're great! You're special! You're wonderful!" to build up your esteem. Then you get in a real-world situation where only a few can be special, and BOOM! Kids need more opportunities to learn to accept failure, not a society where Dodge Ball is banned in many schools because it makes some of them "feel bad" and sports teams where everyone gets the same trophy, win or lose.

/soapbox

I don't think Dodge Ball is being phased out of gym class for social/emotional reasons--I thought it was because of the injury risk vs games with less ball/force contact. There's not many sports/games where you actually try to throw a ball as quickly as you can at a person's body. (In some communities--kids call it "murder ball"!)

 

[SurfinTX]

I don't think Dodge Ball is being phased out of gym class for social/emotional reasons--I thought it was because of the injury risk vs games with less ball/force contact. There's not many sports/games where you actually try to throw a ball as quickly as you can at a person's body. (In some communities--kids call it "murder ball"!)

You don't want to know what we called it as teenagers.

Back on topic:
In these situations they really need to pre-select groups of kids and create a separate queue area that the kids stand alone in. This spot is a prime viewing area up front that no parents are allowed into and unselected children are very close to the action. The kids not picked can meet and greet the characters afterwards and that should alieve any hurt feelings.

 

[MomofCKJ]

I think we're seeing a side effect of the trend in society so nicely spotlighted in "The Incredibles" in which many parents, and even schools and other institutions, push the idea that every kid is special. You have everyone telling you "You're great! You're special! You're wonderful!" to build up your esteem. Then you get in a real-world situation where only a few can be special, and BOOM! Kids need more opportunities to learn to accept failure, not a society where Dodge Ball is banned in many schools because it makes some of them "feel bad" and sports teams where everyone gets the same trophy, win or lose.

/soapbox

I haven't read this whole thread yet but got to this and had to comment. I agree 100%. I think we are ruining kids by doing this. It isn't preparing them for reality, it isn't preparing them for their future. Last fall our town soccer went out on a limb and for the older groups (U10 and U12) they broke tradition and only gave out a few deserved trophies, not the "everyone gets a trophy" that they usually do. They were so nervous as to how people would react. I for one applauded them. Why does everyone have to get a trophy? It cheapens it. Something earned and deserved is so much more meaningful than something given to everyone because we don't want anyone to "feel bad" or "feel left out".

My friend is a college professor and sees it quite often. She says the freshmen she has coming through have such an entitled mentality it really makes her kind of sick.

I just had to comment as this topic really does strike a nerve with me! LOL!

Allyson

 

[Todd&Copper]

I think we're seeing a side effect of the trend in society so nicely spotlighted in "The Incredibles" in which many parents, and even schools and other institutions, push the idea that every kid is special. You have everyone telling you "You're great! You're special! You're wonderful!" to build up your esteem. Then you get in a real-world situation where only a few can be special, and BOOM! Kids need more opportunities to learn to accept failure, not a society where Dodge Ball is banned in many schools because it makes some of them "feel bad" and sports teams where everyone gets the same trophy, win or lose.

/soapbox

I agree 100% except for your comment about Dodge Ball. When my husband was 11, he broke his hip b/c of a "fun" liitle game of Dodge Ball in PE class. Because he was so young, they didn't want to do a hip replacement and the ball and socket joint ended up fusing together. He was in pain EVERY TIME it was humid or rainy. He'd had a couple of orthopedic surgeons tell himt hat a hp replacement wouldn't help him much until he was older. FINALLY, at age 33, he got his hip replacement surgery and he is doing very well now. My point is Dodge Ball is being banned b/c it is dangerous, not b/c it doesn't meet some kind of "feel good" criteria.
/my soapbox/


But I agree 100% that it is ridiculous that kids are not learning how to deal with failure. Every kid gets trophies and accoades for everything. High schools are designating all students with GPA's higher that 4.0 as "valedictorian" instead of singling out the one kid who has the absolute highest grades. Enough is enough. No wonder kids and helicopter parents are so self-centered.

 

[Lavender_Blue]

I can see why people would say that kids and parents need to "get over it" but at the same time...what would be so wrong with at least TRYING to come up with a system that makes it so that the kids at least don't get pushed around by a larger adult or bigger kid?

Yeah, it's not gonna increase the chances of a kid being picked. But at least you can raise the chance of your kid not getting squashed.

And I dunno, but I think it's silly to ask "why was the kid upset?" I think it's silly because, well, they're a kid. And not all kids are the same. Some psyche themselves up differently. Maybe the kid choses to just be happy with being at Disney, maybe some come to Disney with a mission. Yeah, you can say that it's all about how you raise your kid...but a kid's gonna feel how they're gonna feel -- that is part of growing up, too.

And I think, as a kid, it would be painful if that was what I was looking forward to the most and I had gone consistently to three shows and sat and waited like a good, well-behaved kid and then I got trampled by an adult and pushed by a kid and for all that trouble still didn't get picked. It would hurt my feelings - not that I didn't get picked, but that I was bullied like that.

You can say that's part of life and I agree, it is. But I also agree that I think Disney could do something about making it better. Anyting can always be improved. And Disney's ALL about safety...so why not?

A lottery isn't a good idea because, as mentioned, what if the kid doesn't want to go and the parents pressure them? Neither is having the kids get there SUPER early and having a CM pick - you'd have a swarm.

I think having an area where the kids are separated from the adults and where they have to sit quietly and just wait for the cue to raise their hands ONLY - no getting up unless said to, and no pushing is a good idea. I think it wouldn't be SO difficult. Shoot, they chould have big dots on the ground like they do on stage and make the kids sit on those - and they could have some space in between them and they have to STAY SEATED on those dots as they raise their hand. And only the children that wish to participate can sit on those dots. ANYTHING really would be better than making everyone stand in a crazed clump.

Like I said, I don't think the OP was upset that her kid didn't get picked. Nor was her kid upset about that. There just should be a better way to make sure your little ones aren't trampled. Disney could at least attempt something like that, anyway. It doesn't have to be liked by everyone...it just has to be better than what they currently have set up. A parent shouldn't stand in front of a kid, anyway. That always annoyed me.

On another note - Going to SWW is crazy. If I go, I go to enjoy the parade and stuff that I doesn't require me battling other guests. Jedi Training is best done some other day. When I went to see it for the first time, I saw the first showing on a Tuesday and there was hardly anyone there. It was awesome.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Like I said, I don't think the OP was upset that her kid didn't get picked. Nor was her kid upset about that.

That's really not the impression that I got from the OP.

 

[eliza61]

I can see why people would say that kids and parents need to "get over it" but at the same time...what would be so wrong with at least TRYING to come up with a system that makes it so that the kids at least don't get pushed around by a larger adult or bigger kid?

Yeah, it's not gonna increase the chances of a kid being picked. But at least you can raise the chance of your kid not getting squashed.

And I dunno, but I think it's silly to ask "why was the kid upset?" I think it's silly because, well, they're a kid. And not all kids are the same. Some psyche themselves up differently. Maybe the kid choses to just be happy with being at Disney, maybe some come to Disney with a mission. Yeah, you can say that it's all about how you raise your kid...but a kid's gonna feel how they're gonna feel -- that is part of growing up, too.

And I think, as a kid, it would be painful if that was what I was looking forward to the most and I had gone consistently to three shows and sat and waited like a good, well-behaved kid and then I got trampled by an adult and pushed by a kid and for all that trouble still didn't get picked. It would hurt my feelings - not that I didn't get picked, but that I was bullied like that.

You can say that's part of life and I agree, it is. But I also agree that I think Disney could do something about making it better. Anyting can always be improved. And Disney's ALL about safety...so why not?


I think having an area where the kids are separated from the adults and where they have to sit quietly and just wait for the cue to raise their hands ONLY - no getting up unless said to, and no pushing is a good idea. I think it wouldn't be SO difficult. Shoot, they chould have big dots on the ground like they do on stage and make the kids sit on those - and they could have some space in between them and they have to STAY SEATED on those dots as they raise their hand. And only the children that wish to participate can sit on those dots. ANYTHING really would be better than making everyone stand in a crazed clump.


.

Because you can only do so much, any type of system some one is going to feel it's unfair. If you separate the kids from the adults some parent is going to complain that their little suzy is tramautized by seperaton anxiety or their little Johhny is very shy and always gets overlooked. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get kids to be quiet and stay seated on a good day? Now you've got parents who may have an excitable child complaining that it's unfair to the ADHD crowd.

I think it's a cooperation, yes Disney has to play a part but PARENTS also have to use some common sense.
To take a kid back some where 3 times where the probability is high that they will be disappointed yet again is imo a bad move. I mean the word NO is still a choice for a parent right? Yeah my kids get to be disappointed but they do not get to mope about it for 3 days afterward.