My son has done the Jedi Training Academy 8 times since they restarted it last December. Here are my tips:
1. You sign up across from Autopia. And it's a RACE in the morning, especially if it's a weekend or busy time of year. We always try to get to the rope drop and then run to the sign up area on a Magic Morning. You'll see a huge amount of people run for Hyperspace Mountain, and another big group make the turn for Jedi Academy sign up!
They are able to take alot of kids, but there still gets to be an incredible line first thing in the morning. Moves quickly, but I don't like spending precious early morning ride time waiting to sign up.
2. Your child MUST be with you. A parent cannot sign up a child alone. The CMs ask a few questions of the child (can you follow directions, be on stage, fight the dark side, etc) and then ask the parent what time you'd like to return for Jedi Academy training. They give you a little pass to hold on to with the return time. And you're done!
3. Some training times are better than others, but of course any time that works for you is still awesome!
Depending on the time of year, the early morning training can have the kids staring directly into the sunlight...squinting to see Darth Vader does take some of the fun out of it. Also the noon-ish times can have the kids baking in the direct sunlight over head. The Jedi robes are thin, but still! I've seen little ones wiping brows and looking like wilted little Jedi ready to be done half way through. My son's favorite time is the last show of the day. When the sun starts to go down, the lightsabers the kids use glow. Making it much more realistic and fun. Of course in the summer it's still light out, but at least the sun is usually below the Galactic Grill making it less hot and sunny.
4. If you don't get to the sign up area in time, you may get put on the alternate list. This means that you may come back before each show to see if one of the ticketed children do not return. Then your child may take their place. There are sometimes several alternates waiting for each show, so first come first served. The CMs do try and accommodate as many alternates as possible, but if it's during the summer or a super busy time you may not get in.
5. You will get a Photo Pass card at the return area after you drop off your child. It will have photos of the whole group and photos of your child battling the dark side. These photos are incredible! And a super fun keepsake. Make sure you ask for the Photo Pass card if you don't happen to get one handed to you. There's no way to get the photos after the fact.
6. The children get into Jedi robes. The parents go to the viewing area in front of the stage. The kids march in with the Jedi. And the "training" begins. They learn 5 moves. "Cut to the Left Shoulder, Cut to the Right Shoulder, Block, Duck, and Cut to the Head." The "cuts" are swinging the light saber. It does go very very fast, and the Jedi are also telling stories at the same time. Not too much "training"...
7. You will either battle Darth Vader or the Seventh Sister. And you can't choose which. It all depends on how the kids are standing in lines, and the CMs determine that. If Darth Vader is not there, sometimes Darth Maul is the substitute!!! He's amazing!!!
8. Audience participation is HUGE. The louder (whoops, yells, cheers, claps) the crowd is, the better the show. So cheer and have fun from your seats. It makes it better for your kids and the actors really get into it when they feel the crowd reacting. Make the show great, you can!!
LOL
Hope that helps! We LOVE Jedi Training Academy. It's such a fun experience!!
Here's an example of the photos taken on the Jedi Photo Pass! Here was me watching
LOL!
