Jedi Training - what is it?

[Mollygirl21]

I've seen lots of questions and posts about signing up for it but I'm looking for an overview of exactly what the experience is...can anyone give me a brief description?

Thanks!

 

[yulilin3]

Jedi Knights have assembled Force-sensitive children from throughout the galaxy to test their abilities.

Under the tutelage of a Jedi, the recruits learn how to use the Force—and their wit—to wield lightsabers. Now that the Empire has driven the Jedi to the distant corners of the galaxy, the training must proceed in secret at ancient Jedi temples.

But not even this precaution can shield the Jedi from the evil forces of the Dark Side for long. Soon, the temple opens and the students are challenged to use their new skills when they come face-to-face with their greatest fears—in the frightening form of notorious Star Wars villains!

Face the Seventh Sister Inquisitor
Duel a new villain, the deadly Jedi hunter from the popular Disney XD series Star Wars Rebels.

Confront Darth Vader
Challenge the menacing Dark Lord of the Sith to an epic lightsaber battle.

Registering to Participate in the Show
Younglings who wish to participate in Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple must register before the show.

• You must be between 4 and 12 years of age to participate.
• Please register at the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost located between the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! and the 50's Prime Time Café.
• Registration begins when Disney's Hollywood Studios opens for the day.
• All participants must be present at the time of registration.
• Availability is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

[Mollygirl21]

Thanks Yulilin3!

Has anyone done this and want to give me a summary of the experience? I'd love to hear about it in someone's real words on top of the Disney-ified description

Is there a large audience or just the parents of the kids involved?

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

The 'Jedi' teach the kids a combination of strikes with the lightsabers, have them practice it, and then the bad guys show up and the kids 'fight' them one-on-one. It's a fun show, but it's obvious when really young kids don't grasp what's going on.

 

[KaSe]

My daughter did this about 5 years ago (it was the "original" version. It's been updated some with the new movie, but the concept is the same). She LOVED it. It was seriously one of her favorite Disney moments & was the first thing she talked about when we got home & people asked her about the trip. Oddly, shortly after that point, she started taekwondo & is now a 2nd-degree black belt. Weapons are her favorite part of training. I like to think it all started with Jedi training. HaHaHa!

 

[DopeyDame]

We've watched it several times and I still can't convince my Star Wars-loving seven year old to sign up for it. (He can be really shy)

So I can't speak from a participant perspective, but in general, the kids all come out on stage with a jedi trainer who teaches them how to use their "light saber" and a specific routine. It's super cute and the trainers are really enthusiastic. Then out comes one of the bad guys and demands to fight the younglings. Each child has an opportunity to fight a bad guy using the routine they just learned. Every single time I've been there there's at least one tiny kid who freaks out - the bad guys are loud and big. A 4 or 5 year old might be too young, but by 6ish most kids would be just fine.

There are usually pretty large crowds watching - it's definitely not just the parents.
Hope this helps!

 

[jeepnjudy]

My son did this a couple years ago when he was 10 or 11 and was chosen to "hold Darth Vader back using the force" plus fighting him with his light saber. He loved it. I agree with the previous poster though regarding waiting until 6ish as many of the younger kids seem frightened, timid, or do not seem to understand what is going on.

 

[MammaMoe48]

We hope to get to the park early enough so that we can sign my son up. It is literally the ONE thing he absolutely HAS to do while we are down there.

 

[cdnjason]

Thanks Yulilin3!

Has anyone done this and want to give me a summary of the experience? I'd love to hear about it in someone's real words on top of the Disney-ified description

Is there a large audience or just the parents of the kids involved?

My daughters have done it and it is pure awesomeness for Star Wars fans. Most dads watching were jealous they couldn't participate themselves.

In all seriousness, my daughters had fun participating and look forward to it every trip. They get to go on stage and engage in a lightsaber battle with Darth Vader or Seventh Sister. The Kylo Ren makes an appearance and all the kids use their Jedi powers to force him away.

It's a great video/picture opportunity. Most spectators are parents of the children participating. But, there are others watching too.

 

[seasonality]

Do they give you a return time when you sign up or do you have to keep checking back to see if your 'padewans' were chosen?

 

[Crystal824]

Yes, when you register you get a set time to come back to be in the show.

 

[nolimitmtneer]

My kids did the Jedi Training at the end of December 2015. They loved it and my son wanted to watch the next group do it. I do suggest getting to Hollywood early to sign up. We arrived 30 minutes after the park opened and the "show" only had a couple slots open for afternoon times. The slots fill up quickly! I noticed a lot of parents asking about the jedi training group while we were standing in line to walk over to the Star Wars stage.

Unless it's moved, the sign up for the Jedi Training is located in a small Indiana Jones gift shop to the left of the Indiana Jones show.

 

[Mmw37]

My son (4 but loves SW and has seen the original movies) did it in January. It was hands down the highlight of his trip. He still talking about it. We had PPO breakfast at Scifi and then sped over to sign up. RD crowd beat us so we waited in line probably 30-45 min. Got assigned a return time around 2:30 - I think we may have had a few slots to choose from.

After lunch, I went to grab a watch spot with the baby while DH took him to the meeting place. The kids were all taught to do specific moves with light sabers and given Jedi robes to wear. They were all then paraded to the stage and their trainers put on a show. I had read previously to have your kid line up to the right if they wanted to fight DV, but in our group they sent the older kids to DV and younger to SS. Darth Maul comes out towards the end and fights one of the teachers - he terrified my son, who cried and tried to hide. Didn't mar his experience at all though. The show was probably 20 min, and there is a photo pass photographer there.

I would highly recommend it for the 6-10 year old set. 4-5 is probably too young unless they're as SW-obsessed and as outgoing as my son, and I bet many 11-12 year olds would think it was beneath them. We had a great time with it, and if you have any questions I'll try to answer!

 

[TexasTSL]

My son has been wanting to participate in JTA since he was two.

He actually did it last year about two months after he had turned four, and he loved it. In fact, he loved it so much that we changed our plans and gave up a second morning at MK to go back and do it a second time. The first time he got to "fight" Darth Vader, and the second time, they had a surprise villain come out, Darth Maul, and he got to "fight" him too.

He absolutely loved it, and it was all he talked about for months. He still talks about it.

We are going again to WDW again this September, and he is actually preparing for it! So I think it just depends on the child, as far as age goes.