New JTA procedure

[krm222]

I hope you're right, but with other things at Hollywood Studios shutting down while they simultaneously ramp up the Star Wars theming it could be even more popular. I've seen people write that they arrived for sign ups one hour after opening and it's full. So back that up one hour for early sign up and then another hour for early lines. Just seems like the kind of thing that could snowball quickly...

 

[thebs19]

Other than H&V breakfasts, is anything open prior to 9 for those not necessarily interested in just lining up in a TSMM scrum after they sign up for this early? E.g., quick service breakfast options like Trolley Car Cafe, any of the stores on Hollywood Blvd, etc?

I like the idea of knocking the JTA signup out of the way prior to park opening; just wondering what then to do once inside the park? We quite simply don't have any other Tier 1 FP+ interests so we'll have TSMM covered already that way, and other rides (our kids don't do ToT or RnRC) don't really require "rope drop" lineups. We have recently done the JTA sign up, waited in line, still headed over to Star Tours and walked on 30 mins after park opening in recent trips.

 

[AngiTN]

I hope you're right, but with other things at Hollywood Studios shutting down while they simultaneously ramp up the Star Wars theming it could be even more popular. I've seen people write that they arrived for sign ups one hour after opening and it's full. So back that up one hour for early sign up and then another hour for early lines. Just seems like the kind of thing that could snowball quickly...

This was an issue prior to the revamp in December
It has not been a common occurrence after that. They increased the number of students in each class AND increased the number of classes. I don't have exact figures but it's safe to say they more than doubled capacity. I believe now it's rare for them to be gone in 1 hour where in the past it was normal.

 

[TheLittleMerMom]

JTA = Jedi Training Academy

So does this mean you could book an 830am H&V and sign up for JTA before?

This is my question! I have an 8:10 H&V & I am hoping this means we could possibly squeeze through the process before breakfast begins. I like this new procedure but it makes me nervous because it's messing with my carefully crafted JTA plan!

 

[John Marecek]

I love Kylo Ren, not that my pic gives that away or anything, but Darth Maul's routine is spectacular, sucks that goes away. Glad I got to see it in person a couple times recently.

 

[Dreamin192]

We have an 8:05 H&V as I had read you could get to sign ups easier from there, then I recently saw if you had an ADR you could sign up when you went in the park for that. This is interesting for sure and I'm not sure how to plan for it. I'm definitely going to keep that 8:05 for now and see how this plays out. There is no way I can get us all up and ready to be there at 7:00 if this turns into some huge line up before they let you in at 8am just to sign up for JTA.

 

[John Marecek]

Here's video of the Kylo Ren segment in JTA. He's absolutely terrifying, we get a signature temper tantrum, which is outstanding, but no light saber fight. http://blogmickey.com/2016/02/kylo-ren-joins-jedi-training-academy/

 

[BubblyTrip]

We could have signed up and made it to an 8:00 ADR! I was sitting at the internal holding point at 8 AM after signing up. And while we were first in line at the turnstile, I had to get out of line and go to guest services and wait five minutes to fix a problem with my magic band. I was probably the 15th person to sign up.

They told us to get out of the turnstile line for JTA and get in the line next to the breakfast line....and we walked through free style. You could just say you were going to JTA and go sit at the internal rope at 7:50. No one would know.

 

[larryz]

Perhaps the crowd could sing a song for Rylo...

 

[AngiTN]

Here's video of the Kylo Ren segment in JTA. He's absolutely terrifying, we get a signature temper tantrum, which is outstanding, but no light saber fight. http://blogmickey.com/2016/02/kylo-ren-joins-jedi-training-academy/

Urgh. I like Kylo Ren as a character but his portion of the show is weak in comparison to what Darth Maul did.

 

[yulilin3]

I love Kylo Ren, not that my pic gives that away or anything, but Darth Maul's routine is spectacular, sucks that goes away. Glad I got to see it in person a couple times recently.

Maul will be part of the new stage show starting April 4th

 

[AngiTN]

While it will be nice to see the routine it won't be the same as the up close and personal performance JTA had

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

This will help with my planning. We were going to tell DD7 that she could do JTA but she might miss the first show. This will also let us bring DS3 a little later since there isn't all that much for him at HS. I hope this is still in effect for May.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

I have little knowledge about JTA, and with a three-year-old daughter, we have a while before she shows a lot of interest in Star Wars. So, this isn't on our radar....

...But we have friends going the same week as us (April 2-9) and they are taking their four-year-old son to JTA. She's done her research and has a whole plan, which is awesome. With the new change, what time should they plan on arriving at HS? They are staying at an off-site timeshare resort.

 

[AngiTN]

I have little knowledge about JTA, and with a three-year-old daughter, we have a while before she shows a lot of interest in Star Wars. So, this isn't on our radar....

...But we have friends going the same week as us (April 2-9) and they are taking their four-year-old son to JTA. She's done her research and has a whole plan, which is awesome. With the new change, what time should they plan on arriving at HS? They are staying at an off-site timeshare resort.

I would not change my arrival time. At last not if she's planning to arrive about 45 min prior to park opening time. So 8:15 for a 9:00 opening. That would be the target arrival time period, whether you want to sign up for JTA or not. The good news in her case is, if she does want to sign up she can get it done and then get in line again for park opening to go do a ride early. Provided this procedure stays in place.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

I would not change my arrival time. At last not if she's planning to arrive about 45 min prior to park opening time. So 8:15 for a 9:00 opening. That would be the target arrival time period, whether you want to sign up for JTA or not. The good news in her case is, if she does want to sign up she can get it done and then get in line again for park opening to go do a ride early. Provided this procedure stays in place.

Thanks for that information! HS is scheduled to open at 9:00 that morning, so she was planning to arrive around 8:00.

 

[Minnie222]

I watched the Kylo Ren video. I think that portion is too long and terrifying for the younger kids. I don't see it as suitable.
It seems geared more towards the adult audience, but JTA is for kids, so I think they overdid this character on this stage.

 

[AngiTN]

I watched the Kylo Ren video. I think that portion is too long and terrifying for the younger kids. I don't see it as suitable.
It seems geared more towards the adult audience, but JTA is for kids, so I think they overdid this character on this stage.

Darth Maul was way more terrifying. Kids seemed fine with him

 

[John Marecek]

I watched the Kylo Ren video. I think that portion is too long and terrifying for the younger kids. I don't see it as suitable.
It seems geared more towards the adult audience, but JTA is for kids, so I think they overdid this character on this stage.

I'm guessing the kid who's willing to light saber fight Darth Vader is also going to get his picture taken with Kylo Ren. I do recommend you have your kid watch it on YouTube before you take the time to sign them up. Signups, early arrival, and the event itself could take an hour and a half to 2 hours of your day.

 

[aleksandr]

I love Kylo Ren, not that my pic gives that away or anything, but Darth Maul's routine is spectacular, sucks that goes away. Glad I got to see it in person a couple times recently.

Wow, I must be missing something...we've done JTA the past 3 years (most recently in April of 2015) and I've never seen anyone other than the no-name Jedi trainer, the padawan assistant, Darth Vader, and the two Stormtroopers. Is this a new part of the show? Or maybe something they just don't bother with during non-peak times?

Sounds pretty cool though!