Opinions please, on when to do PFF and Jedi Academy?

[mommyof2boys1girl]

We are going to be in DL over Memorial Day Weekend. I do realize the parks will be really busy those days, but it will be our last 2 days at the Parks, so I am prepared to have "everything" done that we want to do before the weekend.
But now that I am doing up our itinerary (I know - aren't I scary? We don't even have the trip booked yet, and I am already writing out the itinerary!!)
Anyway, I am wondering if the holiday weekend would be a good time to do PFF for my dd and Jedi Academy for my ds's? On one hand, it makes sense to use the times the park won't be busy (during the week) for riding rides, and standing in lines to see characters/shows when the lines at the rides are long on busier days. But will we be shooting ourselves in the foot by decreasing our chances at our boys being chosen at Jedi Academy (more kids waiting, less chance mine get picked?)

What do you guys think? What is the best use of our time?

Thx!

 

[DangerMouse]

I have found the first Jedi show of the day is the least crowded. Have signs for the boys to hold up, and you are pretty much guaranteed to have them picked.

Sorry, no advice on PFF. I hate that place.

 

[alvernon90]

I have found the first Jedi show of the day is the least crowded. Have signs for the boys to hold up, and you are pretty much guaranteed to have them picked.

Here are some signs that are likely to get you noticed:

"Princesses Curtsy, I Decapitate"

"Luke and Leia Will Be Orphans: Death to Vader"

"I Will Water the Flowers of Tomorrowland with Darth Maul's Blood"

"My Dream Is To Cut Someone's Arm Off: Make It Come True"

"Teach Me to Kill"

"Children + Deadly Violence = Disney Magic"

Sorry, no advice on PFF. I hate that place.

Me, too -- very twisted values they teach there.

 

[Canyon girl]

My personal opinion on the PFF is DON'T do it!!! Since, they cut the crafts and storytelling, it is just saying "Hi" to the princesses and spending money at the princess story that you have to go through after the princesses. Pay the money to go to Ariel's Grotto. The princesses will come to you, and they have a really neat show this year. I shudder at the thought of how long the line for PFF would be on the holiday! DON'T do it!!!

 

[DReynolds86]

"Princesses Curtsy, I Decapitate"

"Luke and Leia Will Be Orphans: Death to Vader"

"I Will Water the Flowers of Tomorrowland with Darth Maul's Blood"

"My Dream Is To Cut Someone's Arm Off: Make It Come True"

"Teach Me to Kill"

"Children + Deadly Violence = Disney Magic"

Those aren't very Jedi-like thoughts.

 

[Tasscrapper]

I second the first show of the day for the Jedi training. I can't remember what day it was besides a week day but all three of my kids got picked with no signs (good intentions and all but luckily they weren't needed.) My 8 year old dd was the very first child picked and I think that the Jedi Master would have actually chosen a few more if there were more interested. There was a definate age cut off although I don't know what it was. My 4 1/2 year old son was one of the last chosen and probably one of the youngest. He is very big for his age.

They had a photopass photog there that took pictures and they turned out really good so if you are planning on using photopass make sure you get the piece of paper saying when the pics were taken. It was very easy to go to the photo shop and get them added to my photopass.

As for PFF I would say if you really want to do it go before the holiday crowds. We haven't been to it since they've changed it but I'll bet the lines are long. We waited an hour in Decemeber and they were still doing all the other stuff. Crazy. You could also ask at City Hall and find out if any of them will be out and about. As we were leaving early afternoon on our last day in Feb. there were three princesses doing pics and autographs in the courtyard right after you get in the turnstiles. Those lines weren't bad and you could see which princess it was.

 

[Queenbillabong]

Here are some signs that are likely to get you noticed:

"Princesses Curtsy, I Decapitate"

"Luke and Leia Will Be Orphans: Death to Vader"

"I Will Water the Flowers of Tomorrowland with Darth Maul's Blood"

"My Dream Is To Cut Someone's Arm Off: Make It Come True"

"Teach Me to Kill"

"Children + Deadly Violence = Disney Magic"

Those aren't very Jedi-like thoughts.

I THINK those are supposed to be "funny". Not very Jedi-like or very Disney-like. Not something I would make for my child....

 

[Misskitty3]

My personal opinion on the PFF is DON'T do it!!! Since, they cut the crafts and storytelling, it is just saying "Hi" to the princesses and spending money at the princess story that you have to go through after the princesses. Pay the money to go to Ariel's Grotto. The princesses will come to you, and they have a really neat show this year. I shudder at the thought of how long the line for PFF would be on the holiday! DON'T do it!!!

The princesses do a show at Ariels? What exactly do they do?

 

[MommyWithDreams]

The princesses do a show at Ariels? What exactly do they do?

Beg to be released from being held captive in the Princess Dungeon of Disneyland. In all seriousness though, I don't know what they do. From what I've heard, you stand in a very long time to spend a few minutes with each Princess. We have never gone. I miss the days of seeing the Princess's walking around Disneyland like the other characters.

 

[BC Disney Lover]

On our last trip my 3yr old DD was obsessed with princesses and PFF opened an hour after opening most mornings so we went straight there and were 3rd in line. I liked it because it got it out of the way for the day and as far as buying her princess stuff at the shop I bought her a tiara for about $3.00 and she was happy! We did see Cinderella out by the gates one morning too!

The trip before that my DS really wanted to do the Jedi Training and we're not commando at all so my plan was to just try to get to every show until he got picked rather than pick a time and hope for the best. Luckily he got picked the first time.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Canyon girl]

The princesses do a show at Ariels? What exactly do they do?

At the end of the seating, the courtier handed out streamers to the kids. The guy who announced the princesses sang the Celebrate (I guess) theme song. I felt bad for him. Then he did a short song on bowing and courtseying. It was short but really cute with all the kids standing and doing the motions. I stood in line with my dd for the PFF (which is just a meet and greet now) on a day with steady rain and very few people. The line was 30 - 45 min. long then. I just read a TR on Micechat where the person waited 1 1/2 hours in line at PFF. To me, it is not worth waiting in line for that long. I really enjoy Ariel's Grotto; especially since, they have the new menu. It is really good and worth the money. IMHO

 

[charmama4]

In 2007 the PFF (if I remember correctly) did a "how to be a princess" deal. Learned how to curtsey, etc. Do they still do that or what??

I'm glad they have a new menu at AG.

 

[Canyon girl]

All the free stuff at PFF (crafts, storytelling, programs) have been axed because of the economy. This has already been hashed over.