Requesting Advice for getting a spot for Jedi Training

[straychicken]

We are planning to be in Hollywood Studios December 8 (yay! two weeks until we leave). I have a 8:15 AM breakfast reservation for Hollywood N Vince for my immediate family (me, husband, toddler daughter and 4 1/2 year old son).

Does this give us any advantage to signing up for Jedi Training? Can we sign up our son on the way to breakfast or would it have to be after the park opens at 9 AM?

We have some family who decided to join us. We haven't been able to get a breakfast reservation for them. Our family group includes my sons 4 year old cousin, and he would likely want to get a spot as well.

I assume he has to present to sign up. Can we request a later time so his family can get in line while we wrap up our breakfast and hopefully get both of the them in the same show?

 

[Itinkso]

Sign-ups for Jedi Training begin when the gates open. Here is some general info:

If you are staying at an onsite resort, plan on going to DHS on an EMH morning and as soon as the gates open, head directly to JTA sign-ups with your child. Signing up during EMH is a hidden perk for onsite resort guests!

If you aren't staying onsite, go on a non-EMH morning and get to the gates at least 45 minutes before park opening.

Sign-ups are in the Sounds Dangerous/ABC Sound Studio building. The CM will ask your child some questions and will assign him a session which fits into your FP and Dining schedule. Your child will need to report back approximately 30 minutes before his session.

Try to sign up for a morning session. Because of the weather, JTA is often canceled in the afternoons. If the session does get canceled, a brief meet and greet with Vader and Stormtroopers will take place.

20-minute shows
9:20, 10:10, 11:00 & 11:50am, 12:35, 1:05, 1:50, 2:40, 3:25, 4:10, 4:40, 5:30, 6:20, 7:10* & 8:00pm*
*Sunday & Saturday only
Space is limited, and participants (ages 4-12) must be present to register. Please see a Cast Member at the ABC Sound Studio early in the day to make same-day reservations.

 

[Mammaz]

Get there early and run FAST!

 

[denneg]

We are planning to be in Hollywood Studios December 8 (yay! two weeks until we leave). I have a 8:15 AM breakfast reservation for Hollywood N Vince for my immediate family (me, husband, toddler daughter and 4 1/2 year old son).

Does this give us any advantage to signing up for Jedi Training? Can we sign up our son on the way to breakfast or would it have to be after the park opens at 9 AM?

We have some family who decided to join us. We haven't been able to get a breakfast reservation for them. Our family group includes my sons 4 year old cousin, and he would likely want to get a spot as well.

I assume he has to present to sign up. Can we request a later time so his family can get in line while we wrap up our breakfast and hopefully get both of the them in the same show?

The children must be present to sign up, they do ask them questions to make sure they'll be comfortable. While the other family could request a later time, there is still no guarantee that you'll get that time slot unless you all sign up together. They tend to open the gates 10-15 minutes earlier than the posted opening time, so your best bet (assuming a different day is not an option) would be for one parent and the child who wants to Jedi Train to leave breakfast briefly, sign up, and go back. Or, once you finish your breakfast meet up with your extended family and all sign up together. They could stand nearby and if they begin to get nervous about the number of people signing up, text you or go sign up and cross their fingers that there will be a spot for you as well.

 

[straychicken]

Get there early and run FAST!

So I guess being in the park before opening won't help. Are we better off to drop the reservation?

 

[jtowntoflorida]

So I guess being in the park before opening won't help. Are we better off to drop the reservation?

We've done JTA five times, four times with an H&V reservation. The reservation absolutely helps, because the restaurant is right across from where signups are. You do have to eat fast (or leave with the child who wants to participate, then come back and finish breakfast after signups), but as soon as they start letting people into the park, they'll let you leave the "porch" of the restaurant and walk over to the signup area. So you're 2-3 minutes ahead of the crowd, which absolutely is an advantage. We're typically one of the first 5 families in line, so our signup takes about 1 minute (essentially no waiting) and then we're off and running for TSM.

Your situation is sticky because you have another kid without a reservation. I would do one of three things:

1. Try to bring the cousin with you to your ADR. They might allow one extra child, especially with a toddler in your group (though, this will require some pixie dust.

2. Take cousin with you to ADR, leave toddler behind with the other family.

3. Drop the ADR and show up at the park at 8:00 a.m. anyway, wait in line for park opening, and walk with purpose to signups when they finally let you in.

I guess the 4th option is every man for himself...you get your kid signed up, and leave cousin and his family to fend for himself.

I'd probably try option 1, and if they won't let in 5 people then go for option 2 as a last resort, leaving your toddler with the other family. Option 3 sucks because you still have to get to the park at the same time, but instead of eating a decent breakfast and meeting one exclusive character (Doc) you're just waiting in line.

 

[nats311]

We had 8 am reservations at H&V and thought we could eat and then go to JTA signups. But we were like #10 getting into the restaurant, and by the time the last character made its way to our table, it was 9:05. I then took the kids and ran to sign up; we made it but it was stressful.

Based on that, I wasn't a fan of that strategy. If you have to leave at 9:00 to go sign up, you run the risk of missing one of the characters when they come to your table. Our situation was that at 8:55, Jake (aka, the one character my kids cared most about seeing) was a couple tables away from making it to our table.

If the reason you are paying the money for the breakfast there is to get to JTA, then leaving at that point is no problem. But if you are trying to accomplish both - seeing characters and getting to JTA early, you might have an issue.

 

[straychicken]

Thanks for all the input. I would rather keep the toddler part of the group. She loves Disney Junior characters and gets to eat free ( and she will eat more than our 4 year old). I will call and see if I can add one, but I am guessing I will have to luck into a cancellation.


In terms of using the breakfast reservation to get ahead of the crowd - how did you know when they started letting people in the park? Sounds like that would be a good plan to head over and get and spot and head back to finish breakfast.

Also, I picked up a 11:00 AM lunch reservation for 4 at Hollywood N Vine (same day December 8). I would be willing to trade for morning reservation for 2-4 that gets the group in prior to opening. (Long shot I know). But if anyone is interested let me know!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

In terms of using the breakfast reservation to get ahead of the crowd - how did you know when they started letting people in the park? Sounds like that would be a good plan to head over and get and spot and head back to finish breakfast.

There is a CM stationed outside the restaurant who will get a call on his radio when they start admitting guests to the park. I think his name is Bob...he's totally old school, has been at DHS since it opened as MGM. We've gotten some great stories from him over the years, from back when Disney was true to the theme of DHS, had real movie stars show up to open the park, etc.

Anyway...we always get an 8:00 reservation and finish eating by 8:40 or so (it's a buffet, so the actual eating doesn't take that long; this has always allowed us plenty of time to meet all the characters; since none of them can talk, we don't take a long time to interact with them) and then we head outside. We ask for the bill at the beginning of the meal and settle up immediately so we're not waiting on the check. After we're outside, we chat with the CM I mentioned above, until he releases us to go to JTA.

If you don't want to finish that quickly, just head outside around 8:45 and wait to be released from the area of the restaurant.

 

[SWofDisorder]

What is the age limit again for JTA? Our son is so small but growing up. He loves JTA but I fear he is nearly aged out.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

What is the age limit again for JTA? Our son is so small but growing up. He loves JTA but I fear he is nearly aged out.

Ages 4-12.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/hollywood-studios/star-wars-jedi-training-academy/

Note:

Please note: All Guests who wish to sign up for the Jedi Training Academy must be physically present during registration.

 

[SWofDisorder]

Ages 4-12.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/hollywood-studios/star-wars-jedi-training-academy/

Note:

Please note: All Guests who wish to sign up for the Jedi Training Academy must be physically present during registration.

I did find the information after I asked, of course. But thank you for the link.

 

[straychicken]

My son got in and it was the highlight of the trip for him! It didn't go as planned. We didn't getting in until line probably around 9:20. We were told we would be on the waiting list. We waited in line about a half and hour and got on the last show!

It rained the entire day. We were so lucky we were on a later show because all the early ones were rained out. The forecast was for the rain to end around 10 AM. It was still raining at 5 PM.

Due to the rain, our other family didn't come to park at all since they have an infant.

 

[ammag]

Sorry to piggyback with a question but how do they check the kids ages . My son will be 7 weeks shy of four

 

[Itinkso]

Sorry to piggyback with a question but how do they check the kids ages . My son will be 7 weeks shy of four

The CMs at the sign-up area will ask him his age. When he answers, he will not be allowed to sign up for the show. If, by chance, the sign-up CMs allow him in the show, the Padawan and Jedi Master can still deem him too young to participate or hold him to be one of the last to train against Vader.

The onstage CMs are very cognizant of the kids who are too young and they hold them to the end so they don't bog down the show. Most guests don't know that when JTA gets bogged down by kids who can't follow directions or who are screaming, special elements of the show get eliminated which impacts the show experience of the Younglings who are of the correct age. For every underage child whose parents get them signed up for the show, a child of the correct age isn't able to sign up and participate in JTA.

It really is best for your son to wait until he is the correct age.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Sorry to piggyback with a question but how do they check the kids ages . My son will be 7 weeks shy of four

As Tink was saying...please don't do this if your child isn't old enough. Even younger 4 year olds are pushing it, IMO. I can't tell you how many time we've seen kids leave the stage in tears when Vader comes out. He's big, he's scary, and he stays in character, so he isn't going to coddle a child onstage. When the little, little kids get up there and are scared, it's so sad.

 

[WhispyPixie]

Can adults do this? haha

 

[Itinkso]

Sorry, JTA is only for children ages 4-12.

During Limited Time Magic in 2013, adults were allowed to participate on May 4th. Due to the behavior of some (drunk) adults, JTA will remain for children only.

 

[avic77]

Sadly my son will be just a bit too old to do this. He would have a blast but I get why they limit...those barely 13 year old boys have more strength then they can control sometimes , we don't want Darth being knocked out by an over zealous man-child

 

[Laketravis]

Last week we got to HS around 30 minutes after EMH had started, went to the sign-up room by American Idol and were the only ones there besides a couple of CM's. We were assigned a return time of noon.