Tell me about signing up for Jedi Training Academy

[Barbara76]

Here was our experience from this past Tuesday, 11/29:
We arrived at the park around 8:30am, and went straight over to JTA sign ups. We were well back in the line, like we turned left inside the Indy entrance, and walked until about 50 feet back from the first bend. It took about an hour or a little less to finally sign up. We got the 2:40pm show. When we showed up for check in, my DS picked a spot in the line closer to the rope, away from the building. He ended up fighting Vader. He was super apprehensive, but ended up really liking it. Although, he did kind of freeze up a bit when it was his turn to fight Vader. He loves Star Wars. He is just a giant 4 year old Chicken. Overall, it may have been the highlight of the trip for him. He's already talking about doing it again on our next trip. He just said that he needs to practice between now and then.

Thanks for your experience. In 2013 when my DD was 5, she peed on the stage! This will be her first time trying since...

 

[mshanson3121]

Did it yesterday.

1. They were NOT letting H&V PPO sign up before breakfast, causing a few meltdowns at a Guest Relations CM.

2. We were at the gates at 8:15. When they opened up the far left queues for park entry, we were in first position at one of them.

3. We were let into the park at 8:45. We walked briskly to the Adventurer's Outpost, where a CM had people GET IN LINE. We were second in line. CMs hold signs directing the way.

4. We signed up for the 10:10 show in 30 seconds, basically. Got a free FP+ we were able to use for a second ride on Toy Story.

5. We then rode Star Tours twice before 9AM.

6. When we returned at 9:40 for our 10:10 show, the line was bananas. Late in the day they had a few stray spots for the 7:10 show, but they had closed the line at 9:30 and people waited an hour plus in line to sign up.

7. There was no way to "guarantee" fighting Vader over Seventh Sister. Yesterday, it happened basically based on height. The tall kids were herded to the upper platform, and the shorter kids to the lower. So if they handle it that way again, unless your kid is tall, he will get Seventh Sister.

I think with 7 they did it that way for PhotoPass, and it may also be that too many parents were trying to "ensure" Vader.

If you want to eat at H&V, do that, but know there's no guarantee of early signup.

Why are they giving out free FP+?

 

[mshanson3121]

Evidently, parents will go to any lengths to ensure their child fighting Vader! My dd works this attraction, and there was an incident where a mother was quite upset that her child was put with the Seventh Sister instead of Vader. She tried to get on the stage to have her ds moved to the Vader area! She pushed a CM, and caused quite a ruckus!!! Instead of being removed from the park, the family was given FPs and the child was allowed to fight Vader in a later show!!! Dd and her manager were not too happy about that outcome!! Sends quite a bad message to parents and kids!

That is really sad.

 

[mshanson3121]

Just a question: how would he feel about fighting Darth Maul? Obviously more kids want t fight Vader and very few, if any, want to fight 7th Sister. I wonder if the show coordinators and managers are thinking about bringing Darth Maul back, I think he would at least be more popular than 7th Sister

My kids fought Darth Maul and loved him!

 

[Babs1975]

Why are they giving out free FP+?

Because you are spending that first precious time in line signing up, rather than getting to a ride at rope drop. Did it today. Was given the paper fastpass, but it was NOT good for Toy Story. You could use it on anything else. The CM told us that and it said it right on the paper fastpass. We were let in the gates right after 8:30 and went right to the sign up line. We were line about 45-50 minutes. Got the 12:40 show, which means we had to be there at 12:10. The line was much worse than 2 years ago.

 

[mshanson3121]

Because you are spending that first precious time in line signing up, rather than getting to a ride at rope drop. Did it today. Was given the paper fastpass, but it was NOT good for Toy Story. You could use it on anything else. The CM told us that and it said it right on the paper fastpass. We were let in the gates right after 8:30 and went right to the sign up line. We were line about 45-50 minutes. Got the 12:40 show, which means we had to be there at 12:10. The line was much worse than 2 years ago.

Interesting. So when did this change? And why so much busier? We did this June, now we were there earlier, in line at about 8:15 (9:00 open) but only spent probably 20 minutes at sign up.

 

[Cruisin Spartan]

I forgot to mention that we also received paper FP for standing in line. HS only. No restrictions on attractions. We used them for an extra Toy Story.

 

[Babs1975]

Interesting. So when did this change? And why so much busier? We did this June, now we were there earlier, in line at about 8:15 (9:00 open) but only spent probably 20 minutes at sign up.

I think more people know about it now than on previous years and it had just gotten busier. They do more kids in a show now than they use to too. It's always been nutty, but getting there at the same time as previous years, this was double the time wait.

 

[twoolle]

Sounds like they are still allowing JTA sign ups before a PPA ADR. I wasn't sure if we were going to keep our ADR since my kids are a little old for the characters, but it might be worth it for this. Anyone sign up successfully before a PPO these last couple weeks?

We did PPO on Monday Nov 28th. Worked great. Signed up first then checked in for HV. Done eating by 9am and even made it to toy story with 10 minute stand by wait.

Because you are spending that first precious time in line signing up, rather than getting to a ride at rope drop. Did it today. Was given the paper fastpass, but it was NOT good for Toy Story. You could use it on anything else. The CM told us that and it said it right on the paper fastpass. We were let in the gates right after 8:30 and went right to the sign up line. We were line about 45-50 minutes. Got the 12:40 show, which means we had to be there at 12:10. The line was much worse than 2 years ago.

We used our paper FP on toy story on 11/28.

 

[Babs1975]

We did PPO on Monday Nov 28th. Worked great. Signed up first then checked in for HV. Done eating by 9am and even made it to toy story with 10 minute stand by wait.



We used our paper FP on toy story on 11/28.

Must have just changed then? Or maybe it depends on your day? We went on 12/1. Anyone go today that can say which way there's was?

 

[Lisa F]

we are planning to go tomorrow for EMH. should we still queue up at the far left?

 

[CountyMounty]

Any recent experiences with this, are they still giving out a fast pass at jedi sign up? Are they allowing people with PPO ADR to sign up before breakfast. I am debating a H&V ADR for the main purpose of getting signed up for jedi training.

 

[Ronferr80]

Following.... I've read in some other posts people had been able to sign up when going in for early morning breakfast... does anyone know if this has been allowed recently?? Thanks in advance!!

 

[cosmicmommy]

They let EVERYONE in at 8:45 on Tuesday and allowed us to sign up, but no fastPasses were given. Did not have a breakfast ADR so can't advise on that...

 

[TillyDe]

Following due to a upcoming trip in May.

 

[maranara]

We did Jedi Training on Wednesday. We got to the park early (I think we got on our bus at AKL around 8:10) and there was already a huge crowd lined up. Got lucky and they opened additional lines near us and a CM waved us over so we were one of the first in. They let us in around 8:45 and we were signed up by 8:50. We got the show we wanted - looking at the schedule and having a list of our 1st/2nd/3rd choices the night before was really helpful. We asked for the 2:10 show because it was after lunch and didn't conflict with the rest of our plans. We did NOT get a paper fast pass...not sure if they weren't giving them out or if they're only for people who wait a long time/sign up after the park opens/have to miss a FP. Didn't matter. Followed the advice on where to stand - the outside row of dots fought Vadar, the inside row fought the Seventh Sister - so my daughter got to fight Vadar. The only downside of the 2:10 show was that the sun was in our eyes the whole time and it was hard to take pictures because of it. Thankfully photopass got a few good ones and I basically just aimed my phone where I thought she would be and got a good video. Otherwise, it was a highlight of the trip. If your kiddo is a Star Wars fan, it's worth the time and effort to do it!

 

[KTR]

Any recent experiences with this, are they still giving out a fast pass at jedi sign up? Are they allowing people with PPO ADR to sign up before breakfast. I am debating a H&V ADR for the main purpose of getting signed up for jedi training.

We went January 23rd. We did rope drop but were a ways back and then none of my kids fingerprints worked for who knows what reason so it took us awhile to get in line. We waited quite a longtime in line. We picked the 12:30 show (or close to that time). The 11 something show was still available but conflicted with a FP+. We did not get a paper FP which was a real bummer because the park was inexplicably packed that day and waits for Rockin a Rollercoaster were over an hour almost all day (not what I expected during the supposed slow time with no holiday weekend). Oh well.

 

[MamaMeggie]

We went January 23rd. We did rope drop but were a ways back and then none of my kids fingerprints worked for who knows what reason so it took us awhile to get in line. We waited quite a longtime in line. We picked the 12:30 show (or close to that time). The 11 something show was still available but conflicted with a FP+. We did not get a paper FP which was a real bummer because the park was inexplicably packed that day and waits for Rockin a Rollercoaster were over an hour almost all day (not what I expected during the supposed slow time with no holiday weekend). Oh well.

That is a bummer. I wonder how they decide when to give them out??
Do you remember what time you arrived at HS before rope drop?

 

[jaycns]

Does anyone know if they are currently allowing sign-ups before a H&V breakfast? Thanks!

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

We visited DHS on Tuesday 1/31 for the sole purpose of participating in JTA. We arrived at 8:15 for 9:00 opening. They had a family of the day open the park around 8:45 (maybe 8:50) Everyone started moving through the tapstiles and then quickly walking toward the ropes. Then someone started to jog so someone else started to lope along. Before I knew it, grown adults were running down the street dropping sunglasses and hats vying for a place in the JTA line. It was WAY more crazy than I thought it would be! We successfully signed up for our preferred time, crisis averted, $100 entry fee to wave a plastic tube around for 20 secs paid. No fast passes were given out at sign ups. Thankfully that is done and we no longer have any reason to go to DHS until 2021!! Yay!