Tell me about signing up for Jedi Training Academy

[AeroKU]

I have an 8:00am pre park opening ressie at H&V solely for the purpose of getting my 5 year old star wars nut son signed up for the Jedi Training Academy. Will we be able to sign him up after we check in and are waiting for our table? I have heard that there are now 2 villans (Vader and someone else). How do we ensure that he gets to fight Vader? Is it just random? Where is the sign up area located? TIA!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

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.

 

[yulilin3]

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.

could I share your post on the SW thread?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

could I share your post on the SW thread?

Absolutely!

I was planning on posting it there and saw this first.

 

[goofy4tink]

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!

 

[RachaelA]

interesting!

 

[Meeko5]

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 completely unacceptable. Wow!

That said, ill be disappointed if DS cant fight Vader when we go next month. I know he will be too. JTA was under refurb for our first trip and he was devastated when we found out. Height based seems pretty unfair, make it random at least so the smaller kids have a chance!

::end rant::

 

[yulilin3]

That is completely unacceptable. Wow!

That said, ill be disappointed if DS cant fight Vader when we go next month. I know he will be too. JTA was under refurb for our first trip and he was devastated when we found out. Height based seems pretty unfair, make it random at least so the smaller kids have a chance!

::end rant::

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

 

[Meeko5]

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

He would love darth maul too, since he's seen those movies. He just never did get into the Rebel series so Seventh Sister won't be someone he even recognizes.

Really, they should make it Kylo Ren and Darth if anything. Darth for nostalgia (though a bit confusing, since he's dead lol) and Kylo for recent relevance. Just my 2 cents...which Disney cares so much about

 

[yulilin3]

He would love darth maul too, since he's seen those movies. He just never did get into the Rebel series so Seventh Sister won't be someone he even recognizes.

Really, they should make it Kylo Ren and Darth if anything. Darth for nostalgia (though a bit confusing, since he's dead lol) and Kylo for recent relevance. Just my 2 cents...which Disney cares so much about

I think they need to bring Darth Maul back, it would help with people just wanting to get their kids up with Vader. 7th Sister is not even relevant in the latest episodes of Rebels but Maul is back

 

[Meeko5]

I think they need to bring Darth Maul back, it would help with people just wanting to get their kids up with Vader. 7th Sister is not even relevant in the latest episodes of Rebels but Maul is back

Lets start that petition!

 

[DisneyLove2015]

When we went on 9/26, the kids were basically allowed to pick which platform they wanted. They lined up on their dots at the pre-show area but when they got to the stage, they were encouraged to "go find a spot". DS wanted 7th sister, so it worked out.

Can't comment on sign ups because we were participating in EMM and we were the first ones to sign up. We grabbed the 10:10 show. Not sure how they handled PPO ressies that morning.

 

[jmoney4080]

Do all my kids that want to do JTA need to be with me at the sign up?

 

[Meeko5]

Do all my kids that want to do JTA need to be with me at the sign up?

Yes - they will ask them a few questions and must be there for sign up.

 

[yulilin3]

When we went on 9/26, the kids were basically allowed to pick which platform they wanted. They lined up on their dots at the pre-show area but when they got to the stage, they were encouraged to "go find a spot". DS wanted 7th sister, so it worked out.

Can't comment on sign ups because we were participating in EMM and we were the first ones to sign up. We grabbed the 10:10 show. Not sure how they handled PPO ressies that morning.

they are separated into 2 lines at the sign up area. Usually the left side stay on the ground with the 7th sister and the right goes up to the stage. That's where they are allowed to pick a spot but they must stay either in their left row (bottom) right row (on stage). Was your DS on the left row when they were walking towards the JT stage?

 

[pumpkinjl]

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

^ agreed My children have only seen the movies. They will have no idea who the 7th sister is. I think this is the case for many kids and probably what prompts the crazy parent behavior!!

 

[RachaelA]

My daughter calls the seventh sister darth Vader's girlfriend. That's basically the reason she was ok with facing her. Haha!

 

[yulilin3]

My daughter calls the seventh sister darth Vader's girlfriend. That's basically the reason she was ok with facing her. Haha!

Not sure how Padme would feel about that

 

[TmlndSpdwy03]

I had 4 children do it on Sunday. We arrived at the parking lot at 9:30am (park opened at 8 am that day). We decided to walk to the sign up and see if it was full and of course it was but I put all 4 of them on the stand by list. We went and used our fast passes and then while walking to use our fast pass for Indy, we stopped by right before the 11:40 show and they were able to get 3 out of the 4 kids into that show. All 3 of them fought the 7th Sister which they were all extremely happy to do. It appeared to be completely random on how the kids were assigned where to go.

We obviously skipped our Indy fast pass so after lunch we went to watch that show and when it ended, swung by the check in and I was able to get the last child in the next show that was starting. She fought Darth Vader and again, it totally appeared random. There were tall and short kids in both groups.

They take 50 kids on the standby list a day. I was shocked that any of them were able to do it but happy b/c the 3 who did it first, had never done it before and wont be back to the parks for a while. The last one did it when she was 4 and has an annual pass so would have been able to try again another day.

If you are wait listed, you do not get any FP+. But if you child is really interested and you don't get there early enough to get a guaranteed time, its worth it to go on wait list and check when you are around there at the right time.

 

[TmlndSpdwy03]

^ agreed My children have only seen the movies. They will have no idea who the 7th sister is. I think this is the case for many kids and probably what prompts the crazy parent behavior!!

The kids with me who fought the 7th sister didn't know who she was but were still so happy just to be able to do it. Instead of the parents throwing fits and then having their children think that's acceptable behavior, they should teach them to be happy for the opportunities they have.