Jedi Training Academy

[EdnaMarieMode]

Thanks for this, I was wondering if I needed to show up super early or not. How are the crowds doing this early now?

I’m also desperate to know this. With 7 AM EMH every day we’re there in August, that’s a 6:30 arrival (meaning a 5-5:30 AM wake up). If I can get him into a later show (ideal for my touring plan- we don’t have to be in the first group), then I’d rather show up around 7:30 ahead of the official 8 AM opening.

 

[Idoc]

I’m also desperate to know this. With 7 AM EMH every day we’re there in August, that’s a 6:30 arrival (meaning a 5-5:30 AM wake up). If I can get him into a later show (ideal for my touring plan- we don’t have to be in the first group), then I’d rather show up around 7:30 ahead of the official 8 AM opening.

I would hate to tell you that going later would work on your particular day and then be wrong. Yesterday, specifically, we probably could have gone much later and still gotten the time we wanted. But this may not be the case every day. We didn’t want to chance it so we got up at 5:15, were through bag check and cued up by 6:35, and were at the outpost at 6:51 since they opened EMH at 6:45. We only saw four families heading to the outpost with us (the rest of the crowd took a bee line to Toy Story) so our kids were signed up by 7:00. We then rode Alien Saucers once and Midway Mania 4 times by 8:00 park opening. My wrist still is sore from that.

 

[dmband]

We have had mixed results, all along busy time so of year like 4th of July.
For example, get there at 7:30 and by the time we get in it was full for the day. Another day walk up at 1:30 and get in the show scheduled for 2:00
The later shows always have more availability and if you have multi days to hot HS it makes it easier and laid back.

Make sure your child understands that it can be scary. I have seen many kids cry and run off.
Heck make sure THEY like Star Wars too, I have seen parents who wanted their kid to do it sign them up and the kid just stands there and doesn't do anything. That's sad to me as it takes a spot away from someone who really wanted to participate

 

[Shaun176]

Just learned about this and really want to get my daughter signed up for it! My understanding is that you have to sign up in the park. We will be going in December, so HS won't be opening until 9am when we are there. What time would we need to be there to insure we are able to get a spot for her? Please tell me it's not a stampede situation to the sign up area, as I can't run.. :/

Really depends on how busy it is. We were there last week and saw there were still spots when we passed at 11am. Last Thanksgiving, we got in line 30 mins before rope drop and got one of the last spots for the day.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

I would hate to tell you that going later would work on your particular day and then be wrong. Yesterday, specifically, we probably could have gone much later and still gotten the time we wanted. But this may not be the case every day. We didn’t want to chance it so we got up at 5:15, were through bag check and cued up by 6:35, and were at the outpost at 6:51 since they opened EMH at 6:45. We only saw four families heading to the outpost with us (the rest of the crowd took a bee line to Toy Story) so our kids were signed up by 7:00. We then rode Alien Saucers once and Midway Mania 4 times by 8:00 park opening. My wrist still is sore from that.

I'm hoping this is my luck as well. My 11 year old really wants to see the 10 p.m. Star Wars fireworks, so being up at 5:15 is pushing it. DH has offered to take 11 yo early ahead of the rest of us to sign ups, but then that's still a really long day for an 11 yo. We don't bother with mid-day naps because he won't nap (which then means he's falling asleep in his dinner if he's up that early). Then again, we're headed to Tower of Terror and Rock N Roller Coaster around dinner so I *could* bring him back to the room at that point for some rest, and see if he wants to get up and go back for the fireworks. It's all just getting to be too much.

My plan at this point is to show up at the park around 7:30 (which means being up at 6:30/6:45 for him- he can throw on his clothes, brush his teeth and take a muffin on the bus or eat when he gets to the park). We'll head right to Jedi sign ups (hopefully ahead of the non-EMH crowd and after the RD crowd). If there are openings, great. If not, that's life (I will make sure to let him know ahead of time that that is a VERY good possibility and that if there are not openings we can use that time to visit with SW characters).

 

[greg9x]

Also, if it fills up, you can sign up for standby. Then you come back before a show and see if there are any openings (someone doesn't show up). Did this one year we got to HS later and son got in 2nd show we checked.

 

[mdmama76]

So to clarify, signups start at EMH start time (7 am in our case) or at general park open (8 am when we're there)?

 

[Shaun176]

So to clarify, signups start at EMH start time (7 am in our case) or at general park open (8 am when we're there)?

They have moved rope drop in to the park. The line starts before rope drop. I think they start letting people pick their times at the rope drop time.

 

[mdmama76]

They have moved rope drop in to the park. The line starts before rope drop. I think they start letting people pick their times at the rope drop time.

Sorry to be dense, but when you say rope drop time you mean public opening, not EMH, right?

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

Sorry to be dense, but when you say rope drop time you mean public opening, not EMH, right?

Not dense at all!

Rope drop time is whenever they open the park- so if there are Extra Magic Hours then rope drop is whenever those start (and then they actually let people into the park anywhere from 15-30 minutes ahead of that). Non- resort guests are then allowed to enter at the regular park opening time.

 

[plumedeb]

Not dense at all!

Rope drop time is whenever they open the park- so if there are Extra Magic Hours then rope drop is whenever those start (and then they actually let people into the park anywhere from 15-30 minutes ahead of that). Non- resort guests are then allowed to enter at the regular park opening time.

We have 8:30 reservations at Hollywood and Vine on a 9:00 park opening day. If we show up at the park at 8:00, will we be able to sign up for a time before we go to restaurant for our 8:30 reservations?

 

[bwang123]

we went last december. get there at park opening and walk to the signup. we had our options of anytime. do not run and push people out the way like we saw some "adults" doing.