JTA

May the Force be with You, because I won't be. 
A Jedi uses the force, for knowledge and defense, and never for attack. 
If I disobey these rules into the crowd I must go back.

Oh and welcome to the Jedi Training Academy. Now I'm sure you are wondering what the Jedi Training Academy is, well its a 30-minute session that takes place next to Star Tours in Disney's Hollywood Studios. The Jedi Master and their padawan work with the participants in a light saber training exercise. Those who successfully complete the training join the the Rebel Alliance as young padawans and receive a diploma. 

To participate in the show, sign-ups occur in the ABC Sound Studio every morning when the park opens. Children aged 4-12 can participate and there are 15 children in each session. 30 minutes prior to the show, the children all return to the ABC Sound Studio where they can participate in trivia and get excited for the lesson ahead. 10 minutes prior they walk to the stage where they are greeted by a padawan and given their training robes.

The Jedi Master takes the preselected children and has them swear the "Jedi Oath." They are then given step-by-step instructions to perform a short light saber routine. The Jedi Master keeps things moving along with an entertaining patter that the adults will also enjoy, and if you don't they will use the force on you and you will find them all funny.

Suddenly after learning the light saber combination, the Jedi Master senses a disturbance in the Force, and sends the kids to the side. Two stormtroopers run onto the stage ... and Darth Vader comes into view. He informs the Jedi Master that he is there to turn the students to the Dark Side, which of course the Jedi Master tells him that he will never do, and besides he is clearly outnumbered.
To prove themselves worthy of being a Jedi, the students must take on Vader, using the routine they have just learned. The Jedi Master is standing by to remind, help, and encourage the kids to follow through. The entire show is accompanied by appropriate music, light saber sound effects, and dialog from Darth Vader and the Jedi Master. After all the students have had their turn, the Jedi Master along with the younglings use the force push on Darth Vader and he makes his exit. The stromtroopers have a skit and then the kids are proclaimed to be Padawans, and after they return their robes and light sabers they receive their diploma.

Here are some strategies to help set you up for success:

• Arrive Early: Sign-ups for the Jedi Training Academy start as soon as the park's turnstiles are opened (this includes Extra Magic Hour mornings); if the park is scheduled to open at 9 a.m., they tend to open about 15 minutes prior. This should be your first stop once you enter the park -- the earlier you sign up, the earlier the show you will get into. Spots fill up very quickly and it is not uncommon for all spots to be filled by 10 or 10:30 a.m., depending on park attendance. One parent should go immediately with the children to sign them up while the other goes to get Fastpasses for another attraction such as Toy Story Midway Mania.
  
  
• Have Your Children With You: As part of the sign-up process the cast members need to ask your children a couple of questions to make sure they will follow instructions and be safe on stage. Cast members will also ask the children how old they are to verify they are between the ages of 4 and 12. For this reason, you need to have your children with you. Spots cannot be saved for children who are not present.
  
  
• Plan on Committing an Hour for the Show: When you sign up for a particular show you will be asked to return to the sign-up location 30 minutes prior to the show time. This is to ensure that all the children participants are present before heading to the stage. With the show lasting 20 to 25 minutes, this means that the whole Jedi Training experience will take almost an hour out of your day. You should take this into account when signing up. If you have a dining reservation let the cast members know. They are generally very accommodating with getting you into a show that will work for you.
  
  
• Show Viewing Areas: The viewing area at the stage is first come/first serve and does fill up. If possible, have one parent go with the child to the check-in area and the other adult go to the stage area to secure a viewing spot.
  
  
• Know the Alternate Process: Once all guaranteed spots have been filled for the day, cast members will begin to sign up alternates. THIS DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT YOUR CHILD WILL GET INTO A SHOW, but it does give them the possibility of getting in if a child with a guaranteed spot does not show up. Alternates are numbered in the order in which they sign up and will be asked to return 20 minutes prior to any of the shows. An alternate must be present in order to be placed into the show and if multiple alternates show up, the lowest numbered alternate will get the available spot. For example, if alternates 3, 7, and 9 were present, number 3 will be placed into the show if a child with a guaranteed spot does not show up. Note that alternates can return for as many (or as few) shows as they want until they are placed into an available spot.