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Star Wars fans come in all shapes and sizes. At Disney World’s Hollywood Studios, your little Star Wars fans can train to become Jedis and then take on the Dark Side. Keep reading to find out how your kids can join Jedi Training Academy during your next trip to Disney World.
My son participated in Jedi training when he was 6. He loved it! It was one of the highlights of the trip for him! I’m sure your kids will love it as much as he did!
The Basics
Jedi Training Academy is an experience located at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios for children ages 4-12.
After a little rehearsal time, each child is given a robe and lightsaber. They then march to a stage just outside of Star Tours. Each child is given an opportunity to battle one of the members of the Dark Side in an epic lightsaber fight.
You must show up 30 minutes prior to your show. The shows are between 20-25 minutes long, so you can expect to devote an hour to this experience after the sign-up process.
The Sign-Up Process
There are approximately 15 shows per day with 20-30 slots per show. So, only a limited number of kids can participate each day.
The slots are assigned on a first come, first serve basis. Therefore, it is necessary to sign your kids up at the beginning of the day to ensure they get in on your preferred day. I recommend getting to Hollywood Studios right at park openig and head straight to the sign ups.
You will find the sign-up station at the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost, near the Indiana Jones Stunt Show. If you are there as the park opens, you can follow the crowd to the left of the park. There will be others heading that way, plus there will be cast members and signs directing you.
Your child needs to be present with you when you sign-up. At that time, you will be asked which of the remaining shows you want to be a part of.
The cast member will then ask your child a few questions, such as their age, if they agree to follow the rules, and if they are ready to join the rebellion.
You will then be given a time to return for your show. You will return to the Adventure Outpost at the appropriate time.
The amount of time it takes to sign up will depend on the number of families in front of you. It could be as little a few minutes or as much as 20-30 minutes.
The Pre-Show Process
When you return for your show, the cast members will first make sure all signed up children are present. They will instruct the kids on what they will be doing and will give them their robes. They also split the kids into two groups.
We did this in the heat of summer. It was very hot. The cast members gave each kid water to drink and were very good about encouraging the kids to drink plenty of it before the show started.
While the young Jedi’s are getting their instructions, a Photopass photographer meets with the parents. They inform you on what to expect during the show. The photographer will also tell you where to stand when the show begins.
Two Photopass photographers take pictures during the show. They will give each family a Photopass card that contains all of the photos from the show.
One very good tip that the photographer gave to us is to pay attention to the shoes your child is wearing that day. When you have 30 kids on a stage together all dressed in similar robes, it is difficult to pick your kid out. Looking at their shoes is sometimes the only way to know which one is yours.
The Show
When it comes time for the show to begin, a cast member will lead all of the kids in a mini parade the short distance from the practice area to the stage. Parents are instructed to walk alongside their child.
The cast member leading the way clears the way through the crowd while announcing the approach of the next class of Jedi’s. This is a nice touch because it makes the kids feel super special.
Once at the stage, each child is given a lightsaber. This eliminates the opportunity for the kids to fight each other with them before the show gets started.
Each group is set up on a different part of the stage. The Jedi Master and his two assistants then lead the kids through a light saber routine.
After a few minutes to perfect the routine, a door opens. Darth Vader and Seventh Sister come out. One group of kids take on Darth Vader while the other group takes on Seventh Sister.
Each child gets a chance to show off their lightsaber skills one-on-one against one of the villains. At the end of the show, each young Jedi poses for a final picture before leaving the stage.
The Post-Show
You can collect your children as they come off of the stage. As each kid leaves the stage, they are given a pin for their participation.
Tip: After the show is over, I recommend you stop by one of the photo centers. (There is one in each of the four parks, as well as one in Disney Springs.) Have the cast member at the photo center pull the pictures of of your child off of the Photopass card the photographer gives you and transfer them to your own Memory Maker account. This takes only about 5 minutes and it makes it easier to find the photos of your child.
Our Experience
We loved the Jedi Training Academy experience. My son talked about it for days afterwards. He really got into it and felt that he was seriously using the force against the Dark Side.
It was fun for us to watch him participate in the show. I’m so glad we took the time to do this.
Conclusion
I have yet to hear of a family participating in Jedi Training Academy that didn’t love it. If your child is a Star Wars fan, this is definitely a must-do. I hope you have as much fun as we did!
For more Star Wars things to do in the parks, check out my list of the best things to do for Star Wars fans. Also see my lists of must-do’s at Hollywood Studios and must-do’s for kids.
If you would like help planning your trip, check out my step by step guide to planning your trip, advice for Disney World first timers, and quick tips for Disney trips. To book your trip, head to the Disney World website.
Happy travels!
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