Subsonic Radio

Not sure if everyone has had chance to check out Jedi Training Academy yet, but it is one of my three favorite things in the park:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_Training_Academy
Basically Jedi Masters teach about 30 to 40 kids how to use lightsabers and be good Jedis in the Force, when suddenly Vader and Darth Maul appear and each kid gets to individually fight Vader or Maul.
What makes the show so great is that each kid has their own reaction to being up on stage and fighting Darth Vader and Maul. Kids get up there and are totally into it and do their moves perfectly to the teaching, other times the kid just starts wailing away, and the best is when a kid gets up there and just freezes in awe . The Jedi Masters always do a wonderful job of telling each kid how good they did and sometimes make jokes like "You were moving so fast, we couldn't even see it!". There are lots of corny jokes mixed in for good measure of course.
It's so much fun watching the kids get up there and having a kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience and it's probably something they'll remember for the rest of their lives. My wife and I always catch at least one showing every time we go to the park, and it's always one of the most entertaining parts of our day. It's great fun watching all the kids be so happy and into it, and especially overhearing them afterward (usually you'll hear things like "I got to fight Darth Maul!" and "Dan's going to be so jealous!").
I highly suggest everyone watch at least one show of the Jedi Training Academy - especially if you have kids. It's one of the great things in the park that is completely free and your child will most likely remember for the rest of their lives

I have seen many a Jedi Training in Disneyland, mostly while waiting for the Submarine Ride and a few times while standing outside on the second floor of innoventions. I like it, granted I don't have kids but I would definitely try to get to that in the course of a day if I did. I always love the little tiny kids, like the ones that are barely up to Darth Vader's knees. They look like they should be in Spaceballs not Star Wars.

I did that during a Star Wars weekend years ago when I was little. I have the certificate to prove it! I am a genuine padawan.

I think it's great that they now do the show year round at Disneyland and WDW. It's really clever!

Every time I go into Tomorrowland, I see the Jedi Training Academy going on whenever we go towards Space Mountain or Autopia. I haven't gotten a chance to sit and watch it from start to finish but maybe I'll have time whenever I go again.

I never take the time to watch this. Do they involve adults? It seems like another "kids" thing. Sigh, Disney didn't want adult / child segregation.

subsonic wrote:I never take the time to watch this. Do they involve adults? It seems like another "kids" thing. Sigh, Disney didn't want adult / child segregation.

I have never seen adults doing this, but I think it would be hilarious to see YOU doing it, mister saber dueling, fall over the couch guy.

Heck man, if they involved adults, I'd be up in front waiting to get a turn.

It is a kids thing, but it's so fun to watch as an adult! I think they don't want adults pushing the little kids out of the way (as many Star Wars fans I know of would!).

It's a great show, especially the time I saw it at Disneyland. Some of the jokes went way over the kid's heads, nothing harmful, but adding a lot of amusement for the adults. I especially liked it when the Jedi Knight told one of the kids he didn't realize they had invited the Ewoks!

Left, right, duck!

subsonic wrote:I never take the time to watch this. Do they involve adults? It seems like another "kids" thing. Sigh, Disney didn't want adult / child segregation.

It is just for kids, but as Esmeralda and others said, it's definitely fun to watch as an adult. My wife and I don't have any kids (and plan on never having any), but it's still a blast to watch. Think of it as kind of an analogue to the shows they do in Frontierland they do for the mayoral election of whatever (but better). I see mostly adults in that one, but this one is more for kids. These is still crowd interaction too, as Darth Maul and the Storm Troopers usually walk through the crowds when Darth Vader is doing some talking. Last time the storm troopers make some poor kid bawl, as they charged at him when they were leaving. It was pretty funny and harmless, and his parents were kind of laughing while trying to comfort him. Of course, the kid then went over to the cart and got a storm trooper mask, so it all worked out well in the end.

My daughter did the Jedi training and loved it. It was really fun to watch. The costumes are great. It seems like some of the kids really think it's Darth Vader and Darth Maul.
It is a neat show so if you need to rest your feet grab a bite at buzz and pull up a chair and check it out.

sounds like darth vader and dark maul are both live pinyatas. i feel sorry for the people who have to wear the costumes.

HakuOni wrote:sounds like darth vader and dark maul are both live pinyatas. i feel sorry for the people who have to wear the costumes.

The Jedi Masters actually to a good job of watching the kids to make sure they don't get too aggresive and the kids are actually all very respectful. I haven't once seen Vader or Maul get hit with the light sabers, they always focus on the lightsaber instead of actually hitting the characters themselves. It's pretty amazing how well behaved all of the kids are and how smoothly everything goes every time.

I had the opportunity to watch one of these while my son was visiting the restroom during our last visit. The kids at "the academy" all had such a great time, I'm not sure they had the time create problems. I agree with danimal3114u - the Jedi Masters AND Vader and Maul do a great job with the interactions.

I don't know that I'd fully agree with the "kids only" fear. I think it's a kids' activity that the parents and siblings enjoy almost as much as the padawans. My youngsters were too young to participate at the time, and I still enjoyed the show.

I have seen video of the Jedi Academy that was done by a friend. It looks really fun especially for kids. I think my kids are going to love it, especially since they both like Star Wars. Besides, I have to see it when we go, as my cousin plays Darth Vadar in the show, so I guess you could say I'm partial to it.

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mommyfor2 wrote:I have seen video of the Jedi Academy that was done by a friend. It looks really fun especially for kids. I think my kids are going to love it, especially since they both like Star Wars. Besides, I have to see it when we go, as my cousin plays Darth Vadar in the show, so I guess you could say I'm partial to it.

That's really cool! Maybe they'll do something special with your kids because they know Vader! I hope you enjoy it!