Helpful tips for Jedi Training Academy

Disney's Jedi Training Academy is located in the Hollywood Studios park.  In order to participate, valid theme park admission is required.  The attraction is only for young padawans ages 4-12 and you can not make advance reservations for it.

Here are a few helpful tips:

1. The Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost is where the sign-ups are located. If you are there when the park opens, there will likely be a cast member with a sign held up and she will guide the group to that location. If you arrive once the park has already opened, it is to your left behind the giant dinosaur, near the Indiana Jones show.
2. Children must be present at the time they sign up and they will have to verbally tell the cast members that they want to participate in the academy.
3. The show lasts about 25 minutes, but you need to return to the location where you signed up 30 minutes before your show time, so make sure that you allot enough time with your Fastpass and dining plans.
4. Sign-ups start approximately 15 minutes before the park opens, so we suggest you arrive at the park entrance about 30 minutes before the opening time.  On the mornings that Hollywood Studios has Extra Magic Hours, sign-ups start during the extra magic hours.  If you are staying on property, you may want to take advantage of the reduced crowds, but if you are not staying in a Disney resort, you will probably want to plan to participate in this activity on a different day of your trip.
5. Disney provides training lightsabers and plain brown Jedi robes, but they do not close, so I recommend letting your child wear their favorite Star Wars t-shirt or something that has their name on it.
6. If you have not yet purchased Memory Maker, call your Wishdrawals travel agent right now and have that added! The pictures taken by the photo pass photographers at the show are phenomenal and you can relax and enjoy the actual show if you know you'll get to download all of their pictures.
7. Be prepared for a little Star Wars trivia and some extremely corny jokes.  Laughter is greatly appreciated by the Jedi trainers.

The Jedi Training Academy is one of Disney's
 most fun activities offered and it's FREE!

 So head to Hollywood Studios and may the Force be with you!

Memory Maker

Disney PhotoPass is a program that takes pictures on rides and provides photographers throughout the parks (and at some character meals) to take pictures of your family.  Memory Maker is a package that will allow you to download all of the high-resolution that Disney takes during your trip.

What are the perks?

• Magically enhanced pictures – you didn’t see Tinkerbell posing with you, but she’s there!
• Get everyone in the shot! Now the world will know Dad was on vacation with you, too!
• High-quality photographs without having to carry around your heavy, expensive camera!
• All of the photos can be downloaded to your computer at the end of your trip with a limited license release so that you can print them anywhere you want as many times as you’d like! Just be sure to download them within 45 days of the date they were taken.
• Travelling with a large family or a group of friends? You can share one Memory Maker package by linking your accounts as “family and friends” to save money.

Attraction photos and videos

Animal Kingdom: Dinosaur and Expedition Everest

Epcot: Test Track and Frozen Ever After

Hollywood Studios: Rock’n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror

Magic Kingdom: Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain

The Jedi Training Academy at Hollywood Studios also has PhotoPass photographers.  I think this one event alone would make the Memory Maker photo package worth it for many families.  My three daughters were in the show, but with the PhotoPass photographers taking pictures, I was able to enjoy the show.

Disney has some stationary photographers planted at specific locations throughout the parks, but you should also use the My Disney Experience app to locate them if you want to make the most of the package. Scroll across the sidebar and look for the “PhotoPass” tab. You can narrow down to just one park by tapping the funnel-shaped icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.  When you are on an attraction that takes a photo, you will have to scan your band to claim the photo immediately when you get off the ride.

Helpful tip: Be sure to buy Memory Maker more than 3 days before your trip so that you can save money!  Memory Maker costs $169 within 3 days of your trip, during your trip, or afterwards.  If you purchase it at least 3 days before your trip, you can save $20 and purchase it for just $149.  Memory Maker does not include a burned copy of your pictures on a CD, but you can order that for about $35 if you want it.

Tips for saving time, money, and battery life at Disney World!

Making the most of your technology is a fundamental part of getting the most out of your vacation.
Here are a couple of steps to help you optimize your time, money, and technology on your next Disney trip:

1. Download the My Disney Experience app before you leave home and practice using it to check wait times and adjust/make fastpasses.
2. I LOVE Disney's Memory Maker package that allows you to download unlimited digital copies of your Disney photos and print them at your convenience.  It is great to have high-quality pictures without having to carry your camera around (and worry about it getting lost or wet).
3. Put your phone on 'low battery' mode and reduce the brightness of your screen (when you can).
4. Bring a portable phone charger like this great Duracell one I use!  It will be much cheaper to buy one at the local store or Amazon than to purchase one of these at Disney! Don't forget to grab your USB cable when you head to the parks so that you can charge your phone!
5. Have a backup... make sure you have a written/printed list of your fastpass times and dining reservations just in case your phone does die or get lost. 
6. Have a plan just in case that worst-case scenario comes true and your phone really does get lost. This article had some helpful information.
7. Bring a sandwich-sized ziploc bag for any electronics you may want to protect in case it rains. If you get caught in a storm without one, you can ask a cast member at a gift shop for a free bag and they'll give you one.

Disney provides complimentary wi-fi in the resorts and parks.  If you have unlimited data, I recommend turning your wi-fi off, since it will use your battery if your phone is constantly looking for the next wi-fi signal to join.  If you don't have unlimited data, then I recommend you join the network and monitor if it seems to be cutting in and out and causing your battery to drain.  Hopefully Disney will continue to improve this service and it will not be an issue in the near future.