These 3 BIG tips for the Jedi Training Academy might seem super obvious and simple but sometimes (especially while on vacation) we miss the obvious! These are seriously my best photo tips for you for this experience and all it’s amazingness!
There is nothing actually involved photography-wise here. The NUMBER #1 thing you need to do is get to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at park opening and get over to where registration is for Jedi Training Academy. There are only so many spots available and once they are full, that’s it. When we visited and did the Jedi Training Academy, the park opened at 9 am and we were entering (after security) at 9:15. By the time we got to the front of the line to register, they only had the last two performances of the entire day left! All I can say is that if you don’t sign up right away, you won’t even need the other tips because you’re kid won’t be participating. Sad day all around if that happens.
Waiting in line didn’t take long…20 minutes maybe. During that time, there were a couple of storm troopers to keep everyone entertained. The kids (and adults) LOVED these guys. They are super fun!
Sign up for a show that is around dusk. We signed up for the second to last show in January and the sun had just gone down. This makes the experience and photos 10x better in my opinion! You can actually see the lightsabers glow!! There are stage lights which can be tricky when editing (super red sometimes), but overall it really adds a nice look! It’s also a great idea for those kids who might be a little nervous. We had two who were unsure, but we signed them up anyway. After meeting Kylo Ren during the day, they all couldn’t wait for Jedi Training to begin!
Flash won’t light as far as you need it, and I don’t recommend it. If you’re shooting in manual, bump up your ISO to increase your shutter speed. The stage lights added enough light that I was able to get some decent shots!
I LOVE taking my own photos, but you know what else I love? Disney’s PhotoPass service! Since there were Disney PhotoPass photographers there, I knew I could focus my attention on taking video instead. They took a TON of photos during the experience, and although many of them are just okay, there were definitely a lot of great shots! And bonus, they don’t have to worry about any spectators getting in their way when taking a photo! The photos below are Disney PhotoPass images and we all thought the optional borders were fantastic!
This was one of the best experiences we did as a family. Our son even got to go up on stage afterwards to take a birthday picture with the Jedi instructors. He was in heaven!