So, OK. He's jumped up and down. He's screamed on queue. He's politely raised his hand. He's flashed his birthday button. Year after year, we get glossed over for this. It never fails that the kid right next to him gets picked. Feeling quite dejected, he doesn't even want to go and try this year.

He'll be seven and his birthday trip coming up fast (17 days, 17 hours, 42 minutes and 50 seconds by my counter). Any tips to help out? :confused:

I've only seen it twice but kids on parent shoulders ("the girl levitating in the back") I've seen get picked a few time. Maybe wearing a bright shirt or some Disney ears will make him stand out more.

So, OK. He's jumped up and down. He's screamed on queue. He's politely raised his hand. He's flashed his birthday button. Year after year, we get glossed over for this. It never fails that the kid right next to him gets picked. Feeling quite dejected, he doesn't even want to go and try this year.

He'll be seven and his birthday trip coming up fast (17 days, 17 hours, 42 minutes and 50 seconds by my counter). Any tips to help out? :confused:Year after year?? It hasn't been going on that long! (Didn't it start Oct/Nov 06?)

Make a sign that says something like "I want to be a Jedi!" or "Don't let the Darkside take me!" Roll it up and take it with you. We had some little guys in July with us who got picked. They were jumping up and down and we made them signs.

Year after year?? It hasn't been going on that long! (Didn't it start Oct/Nov 06?)

Make a sign that says something like "I want to be a Jedi!" or "Don't let the Darkside take me!" Roll it up and take it with you. We had some little guys in July with us who got picked. They were jumping up and down and we made them signs.

Actually, I should say "time after time" vs. "year after year". The sign thing sound great! We'll give that a try!

My nephew wore a Star Wars costume and stood in the front row. He jumped a little but not crazy like some kids I have seen.

I would up for the first show of the day, it seemed the picked every child that wanted to participate last Saturday. My son (who just turned 4) was wearing a mickey shirt and birthday button and half heartedly jumped up and down, I was surprised when they picked him as he didnt seem very enthused. It may have been the rain that kept the crowds down, but there seemed to be as many spaces as kids that wanted to join in.

I agree with going to the earliest show you can. When the crowds are light, there will be less competition.

And I do think that jumping up and down helps. I don't think that the quiet polite thing works so well for something like this because they want to pick kids who WANT to be there, not just the kids whose parents are forcing them to try. (Which I know your son isn't, but they don't want kids who are reluctant or who might get scared once they're up there.)

Adrienne

My daughter was picked last year. I found that the bigger fool I made of my self screaming and yelling really got his attention, even so that after he had already picked my daughter my neice thought she might give it a try and I was able to get his attention again to pick her as well.:p So moms and dads you might have to get into this as well! It worked for me!!!

My kids are too scared to try but it seemed they were picking kids with bright colors-either shirt or shorts so they could distinguish them from the kids next to them. I had a bright yellow Star Wars shirt for my 4 year old but he didn't want to try. He did pick out kids with glasses or Mickey ears by making funny comments about them.

My son was picked for the pirate show at DW. The only thing I can think that we did different was showed up WAY early. We were the first people waiting. Not sure if that helped or just one of those things. We set up ahead of the sound people. My son had a John Deere T-shirt on that was camo and said I make dirt look good. They teased about it so who knows.

wear a wacky brightly colored hat!

I had my 5 year old wear a red sweatshirt. When the Jedi dude came out, I put him on my shoulders and had him hold up a sign that read "Youngling for Hire". He was the first one picked :)

I noticed that they picked many "screamers" and just about everyone with a sign. Good luck!

In April 2007, my family and I went to DL. My then 7-year old son wanted very badly to be picked for the Jed Academy. We saw the show 4 or 5 times. But my son was never picked. the little guy was heart broken.

We are heading back in March to DL. Are there any secrets or tips to help our son to be picked for the show?

Thanks

SW shirts/costumes, jumping and screaming, signage, all help.

Elizabeth

first show of the day seemed to help our little guy

We made a sign for the kids and went to the last show. 90% of the kids in there got picked. It was not packed.

Signs.... Make them on big paper and put them in a backpack. Things like "Keep me from the Darkside" and "I want to be a Jedi". Be creative. Also, HE needs to be energetic. If he isn't jumping around, but you are, they won't pick him.

Are there any secrets or tips to help our son to be picked for the show?I have merged your thread with another recent thread. See above for more responses.

We happened to luck out with our three grandsons the very first time we went to Jedi Training they all got picked. However, the next summer when we went with the same three, one got picked and the other two (one who was so heartbroken) didn't get picked.

That night at the hotel they all sat and made signs because they noticed that had helped the kids that got picked. Mine were jumping and yelling and waving their arms but no signs.

The next day, they were dressed in matching outfits AND they had their signs and all three got picked. Ok, I also stood behind them and pointed to the three of them. I am not totally sure what got them picked but the Jedi Master said "the three matching" . . .of course if you have one you can hardly match anyone. :p

Funny side story - the one little guy, that had been so heartbroken, forgot his sign. His older brother said little bro could use his sign but little bro said "no, the force will know I didn't make it!" :p Cracked me up how serious he took it all.

In Nov, we were there and had one grandson with us and he got picked - I pointed at him again. There was a desperate mom whose son was having a birthday and he wanted to do the Jedi Training so bad - so his mom and I stood behind her son and pointed at him and he got picked. :)

Just got home today and my son was picked yesterday. He was thrilled. It was a cool day and I noticed most kids were wearing dark colored sweat shirts and jackets. My son was wearing a red one that stood out. Also, the side toward space mountain was filled with kids while the side toward Nemo where we were had almost no kids. The guy picking would go from side to side picking kids so our odds were better.