Jedi Training Academy

Jedi Training Academy was a guest experience at various Disney theme parks. The experience was first introduced at Disney's Hollywood Studios' Star Wars Weekends event on May 5, 2000,^[1]^[2] and later became a permanent attraction, running from October 9, 2007^[3] to October 5, 2015^[4]. It later opened at Disneyland in California (October 1, 2006^[5] to November 2015) and Disneyland Paris (July 11, 2015^[6] to September 3, 2017^[7]).

Between July 2015^[8] and January 1, 2016, a multi-phase exhibition of Star Wars paraphernalia, including fan collections, LEGO, and life-sized Star Wars installations,^[source?] and accompanying Jedi Academy courses were held in^[8] the public open space and indoor atrium of^[source?] Hong Kong's Times Square shopping center. A video of a Jedi, played by Aarif Lee (��治廷), dueling Darth Vader^[8] at Times Square with the help of Jedi younglings was broadcast on local television to promote the event.^[source?] The event was held in conjunction with a Star Wars 501st Legion and Rebel Legion fan parade at Hong Kong Disneyland on July 27, intended to promote the first sequel trilogy film, Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens,^[8] which premiered in Hong Kong on December 17, 2015.^[source?]

Based on the teachings and practices of the Jedi Knights from the Star Wars films, the experience depends heavily on audience participation, focusing on children. Each participant is given a training lightsaber and Jedi robes and taught a routine set of swordfighting moves.^[9]

In December 2015, an updated version of the show started, entitled Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple, which drew inspiration from new canon works such as Star Wars Rebels and The Force Awakens.^[10]

Synopsis[]

At Walt Disney World, the children had to register in advance for the show.^[9] At Disneyland, they were picked from volunteers in the audience.^[11]

Participants were given training lightsabers and Jedi robes, and then the Jedi Master demonstrated what the children would learn in a combination of moves. Under the direction of the Master, and while receiving advice and an oral history of the Jedi Order and the Force the children were taught a simple combination of lightsaber attacks.^[12] In some cases Ahsoka Tano came on stage to assist the master.^[13] After the last combination practice, the Jedi Master suddenly felt a disturbance in the Force.^[12]

At this point, the show varied, always starting with stormtroopers coming out before Darth Vader, who urges the students to join the dark side.^[12] In some cases only Vader appears, in others either Darth Maul^[14] or Asajj Ventress^[13] comes on stage and walks around threateningly. The students then fight Vader and sometimes the others. With the help of the Jedi Master and Jedi Knight, the children used the fight combination they were taught to engage the villains. Jedi Master Yoda then used the Force to contact everyone in the audience. Outnumbered, the enemies retreated backstage. The Jedi Master then used a Jedi mind trick to make the stormtroopers leave. The children then gave back the training lightsaber and robe, and were given official Jedi diplomas.^[12]

Details[]

The show's stage at Disney's Hollywood Studios was a replica of the Endor shield generator bunker from Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, as it was next door to the Endor-themed exterior of Star Tours. At Disneyland, the existing Tomorrowland Terrace Stage was used.^[11] An exclusive Jedi Training Academy set of action figures was released in Disney theme parks in 2009 including Darth Vader, an unnamed Jedi Master and three unnamed padawans.^[15]

As she confirmed in her appearance on The George Lucas Talk Show, former Saturday Night Live series regular Sasheer Zamata portrayed a Padawan in Jedi Training Academy.^[16]