Jedi Training Academy Star Wars Party Ideas

Recreate the Walt Disney World Jedi Training Academy experience at home with these DIY Star Wars party games inspired by the Jedi training academy! Start off with a little motion control with Han Solo Says followed by a search for Kyber crystals, and finally fighting with light sabers to defeat the dark side! Simple to put together, Star Wars lovers will absolutely love these fun Star Wars games you can play at home!

For my son’s 4th birthday party, we did a Walt Disney World themed party. Since Star Wars is such a huge part of Hollywood Studios and the Last Jedi is coming out this year, I decided to recreate the Walt Disney World Jedi Training Academy experience for the kids at the party! P.s., the first trailer Star Wars: The Last Jedi was just released, and it looks amazing! Can’t wait until the release on December 15th! 

Star Wars Party Ideas: Jedi Training Academy

I divided our Jedi Training Academy into four parts – Han Solo Says, Kyber Crystal Obstacle Course, Light Saber Skills,  and Fighting the Dark Side. We went through Han Solo Says and the light saber skills pretty quickly because the party was mostly 3-5 year olds but if you have older kids, you could easily spend a bit more time on each of those. Total this activity took us about 15-20 minutes, most of which was spent in fighting the dark side! 

Jedi Training Academy Part 1: Han Solo Says

First up, we played Han Solo Says, aka a Star Wars version of Simon Says. My husband dressed up in this fun Han Solo costume and directed the kids to do fun things like using the force, jumping, ducking, running in place, etc. If he didn’t say Han Solo says and the kids moved, they just had to run  a lap around the yard and then join the group again. 

Jedi Training Academy Part 2: Kyber Crystal Obstacle Course

Next up, we put together an obstacle course for the kids and at the end of the obstacle course, the Cave of Illum with these little crystals in the middle. We instructed each of the kids to go into the cave and pick one “Kyber crystal.” Once they had their own Kyber crystal, they came out of the obstacle course and traded their crystal for their very own light saber (that I got on clearance for $2/piece, score!). 

Jedi Training Academy Part 3: Light Saber Skills Training

Once the kids all had their very own light sabers, Han Solo led them in learning how to use their light sabers, just like the Jedi Training Academy experience at Hollywood Studios. This part was pretty quick because the kids just wanted to start fighting with the light sabers, but it’s okay. 

Jedi Training Academy Part 4: Fighting the Dark Side

While the kids were learning how to use their light sabers, my sister, husband, and father-in-law went and dressed up in Star Wars costumes and snuck into our backyard without the kids seeing them. And then we let the kids use their light saber skills to fight the dark side. And I know storm troopers don’t actually use light sabers, but it’s way more fun to fight with light sabers than storm trooper blasters.

Have your kids ever done the Jedi Training Academy at Walt Disney World? What was their favorite part?