American Idol is Coming to Walt Disney World
I first reported the rumor that an American Idol attraction might come to Walt Disney World back in December, and a press release from Disney confirmed the rumor today. A Disney American Idol attraction is definitely coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2008, and guests will be able to try-out, perform, judge and watch the competition on a set reminiscent of the famous Fox TV set.
Here’s a recap from the Disney press release:
“That experience will include an audition process, open to all who
register, where guests perform “live” in front of a Disney’s Hollywood
Studios producer to be cast in a theme park show. After backstage
preparation — working with a vocal coach, hair and make-up — it’s lights
up and showtime in front of a “live” audience and a panel of judges.
Guest performers with the highest votes will compete in an end-of-day
Grand Finale show at Walt Disney World, and the winner of the Grand Finale show will receive a guaranteed reservation for a future regional stadium audition — to ensure no waiting in long lines. But when it comes down to the television show auditions, everyone is treated equal.”
I’m actually surprised by this announcement since Disney owns ABC and American Idol is on Fox. However, it’s not the first time Disney has tried to cash in on a popular television show that’s not necessarily made for children. The short-lived but very popular Who Wants to be a Millionaire attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is currently in the process of being replaced with Toy Story Mania, but it had a nice run while it lasted.
As the Disney press release says, American Idol is the number one television show broadcast in 100 countries, so a new attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that leverages that popularity should do well. The question is, how much longer will that popularity last? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
The other thing that has me wondering about the new American Idol attraction is this: if the competition is held throughout the day, everyday, then do I need to line up again and again all day to see everyone perform and watch who wins? I don’t want to spend my whole day at this one attraction. If that’s the case, then I guess I’d never know who wins.
What do you think of the new American Idol attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?
Tags: American Idol Disney, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World, American Idol attraction Disney World, Disney’s Hollywood Studios American Idol
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[...] * American Idol is coming to Walt Disney World! Know more at The Disney Traveler. [...]
[...] this year, I wrote a post announcing the new Disney American Idol attraction that’s coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World in January 2009. [...]