American Idol Experience Attraction Opens At Disney World with Blue Carpet Premire
Walt Disney World Resort Press Release
February 12, 2009
Television and radio personality Ryan Seacrest, the host of the hit TV show "American Idol," poses Feb. 12, 2009 with Goofy, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse during the grand opening of "The American Idol Experience" attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Singer Carrie Underwood, the winner of Season 4 of the hit TV show "American Idol," poses with Mickey Mouse .
Singer David Cook, the winner of Season 7 of the hit TV show "American Idol," poses with Minnie Mouse.
Singer Carrie Underwood, the winner of Season 4 of the hit TV show "American Idol," waves to fans.
Paula Abdul, one of the judges on the hit TV show "American Idol," signs autographs for fans.
Singer Ruben Studdard, the winner of Season 2 of the hit TV show "American Idol," does a TV interview.
Confetti falls during a preview showing of "The American Idol Experience" at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
It's Showtime! Disney's Hollywood Studios raises the curtain on the newest showbiz-themed attraction, "The American Idol Experience." Opening Feb. 14, 2009, all the excitement of the popular "American Idol" TV show comes to life in a first-of-its-kind attraction. Walt Disney World guests can vote on their favorite performance, or audition with the chance to perform on stage. Disney's Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Walt Disney World Resort Press Release
February 12, 2009
Largest-Ever Gathering of ‘American Idol’ Winners Joins in Premiere of Attraction at Walt Disney World
On Stage or in the Audience, ‘The American Idol Experience’ Immerses Guests in the Pop-Culture Phenomenon
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – With the largest-ever gathering of “American Idol” winners joining in the celebration, Walt Disney World Resort Thursday night raised the curtain on “The American Idol Experience,” a new attraction capturing the energy and excitement of the hit TV show.
Thursday’s grand premiere, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, was attended by all seven winners of the series, from season-one winner Kelly Clarkson to season-seven champion David Cook. Joining Cook and Clarkson were Jordin Sparks (season six), Taylor Hicks (five), Carrie Underwood (four), Fantasia Barrino (three) and Ruben Studdard (two).
More than two dozen Idol stars – winners and finalists from the first seven seasons – plus judge Paula Abdul and TV show host Ryan Seacrest arrived by celebrity motorcade, rolling down Hollywood Boulevard to the cheers, applause and snapping cameras of Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests. Thursday’s gala had all the glamour of a Hollywood opening. Cook treated the supercharged audience with a performance of his popular hit, “Light On,” and after Underwood performed her hit, “All-American Girl,” the pair brought down the house by teaming up for a first-ever duet, singing “Go Your Own Way,” the Fleetwood Mac hit. The premiere even had a “red carpet” -- except the carpet was appropriately blue in celebration of the “American Idol” color scheme.
That color scheme and, in fact, the look of the attraction is similar to the actual TV show set. “The American Idol Experience” was developed by Walt Disney Imagineering in conjunction with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and 19 TV Ltd. and is based on the smash-hit television show “American Idol.” The 1,000-seat indoor theater features twirling neon signs and a multi-layered backdrop inspired by the actual “American Idol” set in California.
The attraction is designed to immerse park guests in the authentic feel of a live television production, with some guests 14 or older auditioning to take the spotlight onstage, while fellow guests cheer them on from the audience and vote for their favorite singer with instant results. Audition slots are limited and interested guests are encouraged to arrive early.
Performers with the highest votes during preliminary shows return for a high-energy grand finale show that same evening. After their encore performances, one is voted the day’s top singer.
In addition to their new-found theme park fame, the top vote-getter at the finale show receives “The American Idol Experience” Dream Ticket, which allows an eligible holder to schedule a front-of-the-line audition to a future regional audition for the “American Idol” television show. Feb. 14 is the grand opening of the attraction.
Disney's Hollywood Studios immerses guests in the glamour of show business with thrilling attractions, incredible Broadway-style shows, world-class atmosphere entertainment and interactive film, television and radio production facilities. The theme park is part of the 25,000-acre Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla. For more information, call 407/824-4321 or visit disneyworld.com.
‘The American Idol Experience’: Fast Facts
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – In addition to being the first-of-its-kind attraction in the world to be based on the TV show “American Idol,” “The American Idol Experience” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park offers a variety of fast facts.
Among them:
BORN TO BE WIRED: The high-tech theater is wired with more than 76 miles of cable and 25 miles of conduit.
LIGHT ON: Lighting gives TV’s “American Idol” logo and signage its iconic look. Without sacrificing dazzle, Disney’s lighting team gave “The American Idol Experience” set a low-voltage treatment, installing energy-efficient LED (light emitting diodes) fixtures.
SPACE JAM: The attraction has 25,000 square feet of indoor space, which includes the giant replica stage/set and 1,000 seats for audience members. “The American Idol Experience” stage alone measures more than 3,000 square feet.
YOU BETTER SHOP AROUND: The opening of “The American Idol Experience” also brings a star-studded premiere of attraction-exclusive merchandise. Mickey Mouse takes center stage on a T-shirt where he is simply proclaimed the “American Idol” while Minnie Mouse offers an enthusiastic encouragement of “Good For You!” on another. Donald Duck is his typical grumpy self as he proclaims a performance as dreadful. Goofy, forever the hip pup, gives a shout-out with “What’s up dog?” Other popular items include a light-up dog tag emblazoned with the new attraction’s logo, screen-printed drumsticks, T-shirts that proclaim “Vote for Me!”, luggage tags, electronic games, ball caps, collectible pins and more. One signature item is a small statuette that features Mickey Mouse’s hand holding a microphone, which can be personalized with a message for a special occasion during Disney Parks’ “What Will You Celebrate?”
HERE COMES THE JUDGE: The judges in “The American Idol Experience” are all industry professionals who bring an expertise of music, showmanship and what it takes to have that “star quality.” Coast-to-coast auditions were held to find individuals who possess a deep knowledge of show business and can share that knowledge with attraction guests. Past showbiz experience among the team of judges includes: professional choreographers and dancers; actors and actresses from stage, screen and television projects; professional musicians; professional improvisation actors and actresses; television show hosts; and, even a former Rockette.
PICTURE PERFECT: The live show features a wide array of cameras including: one
Steadicam operator shooting the action onstage and in the audience; a robotic camera mounted on the theater wall for audience shots; a camera at the back of the house for wide shots and one roaming, handheld camera.
GO WITH THE FLOW: Complementing the shots and angles captured live by the camera crews, a complete crew of video editors and producers works inside the HD production studio to make each show flow.
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?: There are 113 video screens and 105 audio speakers installed throughout the theater’s show and audition spaces.
THE WALL: “The American Idol Experience” features the largest curved video wall at Walt Disney World Resort, measuring 35 feet wide and more than seven feet tall.
SEEING STARS: Fans will recognize many famous faces throughout “The American Idol Experience.” “American Idol”-related stars making exclusive video appearances in the attraction include Ryan Seacrest,David Cook, David Archuleta, Jordin Sparks, Justin Guarini, Brooke White, Syesha Mercado and Jason Castro.
:ack:
wow, that looks really cool.(the pics are really good too! I would have love to meet the idols in Disney. BTW, I think the sign one of the dwarfs are holding in the Paula photo is really funny!)
:down:
Wow that's so cool! I would love it if my sister could sing there, cuz she is such a fabulous singer!