The American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park offers you the chance to watch, perform and vote for favorite singers.
Watch - The excitement unfolds before your eyes. This exhilarating attraction features all the glitz and glamour of the hit television series' stunning set, and gives you an opportunity to experience the thrill as if really at the show.
Vote - Decide who has what it takes. Determine the destiny of the singers onstage by voting as a member of the attraction audience on your interactive keypad at your seat. See how far your favorite singer can go!
Perform - The challenge of auditioning. The rush of being onstage. A star could be born- who just might be you! The American Idol Experience provides select Guests with an opportunity to audition and sing onstage! And if your audience votes you the best singer of the day at The American Idol Experience finale show, you will receive a Dream Ticket (see eligibility restrictions below). If you are eligible to use the Dream Ticket, you will have an opportunity to make a reservation to sing in front of an American Idol* representative at an actual regional audition of the American Idol TV show, where it's your moment to shine!
Auditions
Park guests age 14 and older audition before a Disney "casting director" who judge singers based on their ability to sing and perform in front of an audience. As with the auditions for the television show, initial auditions are a cappella. Selected singers advance to a second round for an audition with a "producer", where they select from a song list (see photo right) provided by the producers which include pop, country, rock, Latin, R&B as well as Disney songs and then audition again, this time with pre-recorded music; to ensure that guests hear a wider variety of songs, singers may only select songs that have not previously been chosen that day. Those who pass the second audition will be scheduled into one of the preliminary shows each operating day.
Preliminary Shows
The attraction features a number of preliminary shows each day, with one finale show in the evening. At each preliminary show, guests perform before a live audience inside the attraction's main theater, designed to resemble the television show's stage. Using electronic keypads at their seats, the audience votes for their favorite singer, who will return for the final show of the day.
Finale show and "Dream Ticket"
The last show of each operating day features the winners of that day's preliminary shows. Again, the live audience votes for the performer they like the best. During the show, the audience is prompted to encourage the contestants and heckle the judges. Each day's final winner receives a "Dream Ticket" that will allow him or her to bypass the queue at one of the regional American Idol auditions for the television show, provided he or she meets the show's age and residency requirements. If the winner is not eligible, he or she will be allowed a "one-time" transfer of the "Dream Ticket" to another person, or can save the ticket until the age limit is met.
Touring Tips
- Guests age 14 or older inside Disney's Hollywood Studios; may audition to sing that day at The American Idol Experience attraction, subject to requirements. Audition openings are limited, only a few singers will be chosen for each preliminary show. A limited number of assigned audition times may be available in advance from time to time.
Facts
- As of May 2010, one "Dream Ticket" winner, Aaron Kelly, had advanced to the American Idol finals. Kelly finished fifth in the 2010 season. Another winner includes Nolan Sotillo , who sang " What Hurts The Most " by Rascal Flatts. Sotillo is notable for starring in Disney's PROM. A previous 'Dream Ticket" Winner from South Africa Mark Haze advanced to the top 15 in the South African format show of Idols.
- The American Idol Experience has been promoted by winners of the American Idol from Season seven onwards by appearing in commercials and announcing "I'm going to Disney World!".
History
The attraction was announced on February 7, 2008, although specifics were not made public at that time. American Idol season six winner Jordin Sparks unveiled its official name and projected opening date during the American Idol season seven finale on May 21, 2008.
Disney licensed the show's logos and set design from American Idol's production companies, 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia. The attraction is located in the "Superstar Television Theater" (formerly the "ABC TV Theater"), which originally was home to Superstar Television, one of the first attractions to open at the park in 1989. The show took place of Doug Live!, which ran from 1999 to 2001.
The attraction's grand opening took place on February 14, 2009, with occasional preview performances in the weeks leading up to the official opening. A press event just prior to the official opening featured many "Idol" celebrities, including all seven winners, numerous finalists, host Ryan Seacrest, judge Paula Abdul and "American Idol" creator Simon Fuller.