Press Release: "American Idol" Attraction for WDW

[brownie]

I can imagine a lot of people's feelings being hurt... Why would anyone want to go through that pain in Disney World, of all places? But I guess it could work. Possibly.

[Prudence]

I can imagine a lot of people's feelings being hurt... Why would anyone want to go through that pain in Disney World, of all places? But I guess it could work. Possibly.

If you're too sensitive, then don't participate. Simple as that.

[musicradio77]

Good move. I guess that Disney's Hollywood Studios is looking forward to have its "American Idol" attraction adding to the park.

I got a question. I'm watching "American Idol", because it's my favorite show, but I hope maybe if the ratings continue to slip on the Fox, is this going to be the end of "American Idol" on Fox?

Is it true that "American Idol" will be moving to ABC staring next year if I'm just having a rumor about the move from Fox?

[JEANYLASER]

I think that Disney has a great Idea of the American Idol! I love American Idol!

[blackcauldron85]

JimHillMedia posted an article today about the AI attraction:

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/ ... ience.aspx

[Kram Nebuer]

Wow, thanks for the article, blackcauldron85. It's interesting that we see how exactly this attraction is going to work.

For the first part of the 30 second auditions, I'm assuming that the cast members are only allowed to pick the real singers. I mean, for the TV show, they deliberately pick bad singers for show material, but I feel like there's no time for that for the Disney show and since there's already going to be a bad singer Disney employed actor, I feel that having a really bad guest singer is unnecessary.

It's cool that they'll actually have real experienced Disney judges for the competition. Also, the auditions limit is understandable. They're just like fast passes and the real show auditions; there definitely needs to be a limit for the show to go on every day.

As Jim Hill said, I can see there are going to be a lot of problems that will arise since this attraction is a lot more than just another Disney show/attraction.

For one thing, is there going to be a winner everyday? Does that mean in one year of the attraction running, 365 people will get a Fastpass for the real American Idol? Also, what happens when American Idol the TV show stops running? Will they just get rid of the grand prize and keep the show going?

I wonder if you do make it to one of the 5-7 finalists shows, does your whole WDW vacation party get guaranteed seats to the show? Like I feel it's necessary for your parents and siblings to see you perform in the show, but what if you're on a huge family reunion with aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, grandparents, neighbors, friends, etc are with you on the trip and want to watch you? It's understandable to turn some of a contestant's party away for the sake of other guests, but then again, they're on vacation and want to experience the attraction just as much as other guests, especially since they know someone in the show. I wonder how Disney will handle situations like this.

There are a lot more potential issues this attraction will have, so I hope to see it for myself in the next few years to see how they deal with them all.

The overall best thing about this attraction is that something is FINALLY going to occupy the old Superstar Television/Doug Live!/abc Studio attraction space!

[Escapay]

I still don't like the idea for this "show". It's nothing but glorified karaoke and while it'll be exciting for people actually performing (and maybe for those related to them/with them on vacation), for most others it can easily be seen as tedious and longer than it should be. After all, there will be the naysayers who'll go to a show and say "Man, I can sing better than that!" and just bitch and moan during the whole show.

And I don't like the idea of having it simulcast on a big screen outside. As if it isn't already loud enough in parks with people talking and chatting and rides going and area music blasting, now they're gonna add amateurs belting out Disney tunes? That's certainly not my ideal vacation, nor do I think it would be many others'.

Sorry if it seems like I'm very pessimistic about the entire thing. But really, it seems like more of a bad idea than a good one. Audition processes are very very intense, and Disney's turning it into one big freak show where *paying guests* are hoping they get to be the freaks. In addition, like Kram said, it's partly stacking the deck for AI (which really won't last forever, no matter what Fox wants to think), which is good for those who are stacked, but not for some of the talented people who wait in line who couldn't get a "Dream Ticket" at the theme park. Sure, it's just an extra 365 people who get to one leg of the audition, but at the same time, it's 365 people who, if you think about it, paid for that ticket.

Albert

[PeterPanfan]

I agree with everything Kram said, and most of Scaps, but there's something I need to disagree with.

Escapay, it reallt isn't like their paying for a ticket to the show. Most people will go to Walt Disney World, and probably just stumble across it, not even previously knowing it was there. I doubt peoplce will go to WDW just to get a chance on American Idol. So it would be like a..side-thing in WDW. I don't know if that made sense.

[blackcauldron85]

As if it isn't already loud enough in parks with people talking and chatting and rides going and area music blasting, now they're gonna add amateurs belting out Disney tunes?

Do you just think that the AI show will only consist of Disney songs, or did you read that somewhere? It'd be so much better if it was a Disney song singing competition!!!

[PeterPanfan]

I would assume it'd be Disney songs.

Newer songs tend to have suggestive lyrics, and that probably isn't welcome in a family theme park.

[Escapay]

Escapay, it really isn't like their paying for a ticket to the show. Most people will go to Walt Disney World, and probably just stumble across it, not even previously knowing it was there. I doubt peoplce will go to WDW just to get a chance on American Idol. So it would be like a..side-thing in WDW. I don't know if that made sense.

While it's true that most people at WDW will likely be clueless as to what's new and what's old (as they're either there for the first time or don't keep up with attraction news like others), there is a great many who follow attraction developments like a hawk. And it's very possible that aspiring singers are reading up as much as they can on this attraction - some to the point of planning a trip down to WDW and paying for a ticket to get into the park for that chance. Thus, the whole "paid for their Dream Ticket".

The truth of the matter is this: when you pay for a ticket to a theme park, you're not just paying to be allowed past the security guard. You're paying for the privilege to ride their rides, eat their foods (at an additional cost), and attend their shows. Thus, for all the 365 people a year who have "won" at The American Idol Experience, when you boil it down, the majority of them *paid* to win. Sure, there may be a few who go to the Studios for opening time, happen to see the audition thing, think, "Hey I could do that, looks like fun!", then spend the rest of the day doing that instead of the park and actually winning. But more than likely, the people who audition will be people who pay to get a ticket to get into the park to be part of the audition process. And those people will greatly outnumber the "come upon it by chance" people. The deck's being stacked before it's even been printed, cut up, and put in a box to be opened later for shuffling.

Of course, never has "American Idol" really been about chance, but that's the illusion it likes to play on TV. With this attraction/show, it's essentially saying that there will be one person a day with the chance to "bypass" that illusion and go straight to the judges-before-the-judges.

If you've ever gotten wind of something days before it happened, then planned your whole life around it so that you could be a part of the "something", then you'll know what I'm talking about. It's amazing just how *obsessive* people can get about something, and when it comes to the thought of "Hey, a chance to audition for AI, and all I got to do is pass the Disney Test!", there will be people who'll spend every waking minute getting ready and perfecting their craft in order to pay for a ticket, walk into that audition booth, sing their 30-second song...then be rejected. And the Mouse House, having already gotten their money in the ticket, will just sit back and laugh all the way to the bank.

I'm not saying that every Idol hopeful will go to the Disney-Hollywood Studios in order to get that bypass/Dream Ticket. But Disney has to be prepared for that to happen. A rejected contestant can be rather testy and do serious damage if rejected harshly enough.

Of course, the whole problem with my complaints is that not all of the 365 people a year who win will actually go to an AI audition. But the fact that there already is the possibility of 365 people bypassing thousands of others to one leg of the audition...that's really where the problem lies.

Do you just think that the AI show will only consist of Disney songs, or did you read that somewhere? It'd be so much better if it was a Disney song singing competition!!!

I assumed it'd be Disney songs, since it'd be easier for the company to clear and pay royalties to, than to have a daily show feature various pop songs from a whole slew of artists.

Still, I don't wanna be walking down Hollywood Boulevard and suddenly hear that annoying AI theme followed by some wannabe Smiley McTweenStar butchering "A Whole New World".

Albert

[Flanger-Hanger]

Still, I don't wanna be walking down Hollywood Boulevard and suddenly hear that annoying AI theme followed by some wannabe Smiley McTweenStar butchering "A Whole New World".

Albert

Would you rather see me sing "Fortuosity", "West 'O the Wide Missouri" or "The Monkey's Uncle" Albert? Depending upon the person and the song that could be interesting.

Of course this attraction will suck in all regards and people will go to guest relations and complain about why little miss Doesn'trealizehowcrappysheactuallyis and her even stupider parents will support her naturally.

[Escapay]

Still, I don't wanna be walking down Hollywood Boulevard and suddenly hear that annoying AI theme followed by some wannabe Smiley McTweenStar butchering "A Whole New World".

Albert

Would you rather see me sing "Fortuosity"

Possibly, but only Tommy Steele can do it justice.

The others are fine, though I doubt many parkgoers would have any idea what they are and still complain.

Albert

[PeterPanfan]

Wait, so will bypassers actually hear the people audition?

Or will it be held inside?

[Kram Nebuer]

I assumed it'd be Disney songs, since it'd be easier for the company to clear and pay royalties to, than to have a daily show feature various pop songs from a whole slew of artists.

Still, I don't wanna be walking down Hollywood Boulevard and suddenly hear that annoying AI theme followed by some wannabe Smiley McTweenStar butchering "A Whole New World".

Albert

Considering the target audience for this attraction, I'm pretty sure they'll be butchering songs like "Breaking Free," "What Time is It," "See You Again," and all those other Disney Channel born pop music...(which isn't all that bad). I'm pretty sure the older crowds (post-current-college age) will pick the well-known Disney songs a.k.a. anything on the Disneymania CDs. Speaking of which, I wonder if they'll be made to sing the Disneymania arrangements of those Disney songs.

Then again, I don't feel that Disney will limit the show to Disney songs due to royalty issues. Aren't there a bunch of songs that can be freely used by anyone because they're so old and songs that are on all those crazy Asian-produced Karaoke machines and stuff?

Wait, so will bypassers actually hear the people audition?

Or will it be held inside?

I think they mean to say the actual show part will be displayed on the Jumbotron outside live when the show is being "performed." The auditions are in individual sound booths and will only be viewed by the Disney cast members.

p.s. Hooray for old-school non-Mary Poppins Disney musicals!! I would love to see someone trying one of those tunes.

[blackcauldron85]

As I was looking for jobs to apply to, I came across this job posting:

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/ ... H3T92KTPJ2

It's just interesting to see what kinds of people they want to fill these roles.

[JaceDisney91]

*facepalm* I can't believe I have just one more little area of WDW overall that I feel keen on swivelling away from to avoid (the other being the UK section at Epcot's World Showcase, I won't go into detail).

All I'm hoping is that it doesn't replace any really classic Hollywood Studios attractions. If Muppet Vision 3D has to be taken down for this, I'm going to scream!

[Flanger-Hanger]

The Muppets are safe. This is going in where "Doug (remember THAT show?) Live!" played years ago in the ABC Theatre, which of course is no longer ABC.

[pap64]

Still, I don't wanna be walking down Hollywood Boulevard and suddenly hear that annoying AI theme followed by some wannabe Smiley McTweenStar butchering "A Whole New World".

Albert

Oh man...If I ever encountered that something BAD would happen...

"And now for today's top story. A crazy Puertorican burns down Walt Disney World! It all started with a small matchstick which then spread through ALL the Disney parks, causing panic and fear in the guests and employees. The reason for the crime is not clear. Our sources tell us that it had to do with the American Idol attraction and a famous Disney song."

[blackcauldron85]

http://www.mickeynews.com/News/DisplayP ... _12198Idol

Walt Disney World announced Dec. 18 it will debut its American Idol attraction next month at it Hollywood Studios theme park.
Disney announced plans to create the attraction in February, saying at the time that it would open late this year. The attraction is based on the Fox Television show of the same name.

Those attending the attraction will be put through a version of an American Idol audition. Winners of an end-of-the-day grand finale show receive an invitation to a future audition for the TV show.

So, I guess the attraction got pushed back a month.