American Idol Experience Construction

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Where is American Idol Experience going?
American Idol Experience will be held in the former ABC Theater, where past attractions such as Superstar TV, Doug Live! and Get Happy...with ABC! have been held in the past.

When will American Idol Experience open?
Annual Pass and Disney Vacation Club Previews: February 5-8, 2009
Press Event: February 12, 2009
Grand Opening: February 14, 2009

What is the capacity of each show going to be?
Each show will hold 1064 guests.

How do I audiition for American Idol Experience?
Guests will be able to sign up to audition in advance online at the Disney World website. Auditions will be held from 9am to 1pm. If spots are available, those without advanced reservations will be able to sign up in the park for that day as well.

How many shows per day?
There will be 7 shows per day, with each show on the hour (except for 3pm, when Block Party Bash will be occuring). The grand finale show will be at 7pm.

How long will each show be?
Each show will be 20 minutes in length and the final show at 7pm will be 40 minutes long

Will there be FASTPASS?
In the coming months, Disney will determine if FASTPASS will be necessary. If it is, FASTPASS's will be given out by Cast Members and not machines.

Who is eligible to participate in American Idol Experience?
Theme park guests ages 14 and up will be able to audition for a Disney casting producer. Those who pass the test will be selected to appear in one of the park's "Idol" stage shows. Backstage, the performers will receive hair and makeup touchups from a stylist and singing tips from a vocal coach. Then, the guests will perform on an "Idol"-like set in front of a live audience and three judges. No, not Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. Instead, three audience members will be selected to evaluate the performers while a live host will keep the show moving. Top audience vote-getters will compete in a grand finale show at the end of each day.

What will the winner of American Idol Experience receive?
Overall daily champs will win a special front-of-the-line pass at a regional audition for the actual "American Idol" show. Disney winners won't be given any special treatment during the real audition, just the ability to skip ahead. Because of eligibility differences - namely, the TV show's 16- to 28-year-old age limit - winners may be offered the option of transferring their pass to a friend or family member, but they won't be allowed to sell it. Daily champs too young to audition for the real deal could save the pass until they're old enough to compete.

What songs can be sung at American Idol Experience?

Disney Songs

Best of Both Worlds (Hannah Montana)
Bet On It (High School Musical 2)
Breaking Free (High School Musical)
Circle of Life (The Lion King)
Colors of the Wind (Pocohontas)
Ever Ever After (Enchanted)
Go The Distance (Hercules)
Part of Your World (The Little Mermaid)
Play My Music (Camp Rock)
Reflection (Mulan)
Rock Star (Hannah Montana)
This Is Me (Camp Rock)
You’ll Be In My Heart (Tarzan)

Country

Achy Breaky Heart
All-American Girl
Amazed
Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Breathe
Do You Believe Me Now
How Do I Live (Without You)
I Hope You Dance
I Like It, I Love It
I Told You So
Independence Day
It’s Good to be Us
Life is a Highway
Lost
Man, I Feel Like A Woman
My Wish
Our Song
Sweet Home Alabama
This Kiss
Walkin’ After Midnight
What Hurts The Most

Disco

Dance Best of My Love
Fame
Hot Stuff
I Will Survive
Knock On Wood
Last Dance
Never Can Say Goodbye
Turn Your Love Around
You’re The First, The Last, My Everything

Latin

1-2-3
Bailamos
Just Another Day
La Bamba
Smooth
Turn The Beat Around
Waiting for Tonight

Rock/Pop Up Tempo

Big Girls Don’t Cry
Black Horse and a Cherry Tree
Bohemian Rhapsody
Breakaway
Don’t Stop The Music
Express Yourself
Face Down
Footloose
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
I Can See Clearly Now
I Feel The Earth Move
I Wanna Dance With Somebody
If Everyone Cared
No One
Old Time Rock and Roll
Over You
Rock With You
Since U Been Gone
Somebody to Love
Suspicious Minds
Sway
The Great Escape
Walk Away
Walking On Sunshine
You Really Got Me Now
You’re My Best Friend

Rock/Pop Ballad

A Moment Like This
Alone
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Drops of Jupiter
Home
If It Makes You Happy
Iris
Just Once
Kiss From a Rose
Looks Like We Made It
Stand By Me
Unchained Melody
Walkin’ In Memphis
What a Wonderful World
Your Song

Motown

100 Ways
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Ain’t Too Proud To Beg
For Once In My Life Meduim
Get Ready
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
I Want You Back
I Wish
I’ll Be There
Midnight Train to Georgia
New Attitude
Reach Out, I’ll Be There
RESPECT
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Stop In The Name of Love
Superstition
Then Came You
Vision of Love
You Are The Sunshine of My Life
You Keep Me Hangin’ On
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
You’re All I Need To Get By

What else do I need to know about American Idol Experience?
Actual "Idol" stars may make appearances throughout the year and merchandise designed by both FremantleMedia and Disney's product divisions especially for the attraction would be available for sale. The stage is modeled exactly after the actual stage and is 1/3rd the scale of the real thing.

Press Release

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will create an "American Idol" attraction that will bring the television and pop culture phenomenon to life at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, according to Jay Rasulo, chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts; Simon Fuller, CEO of 19 Entertainment; and Keith Hindle, executive vice president of FremantleMedia Licensing.

The attraction, slated to debut in late 2008, will be located at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park and will follow the model of the high-energy show. Disney guests will be able to experience the challenge of auditioning, the rush of performing on stage in competition, or the thrill of judging the performances in a live interactive entertainment setting with all the glitz and glamour of the distinctive "American Idol" set.

That experience will include an audition process, open to all eligible to register, where guests perform “live” in front of a Disney’s Hollywood Studios producer for the chance to be cast in a theme park show. If shown to have that star quality during the screening process and after backstage preparation -- working with a vocal coach, hair and make-up -- it’s lights up and showtime for the lucky guest 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 -- for the "American Idol" TV show. But when it comes down to the television show auditions, everyone is treated equal.

"Millions of people have imagined themselves standing on the 'American Idol' stage," said Rasulo. "We're excited that we will be bringing this dream to life every day at Walt Disney World."

Added Fuller, "One of the most remarkable elements about 'American Idol' is that for a brief moment each week, we can provide TV viewers the opportunity to imagine life as America's next superstar. Disney's new attraction perfectly captures what we at 'American Idol' feel is the heart and soul of this brand, real people getting a shot to make their dream a reality."

"This partnership," noted Hindle, "brings the number one show on television, watched in over 100 countries, to the number one theme park destination in the world. It's a perfect combination and opportunity to offer everyone a taste of the 'American Idol' experience."

The coming "American Idol" attraction will reflect the best and brightest of the TV show, giving starry-eyed park guests a chance to become a star on the attraction's stage. It joins an all-star lineup at Disney's Hollywood Studios, a celebration of today's Hollywood in movies, television, music and theater. Among the new adventures debuting in 2008 is the just-opened "Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!" plus coming attractions "Block Party Bash," an interactive and moving Disney-Pixar spectacle filling the theme park streets; and Toy Story Mania! immersing guests in a 3-D interactive ride-through video game starring popular Disney-Pixar "Toy Story" characters.