So, I'm guessing that the petition didn't work?

I'm excited about American Idol.  I just that Paula Abdul stays away.

C'mon, Jim - you know that if they hadn't announced the closing of the AC, these crowds would not be there. Sure, there are a lot of fans, but if they made a decision to keep the AC open, the crowd levels would drop right back to where they were.

Hey Jim, how has business been over at the Comedy Warehouse?  While I am a fan of the Adventurer's Club I am a bigger fan of the CW.  I still think a way should be found to offer these two experiences on a limited basis (ie Friday and Saturday nights) at locations elsewhere at WDW.  While the Mask Room experience would be hard to replicate elsewhere, I think that they could do a good enough job with the Library at one of the old Disney Institute theatres over at Saratoga Springs.  And they could even do a better job replicating the CW in one of the those locations or at the Dance Hall on the Boardwalk.  That location even has the permanent bar facilities that the SS theatres lack.

On the hand, talk about striking while the iron is cold on the American Idol show!  The buzz is so great while the show is on the air and then it goes completely cold once the winner is crowned.  If the show were to open in January they could establish a good 5 month run even if the theme park show itself is a dud.  Now this show is dead in the water without the weekly exposure that it would get while the show is on the air.  Overall no great loss except for money and resources that could have been used elsewhere to make something more worthwhile.

As TheKaz mentioned, these crowds are obviously creations of the closing. It's simply supply and demand. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the AC and am very sad and angry at its closing. But that beign said, these aren't spontaneous crowds that suddenly realized how great the place is, they want to be part of the end of an era, plain and simple.

I'm trying not to be cynical about all this - really I am - but my suspicion is that Fantasmic! will stay at two shows a week, Idol or no Idol. The temptation to puff up the bottom line a little more's just gonna be too great.

I was at the Adventurer's Club on Friday, and it was crazy! The crowd literally carried me into the library for every show.  We were sad to see all of the normal seating gone, but glad so many people were out to experience it.  I'm glad this time Disney let us know way ahead of time, so I had a chance to say goodbye.  I'll miss you AC.  I'm reckless, brave and loyal, and daring to the end!

Jim Hill has all sorts of news from Disney's Hollywood Studios. Including why ABC Daytime pulled the plug on its annual promotional event at that theme park as well as why construction is being sped up at Superstar Television Theater