So what’s the word on Disney’s Hollywood Studios‘ soon-to-be-opened attraction, The American Idol Experience (which just completed three days of tech rehearsals)?
Well, I know that this news will probably shock Disneyana fans (Many of whom groused long & loud last year when they learned that a theme park version of this Fox reality series was headed for the Walt Disney World Resort). But according to Cast Members who attended preview performances for this new Hollywood Studios attraction earlier this week, The American Idol Experience is already a surprisingly solid show. More importantly, once AIE’s cast & crew gets a few more performances under their belt, this sleek & slick interactive entertainment should prove to be extremely popular with WDW visitors.
Mind you, in order to really appreciate what it is that makes this new DHS attraction so special, it helps to be familiar with the TV version of “American Idol.” And Cast Members who attended AIE previews earlier this week who were also fans of the “American Idol” television program just went on & on about the amazing job that the Imagineers had done here. How WDI had faithfully recreated not only AI’s look but had also found a way to capture the energy & excitement that one feels while attending an actual taping of this wildly popular Fox program.
Of course, some of that feeling comes from getting the details right. And starting with The American Idol Experience’s pre-show area, the Imagineers do everything they can to quickly suck WDW Guests into the world of this Fox reality series. Which is why Ryan Seacrest — the actual host of the “American Idol” television program — also serves as the host of AIE’s pre-show. And as folks wait to enter the old Superstar Television Theater, Ryan — via overhead monitors in the pre-show area — explains the rules that govern the theme park version of “American Idol.”
And while this is going on, AIE’s warm-up act (along with a camera crew) is working his way through the crowd in the queue. Looking for people who’d be willing to appear in brief video segments which will then be digitally inserted into The American Idol Experience show that this audience is about to attend. Where these WDW visitors will then be seen shouting encouragements like “We love you, (performer’s name here)!” to the Guests who’ll be singing at that particular AIE performance.
Once this is done, the audience is then allowed to enter the old Superstar Television Theater. Which — to borrow a catchphrase from another reality TV series — has received a pretty extreme make-over. From its state-of-the-art lighting & sound system to this attraction’s sleek hi-tech set (which perfectly captures the look of the AI TV show), this 1013-seat house is now a dazzling new venue for performers.
After the audience is seated, the warm-up guy now demonstrates how the AIE voting keypad works. But again aping the look & feel of the actual “American Idol” TV show, this performer doesn’t do this demo from the safety of the stage. Oh, no. With camera crew in tow, he wades out into the auditorium. Where (while this live footage plays on AIE’s two Jumbtron screens) the warm-up guy comically walks one Guest through how to properly operate this keypad.
Last year’s “American Idol” winner David Cook confers with a WDI producer as one of the videos for The American Idol Experience’s pre-show is shot. Copyright 2008 Disney. All Rights Reserved
The warm-up guy then introduces The American Idol Experience’s MC. And just like with a real-life TV show, they ask the audience to be please be quiet as they count down to the start of taping. And then …
Well, this is where this new DHS attraction gets somewhat problematic. You see, as long as AIE’s Casting Directors have done their jobs and screened that day’s pool of would-be performers for people who can actually sing … You’ve got the makings of a very entertaining show. If — on the other hand — only tone-deaf tourists have auditioned for the performance of The American Idol Experience that you’ve chosen to attend … Well, it’s then up to those Comedy Warehouse & Adventurers Club vets who are playing this show’s three judges & MC to try & make AIE seem like fun.
And as of this week’s tech rehearsals for The American Idol Experience, these performers were still struggling to strike just the right balance between what Simon, Paula, Randy & Ryan might say on the real “American Idol” TV show and … Well … What you can actually get away with saying to people who’ve paid to get into a family-friendly theme park like Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
That’s where The American Idol Experience remains a work-in-progress. As AIE’s performers & creative team struggle to get a handle on this part of the show. Delivering on Guests expectations as to what a theme park version of AI should be like. While — at the same time — not saying anything too edgy or offensive to the Guests who’ve agreed to perform at this new DHS attraction.
As of late Tuesday afternoon (when AIE held its first tech rehearsal for that attraction’s finale / results show), it was obvious that those Comedy Warehouse & Adventurers Club vets who were playing the judges were still working off of the quips that had been scripted for them in advance by WDI. Which is why many of the comments that they made to the show’s contestants that afternoon lacked spontaneity. Or — at the very least — seemed far too scripted.
But this issue … It’s something that the cast will be able to work out as they get more performances under their belt. More importantly, as they learn to gauge what AIE audiences like and don’t like.
As for the tech side of this new DHS attraction … Again, WDW Cast Members who attended previews earlier this week were impressed with how polished & professional The American Idol Experience already seems to be. They marveled at how — when one performer stood on stage and began singing “Part of Your World” — the guys in the booth (just as they would have done on a real TV show) first shifted the lighting on the set to a cool blue-green and then projected bubbles on a screen behind that performer.
And just like they do on the real “American Idol” TV program, the WDW Entertainment vets who were working at AIE that day attempted to squeeze every last bit of drama & tension out of revealing who won that day’s Dream Ticket. Which is why this finale / results show — which is only supposed to last 45 minutes — wound up running for almost an hour.
Copyright 2008 Disney. All Rights Reserved
But all was forgiven once that day’s winner was revealed and — just as it does for every season finale for the “American Idol” TV show — confetti rained down on the stage as spotlights racked the hall.
All in all, The American Idol Experience is already a pretty slick piece of entertainment. A show that’s sure to entertain DHS visitors (provided — of course — that they’re already somewhat familiar with the “American Idol” TV show).
Speaking of which … If you’re really a diehard fan of this Fox reality show, then you owe it to yourself to go through the AIE audition process. Otherwise you won’t get to see the backstage portion of this new DHS attraction. Where — you’ll discover — the Imagineers also labored to recreate the backstage areas that viewers get to see while watching the “American Idol” television program.
As for you folks who are not AI fans … Well. the American Idol Experience may not be something that you’ll actually enjoy experiencing. But — then again — how will you know unless you give this show a try the next time you visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
You see, that’s the real beauty of The American Idol Experience. This new DHS attraction will present six shows a day (plus a finale / results show). And because of the talent level / number of Guests who audition for AIE changes each day, every single show will be different.
Know this, though: Those of you who are thinking of auditioning for The American Idol Experience during its soft opening phase need to be aware that no Dream Tickets (which will then allow its owner to go to the front of the line at any nationwide audition for the “American Idol” television show) will be awarded until after this new DHS attraction finally & officially opens to the public on February 14th.
Anyway … That’s a brief overview of what The American Idol Experience was like as it completed its technical rehearsal phase and then moved into soft opening mode. Please be aware that — in the weeks ahead — certain elements of this new DHS show as they were described in today’s article are sure to change. As the Imagineers and AIE’s cast continue to make adjustments to this still-evolving-but-already-rather-entertaining work-in-progress.
Your thoughts?