The ''American Idol'' Experience was a theme park attraction at

Disney's Hollywood Studios Disney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. It is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Experiences division. Based on a concept by Marty Sklar, Randy Br ...

at the

Walt Disney World Resort The Walt Disney World Resort is an entertainment resort complex located about southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences, a division of the Walt Disney Company. ...

. Inspired by the popular American

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

series ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...

'', the attraction invited park guests to audition in front of live audiences who would vote for their favorite singers.

History

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 Ryan John Seacrest (born December 24, 1974) is an American television presenter and producer. Seacrest is the host of '' Wheel of Fortune'', having hosted since replacing long-time host Pat Sajak in September 2024. Seacrest co-hosted and ser ...

, judge

Paula Abdul Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personality. She began her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers at the age of 18 and later became the head choreographe ...

and "American Idol" creator

Simon Fuller Simon Robert Fuller (born 17 May 1960) is a British entrepreneur, artist manager, and film and television producer. He is the creator of the Idols (franchise), ''Idols'' TV format, including the British series ''Pop Idol'' and the American ser ...

. The attraction was promoted by winners of the ''American Idol'' from the seventh season onwards by appearing in commercials and announcing "

I'm going to Disney World! "I'm going to Disney World!" and "I'm going to Disneyland!" are advertising slogans used in a series of television commercials by The Walt Disney Company that began airing in 1987. Used to promote the company's theme park resorts in Florida and C ...

". In June 2014, Disney announced that the show would close in January 2015, then two months later they pushed forward the closure to the end of August 2014.

Operations

Finale show and "Dream Ticket"

The last show of each operating day featured the winners of that day's preliminary shows. Again, the live audience voted for the performer they liked the best. During the show, the audience was prompted to encourage the contestants and heckle the judges.

Winners

Fourteenth season semi-finalist

Adam Ezegelian The fourteenth season of ''American Idol'', also known as ''American Idol XIV'', premiered on the Fox television network on January 7, 2015. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, while Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez, and Keith Urban returned as judg ...

was a two-time Dream Ticket winner (2009 and 2014).

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:American Idol Experience, The 2009 establishments in Florida 2014 disestablishments in Florida

Experience Experience refers to Consciousness, conscious events in general, more specifically to perceptions, or to the practical knowledge and familiarity that is produced by these processes. Understood as a conscious event in the widest sense, experience i ...

Disney's Hollywood Studios Echo Lake (Disney) former Walt Disney Parks and Resorts attractions licensed properties at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Amusement park attractions based on television franchises