Are You the Ultimate Idol Fan? That’ll Cost Ya
Walt Disney World is going to be offering two very special package add-on geared toward American Idol fans beginning in March 2009. While I’m not a huge fan of the television program, I think these packages are pretty cool:
Ultimate Fan Experience and Ultimate Backstage Experience
Fans of The American Idol® Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ will have the opportunity to add the Ultimate Fan Experience to a Walt Disney Travel Company package! The Ultimate Fan Experience includes the Guest’s choice of commemorative “The American Idol® Experience” T-shirt, an All-Access ID badge, The American Idol® Experience award statue with choice of plate and VIP seating to the qualifying show of their choice. This add-on will cost $49 (price subject to change).
Guests also may add the Ultimate Backstage Experience to the Ultimate Fan Experience! The Ultimate Backstage Experience add-on includes everything in the Ultimate Fan Experience plus the ability to sit in on a closed rehearsal for the show, tour the audition facility and backstage areas of the set, and an exclusive commemorative 8″x10″ photo taken on the official attraction stage. Tours will be offered twice a week beginning March 3, 2009 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost for the combined Ultimate Fan Experience with backstage tour add-on is $98 (price subject to change). Availability is limited to 20 Guests per tour, and reservations are required.
While many of you may think $98 is a little pricey for the Backstage Experience, It is actually a pretty good value. Consider that a WDW t-shirt costs $20-25 on average, the award statue retails for $14.95, and you can only otherwise get an on-stage photo if you actually participate in the show after making it through the audition process. This merchandise alone values around $60, more than half of the cost. Compared to most Walt Disney World backstage tours, this is a relatively cheap offering. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on these special “American Idol” experiences.