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WDWNT Author on February 12, 2009

Walt Disney World re-launched the official American Idol Experience attraction website this morning, just as a huge media blitz descends upon Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a weekend of publicity festivities. The website now features a 3-D model of the stage, some video clips, and a number of other features. The most vital feature has to be the online audition registration system that has been introduced. Guests will now be “required” to reserve an open audition time on the official website if they plan on trying out for the show after Saturday, when it officially opens to the public. As of right now, guests can register to audition up to two weeks in advance. Don’t expect Disney to hold to this concept too much, as there would probably then be a long line of frustrated idol hopefuls at guest relations who were turned away from auditioning because they were not aware of this pre-arrival registration system. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on this audition registration becomes available.

In case many of you missed it, the attraction was featured through-out Good Morning America on ABC earlier today. The coverage concluded with a live performance in front of the Superstar Television Theater by Idol winner David Cook that didn’t entirely make it onto the program thanks to some technical difficulties. The celebration continues later today with live blue carpet coverage from the huge media event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The events will be broadcast between 4:30 PM and 6:45 PM and can be viewed at that time at the link provided HERE.

Live from the Blue Carpet?

WDWNT Author on February 12, 2009

Walt Disney World will actually be providing live blue carpet coverage from the American Idol Experience media event tomorrow afternoon at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The events will be broadcast between 4:30 PM and 6:45 PM and can be viewed at that time at the link provided HERE. The attraction officially opens to guests on Saturday, February 14th.

Walt Disney World Entertainment Updates

WDWNT Author on February 10, 2009

There are a ton of entertainment changes that will be taking place at the Walt Disney World theme parks this week, so I thought it would be useful to provide a list for those of you visiting in the next few days:

  • The “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party” at the Magic Kingdom will debut on Friday, February 13th and will perform three times daily at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, & 5:15 PM
  • The times for Dream Along with Mickey will change on Friday to make way for the “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party”. The new performance times will be 9:35 AM, 10:35 AM, 11:40 AM, 1:15 PM, 2:15 PM, and 4:00 PM
  • On Thursday February 12th, there will be an American Idol parade and press event. The motorcade featuring Ryan Seacrest and a number of former American Idol performers will take place t 4:30 PM and will be open to the public. Following that, there will be a special press event closed to the general public. (Don’t fret, WDWNT will be represented at the event)
  • As a result of the American Idol festivities, Block Party Bash will not be performing on Thursday, February 12th
  • Fantasmic! will perform 4 times this week with 7:00 and 8:15 PM shows on both Monday and Friday
  • The Schedules for the “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular”, “Voyage of of the Little Mermaid”, and “High School Musical: Right Here! Right Now!” will be altered on Thursday. Consult a times guide for exact times.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on these entertainment changes become available.

Inside the Experience

WDWNT Author on January 26, 2009

The Orlando Sentinel has just published a photo album with 20 fantastic pictures of the new American Idol Experience attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can view the entire album by going HERE. Even though we provided you with plenty of photos from this show when I was at Walt Disney World earlier this month, I think these pictures are worth taking a good look at. Don’t forget to read the captions at the bottom of each photograph for more information.

Coming Attractions

WDWNT Author on December 31, 2008

Even though we are a few days removed from it, here are some interesting pictures taken from the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade of some new attractions on the way to WDW:

Concept art of the “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party”, debuting in February 2009

The stage inside the Superstar Television Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Original Concept Art

Original Concept Art

Real stage under construction

Theater and stage

Completed stage with some rules at the bottom

Registration for American Idol Experience AP Previews Now Open!

WDWNT Author on December 30, 2008

You can now register for the Walt Disney World Annual Passholder previews of the new American Idol Experience attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios by going to this link. You must have a valid Annual Pass to register and attend the event anytime from February 5-8, 2009. Space is limited, so be sure to register as soon as possible for one of the open time slots on the preview dates mentioned above.

Don’t worry if you can’t be there for these previews, random soft-previews will be occurring throughout the month of January. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on previews of the American Idol Experience becomes available.

“Sounds” Seasonal

WDWNT Author on December 8, 2008

Not only did the “Sounds Dangerous starring Drew Carey” show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios close for an unannounced refurbishment yesterday that will span through the 13th of December, it now seems the attraction will only be operating seasonally at the park. The most recent closure of the attraction is to allow some finishing touches on the American Idol Experience attraction that will be giving tours of its studio to Annual Passholders in just a few days.

The Sounds Dangerous show has garnered horrible reviews and low attendance since it opened back in 1999, making it very surprising that it has lasted until now. However, it is expected that the attraction will not remain seasonal for long and will most likely be replaced with a Disney Channel themed sound-show within the next year or two. The attraction will close again in January and will remain closed until crowd levels allow it to re-open. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on this story becomes available.

Passholder Tour Experience

WDWNT Author on November 13, 2008

I’ve been hesitant to post the following news since registration for this event has closed once already and could close again at anytime. The event I’m speaking of is a 25 minute Walt Disney World Annual Passholder only tour of the Superstar Television Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, home to the upcoming American Idol Experience attraction. The tour is happening at various times during the day on December 14th, 2008 and the following times are still available as of this reports posting:

Updated at 6:15 PM EST on 11/14- every half hour from 3:30-7:30 PM now remaining

Space is limited and filling up fast, so if you are interested and can attend, you should rush over to disneyworld.com/passholder and sign up under “News & Upcoming Events”. The American Idol Experience attraction is expected to have full Annual Passholder previews sometime in January 2009 and open to the public the following month.

Details on The American Idol Experience

WDWNT Author on June 23, 2008

Our good friend Jim Hill over at jimhilllmedia.com has put up a great article today giving away some of the details on how the new American Idol Experience attraction will run once it opens officially at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in January 2009. Jim goes through most of he details for this attraction in the article, giving us a good idea of just how many Disney Cast Members it will take to operate this “huge” attraction everyday. While Jim spills most of the beans on this long-awaited replacement to Superstar Television and Doug Live, there are still many details that Disney has still not even straightened out yet. While we wait for details direct from Disney, you can read through and enjoy Jim’s report HERE.