American Idol at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
OK, Disney have just announced a new attraction for the former Disney-MGM Studios in Walt Disney World, and it is their version of American Idol.
Apparently, Disney think it’s a good idea to jump on the latest TV bandwagon that happens to be passing and try to turn it into a theme park attraction. The basic details are as follows:
“Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will create an “American Idol” attraction that will bring the television and pop culture phenomenon to life at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, it was announced today. The attraction, slated to debut in late 2008, will follow the model of the high-energy show. Disney guests will be able to experience the challenge of auditioning, the rush of performing on stage in competition, or the thrill of judging the performances in a live interactive entertainment setting with all the glitz and glamour of the distinctive “American Idol” set. That experience will include an audition process, open to all who register, where guests perform “live” in front of a Disney’s Hollywood Studios producer to be cast in a theme park show. After backstage preparation — working with a vocal coach, hair and make-up — it’s lights up and showtime in front of a “live” audience and a panel of judges.”
Now, to my mind, I can understand Disney doing ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ at the Studios a couple of years ago and making it a fun interactive attraction for all the audience, in a game-show format where most people will feel they have a chance.
But where is the attraction in going to see a handful of people taken at random from an audience who might - or might not (the latter is far more probable) - be able to sing? And then have them critiqued by equally clueless people from the audience?
Surely they only reason for watching Idol in the first place (apart from the first few rounds where people just flat out embarrass themselves) is to see some genuine talent sing and perform on stage in front of an eminent panel of judges?
But, without any talent and without Simon Cowell and Co, how is there any entertainment value at all in watching a bunch of complete nobodies make fools of themselves?
As you can tell, I am less than impressed with this latest idea to ’spice up’ the entertainment offerings at the Hollywood Studios (and I still don’t like that name!). It strikes me as weak-minded, feeble and pandering to the lowest common denominator of current pop/TV culture. Idol is purely and simply a fad that has limited appeal and does not in any way translate to a theme park offering.
If this really is the best Disney can come up with in terms of future attractions, we might as well cross them off the list for future visits. Because this is truly pathetic.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:48 am
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptOK, Disney have just announced a new attraction for the former Disney-MGM Studios in Walt Disney World, and it is their version of American Idol. Apparently, Disney think it’sa good idea to jump on the latest TV bandwagon that happens … [...]
February 8th, 2008 at 4:57 am
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptOK, Disney have just announced a new attraction for the former Disney-MGM Studios in Walt Disney World, and it is their version of American Idol. Apparently, Disney think it’sa good idea to jump on the latest TV bandwagon that happens … [...]
February 8th, 2008 at 5:22 am
[...] Simon Veness wrote an interesting post today on American Idol at Disneyâs Hollywood StudiosHere’s a quick excerptOK, Disney have just announced a new attraction for the former Disney-MGM Studios in Walt Disney World, and it is their version of American Idol. Apparently, Disney think it’sa good idea to jump on the latest TV bandwagon that happens … [...]
February 8th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Personally I don’t like the concept for the park. Will they be able to operate this on a daily basis? Are there going to be enough people going to come for try outs? Will they fill up the stage and show every day and will enough people come to see it and even do return visits for it? Simon Cowell will not be there to judge (for obvious reasons) and I don’t think we will get any mean judge to give any of the people a hard time. After all we are in Disney World, where dreams come true, but without Simon it will not be the same.
On the other hand, this is a number 1 show with many, many, many fans. So I’ll be wrong for sure and the park might have a success in the making. Me, I would rather have seen that money go into the development of some unique Disney attraction. What do you think? Success guaranteed, or a show that will not last?
May 17th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I too like the concept and think it will be popolar at first, but sustaining it is going to be a challenge. Most people who come to disney stay for about a week. It’s going to be hard to get folks to audition who will be around for the show when it stars.