The American Idol Experience Set To Close at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2015

WDWNT on June 29, 2014

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Typically, some hardcore Disney World fans will make up a rumor every now and then that the American Idol Experience attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is closing. For once, it seems the rumors are true and the attraction will close forever at the very beginning of 2015 in early January. Starting in July, the show will be decreasing the number of daily performances offered as well.

The American Idol Experience opened to mixed reviews in early 2009 amidst a tremendous amount of hype. The attraction was a first of its kind as everyday park guests could compete for a front of the line pass to any American Idol audition around the country. Many American Idol Experience golden ticket winners went on to be finalists on the actual television program, making it hard to argue that the attraction managed to find some really great talent and serve its purpose during its nearly 6 year run.

The American Idol Experience holds a special place in our hearts here at WDWNT as we were the very first website to post photos and a review of the show during the short soft-opening period in January 2009.

While Disney and Freemantle Media have quietly confirmed the closing of the attraction, there has been no word on the future of the Superstar Television Theater. Rumors indicate that somewhere down the line the building will be demolished for the long-rumored Star Wars land project, but the proximity to the center of the park and Hollywood Boulevard leads us to believe otherwise. This theater was vacant for seven years prior to the opening of the American Idol Experience, so there is always the possibility that it will remain dormant. Only time will tell…

Adam Roth’s 9/6/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot yesterday and has plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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The parks are dead

You can see FastPass+ installed at the end

Probably a 5…

FastPass+ installed at Tower as well

Ummmm….

The old Carthay Theater on Sunset Boulevard

Eat your heart out DCA

How am I supposed to take a shortcut through Starring Roles if you are fixing the path?

Heading into Magic of Disney Animation

John Lasseter in Wreck-It Ralph form

Fantastic video game humor on dispaly

Ha

Artists working hard on the new Ink and Paint Cells

There is a Fix-It Felix machine on display, although it is behind glass 🙁

The movie ads on the wall have been updated

Will do a barrel roll? OK, I MUST see this film…

The Animation Gallery still has railroad merchandise

As well as 40th anniversary and “it’s a small world” merchandise

Neat!

Work continues on The Legend of Jack Sparrow

Some strange white markings have appeared on the walls

I’m guessing these are supposed to be the dotted line on a treasure map, but it is too early to tell

I originally thought they might be markers for something, but I don’t think so

We’ll find out soon enough

A crane backstage for some reason

NO WAY…

Yep…

Wow, a TRON penny machine

This machine probably made more money than the movie did… ZING

Phineas and Ferb merchandise has taken over the old Loony Bin

Wait…

Yeah, that isn’t what that was meant for…

The smoking section near Star Tours is behind walls

This planter in front of Sounds Dangerous is also behind walls

American Idol Experience is ready for FastPass+

Moving over to Epcot, Adam was so excited about the blue vehicles at Universe of Energy that he couldn’t hold his camera still

The Test Track facade is getting ripped apart

Wow…

Food and Wine Festival preparations are well underway

After months of work, the La Hacienda fountain is out from behind walls!

Ummm, you’re in the wrong area, Italy is behind you…

AHHHHH!

Wendell from the Country Bears was out as well

“Am I early? “

Cool World Showcase shirt!

Some work being done near the waterway in the France pavilion

Work continues on what is believed to be a DVC booth near the Canada pavilion

More walls up near the Refreshment Port

KHALUA PORK SLIDERS! SOON!

The American Idol Outside the Experience

WDWNT on May 29, 2009

Disney has released a few press photos from today’s events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so let’s take a look at them while we wait for WDWNT’s own coverage:

"American Idol" Kris Allen honored at Disney World in Florida

“American Idol” season eight winner Kris Allen performs May 29, 2009 his rendition of the Kanye West song “Heartless” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Allen performed the hit song for thousands of theme park guests. On May 20, 2009, Allen was crowned the newest “American Idol” on the season finale of the popular television show. Following his win, Allen looked into a television camera and triumphantly shouted “I’m Going to Disney World!” for the iconic Disney ad. Fittingly, Allen’s visit occurred as Disney Parks asks guests, “What Will You Celebrate?” Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)

"American Idol" Kris Allen honored at Disney World in Florida

“American Idol” season eight winner Kris Allen gets into the celebratory spirit May 29, 2009 by singing a song to Minnie Mouse during a photo opportunity at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. On May 20, 2009, Allen was crowned the newest “American Idol” on the season finale of the popular television show. Following his win, Allen looked into a television camera and triumphantly shouted “I’m Going to Disney World!” for the iconic Disney ad. Fittingly, Allen’s visit occurred as Disney Parks asks guests, “What Will You Celebrate?” Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort. (Mark Ashman, photographer)

5/26/09 World News Round-Up

WDWNT on May 26, 2009

Since there are a few interesting pieces of news making the rounds today, I thought I would cover them all in one post. The first piece is from Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel and talks about Innoventions at Epcot, making brief mention of a new exhibit coming soon on behalf of the Burnham Institute for Medical Research:

Speaking of cows, Innoventions, the corporate-sponsored showcase at Epcot, is quite a cash cow for Walt Disney World.

A story in Friday’s Sentinel revealed just how much companies like T. Rowe Price and Raytheon pay to be part of the exhibits that Disney bills as platforms for advanced technology: about $1million a year, generating about $10 million a year in revenue for Disney.

In at least one instance, though, Disney is giving away some of the space. It pledged to do so as one of the lesser-known components of the incentive package to lure La Jolla, Calif.-based Burnham to Orlando three years ago.

Disney may make good on that promise as early as this summer with a “three-dimensional” display devoted to Burnham, though a Disney spokeswoman said a date had not been set.

Public documents related to the incentive deal never put a dollar figure on the donation of space at Innoventions, but Disney clearly considers it to be a primo marketing stage.

In case you ever wondered how deftly Disney pitches its sponsorship opportunities, this should give you an idea: The company goes as far as to boast of a “halo effect” for companies associated with the Disney name.

The story cited a document written by a Disney salesman to pitch a potential client on space at Innoventions.

“Our research shows that guests perceive a company inside Innoventions as a world-leader in their specific field,” he wrote. “From a psychographic standpoint, guests entering Innoventions enter with an open mind that is ready to be entertained. This is simply a different mind-set from that of a consumer inside of a store, watching television at home or sitting in front of a sales agent.”

As part of the upcoming rebranding of Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex into the ESPN Wide World of Sports, a new sports research facility will be constructed on-site. Also from Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel:

Walt Disney World and ESPN are building a new research facility at the Wide World of Sports complex.

Dubbed the “ESPN Innovation Lab,” the facility will allow the cable-sports giant to test new applications such as virtual graphics during events staged at Disney’s sports venues. Think concepts such as the “EA Virtual Playbook” that ESPN has used as part of its pro football and basketball coverage or the strike-zone graphics used during baseball games.

Because the Wide World of Sports venues are in year-round use, ESPN believes they will make an ideal spot to test and tweak new broadcasting concepts during actual in-game conditions. Disney World and ESPN are both owned by the Walt Disney Co.

The lab, which will be housed in a renovated building at Wide World of Sports, won’t be a typical tourist attraction. ESPN intends it to be a working research facility, though it’ll likely include big bay windows that allow people to look in and see the company’s emerging-technology staff at work.
ESPN has already moved five employees to Orlando from its Bristol, Conn., headquarters to work at the lab, and more could follow. The Innovation Lab is expected to formally open this fall.

The final news piece from the Orlando Sentinel’s Dewayne Bevil tells us when we can see American Idol winner Kris Allen at Walt Disney World:

This just in: American Idol winner Kris Allen, true to his TV commercial word, is coming to Disney World on Friday, May 29. Disney confirms that — but other details have not been announced. We’ll share when they do, but a safe bet certainly includes a stop by the American Idol Experience, which opened earlier this year to much Idol fanfare at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Stay tuned.

Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we continue to get more information on all of these breaking news stories.

After Experiencing Idol, He’ll Go To The Idol Experience

WDWNT on May 21, 2009

The winner of this season of American Idol (I won’t give it way for those of you who still have it on you DVR) has been placed in an “I’m Going to Walt Disney World” ad very similar to last year’s matching ad. While the ad doesn’t mention the American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there has been a video released by Disney featuring Idol stars on the “blue” carpet at last night’s finale show talking about the attraction. Both of these videos can be seen below:

The winner will also be heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at some point to film some promotional material, as well as to film some spots that will be used in the various video packages in the American Idol Experience attraction.