The American Idol Experience

The American Idol Experience

Disney's Hollywood Studios
Land	Echo Lake
Designer	Walt Disney Imagineering
Opening date	February 14, 2009

The American Idol Experience is a attraction that opened in January of 2009 at Disney's Hollywood Studios in the space occupied by the former ABC Superstar Theatre and the “Doug Live!” attraction.

The attraction is based on American Idol, the number one overall television series the last four seasons (as of 2010) and the most popular reality TV series broadcast on Fox from January through May, with the series’ annual finale one of the three top-rated TV shows of the season, behind only the Super Bowl (the annual NFL Championship Game) and the Oscars, having produced such singing stars as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Lee DeWyse and its’ most recent winner, Scotty McCreery.

The attraction, licensed to Disney by Idol producers 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia North America emulates the actual process of becoming a star on the show. Potential contestants, who must be 14 years of age or older, and which in many cases will be between the age limits between 15 and 28 years old and either an American citizen or on a work permit, performs first in front of a Disney cast member, and then if they pass, sing in front of an audience of more than 1,000 in the theatre. Those chosen by the audience in the daily shows will then perform again at the end of the day for a final performance that will determine a winner from the judges and the audience, who (if they are in the age limit) will be involved in an actual Idol audition by way of a dream ticket that will allow them to bypass the first round at a regional audition, and possibly get a chance to perform in front of the show's judges, Jennifer Lopez, Stephen Tyler and Randy Jackson. Those who are not within the age limit can pass the prize to a friend (or family member) or can wait until reaching the legal age limit to use that ticket.