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When
the grand prize winner is announced during the final show of
the day, the confetti rains down on the stage and the crowd
goes wild.
Iconic
‘American Idol’ stage re-created in new attraction
Guests
at “The American Idol Experience” at Disney’s Hollywood
Studios will feel like they’re in the middle of a live
television production as they enter a theater that features
high-definition broadcast cameras, voting keypads at each
audience seat, more than 100 plasma and LED video screens and
a stage inspired by the pop culture phenomenon “American
Idol.”
The
newly opened attraction was developed by Walt Disney
Imagineering in conjunction with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME)
and 19 TV Ltd. It is based on the smash-hit television
show “American Idol” and is designed to immerse park
guests in the authentic feel of a “live” television
production.
One
of the technical cast members rev up the audience before the
show starts.
Creating the home to the newest Walt Disney World theme park
attraction took a team of talented technical and set designers
to make the show a shining achievement from a visual, audio
and video perspective. The team was given the charge to
take the “American Idol” TV series and extend the
experience from the television screen to a live theater
setting.
The result is a dazzling musical-themed theater for
high-energy performances at the showbiz-inspired theme park.
THE STAGE & SET:
Since the television show’s debut, the distinctive look of the “American Idol” stage and set has provided an energetic and exciting backdrop for the show’s singing performances.
To recreate the iconic designs, Walt Disney Entertainment worked with Andy Walmsley, the Emmy Award-nominated production designer who has created the “American Idol” sets since the TV show’s inception.
To re-create the signature look inside the theme park theater, Walmsley took an original cardboard model he used to design the television show set and replicated it as a three-dimensional computer model. Using this, he rescaled and resized the set to not only fit inside the Disney’s Hollywood Studios theater, but to provide up to 1,000 audience members the best view possible from every seat.
The 3,000-square-foot theme park stage is similar to the one utilized in Season 7 of the television show, Walmsley said, with only slight modifications made to enhance the guests’ live viewing experience – such as the Judges’ Table featured onstage at the Disney’s Hollywood Studios set so the judges face the live audience.
Working on a Disney theme park project was the realization of a lifelong dream for Walmsley, who began his career in the United Kingdom before moving to the United States shortly after “American Idol” debuted in 2002.
“Originally I wanted to be a Disney Imagineer because I’d walk around the Disney parks and look at the quality and design everywhere,” said Walmsley, who visited Walt Disney World Resort regularly for 17 years to enjoy the parks and admire the designs he saw. “I would shoot literally hundreds of rolls of film of the theming and attention to detail. I’d literally photograph every square inch of the park. I was in awe of the design and craftsmanship.”
Walmsley said he takes pride that one of his set designs now has a home in a Disney theme park.
“What’s really nice is that it is now captured in time at Walt Disney World,” he said. “If you think of this theater as a trophy box, one of the best sets I’ve done is now placed inside this wonderful trophy box for everyone to enjoy.”
HIGH-TECH, HIGH-TOUCH:
Not only a visual marvel, the theater housing “The American Idol Experience” is one of the most technologically advanced theaters ever created inside Walt Disney World Resort. In addition to being cutting-edge, each high-tech feature was designed and installed to enhance the guests’ experience – whether they are backstage, onstage or seated in the audience.
Providing all the tools for each onstage singer to belt out their best performance, Disney equipped the theater with one of the largest HD teleprompters found anywhere. Hanging at the back of the theater, the teleprompter provides onstage performers with lyrics for their chosen tune. And, as the performers sing for the audience, they do so in front of a 35-foot by 7-foot LED video wall, with digital graphics morphing to fit the mood of each song. Keeping each performer in the spotlight – literally – works like magic with an automated system that allows specific lights to track individual performers in real-time.
But the eye candy isn’t limited to the stage.
In the audience, all 1,000 theater seats are equipped with armrest keypads, allowing each guest to vote for their favorite musical performance with instant results. Outside the theater, a stadium-sized LED screen provides a live simulcast of the day’s finale show. It marks the first time any Disney theme park attraction has been simulcast, and adds to the gala atmosphere that surrounds the theater for the final show of the day.
The
judges are enthusiastic, with often very helpful criticism for
the performers.
The American Idol Experience’: Fast Facts
In addition to being the first-of-its-kind attraction in the world to be based on the TV show “American Idol,” “The American Idol Experience” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park offers a variety of fast facts.
Among them:
BORN TO BE WIRED: The high-tech theater is wired with more than 76 miles of cable and 25 miles of conduit.
LIGHT ON: Lighting gives TV’s “American Idol” logo and signage its iconic look. Without sacrificing dazzle, Disney’s lighting team gave “The American Idol Experience” set a low-voltage treatment, installing energy-efficient LED (light emitting diodes) fixtures.
SPACE JAM: The attraction has 25,000 square feet of indoor space, which includes the giant replica stage/set and 1,000 seats for audience members. “The American Idol Experience” stage alone measures more than 3,000 square feet.
YOU BETTER SHOP AROUND: The opening of “The American Idol Experience” also brings a star-studded premiere of attraction-exclusive merchandise. Mickey Mouse takes center stage on a T-shirt where he is simply proclaimed the “American Idol” while Minnie Mouse offers an enthusiastic encouragement of “Good For You!” on another. Donald Duck is his typical grumpy self as he proclaims a performance as dreadful. Goofy, forever the hip pup, gives a shout-out with “What’s up dog?” Other popular items include a light-up dog tag emblazoned with the new attraction’s logo, screen-printed drumsticks, T-shirts that proclaim “Vote for Me!”, luggage tags, electronic games, ball caps, collectible pins and more. One signature item is a small statuette that features Mickey Mouse’s hand holding a microphone, which can be personalized with a message for a special occasion during Disney Parks’ “What Will You Celebrate?”
HERE COMES THE JUDGE: The judges in “The American Idol Experience” are all industry professionals who bring an expertise of music, showmanship and what it takes to have that “star quality.” Coast-to-coast auditions were held to find individuals who possess a deep knowledge of show business and can share that knowledge with attraction guests. Past showbiz experience among the team of judges includes: professional choreographers and dancers; actors and actresses from stage, screen and television projects; professional musicians; professional improvisation actors and actresses; television show hosts; and, even a former Rockette.
PICTURE PERFECT: The live show features a wide array of cameras including: one
Steadicam operator shooting the action onstage and in the audience; a robotic camera mounted on the theater wall for audience shots; a camera at the back of the house for wide shots and one roaming, handheld camera.
GO WITH THE FLOW: Complementing the shots and angles captured live by the camera crews, a complete crew of video editors and producers works inside the HD production studio to make each show flow.
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?: There are 113 video screens and 105 audio speakers installed throughout the theater’s show and audition spaces.
THE WALL: “The American Idol Experience” features the largest curved video wall at Walt Disney World Resort, measuring 35 feet wide and more than seven feet tall.
SEEING STARS: Fans will recognize many famous faces throughout “The American Idol Experience.” “American Idol”-related stars making exclusive video appearances in the attraction include Ryan Seacrest, David Cook, David Archuleta, Jordin Sparks, Justin Guarini, Brooke White, Syesha Mercado and Jason Castro.
Note
that American Idol Experience invites younger singers to enjoy
the thrill of performance, as you can see both above and
below.
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