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Disney has announced that they are not only bringing an “American Idol” style show to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as has been rumored for weeks, but they are actually bringing the “American Idol” brand as well.  Here is the entire press release for you to read…

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2008) — 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 jointly announced today by Jay Rasulo, chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts; Simon Fuller, CEO of 19 Entertainment; and Keith Hindle, executive vice president of FremantleMedia Licensing.

The attraction, slated to debut in late 2008, will be located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park and 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.

Guest performers with the highest votes will compete in an end-of-day Grand Finale show at Walt Disney World, and the winner of the Grand Finale show will receive a guaranteed reservation for a future regional stadium audition — to ensure no waiting in long lines. But when it comes down to the television show auditions, everyone is treated equal.

“Millions of people have imagined themselves standing on the ‘American Idol’ stage,” said Rasulo. “We’re excited that we will be bringing this dream to life every day at Walt Disney World.”

Added Fuller, “One of the most remarkable elements about ‘American Idol’ is that for a brief moment each week, we can provide TV viewers the opportunity to imagine life as America’s next superstar. Disney’s new attraction perfectly captures what we at ‘American Idol’ feel is the heart and soul of this brand, real people getting a shot to make their dream a reality.”

“This partnership,” noted Hindle, “brings the number one show on television, watched in over 100 countries, to the number one theme park destination in the world. It’s a perfect combination and opportunity to offer everyone a taste of the ‘American Idol’ experience.”

The coming “American Idol” attraction will reflect the best and brightest of the TV show, giving starry-eyed park guests a chance to become a star on the attraction’s stage. It joins an all-star lineup at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a celebration of today’s Hollywood in movies, television, music and theater. Among the new adventures debuting in 2008 is the just-opened “Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!” plus coming attractions “Block Party Bash,” an interactive and moving Disney-Pixar spectacle filling the theme park streets; and Toy Story Mania! immersing guests in a 3-D interactive ride-through video game starring popular Disney-Pixar “Toy Story” characters.

We wondered whether something like this would be a success, but that was before we knew that the actual name was going to be used.  Now there is little doubt as to how big this will be.  Using the show’s set, logo, and all the recognition that comes with it pretty much ensures this will be immediately popular. 

I was also struck by them amazing turnaround time they have placed on this project.  It says that it is slated to debut later this year, which means we are only a few months away.  Between the Toy Story Mania and American Idol, this is set to be a banner year for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

And let me also say that it will fit in great with a Hollywood theme.  It has been a long time since an attraction has come to the Studios that truly fits in, but nothing says glitz and glamour these days like “American Idol”.