7 News Features: Idol Disney
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Danny Cohen
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Do you ever watch Idol and wish it was you singing? Well, stop wishing and start packing. It may sound like just a dream, but when Idol goes to Disney World, you could take center stage.
WSVN -- If Jiminy Cricket's wish was to sing on Idol, then that dream would be coming true.
Disney Park Guest: "I'm really excited about it."
A place where you can be the next Kelly, Carrie or Daughtry at least for a day. This is the American Idol experience.
Wow, the biggest show on television is joining forces with the happiest place on earth.
Gary Buchanan: "Our guests will have the first and only chance of anywhere in the world of having a true American Idol experience inside a theme park."
What could possibly go better with $10 balloons and $6 french fries than a parade of Idol wannabes every day.
Disney Park Guest: "That sounds cool. What is it supposed to be like?"
Gary Buchanan: "It's going to take you through the entire audition process. We're working directly with the producers of American Idol to make this as authentic as possible."
And there will be judges. I'm guessing Donald Duck could sit in Randy's chair, Minnie Mouse could play Paula. OK, but what about Simon?
Gary Buchanan: "The great thing about Simon is a lot of people call him a villain, but we here at Disney, we have some of the most lovable villains ever created."
Simon Cowell: "I thought it was actually reminiscent of a theme park performance."
See, at Disney, that would be a compliment, but this theme park performance can earn you a real-life Idol reward.
It's still under construction, but starting this winter, guests at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando will get a chance to audition in front of Disney producers. The ones with the chops move on to one of a half dozen live audience shows a day complete with hair, makeup and an exact replica of the Idol stage.
Gary Buchanan: "The audience is going to have a chance to participate in the voting, and, from there, whoever wins those shows gets to come back for the grand finale show at the end of the day, for the big, giant star-studded finale."
Each day's finale winner receives a dream ticket for a real Idol audition. No waiting in those long lines.
Gary Buchanan: "You think about all the guests that come to Walt Disney World, and you know there's got to be an American Idol here somewhere."
So who in the Disney sea of humanity is ready for the Idol challenge?
OK, just remember one thing...
Gary Buchanan: "Mickey Mouse performances here are a great thing."
