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These Days, Disney's 'Idol' Isn't A Mouse

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By WALT BELCHER

wbelcher@tampatrib.com

Published: February 13, 2009

TAMPA - The Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando hopes to hit a few high notes with a new stage show attraction based on "American Idol."

Opening Saturday in Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park, formerly called Disney-MGM Studios, the American Idol Experience offers aspiring singers a chance to audition for the hottest reality show on TV. In four stage shows daily modeled after the reality hit, it also will give visitors to the theme park a chance to help select the winners.

"Our goal is to try to re-create the excitement of what happens on that 'American Idol' stage," said Jay Rasulo, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman. "We believe many, many viewers want to know exactly how that feels, and we're going to try to reproduce that feeling for them."

Disney licensed the rights to create the attraction from "Idol" co-producers 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia, though "American Idol" airs on Fox and Disney owns broadcast competitor ABC.

Keith Hindle, executive vice president of FremantleMedia Enterprises, told the Hollywood Reporter trade magazine that the Disney attraction is a way to draw an even bigger audience for "Idol" and make it a year-round property. The show airs on Fox from January through May.

Hindle declined to say how much Disney is paying to license the attraction but noted that FremantleMedia will share in other revenue streams such as "Idol" merchandise sold at the park.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654.

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