The American Idol Experience

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 0
  There aren't any theme park "thrills," but young children may get fidgety watching the show.
• Attraction type: Theater show
• Height restriction: None
• Fastpass not available
• See photos from The American Idol Experience and the show's grand opening.

A warm-up comedian pumps up the crowd and provides basic instructions, including how to use the voting keypads and when to "raise the roof" during the performances. The comic also gives permission to hiss and boo the invariably caustic Simon-Cowell-clone judge. He introduces the three judges, which also include Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson stand-ins. A Ryan Seacrest doppelganger then takes over to kick off the show.

During the day, Disney's Hollywood Studios presents up to seven preliminary American Idol Experience shows. Each one lasts about 25 minutes and includes three singers. You may want to plan your day at the park to catch the last American Idol Experience presentation, which is the grand finale show. The winners of each of the day's preliminary competitions face off in a 45-minute show to be declared the daily champion. In addition to the crowd's adoration and a hairdo full of confetti, each day's grand finale winner receives an American Idol Experience Dream Ticket. The pass enables a winner to jump to the front of the line for a guaranteed audition at a regional audition call for the actual American Idol program.

Mickey's Idol

As with the television show, audience votes determine the winners. And as with its TV inspiration, the judges on Disney's show attempt to influence the audience by following the Abdul/Jackson/Cowell formula of clueless cheerleading/hipster advice/pompous barbs. The theme park show judges function more as caricatures of their Idol counterparts than as real judges.

Performers on the show choose from a pre-selected list of approved songs that range from the country hit, "Life is a Highway," to the rock anthem, "Bohemian Rhapsody." And because this is Mickey's Idol, there are a bunch of Disney tunes available as well. In order to be in the show, contestants have to sign up for an audition, pass a first cut with a casting director, and make the grade with a second audition in front of a show producer.

Because they would be weeded out in the pre-selection process, Disney's audience members would likely never hear any of the train wrecks that make the TV program's audition shows so entertaining. Then again, because the field is so limited, it's unlikely that true showstoppers would make it to the stage either. What American Idol Experience audiences are generally left with are perfectly adequate, but generally mediocre performers. The grand finale show offers the best chance to catch some real talent. Still, even if guests have to endure a so-so rendition of "Looks Like We Made It," it is fun to get a sense of how they make American Idol.

If you want to perform on The American Idol Experience (open to guests age 14 or older), you should get to the park early to receive one of the day's limited passes for an audition time. For official rules and more info go to Disney's American Idol Experience Frequently Asked Questions page.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.