Disney World unveils American Idol Experience

Idols from seasons past showed up to the opening of the American Idol Experience at Disney World. The impressive expected lineup included:

Paula Abdul, judge

David Archuleta, season 7 runner-up

Fantasia Barrino, season 3 winner

Bo Bice, season 4 runner-up

Jason Castro, season 7 finalist

David Cook, season 7 winner

Kristy Lee Cook, season 7 finalist

Bucky Covington, season 5 finalist

Diana DeGarmo, seaons 3 runner-up

Melinda Doolittle, season 6 finalist

Simon Fuller, creator/executive producer

Josh Gracin, season 2 finalist

Justin Guarini, season 1 runner-up

Taylor Hicks, season 5 winner

Michael Johns, season 7 finalist

LaKisha Jones, season 6 finalist

Kimberley Locke, season 2 finalist

Sanjaya Malakar, season 6 finalist

Mandisa, season 5 finalist

Syesha Mercado, season 7 finalist

Ryan Seacrest, host

Chris Sligh, season 6 finalist

Carly Smithson, season 7 finalist

Jordin Sparks, season 6 winner

Phil Stacey, season 6 finalist

Ruben Studdard, season 2 winner

Carrie Underwood, season 4 winner

Brooke White, season 7 finalist

Ace Young, season 5 finalist

Our friends at the Orlando Sentinel got the first look inside the "Idol" madness.

For more photos, click here.

A sneak peek at Disneyworld's 'American Idol' Experience

It almost seems like the universe is working backwards -- that "American Idol" should have started as a Disneyworld ride, then become a recording star, then a TV show. But after next month, the pieces will all be there. The folks at Disney have released the above video tour of the "Idol" attraction. Looks a lot more fun than Space Mountain from where I sit, perhaps on a par with Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

Online reviews thus far have been not horrible. According to Disney tracker Jim Hill:

Well, I know that this news will probably shock Disneyana fans (Many of whom groused long & loud last year when they learned that a theme park version of this Fox reality series was headed for the Walt Disney World Resort). But according to Cast Members who attended preview performances for this new Hollywood Studios attraction earlier this week, The American Idol Experience is already a surprisingly solid show. More importantly, once AIE's cast & crew gets a few more performances under their belt, this sleek & slick interactive entertainment should prove to be extremely popular with WDW visitors.

See you all there on opening day, Feb. 14.

-- Richard Rushfield

Your own "American Idol" photo shoot

If, like myself, you feel that you were meant for glory on the "American Idol" stage but are being held back -- persecuted even -- just because you can't carry a note or keep time with even the simplest beat, "American Idol" now has an alternative for you. It's a way to find "Idol" glory, or a fantasy facsimile thereof, that you can share with your friends, who will gape in awe when they see your Christmas card next year emblazoned with mock proof of your "Idol" grandeur.

Starting this week, an "American Idol" photo booth will be touring the malls of our fair land, allowing fans to have a full photo shoot in front of the legendary "Idol" backdrop, posing as and in the footsteps of the giants.

The photos can be uploaded to the official "American Idol" site, where presumably they can give you genuine "Idol" cred when they adorn the profile under which you leave your "Happy Birthday, David Archuleta" postings on the fan boards.

The list of the "Idol" booth's stops is after the jump.  It's hard to imagine in the future anyone passing themselves off as an "Idol" fan without an official "Idol"-produced snapshot.  See you at the food court!