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Live From Walt Disney World Orlando Florida

Well the big day arrived and on Thursday 12th February, Stuart Robinson and Work Experience Boy were the only two presenters from Ireland to see the World Premier of The American Idol Experience.

The attraction within Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort rolled out the 'blue' carpet for the Worlds media for Disneys biggest and most highly anticipated attraction in nearly two years.

Inspired by the popular American television series American Idol, the attraction, which opens to the public on Valentines Day will invite park guests to audition in front of live audiences who will vote for their favorite singers.

Attending the glitzy event was American Idol creator Simon Fuller who caught up with Stuart to reminisce about his early days of managing Belfast band the Adventures and local star Brian Kennedy.

Host Ryan Seacrest and judge Paula Abdul joined in the fun with all of the 8 American Idol winners - the first time they have all been together in the one place!

Hollywood studios was closed to the public, so the highlight of Work Experience Boy's night was doing the Aerosmith Rock 'n' Roller Coaster with Idol winner Jordin Sparks!

It's not everyday you spin upside down at 60mph in the dark with an American Idol winner while listening to Aerosmith fullblast.... is it?

The American Idol experience really is an 'experience' - an opportunity to see how the real TV show is put together or better still - become the next American Idol!

HOW IT WORKS!

Park guests age 14 and older will be able to audition before a Disney "producer" who will judge singers based on their ability to sing and perform in front of an audience. As with the auditions for the television show, initial auditions will be acappella. Selected singers will advance to a second round, where they select from a song list provided by the producers and audition again, this time with pre-recorded music. Those who pass the second audition will be scheduled into one of the preliminary shows each operating day.

AUDITION!

First you need to be American! Then it helps if you can sing! If you don't meet the criteria - don't worry! You can still enjoy the show from one of the thousand seat available inside this state of the art television studio.

The attraction will feature a number of preliminary shows each day, with one finals show in the evening. At each preliminary show, guests will perform before a live audience inside the attraction's main theater, designed to resemble the television show's stage. Using electronic keypads at their seats, the audience will then vote for their favorite singer, who will return for the final show of the day.

GO TO HOLLYWOOD - BABY! (AND NOT COUNTY DOWN EITHER)

The last show of each operating day will feature the winners of that day's preliminary shows and will allow the live audience to vote for the winning performer. Each day's final winner will receive a "Dream Ticket" that will allow him or her to bypass the queue at one of the regional American Idol auditions for the television show, provided he or she meets the show's age and residency requirements. If the winner is not eligible, he or she will be allowed to transfer the "Dream Ticket" to another person, or save the ticket until the age limit is met.