SG at Idol

[Syndrome]

We were fortunate enough to see a preview of Idol yesterday (finale show), and we had an SG seated behind us. I sort of suspected that some sort of blatant SG behavior was going to come out just by the fact that they kept yakking away amongst themselves throughout the show and even answering a cell call. Sure enough, in the elimination part, the loudest of the SG group starts yelling out "Losers!" each time people were eliminated. The theater was quiet enough at that point for his voice to carry. I sooooo wanted to turn around and say, "Yeah, I don't see YOU getting up there in front of a thousand people." Jerk!

I did a little review of the show on my Examiner page: http://www.examiner.com/x-2200-Orlando-Getaways-Examiner~y2009m1d18-American-Idol-is-open-at-Disney-World

I kept it pretty upbeat, but actually I tend to HATE Idol so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the show. I have to say, Disney is doing a great job with it.

[Whazzup]

Nice articles, Barb. Good job spreading a little Disney p-dust in an ACCURATE manner. Saw a YouTube video today about activities at Fort Wilderness and the newscaster (or whatever he was) referred to fishing in "Lake Bay" near the Contemporary Resort.

[turkeyham]

I can just see Disneyland doing that on a grad nite. It would be fun to watch, sorry class, your principal is tone deaf...

When I go out there next year, I want to check it out. I am guessing there is no fasspass for this one.

:D:

[February]

Thanks for the review, Syndrome the set is impressive.

This attraction, quite frankly, scares me...

I already see stage mothers showing up and putting so much pressure on their kids to get that FOTL ticket...

I wish they would keep the real show and the "Experience" separate and give out prizes that relate to the park instead- say, front of the line fast passes, special shirts, or pins like they did with Millionaire (Which was a blast. If only I'd known that Lothar was Mandrake's Sidekick at the time, I'd have gotten beyond the 32,000 point...drat it)

I think they're setting up people's vacations to go badly if little Susie doesn't perform up to parent's expectations and I wouldn't want my kid to associate WDW with personal failure, especially if their dream was to be in music (as in my child's case).

Ugh. It just scares me.

It'll be interesting to see how the 'rejects' handle it. I'm betting that angry parents will take it out on the hourly CM's controlling the crowd if their kid gets eliminated.

Bru

[Ms. Matterhorn]

I think they're setting up people's vacations to go badly if little Susie doesn't perform up to parent's expectations
Bru
That's Little Tammy! We have a Susie on this site!

[February]

That's Little Tammy! We have a Susie on this site!

ACK!!!! Not only am I going blind I'm going senile!!! Sorry Susi that was no comment on your singing which I am sure is lovely...

Thanks for the save there Ms. Matterhorn! :o:

[felinefan]

This is from the 2009 edition of The Almanac for Farmers and City Folk, bottom of page 186:

The reputation of the Japanese for being humble is falling to Western norms among primary school parents, according to The Times of London. Across Japan, teachers are reporting that parents are pushing for their children's "rights". In one school's performance of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs",there were 25 Snow Whites after "monster parents" bullied officials into admitting it was not fair to have just one kid in the title role.


Scary.:eek:

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

This is from the 2009 edition of The Almanac for Farmers and City Folk, bottom of page 186:

The reputation of the Japanese for being humble is falling to Western norms among primary school parents, according to The Times of London. Across Japan, teachers are reporting that parents are pushing for their children's "rights". In one school's performance of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs",there were 25 Snow Whites after "monster parents" bullied officials into admitting it was not fair to have just one kid in the title role.


Scary.:eek:

Now how the heck would that WORK??

would they recite the lines in unison?
(And have 25 princes?)

that would almost be worth seeing!!!

sorta like the Sourcers Apprentice with the Brooms?

[felinefan]

Frankly, I was wondering the same thing!

[dudspizza]

Thanks for the review, Syndrome the set is impressive.

This attraction, quite frankly, scares me...

I already see stage mothers showing up and putting so much pressure on their kids to get that FOTL ticket...

)

I think they're setting up people's vacations to go badly if little Susie doesn't perform up to parent's expectations and I wouldn't want my kid to associate WDW with personal failure, especially if their dream was to be in music (as in my child's case).

Ugh. It just scares me.


Bru

I thought I read in the rules that there is an age minimum..... 14 or so, isn't it? My 12 year old daughter would dig it...... I was hoping to prep her for months, then get there super early so daddy's little girl could become a star.... ok, so I am kidding....... but she would have enjoyed it.....

Duds

[mechurchlady]

The is a first audition off stage then the one on stage if they survive the first audition. Here are the rules and sorry CMs but you cannot participate.

http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw/images2003/languagespecific/eng/theme/special/americanIdol/AI_FAQs.pdf

Must be validly in the park.
Must be 14 or older at time of the audition.
Must not be restricted.

Restricted persons can vote in the audience but cannot participate, sorry Wallaby.
Restricted PErsons are:
Officers, directors and employees of Walt Disney Co., 19 TV Limited, Fremantlemedia North America, Inc., Fox Broadcasting Company and Fox Interactive Media. Also their immediate family as in spouse and anyone permanently living in that household as well as adopted, biological and step parents, siblings, mothers-in-law, fathers-in law, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.

Officers, directors and employees of any comercial establishment at the WDW resort.

Any person who performs at the WDW resort persuant to any agreement with Disney companies.

Block out dates
You may auditon once a day and if you make it on stage then you cannot come back for 30 days.

14 - 17 year olds
They must have a parent/legal guardian present and sign the necessary forms or bye bye.

Winners
They are blocked out for 1 year and must have valid ID if over 18 or if a minor they can provide a copy of their birth certificate.

[turkeyham]

When the try outs are on tv, I laugh when they just can't sing. I will have to check this out next year when I come out. :D:

[joanna71985]

This is from the 2009 edition of The Almanac for Farmers and City Folk, bottom of page 186:

The reputation of the Japanese for being humble is falling to Western norms among primary school parents, according to The Times of London. Across Japan, teachers are reporting that parents are pushing for their children's "rights". In one school's performance of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs",there were 25 Snow Whites after "monster parents" bullied officials into admitting it was not fair to have just one kid in the title role.

Wow. Just wow. If that's how they multiply things, I wonder how many dwarves there would have been?

Now how the heck would that WORK??

would they recite the lines in unison?
(And have 25 princes?)

that would almost be worth seeing!!!

sorta like the Sourcers Apprentice with the Brooms?

Ha! That would be. I can only imagine.

[mdbelle]

(not to turn a dead thread into a zombie, but oh well)

We do get a decent amount of SGs, but they're mostly high school kids. This generally happens when we have chorus, theatre, and/or band groups in the park. It's super fun. Examples:

Groups of 10+ kids want to know why they need more than one chaperone to go in with them...because we can't have ten freaking kids clogging up the (already sometimes crowded) audition building.

That one girl/guy...the one who has gotten all the leads in plays or solos in chorus and doesn't know that it's because everyone else at their tiny school sucks...gets rejected, throws a hissy fit.

And my favorite..."I'm 17, I drove myself here, I do adult things, why can't I go in by myself?" Because you have to be 18. "This is bullshit, you're a bitch".

We've also had our "Producers" called f*ggots for not casting people...and any CMs KNOW how well that goes down at Disney...

[disneydreamer21]

I didn't know CM's couldn't audition...man...I don't even care to win I just wanna see how far I would get....that sucks..:( :(:(

[chartle]

(not to turn a dead thread into a zombie, but oh well)

We do get a decent amount of SGs, but they're mostly high school kids. This generally happens when we have chorus, theatre, and/or band groups in the park. It's super fun. Examples:

Groups of 10+ kids want to know why they need more than one chaperone to go in with them...because we can't have ten freaking kids clogging up the (already sometimes crowded) audition building.

That one girl/guy...the one who has gotten all the leads in plays or solos in chorus and doesn't know that it's because everyone else at their tiny school sucks...gets rejected, throws a hissy fit.

And my favorite..."I'm 17, I drove myself here, I do adult things, why can't I go in by myself?" Because you have to be 18. "This is bullshit, you're a bitch".

We've also had our "Producers" called f*ggots for not casting people...and any CMs KNOW how well that goes down at Disney...

I have never been to this attraction and frankly probably never will, but do the SGs get to freely talk to the judges?

How do handle the fact that you can't have a 5 second delay and they can say what ever they want.

[Disneyguy85]

I know that this is an old thread, but I just have to say that I personally don't like the idea of this attraction being in a Disney park.

American Idol is rooted in negativity and mean-spirited antics. The show's judges insult the contestants and the show encourages the viewers to laugh at them.

[joanna71985]

I didn't know CM's couldn't audition...man...I don't even care to win I just wanna see how far I would get....that sucks..:( :(:(

Yeah, it's always been that way with things like that (for example- CMs couldn't get into the Hot Seat at Millionaire, when it was still at the Studios).

[CBeilby]

It's pretty much a standard thing where prizes are involved. It's supposed to prevent any conflicts of interest or cheating.

[Main Streeter]

I personally don't like the idea of this attraction being in a Disney park.

American Idol is rooted in negativity and mean-spirited antics. The show's judges insult the contestants and the show encourages the viewers to laugh at them. Thank You!

[mdbelle]

Our judges are pretty warm and fuzzy. Plus, everyone knows that they're just working in the style of the TV show judges, so people don't get too upset over that part. As for the lack of delay...well, somehow Idol has ended up almost exempt from Disney behavior laws (as far as the shows themselves). I mean...we have comments flying around all the time that are NOT Disney appropriate (not to mention songs like Sober that guests can do). On the other hand, I haven't heard (or heard of) any f-bombs or anything like that being dropped on stage, so I think it's gone okay up there...

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Interesting.

In all the times we have gone to WDW, we have never visited the Idol attraction. since we only watch the "mass audition" type of shows when reruns are on Discovery channel.

(then you get to see "pants on the ground"!!)

it just dosn't hold that much interest. I would think they could come up with a better attraction in the space they use.:cool:

[Moonliner]

Forget that it is American Idol. It was an entertaining show with a couple good singers and some mediocre ones. It fits in with the 'Hollywood' theme of new talent being discovered. And every once in a while, you get someone who just nails it!

[turkeyham]

My friend tried out for American Idol and failed twice. Simon told my friend that he could not sing and needed singing lessons. :D:
We still tease him and tell him he should try next season. ;)

[disneydreamer21]

Yeah, it's always been that way with things like that (for example- CMs couldn't get into the Hot Seat at Millionaire, when it was still at the Studios).

They should have a CM version or something.so that we could still participate but get I don't know something other than the golden ticket

[BRWombat]

Or maybe figure out a way to get a panel of judges to judge the guests on their abilities as a guest. "You climbed a wall and ignored a cast member's directions to get down? I'm sorry, you really have no business being a guest here. No golden ticket for you -- please exit through the double doors" (which of course lead outside the park)!! :twisted: :p:

[turkeyham]

That is a good way of punishment.

I think they should do a line up in front of security and they will pick the winner.

One of my friends tried out for Idol from ODV. He could not sing and Simon said "NO!":eek:

[Big Wallaby]

My favorite judge comment was at a finale show, where two sisters made it from two separate shows (and their brother had been in a previous show). The younger sister did not win, but was given the comment from the show's Simonesque judge (who has been very good friends with Graves and Hathaway Brown several times when I have been to Adventurer's Club): "Whenever you smile, somewhere in the world a puppy explodes."

All of his comments were actually very neutral but sounded bad.

The judges are a very interesting element, since I don't think many of them actually have the music background.

[kurtisnelson]

Yeah, the judges are pretty much standard Disney Entertainment people on their circuit of apparently randomness. One of the Dapper Dans regularly hosts AI.

[Malpass93]

One day I'll have to pluck up the courage to do that...