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This morning in the Orlando Sentinel Jason Garcia compiled an informative look at the most recent trend to hit the Orlando area theme parks – interactivity. Let’s leave the debate as to whether guests actually desire this over passive entertainment while on their vacation aside for now. The idea is already here and the parks are building a lot more of it in the next few years.

For years theme park design has meant to immerse the customer in the show, but the main focus has been to view them as guests who just happens to drop by. So the focus was on presenting a high quality experience they would remember forever and, even better, share with their friends and family when they got home. The new focus is to view the guest as more of a participant in the experience.

“Kids whose concept of entertainment is defined by video games are looking for something very different in a theme park than previous generations whose concept of entertainment was defined by television or movies or radio,” said Robert Niles, publisher of the Web site themeparkinsider.com.

Walt Disney often spoke of how Disneyland was the culmination of all the skills and talent learned at his television, movie, and animation divisions. There is also a direct line from the Cast Member training program invented in the early days of Disneyland by Van Arsdale France and Dick Nunis to the modern definition of Guest Service Excellence that is taught at the Disney Institute and practiced at nearly every customer oriented company. The idea that the customer is your guest and not just X percentage of profit margin really changes how a company interacts and works to earn the future business of each consumer.

If theme parks take seriously the idea that the guest is part of the show, this will lead to a wholesale shift in the way cast members are trained and how customers are treated at theme parks.  It already has shifted somewhat at attractions like American Idol Experience and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Coaster. Eventually those lessons will make their way to the rest of the business world as well. I’m definitely excited to track how that happens.

EPCOT’s International Food & Wine festival officially opens tomorrow, but if you head to the park this afternoon you’ll likely be able to experience some of the options during today’s test run. There are 70 new dishes this year and most of the old favorites (like Canada’s Cheese Soup). Look for more of an international street food feeling this year at the 27 food booths and showcases.

Orlando food critic Scott Joseph got to sample a few of the tasting sized dishes early this year and he has a review up on his blog. A downloadable guide and map are available at Scott’s blog or the official website.

Another change might come as a surprise to long time event attendees. The daily wine seminars and tastings are no longer be free. There is now an $8 fee. Tickets are sold through the reservation system. However, Disney is holding some tickets for sale in the park each day for guests who may not have heard about the change.

Food and Wine runs a long 45 days this year wrapping up on November 8th, which will make it a pretty tight turn around to get the Winter Holiday decorations up at the park.

One of my favorite parts of the Food & Wine Festival are the Eat To The Beat concerts. Plenty of big names this year, and, in what I believe is a first, an American Idol winner.

A full listing of which acts are scheduled below the jump:

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Debuting a new name for these little news and link roundups. The ‘Hub’ is the center of Walt Disney’s revolutionary Hub and Spoke themepark design. It’s also shorthand for where people in the know congregate, aka, the hub of activity.

• Remember that “musical marriage proposal” video at Disneyland where everyone wondered if it was a viral video attempt by Disneyland. Turns out it was. Doesn’t make it any less fun and charming.
• Here’s a good reason to watch the MLB all-star game. If a grand slam is hit, the first 1 million people to register will get a free ticket to G-Force. Is anybody out there planning to actually pay to see this movie?
• Disney’s broadway musical version of “The Little Mermaid” will close on August 30th. The touring version is expected to launch shortly there after. At least it did better than Tarzan and during a rough economy.
• Check out ThemeParkMom’s coverage of the American Idol Auditions that have just rolled into Orlando. She also has a short post over at Attractions Magazine’s blog on some of the American Idol Experience Dream Ticket winners who were at the audition.
• If you can’t make it to Walt Disney World right now, check out Joe Penniston’s flickr photostream for some beautiful photos that will put you right back in the middle of Disney magic.

Here’s a first look and listen at American Idol winner Kris Allen performing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in front of the American Idol Experience Attraction for his adoring fans. He’s singing “Heartless.”

Sorry for the video image quality, but blame my mobile phone for that, More later…

Update: Disney has confirmed the 10AM motorcade and a 10:15AM Fan Q&A outside the American Idol Experience attraction. Better get their early if you want a front row to the Kris Allen mania!

American Idol winner Kris Allen is making good on his promise to visit Walt Disney World in fast fashion. He’ll be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this Friday May 29th for a 10AM motor cavalcade and will no doubt appear on stage at the American Idol Experience at some point. He’ll probably also be filming some more spots for Disney.

Should be an interesting day with Star Wars Weekends entering their second three day weekend. The morning crowds will probably be a bit heavy.

At this point everything is subject to change. I’ll try and make sure I get you the latest details as soon as I can.

Continuing the tradition started last year by David Cook, this year’s American Idol winner Kris Allen participated in the famous “What’s Next?” promotion where the winner of the super bowl of other major event gets asked what they’re going to do next and screams to the world, that they’re going to Disney World (or Disneyland as the case may be (they sometimes film two versions of the commercial)).

Disney camera crews captured Allen’s celebratory pronouncement on the Nokia Theatre stage mere moments after “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest announced the champion’s name to millions of viewers watching worldwide.

Not only does the newly crowned Idol shout “I’m Going to Disney World!” at the spot’s conclusion, Allen’s voice also is featured throughout the ad as he performs the iconic song, “When You Wish Upon A Star.”

And with the same immediacy that has made the Disney spot one of the most beloved commercials of all-time, the newest “I’m Going to Disney World!” commercial aired on television within hours of the “American Idol” finale.

Starring in a role usually occupied by sports stars – including Super Bowl heroes and World Series champs – Allen is the second singer to ever star in the Disney commercial in its 20+-year history. (2008 “American Idol” champion, David Cook, was the first.)

The “American Idol” champion’s role in the newest “I’m Going to Disney World” commercial celebrates “The American Idol Experience,” the new “American Idol”-themed attraction that had a February 2009 grand opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, part of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

“The American Idol Experience” – the first major theme park attraction in the world based on the popular television series – was developed by Walt Disney Imagineering in conjunction with FremantleMedia Enterprises and 19 TV Ltd.

In the attraction, Disney guests are able to experience the glitz and glamour of the “American Idol” television show, whether they are auditioning for a Disney producer, performing on-stage in front of a packed theater or voting for their favorite performance from their audience seats. Performers who receive the most audience votes in the preliminary shows return to star in that evening’s grand finale show. In addition to their new-found theme park fame, the top vote-getting guest in the finale show receives “The American Idol Experience” Dream Ticket – which allows an eligible holder to schedule a front-of-the-line audition at a future regional audition for the “American Idol” television show.

Remember that viral video where your name was put into video so it looked like Disney World was dedicating a day in your honor? Did you enjoy all the online videos and media coverage leading up to the American Idol Experience Opening? Has the Disney World Mom’s Panel helped you plan your next trip to Walt Disney World? If so then you’ve had a taste of what hte social medial team at Disney Parks Global PR is cooking up for the future.

The latest BlooLoop Industry Insider Interview features Todd Heiden, a creative genius and one of Disney’s social media/technology gurus. I’ve often wondered why Disney isn’t doing more with social media and the answer I get more often than not is red-tape. Here’s Todd:

When you work for a company whose main brand is their image, there are a lot of legalities that need to be addressed before you launch a viral email campaign. Are we compliant – to the letter of the law – with CAN-SPAM and COPA laws?; are we misleading guests with any messages that could be misconstrued?; and so forth. There were days when I spent 3-4 hours on the phone with our Legal team to help explain the project and to discuss concerns. At the end of the day, we all had to be in a happy place with where this was going and how it was being presented to the world at large.

More at BlooLoop.

Dwayne Johnson will stop by “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” to discuss his new Disney adventure, “Race to Witch Mountain.” Watch the exclusive interview this Friday, March 13th! Check your local listings or visit www.ellentv.com for more information.

Debbie Ryan, from Disney’s The Suite Life On Deck, is on Twitter. She talks about it on the red carpet for Race to Witch Mountain, which you can catch on Disney Society.

Buena Vista Obscura is a new series on 2719 Hyperion where FoxFurr looks into Walt Disney World’s past. This week it’s 1972’s Golf Resort.

Heather at The Examiner has the scoop on a contest for Annual Passholders to win a piece of the old SpaceMountain at WDW. It’s going down for rehab mid-April.

Don’t miss this offbeat take on Disney’s American Idol Experience by a fan of the TV show who is a tad bit too cynical to enjoy it all for what it is. But it makes for a funny read.

NYTimes Carpetbagger reports on the ruckus raised by the glimpse of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s upcoming live action/cg mix take on Alice in Wonderland.

David Price of The Pixar Touch takes on the ‘gender gap’ at Pixar.

Finally, below the cut here’s a video remix of Snow White with music by Daft Punk. Yeah the same group that is going to do the score for Tron 2.0 or TR2N or whatever they’re calling it.

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