The American Idol Experience Attraction is currently in cast member previews at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and no photos are allowed. That means it’s very difficult to get pictures of the theater and set design. I hear the design looks just like the real thing from the popular TV version of American Idol.
But over the last few weeks, I have been able to walk around and get some great shots that give you a great idea of what you’re going to experience when you do get to see the show.
Up above you see the Marquee for the attraction. It features a giant screen that will be used to broadcast the shows when the theater fills up. It will probably do that frequently as the theater capacity is not that big for a show of this magnitude.
David Cook visits Disney’s Hollywood Studios Next month the exciting new American Idol Experience will open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World! When it opens to the public on February 14, The American Idol Experience will take its inspiration from TV’s… Read More »David Cook on The American Idol Experience
Here’s a little video of the 2009 Disney Moms Panel as they introduce themselves to the world. I’ve been trying to find an embeddable version of this since my post back on the 5th.
On Friday the Walt Disney Company and Hanes officially opened “Disney Design-a-Tee presented by Hanes”, an innovative next-generation store for apparel souvenirs at Downtown Disney in the Walt Disney World Resort.
The first-of-its-kind interactive T-shirt design and printing store enables Disney guests to enhance their magical Disney experience with a personalized custom-designed Hanes T-shirt printed while they wait that is as easy to buy as souvenir apparel off the rack. And much more fun!
Really well prepared cake made to look like a stack of t-shirts for the celebration. This was also the pin design for the grand opening event.
Guests at Disney Design-a-Tee presented by Hanes, which is located in Downtown Disney, use touch-screen kiosks for an interactive experience to design their custom shirts, selecting long-sleeve or short-sleeve T-shirts, choosing from multiple colors, picking artwork from more than 100 selections featuring Disney animation and movie characters, and crafting their own text message using a wide selection of type fonts and colors.
The design possibilities are infinite, and the shirts are printed on site while guests wait using premium environmentally friendly water-based ink. Art selections include multiple designs featuring not only famous characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Snow White and others from classic Disney films, but also characters such as Crush from Finding Nemo, Princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast, and Tow Mater from Cars.
Door prize given away to first guests to shop in the store.
“At the Design-a-Tee store, visitors can dream it, design it and watch their custom Hanes T-shirts being made,” said Sidney Falken, senior vice president of the Hanes brand. “The store combines all the magic of Disney and Hanes to create immediate one-of-a-kind keepsakes and souvenirs of their visit to Walt Disney World.”
The store is cleverly designed and features the brand of Disney Magic you expect is required to make this more than just a t-shirt store. Younger children will especially love the interactive process that’s involved with designing and then making the shirt.
decor shows guests the process for designing their own t-shirts.
So what differentiates this store from online stores like Zazzle, which has a Disney branded shop, where you can choose from many more designs and characters? Well, for one, you can actually hold and try on an exactly same sized shirt at the store. You don’t have to pay for delivery either.
The Design-A-Tee store makes your shirt the same day you order it. If you’re there early in the morning you could have it in as little as 15 minutes. For those who come when the store is busier it may take quite a bit longer. Those staying at a Disney resort should take advantage of free delivery to their room. You can also return the next day to pick it up.
sample t-shirts available to judge size and quality.
The grand opening event was attended by guests who were treated to a festive decor, confetti cannons, a giant T-shirt cake and a visit from Disney’s most famous star, Mickey Mouse.
Kevin Lansberry, vice president, Downtown Disney operations, and Falken spoke at the event and invited guests to try their hand at designing their own special T-shirts.
“We are thrilled to create another exciting new Downtown Disney venue for our guests,” Lansberry said. “The Disney Design-a-Tee store fits perfectly with our What Will You Celebrate 2009 campaign. Whether guests are celebrating an anniversary, a birthday or a special reunion, they can create a special Hanes t-shirt to show how they feel.”
Disney Design-a-Tee uses a unique application of state-of-the-art technology and printing equipment in a process designed by Hanesbrands’ research and development team. This is the first application of printing technology that allows consumers to walk up, design and print a custom message on a T-shirt of any color with screen-print quality.
Building your t-shirt on a t-shirt shaped kiosk. Clever.
T-shirts are available in a wide variety of colors and styles, including long and short sleeve versions, and come in infant, toddler, youth and adult sizes. Prices range from $18 to $31. The company expects to add additional apparel product offerings at a later date at the store.
Disney Design-a-Tee is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and is located at 1790 East Buena Vista Drive. Downtown Disney is open to the general public and resort guests and is accessible by car and by the Walt Disney World Resort guest shuttle system.
More about the Hanes and Disney relationship, photos, and a video of the opening ceremonies below the cut:
There are a couple websites out there talking about what the guest experience will be like for those in the audience at the American Idol Experience, which is currently in soft-opening phase (which means not guaranteed to be open on any particular day and no golden tickets awarded) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. But I’ve been given a few details from a couple first hand accounts of what the audition and show performance is like from those guests lucky(?) enough to pass the muster.
So if you’re considering auditioning. Heads up. Here’s your first look at what you’ll need to be prepared for.
A huge congratulations to Lou Mongello on publishing the 100th episode of The WDW Radio Show. I’ve only had time to listen to the first part of it and already I’m ready to rank it up there with the best of his podcast. Here’s what… Read More »Lou’s 100th Show – WDW Radio
There’s at least one nice thing to say about the bad economy, it makes getting credit difficult. For fans of the SeaWorld/Busch Parks (recently rebranded “Worlds of Discovery”) that’s good news as it means AB-InBev will have a hard time finding a buyer should they… Read More »SeaWorld Sale Unlikely Soon
Update: Added video of family in the Magic Kingdom. Congratulations to Andrew DaCosta who was the first guest to enter any US Disney theme park using the free admission that’s part of Disney Park’s “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign. DaCosta used an oversized park ticket… Read More »First Free Birthday Admission Celebrates at Magic Kingdom
