The American Idol Experience — Former Show · History & Timeline

Former Show · the memorial record

⚰ Permanently closed · Aug 30, 2014operated 5 years · 2009–2014

↩ On the former site of Doug Live!Replaced by For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration →

This show is gone, but its history stays documented — the full lifetime log is below.

Show history

the lifetime record

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2015

◆ Latest milestone

ChangedJun 17, 2015#

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration moved permanently into the former American Idol Experience theater in Echo Lake, by then renamed the Hyperion Theater.

The Frozen sing-along had premiered July 5, 2014 at the Premiere Theater on the Streets of America during Frozen Summer Fun before taking over this venue permanently.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
2014

RefurbishmentAug 30, 2014#

The American Idol Experience played its final performances and closed permanently after five and a half years.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
ChangedAug 15, 2014#

Disney moved the closing date forward from early January 2015 to August 30, 2014, cutting the announced run short by roughly four months.

Dated to the August 15, 2014 update appended to Attractions Magazine's June closure report; Wikipedia records only that Disney pushed the closure forward after the June announcement, so the precise announcement day is not independently established.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
Coming SoonJun 13, 2014#

Disney announced that the show would close in early January 2015 after more than five years of performances.

Attractions Magazine reported Disney's statement that after more than five successful years the attraction would be shutting down in early January 2015.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
2009

NewFeb 14, 2009#

The American Idol Experience opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios, inviting park guests 14 years or older to audition and then compete in live shows decided by audience voting.

Housed in the 1,000-seat Echo Lake theater built for SuperStar Television, which had sat largely unused since Doug Live! closed in 2001 apart from the three-month Get Happy...With ABC! promotional run in 2002. The venue had been the ABC TV Theater from 1999 to 2008 and carried the SuperStar Television Theater name again through the American Idol run. A media preview the previous evening, February 13, drew what Attractions Magazine called the largest gathering of American Idol alumni ever, including all seven previous winners, with performances by David Cook and Carrie Underwood.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes

Questions & answers

When did The American Idol Experience open?

Per the documented record, The American Idol Experience at Hollywood Studios opened on Feb 14, 2009.

When did The American Idol Experience last close for refurbishment?

The most recent closure/refurbishment documented for The American Idol Experience is dated Aug 30, 2014: The American Idol Experience played its final performances and closed permanently after five and a half years.

What changed recently on The American Idol Experience?

The latest documented change (documented Jun 17, 2015): For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration moved permanently into the former American Idol Experience theater in Echo Lake, by then renamed the Hyperion Theater.

How many changes are on record for The American Idol Experience?

5 documented changes, dating back to 2009 — the fan-kept show changelog nobody else keeps.

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