Go experience "American Idol"

Just under a month before he comes to Poughkeepsie, pop-rocker David Cook was more than just a tourist today at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.
As you can see from these pictures, provided by Disney, the winner of "American Idol" Season Seven was in Lake Buena Vista as part of the opening gala for WDW's newest attraction, The "American Idol" Experience.

A big Disney World fan, I've been watching the attraction's progress from concept to construction, even watching some of the finishing touches being applied to the facade on our most recent vaca back in November.

In 67 words or less: "The 'AI' Experience" lets anyone audition for a spot on the daily performances at the park. Each performance takes place in an exact replica of the "Idol" studios, and a real studio audience votes on a winner. They have several performances throughout the day, with the winners coming back at the end of the day to compete for a spot on line for the next season's auditions. (Wow! That was 67 words on the dot!)

Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks it's cool, 'cause thousands of "Idol" fans packed the studio for today's official opening. They weren't alone...
Only Disney could bring all seven of the "American Idol" winners together for something like this. (Quick! Can you name which of these winners I've interviewed???)

Between singing the national anthem at a pair of minor-league baseball games, winning countless pitchers of beer in college at karaoke contests, and twice beating out 600 other peo0ple to get into "the hot seat" at the Studios' now-defunct Who Wants to be a Millionaire Play It! attraction, I might have to add reaching the "Idol" stage to my next WDW vaca itinerary.