Defunctland: The American Idol Theme Park Experience
In this episode, Kevin deep dives into the history of the elaborate American Idol theme park experience that used to operate at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
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00:00 – The Birth of American Idol
08:24 – The Birth of Disney-MGM
13:19 – American Idol’s Golden Age
20:36 – Disney-MGM’s Dark Age
25:14 – The American Idol Experience
42:54 – Problems and Decline
57:03 – The Curtain Closes
Major Resources:
https://AttractionsMagazine.com
https://TheDisneyBlog.com
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@moo.adriana3208
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
42:57 20 min
@jungjaehyuns
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
39:49 how did you know i was going to make this exact mix up
@taco4242
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
My advice to anyone who is about to watch this video, is to have fun.
@JustinDoesntLookAt
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
Love the hostile editing in this one
@bytefloof
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
Video:its the 2000s
Me: If only that where true. Midnight game launchs. physical media and the early internet
@shaina899
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
Dropping "a Ryan Seacrest type" in there so smooth.
@sweethoneyhamsammich
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
FUCK pants on the ground is legendary.
@terrordarky
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
it's funny how pop idol, the reason american idol even exists, only lasted two series, while american idol dragged on and on and it's STILL going.
@cagunder
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
“and denim” 💀💀💀
@lucacamilleri4215
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
26:09 Bojack Horseman reference
@Red6Violin
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
Dear lord, this entire experience sounds so STRESSFUL! Why would someone want to do this on vacation?!
@hedgehog3180
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
“The bridge part I'd consider jumping off of” is truely a legendary diss that could destroy someone. This man's talent is wasted at an amusement park.
@reaps2197
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
Racist at 53:32
@Nor-tc8vz
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
Frankly a lot of these mainstream recording artists absolutely suck nowadays.
@yske3604
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
Just came back to this video to mention a starting realization.
The "Norse god gargling a hammer comment" by fake Simon was actually him quoting Jeremy Clarkson when the stig drove the CCX around the track with a spoiler.
Why the actor decided that was the way to go to call a paying guest I have no clue.
@2WaterGuns
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
I can tell the editor is tired of hearing the American Idol title sting because they include it in every single clip they can to make me also tired of it
@powerful_smr5383
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
You have to be next level smooth brained to get legitimately offended by a man pretending to be a famously offensive tv personality.
@Dr.Sunshine_MD
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
This is my opinion, but as a show thats goal was to find the best singer in America, it somehow found it first try. Kelly Clarkson is so good.
@sonwig5186
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
Who tf even is Ellen Degeneris, I have never heard about her until a Las Vegas shooting conspiracy video.
@anna48792
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
its a shame how american idol declined. i dont know why they didnt think to just have fun
@Dim4323
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
They need to Bring this back
@avery1703
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
a simon cowell type telling a guest "kys" at an american idol theme park attraction is so hilarious in theory and so wild to actually see happen
@MrSoup1
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
i really hate simon cowell
@mrziiz6893
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
“Biological yearning for the days of public execution” absolutely fucking killed me, I love your sense of humor so much
@corvinredacted
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
7:08 Calling late-season American idol the "true appeal" is an interesting take. Personally, I got bored pretty quickly after the audition phase ended.
@GregDYep
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
31:04 Carrie Keeping it real.
@JonahTheMans
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
1:03:50 I think it was Chris Heins/Heinz?
@fezguy89
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
F A S T P A S S
@claytrongo
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
I wish I was a Ryan-type 😢
@TripleGia
December 22, 2025 at 8:32 am
Okay, hold up. Why was Colors of the Wind credited to the movie of all things and not the actual creators, composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz? That's absolutely wild???
Comments are closed.