American Idol at Walt Disney World. Snore.

Disney announced that it is adding a new American Idol attraction to Walt Disney World's Disney Hollywood Studios later this year. Yes, later this year, so that tells you how long its taking to develop. The attraction will be a singing contest amongst park guests who will be judged by a panel of "experts". The winners get to participate in a nighttime "finale" performance.

Now I love American Idol as much as the next guy, but how lame is this? First of all, I feel like I've stepped into a time machine and been transported to the pre-Iger days of cheap and hastily put up attractions. I thought with Lasseter on board we weren't going to be doing stuff like this any more? With the move away from MGM, I was kind of hoping that we would move past the ugly days of other people's IP - with the exception of George Lucas - in a Disney park. Secondly, how can Anne Sweeney be happy about this when Idol crushes everything else on television when its on? How can it be remotely good for ABC to build the Idol franchise? Thirdly, Simon Cowell is leaving the show in two seasons (so he says) and that will be the end of it, because - let's face it - we all really watch for Simon. What ever money they are investing in this - not to mention valuable space - seemingly could be used for something better and longer term than Rupert Murdoch's crown jewel.

This would have been a great deal for Six Flags, but I'm not sure this is a fit for Disney.