I thought that this show was fun to watch and play along. I've been to television tapings before and this did a nice job of recreating that experience. It should prove to be interesting to guests of Disney's California Adventure who have never before seen a live TV taping.

The two hosts that I saw were personable if not trying a little too hard to be like Reege. Hopefully, they themselves will continue to feel a little more at ease in front of the crowds as both hosts badly mispronounced words or misread questions. Also, the Phone a Complete Stranger lifeline needs to be improved as the "stranger" often had trouble hearing the question due to the noise levels in the theme park itself.

I thought the second show was better than the first show because I knew what to expect after seeing it once. Though it is just like the television show, it wasn't completely obvious what to do sometimes. The first guest to make it into the Hot Seat didn't realize that she had to answer the question verbally and that she had to verbally say "Final Answer" or give an affirmation to the "Final Answer" prompt from the host. We also knew after the first show to try to get seats closer to the stage rather than higher in the rafters because we could not read the scores of the audience posted on the large television screens because they were blocked by lighting equipment.

The questions up to the 1,000-point mark are fairly easy and often contain a Disney question or two. However, the questions after the 1,000-point question get much more difficult -- sort of like the questions at the $32,000 level on the television show. I believe this is to get at least one other person into the Hot Seat during each show since there is not really that much of an opportunity to get there. The first show had three contestants, the second had two. It appears that by reading the rules that if anyone were to get on a tear and near the million-point mark, that the person will be carried-over from one show to the next.

After the 1,000-point question, they post the scores of the Top 10 scorers in the audience so that the leaders know how close they are to getting into the Hot Seat. They also post them again after a person exits the Hot Seat to show who is next to step up. My wife Kathy actually finished one of the contests in the number 10 slot. I was very proud and teased her about it the rest of the day.

I can see how this attraction can get addictive, as I could have gone back all day to try to win. I think that the pre-show preparations and the Regis film got old after first show but you really need that there to make people feel like they are there for a taping. It also made me appreciate those people who do well on the actual TV show because it is nerve-wracking trying to answer the questions, and with the added pressure of the time limit at the Play It version, the pressure is extra heavy.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Play It! is a fun addition to Disney's California Adventure and provides another type of entertainment option to an evolving attraction roster at the new park. By being a participant and not just an observer, your interest is kept throughout the show as you try to improve your score to see your seat number listed on the big board. I'm looking forward to trying my luck again and perhaps making it into the Hot Seat where I'm sure I'll feel quite overwhelmed and nervous.

This attraction has the legs to potentially outlast its popular television inspiration. As a fan of visitor-immersive entertainment, I will make Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Play It! a frequent stop during my visits to Disney's California Adventure. And that's my final answer.

- Story and Photo by Matthew Walker
Posted

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