When American Idol Season 19 Will Return With Disney Night

Katy Perry smiling with Minnie Mouse ears American Idol ABC

American Idol skipped primetime on this past Sunday due to The Academy Awards, and as opposed to a return on Monday, ABC opted to resume the competition on Sunday, May 2. That return will be one that many fans will be excited for, as the ABC series will once again host its Disney Night with the Top 10 competitors left in Season 19.

Disney Night has worked a little differently these past few seasons, and Season 19 is no exception. There will, of course, be plenty of Disney to celebrate throughout the night but the episode will lead off with some important information I'm sure many American Idol fans have been dying to know.

To kick off the night, the results of the Comeback show will be announced. Then, after the top nine travel to Walt Disney World for a one-on-one session with a celebrity mentor and inspiration from the Most Magical Place on Earth, the season’s top 10 contestants, including the Comeback winner, will perform a song from the renowned Disney songbook in hopes of securing America’s real-time vote. The top seven finalists will be revealed at the end of the episode.

The Disney content will happen as expected, but perhaps most importantly, American Idol will reveal which Season 18 contestant enters Season 19 as the tenth competitor in the Top 10. Each singer in that group of ten will then get to perform one Disney song, and then three competitors will be sent home at the end of the episode.

While announcing the comeback show winner at the show's opening may seem like an odd choice on Disney Night, it may ensure they have just as much a chance as other competitors to get a vote from fans and make it to the next stage of the competition. The voting and results feel like a tight timeframe for American Idol, but with the following episode not scheduled until the following Sunday on Mother's Day, it may have been necessary for Season 19 to stay on pace.

All that aside, Disney Night should be a treat for those who love Disney songs as well as those who like to see Katy Perry cosplay. The American Idol judge has rocked a couple of Disney-themed ensembles over the years, and they're usually all very impressive. I'd love to see Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie join in on the fun as well this year, though the two haven't participated in the past.

Catch Disney Night on American Idol only on ABC Sunday, May 2 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 19 has been a season chock full of talent, as well as some controversy. For the latest on the latter, read up on the former contestant who was recently arrested after an alleged altercation with the mother of his child.

Mick Joest
Content Producer

Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.