ORLANDO, Fla. -- Thousands of people battled Florida's August heat at the Orange County Convention Center for a chance at at being a contestant on "American Idol."

Shortly after 6:30 a.m., a local TV station estimated the crowd to be between 10,000 and 20,000, according to Local 6 News partner Florida Today.

Fox officials -- who are holding auditions around the United States for the fourth season of "Idol" -- said everyone who lines up Wednesday will get a wristband, and there may be some available Thursday starting at 6 a.m.

"We got here at 5:30, and here we are - way outside," said Kasey Hopper of Cocoa, who spent Tuesday night at a nearby hotel in hopes of being among the first 100 who were allowed to register at 6 a.m.

Convention security did not allow contestants to line up until 6 a.m. but a line began to form Tuesday night, according to the report.

"We came right after work yesterday, but the security guard made us stay on the road, so we started a line across the street and spent the night," said Marini Margjokaj, 26, of Orlando, who was accompanying his wife Michelle. She was among the first competitors in line.

Preliminary auditions were expected to continue through Friday, but Central Florida finalists won't audition for the three star judges - Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson - until Sept. 6 and 7.

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