With Election Results In Attention Turns To Disney’s Hall Of Presidents
If you’re a mega Disney fan, like all of us here at MickeyBlog HQ then changes in the presidency also mean changes what The Washington Post calls one of “Disney’s most polarizing attractions”- The Hall of Presidents. Just a day after President Elect Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 election, Disney blogs are already speculating about the future of this classic Magic Kingdom attraction.
And its easy to understand why. Earlier this week, our Mickeyblogger was on the scene at Liberty Square and noticed that (as a result of the election) crowds to get into this 25 minute animatronic stage show about the US presidents had some of the longest lines we’d seen in a while. From the image above you can see the crowds lined up for what is usually an attraction with no stand-by line.
The Hall of Presidents pays homage to the history of the presidency and features 44 figures including President Trump. It first opened back in 1971 and was created due to the popularity of Disney’s animatronic Abraham Lincoln which was made for the 1964 World’s Fair. As of late and similar to other classic Disney attractions like the Carousel of Progress its reputation today is seen more as a place to go to cool off or take a nap rather than a must-do attraction.
Photo: Disney
However, since Trump’s polarizing election it has also had its fair share of controversy not dissimilar from another attraction. Splash Mountain. Disney announced earlier this year that it would be re-purposing the Splash Mountain attraction based on one of Disney’s most controversial film Song of the South. Making it a Princess and the Frog themed wet ride.
In it’s piece this morning, The Washington Post posits whether there could be an alternate future for The Hall of Presidents for similar reasons. After Trump’s presidential win four years ago online petitions received over 15,000 signatures to stop the current president from having a speaking role.
In another incident that we previously reported here at MickeyBlog one guest had to be escorted from the attraction for shouting “lock him up” just days after an animatronic Trump was introduced to the park. As the Post points out, blogs and local papers at the time even speculated that Disney had installed new spikelike barriers as an extra security measure to keep guests from approaching the stage.
As is tradition, new figures of the presidents have been added within a year of every presidential election. Most recently George Bush was added in 2001 and Barack Obama in 2009. However, with a nation so split over the President Elect Joe Biden could we see Disney switch gears and repurpose the attraction?
Photo Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
A suggestion that has been making the rounds in Disney circles for a while now is whether something involving mega-musical Hamilton might be a better fit for the the theme park with its focus more on history rather than the presidency and Disney’s ongoing working relationship with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Disney’s streaming service released an extremely popular movie version of the production last Summer.
As of going to print, Disney hasn’t responded to requests for comment on potential plans to add the President Elect to the Hall of Presidents. However, this is a story that we’ll continue to follow closely here at MickeyBlog. Readers are encouraged to keep checking in with us for further news and updates.
Readers are encouraged to keep following along with MickeyBlog where we come to you LIVE! from the theme parks each and every week.
Why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I can help you get the best discounts for your Disney World vacation package, assist with making dining, and Fastpass reservations and can even help you plan an itinerary filled with extra special seasonal touches. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE! Contact me at 1.800.801.4025 via email at mroden@mickeytravels.com or on Facebook and let’s get planning!
Source: Washington Post
