Hall of Presidents Open?

[dogtherock]

Hey sorry. Not a regular user of the WDW forum and mostly spend my time in DL so I don't know much about WDW so I was wondering what day (if it hasn't already happened) that The Hall of Presidents will reopen with the Barack Obama AA.

[aimster]

It's reopening in July. I forget the exact date.

[Monorail Man]

Last I heard (by the CMs at WDW), the goal was to have it open by July 4th.

[yoyoflamingo]

There is also an AP preview on June 28 that I received an email about.

According to the WDW calendar, which isn't always accurate, July 2 is when it opens again to the public.

[TDLFAN]

Personally, I would keep HOPs closed for good. Religion and politics should be kept off the Disney parks. I wish Disney would mind their own business and concentrate on their own set of characters rather than real ones.

[dland_lover]

From D23:

Hall of Presidents Re-opens
July 4
The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World

[RandySavage]

Originally Posted by TDLFAN

Personally, I would keep HOPs closed for good. Religion and politics should be kept off the Disney parks. I wish Disney would mind their own business and concentrate on their own set of characters rather than real ones.

I think U.S. history definitely has an important place in the parks (Walt certainly thought it did), but I agree in the sense that I don't think the sitting president should have a speaking role in HoP. There's too much media-incited vitriol and cynicism among the public across the political spectrum for it to work without half the audience getting stirred up.

I had heard rumors that they were doing away with having the sitting president speak, so I was disappointed when I heard Barak Obama was recording a speech - nothing against him, I just feel it isn't wise.

[TDLFAN]

You have to understand that when these history based attractions were designed.. guests had manners. Now? Every HOP show feels like a freaking rally. I think it's distasteful, therefore Disney should pull the plug on history/reality based attractions.

[kcnole]

I don't agree with that entirely. They're able to do history very well in the American Adventure, but that show focuses on history. If the Hall of Presidents only focused on the historical presidents (I'm talking George Washington, Abe Lincoln, etc...) then these problems wouldn't present themselves. But when we bring the modern president front and center, then you also invite all the vitriol and real world politics into the fantasy theme park. That's where I have a problem with it.

[Angie_Duke]

It's one of the few MK attractions right now that is both unique to the park and getting a thorough top-to-bottom, inside-out redo. I'm excited to see the results and I think it's great that the attraction is still there (could you imagine what they might replace with it? Stitch's Presidential Campaign?).

Also the idea of shutting down HoP now would be a really stupid move. It would be difficult to put a positive spin on that decision.

[Pete's Dragon]

Shutting down HOP because of the immaturity of individuals is insane.

It's unfortunate that because of individuals wishing to push an agenda that people can't enjoy some of the traditions that Walt implanted into his parks.

[yoyoflamingo]

Reports are coming in that they have been having soft openings.

[Pete's Dragon]

Are the reports that Obama interacts with Lincoln true? I heard this rumor a while back but didn't know if it was accurate or not.

[yoyoflamingo]

From the review I read, it sounded like he interacts with Washington, but I am not 100% because it can be interpreted in different ways the way it is written.

I guess we'll have to see if anyone has been for verification.

[GRD999]

There has been word the CM's get a preview on July 1. Don't know if its true, but I'll be by to see!