From Clermont’s
Presidents Hall of Fame to Magic Kingdom’s Hall of Presidents, Central Florida attractions salute White House.
Hardly anyone clamors for a seat at the Hall of Presidents, the attraction that has existed since the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 at Walt Disney World.
It is often overlooked amid the princesses and roller coasters unless a parkgoer is scouting for an air-conditioned theater to escape the hot sun.
“Is this new?” asked a man, looking around confused, as he went inside.
But Monday, many paid their respects to the Hall of Presidents, calling it fitting to spend Presidents Day with a talking Abraham Lincoln and other American leaders.
“It’s a good thing to see on our day to honor the presidents,” said Sharon McConville, of Celebration, who took 4-year-old grandson Caden to the theme park.
For some, it was also the first time seeing the Hall of Presidents’ latest arrival — the animatronic President Donald Trump. The figure made its debut Dec. 18 and stands between Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant.
On Monday, the undertone of partisan politics could be heard in the crowd.
“I shouldn’t be in here,” said a middle-age man walking in to find his seat. “I’m too political. I can’t keep my mouth shut.”
The attraction showed videos of former presidents. A loud burst of applause came from the sight of President Barack Obama giving a speech in 2015 from the bridge where the civilrights march in Selma occurred. A second round of applause and
cheers followed when the animatronic Trump uttered his first words.
“I love [that] they have President Trump now,” McConville said afterward. “Everyone was polite, and Trump got the biggest applause, so we were happy.”
Maine resident Marie Potvin also enjoyed the show — until Trump spoke in front of the other animatronic presidents.
“He lacks the word ‘integrity’ that the rest of them all have,” she said.
Two security guards stood posted on either side of the stage just in case of a disturbance.
At a later show, audience members — except for a crying baby — were silent.
A Disney employee dressed in Colonial-style garb quizzed parkgoers before they took their seats.
Which two eventual U.S. presidents attended Disneyland’s opening day? she asked. Answer: Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.
Parents were overheard explaining Presidents Day to their children in the waiting area. The youngsters were awed by artifacts owned by ex-presidents.
“Andrew Jackson had a nice head of hair,” one woman said, admiring a painting of the seventh president.