Trump to be heard in the revamped Hall of Presidents

ORLANDO, Fla. — When Walt Disney World’s Hall of Presidents reopens, the new animatronic figure of Donald Trump will have a speaking role, the company said on its official theme parks blog.

The attraction, which opened with Magic Kingdom theme park in 1971, has been closed for renovations and updates since January. Since then, there was speculation about whether the new version of the Hall of Presidents would include a Trump speech.

“We have been working closely with the current White House — just as we have with previous administrations - and the president’s recording session has been scheduled,” a post this week on Disney Parks Blog reads.

The item also says the attraction, located in the Orlando theme park’s Liberty Square area, will reopen in “late 2017.”

The company is pushing back against reports that Trump’s figure wouldn’t have a speaking part in the show, which features figures of all U.S. presidents.

Walt Disney World Disney’s pattern has been to close the attraction after a new president is elected. Every president since Bill Clinton has had a speaking part, Disney says.