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/* Attraction Plot */
Like many of the Magic Kingdom's opening day attractions, the Hall of Presidents started out as an idea for Disneyland. In the late 1950s Walt Disney wanted to create an attraction called “One Nation Under God”, which was to be about American greatness and the Constitution. The grand finale of the attraction was going to be life size Audio Animatronics of all the United States Presidents joining together on stage, concluding with Abraham Lincoln giving a speech <ref> http://waltdatedworld.com/id223.htm </ref>. Technological limitations however, made the show unrealistic at that time, and the idea was eventually scrapped.
Although the Audio Animatronic technology was still under development, Walt agreed to create a show for the Illinois Pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair <ref name= "64fair"> http://www.nywf64.com/illinois01.shtml </ref>. The show that Disney came up with was titled, “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln”. The new attraction was essentially a scaled down version of the “One Nation Under God” show, however instead of focusing on all of the American Presidents, the new show focused solely on Abraham Lincoln. Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln consisted of two separate parts. The first half of the show was a film that gave Lincoln’s biography, and like its predecessor, the show concluded with the Audio Animatronic Lincoln giving a speech <ref name= "64fair"/>. Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln was such a success at the World's Fair, that Walt Disney decided to move the attraction to his Disneyland park. In 1966, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opened on Main Street USA <ref> http://www.yesterland.com/presidents.html </ref>. The show was free for guests and once again proved to be quite popular.
[[Image:GibsonLincoln.jpg|400px|thumb|Blaine Gibson sculpting the face of Abraham Lincoln for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at the 1964 World's Fair]]
Due to its popularity, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln was one of the attractions considered for inclusion in (yet unopened) Walt Disney World. Instead of recreating the attraction however, Imagineers decided to revisit the One Nation Under God concept. In the time between Walt’s original idea and the creation of Walt Disney World, technology had improved to the point that creating Audio Animatronic figures for every President was possible. Furthermore, the Magic Kingdom also had the space available for such a large stage to be created. Renaming the attraction the Hall of Presidents, the show opened with the rest of the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971. The Hall of Presidents (along with the Country Bear Jamboree and the Mickey Mouse Revue) was one of the three unique (not from Disneyland) attractions that opened with the Magic Kingdom.
In 1993 The Hall of Presidents was overhauled and given a new script. Columbia professor Eric Forner convinced Disney executives (including Michael Eisner) that the original show did not pay enough attention to the issues slavery and civil rights <ref name= "dated"> http://waltdatedworld.com/id223.htm </ref>. In order to enact these changes, as well as to add President Bill Clinton to the attraction, the Hall of Presidents closed in September of 1993. When the attraction reopened in October of the same year, the attraction had a completely new tone. Furthermore, the new Hall of Presidents film was now narrated by poet Maya Angelo <ref> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/hop.htm </ref>.
In 2001 J.D. Hall replaced Maya Angelo as the attraction's narrator and President George W. Bush was added to the attraction. Like Clinton before him, Bush recorded a speech specifically for The Hall of Presidents <ref> http://allears.net/tp/mk/mk_hop.htm </ref>.
On January 17, 2017 The Hall of Presidents closed for the addition of President Donald Trump <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/hall-of-presidents/news/26jun2017-the-hall-of-presidents-to-reopen-late-2017-featuring-a-speaking-role-for-trump.htm </ref>.
On December 19, 2017, the Hall of Presidents officially reopened to guests. Besides the addition of Donald Trump to the attraction, the hall also received a brand new script and film. It also features updated sound, lighting and projection <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/12/the-hall-of-presidents-reopens-at-the-walt-disney-world-resort-after-year-long-transformation/ </ref>.
==Building Exterior and Waiting Area==
The Hall of Presidents is located in [[Liberty Square ]] and is housed in a colonial hall. The Hall's architecture takes its inspiration from the Philadelphia and Boston colonial meeting halls used during the time of the American Revolution. The building itself is red brick, with a peaked tower serving as its highest point. Above the entrance to the hall, the date 1787 can be read (an obvious reference to the year the Constitution was signed).
After entering the building, guests find themselves in a large an expansive lobby. Various portraits of United States Presidents line the walls, and a large carpet featuring the "Great Seal of the United States" can be found in the center of the lobby. Other artifacts that can be found in the waiting room include personal property of former Presidents, and even some dresses which were worn by First Ladies on Inauguration Day. Sine Since 2018 an exhibit dedicated to Walt Disney, his fascination with Abraham Lincoln, and the development of the Hall of Presidents (including some of the original busts)can also be found in the lobby.
==Attraction Plot==
The Hall of President’s film began with the Constitutional Convention in 1787. George Washington (the president of the Convention) and Benjamin Franklin were heard trying to persuade their fellow delegates to sign the Constitution. Although the founders admit that the Constitution is not perfect, all but three eventually sign the document and the states agree to ratify it.
Leaving the Constitutional Convention, the story moved forward to the Whiskey Rebellion in 1789. Here, newly elected President George Washington faced one of his first challenges as President when Pennsylvanian farmers began to riot over federal taxes. Washington and Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Mifflin could then be heard arguing over whether or not Washington had the power to use armed forces to stop the rebels. Washington said that the Supreme Court affirms affirmed his authority, and he was then shown on horseback leading federal troops towards to Pennsylvania. Fortunately, the narrator informed guests that the riots ended without bloodshed, and Washington was able to show Americans that the President would use force in order to "ensure domestic tranquility".
Following the Whiskey Rebellion, the scene once again shifted. Guests now found themselves in South Carolina some 40 years later. The Nullification Crisis was featured, and an angry crowd was being addressed by a speaker. The speaker informed the mob that, "The Federal Government's Tariff Acts are hereby declared null, void, and no law in the State of South Carolina." The speaker then went on to warn that any use of force by the government would lead to the secession of South Carolina. Following his speech, an image of President Andrew Jackson was shown on the screen, and he declared that he was determined to keep the Union together. The narrator then informed guests that with the support of Congress, Jackson was able to end the Nullification Crisis without any bloodshed. It was apparent however that the “union of the states” was in danger.
Once again moving forward in history, guests next found themselves listening in on the 1858 debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. During the debate, Lincoln declared that he knew slavery was wrong, and that "this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free. A house divided against itself cannot stand". Although he was being heckled by the crowd, Lincoln continued on, saying that if the people did not believe in the words of the Deceleration of Independence, then they should go and destroy it. Reluctantly, the crowd admitted that he was right, and although the narrator told guests that although Lincoln lost (that) election, his words were not forgotten.
Following Lincoln’s speech, the scene once again cut. Guests then saw (the now) President Abraham Lincoln in the White House. He was alone, contemplating his responsibility to protect the union. Lincoln claimed that he knew there was a God, and that that God hated slavery. He then resolved that with God’s help, he would end slavery and win the war. At this point, images of the American Civil War flashed on the screen and the narrator said:
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
* Disney Legend Blaine Gibson sculpted every President in the Hall of Presidents, except for Barrack Obama and Donald Trump <ref name= "facts"> http://www.disneyfanatic.com/10-monumental-facts-about-walt-disney-worlds-hall-of-presidents/ </ref>.
* President Obama was sculpted by Gibson's protegee Valerie Edwards with oversight by Gibson <ref name= "facts"/>.
* The Presidential roll call must be re-recorded every time a new President is added <ref> http://wdwpensieve.com/wp/2015/08/010-august-26-2015-the-hall-of-presidents/ </ref>.
* The Audio Animatronics of Presidents Lincoln, Washington, and Obama and Trump are some of the most technologically advanced in Disney World <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/hall-of-presidents/news/27jun2009-hall-of-presidents-offically-reopens-july-4.htm </ref>.
* John DeCuir was in charge of Art Direction for The Hall of Presidents <ref name= "Sklar"> Sklar, Marty. Dream It! Do It!: My Half-century Creating Disney's Magic Kingdoms. Disney Editions, 2013. Print. </ref>.
==References==
