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/* Third Incarnation (2009-2016) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vHOng0vm8o */
{{Template:Infobox Disney ride |
| image=Hallexterior3.jpg
| caption='''The entrance to The Hall of Presidents (Photo: TCWMatt).'''
| park= Magic Kingdom
| land=Liberty Square
| opened= October 1, 1971
| duration=23:00
| audio-animatronics=43
|custom_label_2= FastPass +
|custom_value_2= No
}}
The Hall of Presidents is an attraction located in [[Liberty Square]]
==Attraction History==
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.
[[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| alt= Blaine Gibson Hall of Presidents]]
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.
{{Quotation| “My goal in sculpting is to render the uniqueness of an individual"}}
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 scene then cuts to the now President Abraham Lincoln Hall of Presidents is located in [[Liberty Square]] and is housed in a colonial hall. The Hall's architecture takes its inspiration from the White HousePhiladelphia and Boston colonial meeting halls used during the time of the American Revolution. He The building itself is alonered brick, but says that he knows he needs with a peaked tower serving as its highest point. Above the entrance to protect the Union. He continues on saying that he knows there is a Godhall, and that that God hates slavery. He says that with Gods help he will end slavery and win the wardate 1787 can be read (an obvious reference to the year the Constitution was signed).
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.
Like the previous incarnations of the Hall of Presidents, the third version started with the shadows of Americans repeating phrases from the Deceleration of Independence. The films narrator (now voiced by Morgan Freeman <ref> http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/walt_disney_world's_magic_kingdom/hall_of_presidents/ </ref>), then shifted the scene back to American Revolution. On the screen, guests then changes see images of Valley Forge, and of Americans eventually winning their independence. The narrator then told guests that from the beginning, the dream of a government run by "We the people" was already facing a threat. At this point, the film moved to a time after the Revolution. Due to the war, the colonies were bankrupt and soldiers unpaid. In the background, some American veterans could be heard calling for an end to democracy and for George Washington to be crowned king. Washington then spoke, saying that he believes in the democracy that he fought for. After hearing his words, the unrest amongst the solders was quelled.[[Image:DeclerationSigning.jpg|450px|thumb|"Declaration of Independence" by John Trumbull.| alt= Deceleration of Independence painting Hall of Presidents ]]Following Washington’s speech, the scene changed to the Constitutional Convention, where the Founding Fathers agree agreed that George Washington should be America's the country’s first President. Washington once again speaks sayingspoke, showing the audience some of his trepidation:
{{Quotation |"I fear my country will expect too much from me. I walk on untrotted ground, there is scarcely any part of my conduct which may hereafter be drawn into precedent."}}
The narrator informs informed guestshowever, that Washington set an amazing precedent. , "The man who could have been king, stepped down after two terms".
Like the previous incarnation of the Hall of Presidents, the Whiskey Rebellion scene was omitted from the film. Instead, the film moved on to the Presidency of Andrew Jackson. Instead of focusing on Nullification Crisis (as previous incarnations of the attraction had), the scene now focused on President Andrew Jackson and his relationship with American people. The narrator informed guests that Jackson was not an aristocrat (as previous Presidents had been) and that instead he was "one of us". A new image then appeared on the screen, showing 20,000 Americans descending on Jackson's inauguration. A women staff member of the White House commented that if they had not put free punch on the lawn, "commoners" would still be in the White House.
{{Quotation|"I know that there is a God, and that he hates injustice and slavery. And I see the storm coming, I know his hand is in it. If he has a place of work for me, and I think he has, I believe I am ready. I am nothing, but truth is everything. And with God's help I shall not fail. "}}
[[Image:LinoclnPainting.png|450px|thumb|Abraham Lincoln in the White House just prior to the beginning of the Civil War.| alt= Abraham Lincoln painting Hall of Presidents]]
The beginning of the Civil War at Fort Sumter was then shown, before the conflict was depicted through images of Union and Confederate soldiers. The narrator then told guests that after 500,000 Americans had died, America needed meaning to come from all the tragedy.
{{Quotation| "Let us unite in banishing fear, together we cannot fail"}}
Moving forward to the 1960s, a video clip of John F. Kennedy was shown where the President said:
{{Quotation|"Let the word go forth, from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans."}}
The narrator then says film noted that Americans were Kennedy inspired Americans into new civic activism, as an images of Martin Luther King Jr. appear and other activists appeared on the screen. Then The images then changed to a large picture of the Lincoln Monument appears Memorial as the narrator gives gave a short speech.
{{Quotation|It has always been the role of Presidents to remind us of our roots, to call us to our future. At their best moments they speak words that are already there in our hearts, especially in times of tragedy.}}
A montage of Presidential speeches is was then shown which includesincluding:
* Lyndon Johnson after John F. Kennedy was assassinated- "All I have, I would have given gladleygladly, not to be standing here today."
* Ronald Reagan after the Challenger explosion- "We mourn seven heroes, ; we mourn their loss as a nation together."
* Bill Clinton after the Oklahoma City Bombings- "You have lost too much, but you have certainly not lost America. For we will stand with you."
* George W. Bush at Ground Zero after the September 11, 2001 attacks- "I can hear you! I can hear you, ; the rest of the world hears you!"[[Image:Obama.jpg|400px|thumb|A close up of the President Obama Audio Animatronic (Photo: Lauren Javier)| alt= President Obama Hall of Presidents]]Finally , the narrator gives gave one final speech as the Space Shuttle Columbia is was shown launching for the fist first time.:
{{Quotation|"And as our journeys continue, what once seemed revolutionary, now seems profoundly simple. That we should choose our own leaders. That our hopes should be their hopes, our fears their fears, and our dreams their dreams. Ladies and gentlemen the Presidents of the United States."}}
{{Quotation|"My fellow citizens, no event could have filled me with greater anxiety then that notification on the 14th day of April 1789, that you had selected me to head our nation. But it is with the confidence of my fellow citizens that I took an oath, 35 simple words that have been repeated by every American President throughout history. As long as that oath is taken, and solemnly fulfilled, the American Dream will endure."}}
{{Quotation|"I Barrack Hussein Obama do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States. And will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God."}} Barrack Obama was then introduced by the narrator before he gave the final speech of the attraction: {{Quotation|"The American dream is as old as our founding, but as timeless as our hopes. It is born every day in the heart of every child, who wakes up in a land of limitless possibilities, in a country where "We the people" means all the people. We may come from different places and believe in different things, but what makes us Americans is a shared spirit. A spirit of courage and determination, of honor and generosity. It is a spirit grounded in the generations that have gone before us, but open to the unimaginable discoveries and possibilities on the horizon that lies ahead. Let us enjoy it, cherish it, defend it, and pass it on to our children as the bright and beautiful blessing it is. This enduring American Dream"|}} As the curtains closed and guests exited the attraction, the Battle Hymn of the Republic plays. ===Fourth Version (2017-Present)===The current version of the Hall of Presidents begins with a brief dedication to Walt Disney. The show itself then opens on large screens with a scene depicting the end of the Revolutionary War. After briefly recapping George Washington’s victory over the British, it then cuts to Philadelphia in 1787 where the Constitution has been completed. As part of the new government the narrator states:[[Image:HallofPresidentslobbyexhibit.jpg|thumb|400px|Curators working on the new Hall of Presidents lobby exhibits.]] {{Quotation|"They imagine something new in the history of the world. A leader not born to power like a king or queen, a leader who has not ceased power through conquest. A leader who is not seprate from the people, but elected by the people, from among the people. We the people. This is a new idea, an American idea, the idea of a President".}} As images of George Washington crossing the Delaware River and fighting the British flash on the screen, the narrator notes that although the American people don't fully know what a President will be, they know Washington will be the first one. The military leader had not used his victory to create a dictatorship, but instead resigned from the army and went home to Mount Vernon. When he receives the notification that he has been elected as the first President of the United States of America, Washington states, "Integrity and firmness is all I can promise". Despite these reservations, Washington is perfect for the role, and almost every move he makes is set as precedent. Perhaps most importantly, Washington steps down after two terms in office. At this point, the film begins to quickly show the Presidents that America elects to succeed Washington. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, James K. Polk, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan all briefly appear on screen as the narrator points out that America chose very different Presidents in its infant years. After 15 Presidents however, the country finds itself in crisis. [[Image:YoungLincoln.jpg|400px|thumb|A young Abraham Lincoln as shown in the Hall of Presidents.| alt= Young Lincoln Hall of Presidents]]As images of slavery appear on screen, the narrator notes that the institution continues within the new republic. As the country pushes west, there is bitter debate about whether slavery will be allowed to spread with it. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln appears on the national scene and gives his famous "house divided" speech. With his election however; the United States does divide. As the bombardment of Fort Sumter is depicted, the Civil War begins and eleven states succeed from the Union. With images of the war flashing, the narrator notes that the inner strength and character of Abraham Lincoln was tested. The 16th President was raised on the frontier and suffered many personal losses in his childhood. Despite his struggle with depression, he is determined to rise above it, and leave the world a better place. In the midst of the war, the narrator tells the audience that Lincoln fights to keep the Union together and end slavery. The scene then cuts to the battle of Gettysburg, six months after which Lincoln gives his famous dedication. At this point the middle of the screen rises to show an Audio Animatronic Abraham Lincoln giving the Gettysburg Address. Following the end of the Civil War, slavery was ended and the country exploded west. As the nation approached the 20th century, immigrants poured into the United States and the economy tripled. As cities emerged and the county became a superpower, a young Theodore Roosevelt moved west to escape his personal troubles. As images of the industrial revolution and the conflict between labor and management appear on screen, the narrator notes that change was needed. With this unrest as background, Theodore Roosevelt became President, crusading for workers’ rights and promising a "square deal for every man and every woman in the United States". At this time, Roosevelt and his commitment to the natural parks is also briefly shown.[[Image:TrumpHall.jpg|400px|thumb|The Audio Animatronic of President Trump delivering his speech.| alt= Hall of Presidents Donald Trump]]Moving forward to the 1930s, images of the stock market crash of 1928 and the beginning of the Great Depression appear on screen. In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt is elected President. After showing Roosevelt's fireside chats, the narrator notes that even with the Depression going on, Roosevelt must guide the country through WWII. As images and video of the American mobilization effort play on screen Roosevelt declares: {{Quotation|"We must be the great arsenal of democracy. This is an emergency as serious as war itself."}} After the end of World War II, images of the 1940s and 50s America are shown. Brief speeches of 20th century presidents are then played. Including: * Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Speech before the General Assembly of the United Nations on the Space Race (1960) * John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address (1961) * Lyndon B. Johnson's We Shall Overcome Speech (1965) * Jimmy Carter signing the Camp David Accords (1978) * Ronald Reagan's Berlin Wall speech (1987) * Bill Clinton's speech following the Oklahoma City Bombing (1995) * George W. Bush's speech at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks (2001).[[Image:BidenHall.jpg|400px|thumb|The Audio Animatronic of President Biden delivering his speech in the current version of the attraction.| alt= Hall of Presidents Joe Biden]]* Barack Obama's speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery Marches (2011). Following the end of the montage, the screens rise to reveal the 44 Presidents of the United States on stage. After a roll call is taken, George Washington then briefly remarks: {{Quotation| My fellow citizens, no event could have filled me with greater anxiety then than that notification on the 14th day of April , 1789, that you had selected me to head lead our nation. But it is was with the confidence of my fellow citizens that I took an oath, 35 oath—35 simple words that have been repeated by every American President president throughout history. As long as that oath is taken, and solemnly fulfilled, the American Dream dream will endure.}} After Washington’s comments, President Biden repeats the oath of the Presidency. At the conclusion of President Trump’s oath, the narrator reinforces that the Presidency is entrusted to the President by "We the people". Following these remarks, the curtains lower and the show ends. ==Cast <ref> http://voicechasers.com/database/showprod.php?prodid=3286 </ref>== ===1971-1993===Narrator- Lawrence Dobkin Abraham Lincoln- Royal Dano George Washington- Paul Frees Stephen Douglas- Paul Frees Governor Mifflen- Paul Frees Andrew Jackson- Dallas Mckennon Benjamin Franklin- Lawrence Dobkin ===1993-2001=== Narrator- Maya Angelo Abraham Lincoln- Pete Reneday Bill Clinton-Himself ===2001-2009=== Narrator- JD Hall Abraham Lincoln- Pete Reneday George W. Bush- Himself ===2009-2017=== Narrator- Morgan Freeman Abraham Lincoln- Royal Dano George Washington- David Morse Barrack Obama- Himself===2017-Present=== Narrator- Abraham Lincoln- George Washington- David Morse Donald Trump- Himself Joe Biden- Himself ==Watch the Show!==To watch the Hall of Presidents click below. The picture gets much clearer about 40 seconds in. {{#ev:youtube|RSyBWuvYR4Q|420}} ==Fun Facts and Trivia==[[Image:blainegeorgebush.jpg|thumb|400px| Blane Gibson working on the George W. Bush sculpture| Blaine Gibson George W. Bush Hall of Presidents]]* 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"/>. * Other than the White House, The Hall of Presidents in Walt Disney World is the only other place where the Presidential Seal can be used. In fact, it took an act of Congress to allow Disney to use the seal <ref> http://allears.net/tp/mk/issue511.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>.
* During his Presidency, Donald Trump gave the following speech in the Hall of Presidents final act:{{Quotation|" The American dream is as old as From the beginning, America has been a nation defined by its people. At our founding, but as timeless as it was the American people who rose up to defend our hopesfreedoms and win our independence. It is born everyday why our founders began our great constitution with three very simple words: we the people. Since that moment, each generation of Americans has taken its place in the heart defense of every childour freedom, who wakes p in a land our flag, and our nation under God. These are the achievements of limitless possibilities in a country where "We the American spirit, the spirit of a people" means all who fought and died to bring the blessings of liberty to all our people. We may come from different places and believe in different thingsAbove all, but what makes us Americans to be American is a shared spirit. A spirit of courage and determinationto be an optimist, to believe that we can always do better, of honor and generositythat the best days of our great nation are still ahead of us. It is 's a spirit grounded in the generations that have gone before us, but open privilege to serve as the president of the unimaginable discoveries and possibilities on the horizon that lies ahead. Let us enjoy itUnited States, cherish it, defend itto stand here among so many great leaders of our past, and pass it on to our children as work on behalf of the bright and beautiful blessing it isAmerican people. This enduring American Dream"|}}