The Hall of Presidents[edit]
| The Hall of Presidents
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| The entrance to The Hall of Presidents (Photo: TCWMatt).
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| Magic Kingdom
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| Land
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Liberty Square
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| Opening date
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October 1, 1971
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| Ride duration
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23:00 minutes
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| Audio-Animatronics
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43
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| FastPass +
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No
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The Hall of Presidents is an attraction located in Liberty Square
Attraction History[edit]
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 [1]. Technological limitations however, made the show unrealistic at that time, and the idea was eventually scrapped.
Blaine Gibson sculpting the face of Abraham Lincoln for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at the 1964 World's Fair
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 [2]. 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 [2]. 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 [3]. The show was free for guests and once again proved to be quite popular.
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.
When creating what would eventually be known as the Hall of Presidents for Walt Disney World, Disney decided that making the attraction's film live-action would be cost prohibitive. Instead, Imagineers decided to use artwork that was photographed one frame at a time to create their film. Under the direction of four-time Academy Award winner John DeCuire, the attraction's art team worked every day for two yeas to create over 85 individual pieces of art to be used in the film. Because the show features a 20 x 200 foot screen, some of the artwork created for the show's film was as large as 40 feet long.
Due to its large screen, the Hall of Presidents created a unique challenge for Disney- what kind of camera and projection system could be used to fill a two hundred foot long screen. The technical needs of the attraction were overseen by Disney Legend UB Iwereks, who decided to use five individual 70mm projections, each of which were forty feet in width and produced by their own individual projector.
In order to create the Presidential figures in the Hall of Presidents, Disney turned to Imagineer Blaine Gibson, who had sculpted Abraham Lincoln for the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln Show. After doing extensive research on each of the Presidents, Gibson set out to create figures that accurately represented not only what the Presidents looked like, but who they were. According to Gibson:
Presidental busts created for the Hall of Presidents by Blaine Gibson
“My goal in sculpting is to render the uniqueness of an individual"
After Gibson finished creating the busts, the Presidents were sent to Guatemala, where wig makers created authentic hairpieces and tailors stitched period correct outfits. True to Disney's reputation for attention to detail, Imagineers included a number of specific details for each President they brought to life. Some examples of these Easter eggs include:
- George Washington's chair was an exact reproduction of the chair the nation's first president sat in during the 1987 Constiutional Convention.
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt wears a Phi Beta Kappa key to wear on his jacket
- President's Andrew Johnson, Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley all wear Civil War era lapel pins.
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.
Changes Since Opening Day[edit]
Imagineers working on the President Carter figure's costume.
Following its initial opening the Hall of Presidents did not feature many changes during its first two decades. Following their election, or elevations, to the Presidency, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Regan, and George H.W. Bush were added to attraction. Despite these additions, the attraction's main show was not altered.
Things changed however, in 1993, when 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 [4]. 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 [5].
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 [6].
In 2008 to coincide with the election of President Barrack Obama, the Hall of Presidents once again underwent major renovations. At this time, the attraction itself was renamed The Hall of Presidents: A Celebration of Liberty’s Leaders. One of the many changes that occurred to the show itself was that it was given a new script that focused on the Presidents' relationship with the American people. Other changes to The Hall of Presidents at this time included: A re-programmed Abraham Lincoln Audio Animatronic who now delivers the Gettysburg Address, George Washington stands and gives a speech, the entire show was upgraded to HD and given a new sound system, and 130 new images were added to the attraction to go along with a new score written by Joel McNeely. Finally, Barrack Obama was added to the attraction where he delivers a speech recorded by the President himself [7].
On January 17, 2017 The Hall of Presidents closed for the addition of President Donald Trump [8].
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 [9].
On January 20, 2021, the Hall of Presidents closed for the addition of President Joe Biden [10]. On August 3, 2021, the attraction reopened featuring America's newest President. Outside of the addition of President Biden, the Hall of Presidents show remained unchanged. Unlike President's Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump however, President Biden does not give a speech at the attraction's conclusion, instead he simply recites the Presidential Oath.
Building Exterior and Waiting Area[edit]
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 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. 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[edit]
The Hall of Presidents presents the story of America through images, music, and Audio Animatronics. The first part of the attraction is a film shown on a 180 degree screen. This is followed by the climax of the attraction, when all of the Presidents appear on stage together.
Original Incarnation (1971-1993) [11][edit]
The first Incarnation of the Hall of Presidents began with guests entering the theater and hearing various Americans speaking lines from the Declaration of Independence. The attraction’s narrator would then begin to tell guests the story of America, as the curtains opened and the film started.
Abraham Lincoln as he appeared at the end of the Hall of Presidents (prior to 1993)
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 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 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:
"After four weary and wounding years, the conflict ended. The Union was saved. The Constitution had survived the fiery ordeal. America was one nation, finally and forevermore."
Following the summary, triumphant music would begin to play and images from the century following the Civil War appeared on the screen. Images of Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, auto racing, and nickelodeon movies all flashed before guest’s eyes. The montage of American progress finally ended with the Saturn V launching from Cape Canaveral to the moon, ending the film portion of the attractio
- ↑ http://waltdatedworld.com/id223.htm
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.nywf64.com/illinois01.shtml
- ↑ http://www.yesterland.com/presidents.html
- ↑ http://waltdatedworld.com/id223.htm
- ↑ http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/hop.htm
- ↑ http://allears.net/tp/mk/mk_hop.htm
- ↑ http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/hall-of-presidents/news/27jun2009-hall-of-presidents-offically-reopens-july-4.htm
- ↑ 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
- ↑ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/12/the-hall-of-presidents-reopens-at-the-walt-disney-world-resort-after-year-long-transformation/
- ↑ https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-et-disney-hall-of-presidents-closed-refurbishment-biden-trump-20210120-6wj6u5q2hrafriwqw2laljgasm-story.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8NeVAQUuaU
