How does Hall of Presidents handle non-consecutive terms?

[whiteness]

They could continue it as it is now… Biden's speaking is limited to the oath of office. Then there’s nothing political or offensive about it, it’s the same for every president. And they don’t have to worry about getting any kind of cooperation for a speech segment every 4 years. Which I think delayed the attraction opening in 2017. That change was not announced, so there’s no need for any kind of announcement this time. It’s just how the attraction evolved.

I wouldn't be surprised if 46 swaps places with 47, and Disney uses 47's speech from his previous administration. It would be discordant if this specific attraction ignored the latest election entirely, and it would send a "message" of sorts that maybe Disney "disapproved" of the result.

It was probably a mistake to give new presidents speaking roles in the first place, but changing that after an election is over looks political, and Disney should avoid even the appearance of being political.

 

[BrianL]

My family was in the MK today and we visited the Hall of Presidents.

There was polite applause when the narrator got to 45's name. In the moment, the sense of community added to the experience, in my opinion, and didn't feel inappropriate at all. I'm happy and proud to say that none of my fellow guests jeered or mocked any president.

I have no problem at all with respectful and restrained showing of appreciate and affection for our presidents. I hope we can all try to accept that in the positive spirit that it is given.

So, they cheered for one president and not any others. Maybe you felt a sense of cummunity, but what if everyone had cheered for a different name, and you were sitting there? Would you feel the same way, even if they didn't boo anybody? What about those in the audience who don't support a certain president? That's the problem with presenting any current politician. It shouldn't be as divisive as it is, but here we are.

*All presidents mentioned above are theoretical and do not refer to any specific persons. The arguments pertains to all presidents and all sides, and is meant to illustrate what has become a problem with the show/audiences today.

Honestly, the more I think about it, bring on The Muppets!

 

[whiteness]

So, they cheered for one president and not any others. Maybe you felt a sense of cummunity, but what if everyone had cheered for a different name, and you were sitting there? Would you feel the same way, even if they didn't boo anybody? What about those in the audience who don't support a certain president? That's the problem with presenting any current politician. It shouldn't be as divisive as it is, but here we are.

*All presidents mentioned above are theoretical and do not refer to any specific persons. The arguments pertains to all presidents and all sides, and is meant to illustrate what has become a problem with the show/audiences today.

I assume the recent election might have motivated the calm, restrained and respectful hand clapping. I sincerely hope that Guests will do the same for the next winner of a hard fought election, regardless who it might be. We can still celebrate American democracy even if we don't always agree with the winner of a specific election. The fact that we still can, after nearly 250 years, makes us all winners, in my opinion. Isn't that the whole point of the attraction?

I didn't hear any "cheering" and I didn't say I witnessed anything of the sort. I agree that would have been inappropriate and it would have made me feel uncomfortable regardless who was doing it and for which president.

 

[BrianL]

I assume the recent election might have motivated the calm, restrained and respectful hand clapping. I sincerely hope that Guests will do the same for the next winner of a hard fought election, regardless who it might be. We can still celebrate American democracy even if we don't always agree with the winner of a specific election. The fact that we still can, after nearly 250 years, makes us all winners, in my opinion. Isn't that the whole point of the attraction?

I didn't hear any "cheering" and I didn't say I witnessed anything of the sort. I agree that would have been inappropriate and it would have made me feel uncomfortable regardless who was doing it and for which president.

But what about people who weren't too happy with the outcome? They might feel differently, especially these days. If it's just about the process or deomcracy as a whole, you could just applaud at the end of the show. Do you believe that those same people would still applaud had it been someone else? That's not to say that different folks may have applauded a different person, but I don't think that's appropriate either.

Really, I don't see the point of applauding animatronic figures anyway - they can't hear you. It's like applauding a movie. Unless the director is in the audience, there is no reason to.

 

[Pooh2]

I agree with other posters that like the format the way it is.
But I sure wish they would update the seating to something more comfy!

 

[whiteness]

But what about people who weren't too happy with the outcome? They might feel differently, especially these days. If it's just about the process or deomcracy as a whoe, you could just applaud at the end of the show. Do you believe that those same people would still applaud had it been someone else? That's not to say that different folks may have applauded a different person, but I don't think that's appropriate either.

Really, I don't see the point of applauding animatronic figures anyway - they can't hear you. It's like applauding a movie. Unless the director is in the audience, there is no reason to.

It was a very unusual moment. Only the second time in our history that a president has won a non-consecutive election, and the only one in modern times. I assume that many Guests were responding to the magnitude of that moment in history, rather then the specific individual (although some were responding to both.)

If the other candidate had won, she would have been applauded for purely historical reasons as well (and rightly so.) I would have joined everyone else in that applause. I most certainly would not have jeered and would have reported anyone being disrespectful to any American president if I witnessed it.

 

[hertamaniac]

I attended the HoP this past Tuesday afternoon. There was clapping and cheering for the most recent Presidents. But the ending of the show garnered the most clapping.

 

[Darklord77]

I agree with saving your applause until the end. I have strong political leanings, but the HOP is a educational experience and not a thrill ride.

 

[gottalovepluto]

But what about people who weren't too happy with the outcome? They might feel differently…

There should be a sign- no cheering, clapping, moaning, hissing, booing for any president. Any violators could hurt feelings and shall be banned from all Disney properties for this life- and the next!

Or people can roll their eyes and move on with their day.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I wouldn't be surprised if 46 swaps places with 47, and Disney uses 47's speech from his previous administration.

Concur, cheapest and least politically charged solution.

I’d love to see muppets take it over entirely but if that was gonna happen Disney would have announced it with all the stuff they announced at D23…

 

[gmi3804]

There should be a sign- no cheering, clapping, moaning, hissing, booing for any president. Any violators could hurt feelings and shall be banned from all Disney properties for this life- and the next!

Or people can roll their eyes and move on with their day.

Or they can skip it altogether, which is what the scooter-and-vertical-photo crowd on the way to the nearest FOMO attraction does anyway.

 

[whiteness]

There should be a sign- no cheering, clapping, moaning, hissing, booing for any president. Any violators could hurt feelings and shall be banned from all Disney properties for this life- and the next!

Or people can roll their eyes and move on with their day.

Disneyworld has two attractions where people (including myself) are often moved to applaud and even cheer our history and democratic institutions. I hope I can share those experiences with my grandchildren, someday.

 

[BrianL]

It was a very unusual moment. Only the second time in our history that a president has won a non-consecutive election, and the only one in modern times. I assume that many Guests were responding to the magnitude of that moment in history, rather then the specific individual (although some were responding to both.)

If the other candidate had won, she would have been applauded for purely historical reasons as well (and rightly so.) I would have joined everyone else in that applause. I most certainly would not have jeered and would have reported anyone being disrespectful to any American president if I witnessed it.

Well, I somehow doubt that they were applauding the "magnitude of the moment in history." Just because an event is impactful on history, doesn't mean that everyone feels it is worthy of applause.

There should be a sign- no cheering, clapping, moaning, hissing, booing for any president.

The CM does politely ask at the beginning that all applause be held until the end of the show. People often choose to ignore that.

 

[goofyernmost]

In the long run, I think that would be a good idea. We need a little bit of distance to decide which leaders were truly "historical" and deserving of a "call out" or "speaking role." Disney can stay above the politics of the moment while still celebrating our American history and democratic institutions.

That said, it would be terribly tone deaf for Disney to announce that change after the results of an election are known. If they were truly planning to do that, it would have been far more appropriate to make that announcement at the D23, or, ideally, before any of the candidates announced their run for office.

If they do it now, it will absolutely look political to a great many people. Even many folks that didn't vote for 47 will likely quietly feel this in their hearts, even if they are happy with Disney's decision. I fear that will ultimately be harmful for the attraction, and I hope Disney will tread carefully, here.

I disagree, it would be much easier now to do it because they have a legit excuse that it would be more obvious if they had to highlight it again. I don't know what they are going to do and I'm afraid that it is going to cause another situation where the attraction ends up being closed for 8 or 9 months while they tried to figure out the appropriate thing to do. No matter what direction they take they are going to get some flack from some direction. Just cut the cord on the whole current president thing and make it easier for the future. Who knows they might just do it quietly with no announcement. One way or the other they have to move Biden into the regular lineup anyway.

 

[whiteness]

I disagree, it would be much easier now to do it because they have a legit excuse that it would be more obvious if they had to highlight it again.

What would the legit excuse be?

 

[focusondisney]

Disney uses 47's speech from his previous administration.

I disagree. Why should he get a speech when his predecessor did not & was only portrayed doing the oath. Which I assume they made that change to lower the temperature after a contentious election. I don’t think this election was any better. They could just as easily use him doing the oath as well.

 

[whiteness]

I disagree. Why should he get a speech when his predecessor did not & was only portrayed doing the oath. Which I assume they made that change to lower the temperature after a contentious election. I don’t think this election was any better. They could just as easily use him doing the oath as well.

Well, let's see how Disney handles this. Anyone that wants to see 47 doing a speech can find one online, anyway.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I’m sure Disney goes thru this every 4 years so it won’t be a big deal requiring months-long close downs and other drama laden moments. There’s nothing earth shattering about his return from an amusement park’s POV.

 

[focusondisney]

It was a very unusual moment. Only the second time in our history that a president has won a non-consecutive election, and the only one in modern times. I assume that many Guests were responding to the magnitude of that moment in history, rather then the specific individual (although some were responding to both.)

I would bet serious money that is not why they were applauding. Or that most of them even knew that fact.

 

[whiteness]

I would bet serious money that is not why they were applauding. Or that most of them even knew that fact.

Maybe. But it was an historical fact, whether they knew it or not.

Another reason why this election will be viewed as historically notable is the rise of Pod Casts and long form interviews as an important way for presidents and presidential candidates to reach voters. And I think this will only grow in importance over time.

Note that one of the themes running through the Hall Of President's script is the impact of evolving technology and modalities of communication on the presidency and how some presidents were especially attuned or suited to those shifts. I honestly believe that this will be viewed as a pivotal election by future historians. Not so much because of who was elected, but because of how new technology and changes in the way voters consume information forever changed how we chose our presidents.

There was a power shift happening right before our eyes, and the winners and losers of that probably won't be apparent for a generation. But, make no mistake, this was an absolutely pivotal election. Things will never be the same.