Inappropriate Behavior in Hall of the Presidents

[k5thbeatle]

Yes, we are fortunate that we live in a country where we can express ourselves about many issues. Of course, raving and ranting at animated puppets (be they at the Hall of Presidents at WDW or in the White House) doesn't solve any problems in this country...

Yeah, I wonder if these people shake their fist in anger at their tv sets when images of the pres or other things they don't like come on...it is just as effective.

I agree that this is totally assinine and childish and inappropriate. People should walk over to them after the show and say, "boy, you sure told 'em (the animatronics) and ya know with that public display I was so moved that I'm going to change parties now! Thanks for helping us see the light now, and shucks we just thought we were on vacation to have some fun!"

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

completely classless. No matter how strongly they feel, they should respect their fellow guests trying to enjoy the show.

C'mon now!! I loudly boo that rascal, Warren G. Harding, every time I've ever gone to the HOP!! The Tea Pot Dome Scandal is something that every red blooded, patriotic American should stand and speak up against!! If your not part of the solution...you know the rest!!

 

[skiwee1]

While inappropriate and distracting for those who are watching the show - I think in some ways it is good that foreigners can hear Americans "expressing themselves like that" and not getting arrested for it. Free speech (although not the proper place for it).

And it also shows foreigners what a bunch of morons some Americans can be. This happened last year when we were there. An entire row was booing Bush. It was embarrassing to say the least.

 

[Chuck S]

I've only been to HoP once since GWB was elected, primarily for this reason. I have avoided it since (and we go 2x to 3x a year). Of course when I went, Clinton was booed and GWB was thunderously cheered. Either way, and whatever your political feelings, it ruins the performance for everyone and is just plain tacky.

 

[byoung]

i agree that's not good .

 

[civileng68]

Let me just input my extended opinion on some of what I've read.

To those who think this is a good show of how America is great and people can voice their Free Speech rights: I disagree here. I say this because I don't think it looks good to people from other countries. Why? Because they are not there to see a political show from the crowd. They are on vacation themselves. Guess what? Many if not MOST of the foriegners at that show likely despise our President, yet they don't say a word (from what I could hear). I think if you were to go up on Capital Hill, now that would be a great example of democracy and free speach. NOT sitting on vacation watching robots do a show re-enacting presidents. I go to the HOP to imagine those guys being real and just what they would be like. I'm a VERY politically in tune person and will be the first to debate, but that is not the place.

The thing is..............if you go to Capital Hill and protest, that is free. Nobody paid admission to watch you do it. When someone pays extreme amounts of money for a vacation that is not the place to do it.

Just a reminder as well. Free Speach doesn't mean that you can say whatever you want without being condemned for it. Free Speach simply means that you can voice your opinion publicly without being arrested for it. However, Disney has all legal means to put an end to it by policy and even invoke a removal from the attraction if they deem it necessary.

Also, Im also in agreement with the person who said that I always expect to hear it but never had. However when I heard it, I felt so angry. I literally wanted to go up to them afterwards but my wife told me to SIT DOWN! I am all for people voicing their opinions but, honestly, some people are just more hateful than political and most of the (not all) people ranting these days about Clinton (in his day) and (Bush) now, couldn't tell you the first thing about politics or anything it involves.

 

[kerry34]

I was just wondering one thing, since the animatronic figures are not the real people why did the people making all the fuss think that anyone was really interested in listening to them? I am all for freedom of speech but I think it should be geared toward actual human beings.

 

[kerrynic78]

I'm surprised more people on here haven't witnessed this since we have been twice in the last couple months and both times the amount of boos, hissing, cheers, etc was so loud for both Bush and Clinton, I thought that was the norm!

 

[CheshireVal]

I heard cheers and boos last time I was there and I thought it was pretty funny.

I'm not one to take things too seriously. They're just robots-- it's just a theme park. You can't mandate patriotism, anyway-- this is America.

But I'm pretty mellow that way.

 

[twinkle]

Although I wouldn't have booed or said anything, I'm glad someone feels the same way about Bush as I do!!

 

[kerrynic78]

Actually when we were there all the boos were for Clinton and Bush got the applause...I was pretty surprised to say the least.

 

[Missy1961]

I've posted about this last year. I was at WDW right after President Reagan passed away. So when they got to him in the roll call, some people applauded, and then of course the reactions to Clinton & Bush. I had never experienced any reactions before, so I was a little surprised. It didn't bother me.

Who knows what it'll be next week? I'll let you know!

 

[Mom2Ashli]

kerry34 I was just wondering one thing, since the animatronic figures are not the real people why did the people making all the fuss think that anyone was really interested in listening to them? I am all for freedom of speech but I think it should be geared toward actual human beings.

Exactly.

 

[antmaril]

It has become obvious that some people cannot control their lack of class and lack of patriotism when attending the Hall of the Presidents.

Monday I witnessed something that just disgusted me.


When in the Hall of the Presidents, in the part where all presidents are introduced. When Bill Clinton was announced there were applaus and boos and when George W. Bush was introduced there was a loud boo by a family followed by shouting of comments.

No CM's approached the individuals but it was enough for several other people to shout back and even get to a point where more people were distracted than watching the show.

I am furious about this lack of class.

First of all, the Hall of the Presidents is NOT the place to voice your political opinion or frustrations. It is a place to learn and be fascinated by the lifelike-ness of the presidents.

Regardless of your political preference I find it completely classless to express yourself in this manner. I am an American and support my country, even if I disagree with my president. If I dislike my president, I show it at the polls, NOT by causing public displays at inappropriate times.

I also find it COMPLETELY embarassing as an American for others (who are in many cases viewing this as citizens of another country) to hear Americans in a theatre of that format expressing themselves like that. I find it embarassing that Americans cannot act patriotic if they disagree with the president in office. It is a disgrace.

I think that something should be said prior to the showing of the show about silence during the show. This attitude COMPLETELY disgusts me!

I agree with you 100%. As an American, I cannot even imagine booing at any of the Presidents in the Hall of Presidents - such a total lack of respect - mind boggling to me.

My .02

 

[AnaheimGirl]

While I agree that it's pretty tacky and classless, I have to disagree on whether it's patriotic. Webster's defines patriotism as "love of and devotion to one's own country", not "love of and devotion to one's president".

As someone's signature here says... "Dissent is patriotic". There are many more productive ways to voice dissent than to boo animatronic figures at WDW, but at least these people love their country enough to be appalled at what W has done to it. I know some here will disagree with that last phrase, but some will agree and that difference has nothing to do with patriotism. We can all love our country, whether we agree or disagree with our president's policies.

Oh, and I also thought this post would be about people making out in the HOP.

 

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

Ok. I am from Dominican Republic, so I would not dare comment in either way about it while attending HOP. However it is not a shock to foreigners to see crowds reacting regarding political figures, I know that if the show featured previous Dominican presidents, there would be applaus and boos during each name mentioned, (heck in some cases people may want to tear down the annimatronic figure to express their anger). LOL. My point being that everyone in the world knows what it is like to be frustrated or angry with previous or current leaders. In my opinion, and I dont mean to offend anybody , it is kind of interesting as a foreigner to see the different reactions from the crowds, granted this is not the place, but where else would I have the chance to do so. I visit this attraction, every year, and sometimes it has only been cheers for your current leader, would that also be innapropiate?. So dont feel too bad.

 

[k5thbeatle]

And it also shows foreigners what a bunch of morons some Americans can be. This happened last year when we were there. An entire row was booing Bush. It was embarrassing to say the least.

Exactly. Some people just don't get it when it comes to public behavior.

 

[cleo]

People cheer at the end of Soarin' and boo the 'bad guys' at shows (such as Sinbads at IoA). The North boos the South and the South boos the North at Dixie Stampede (Political statement? Maybe, if you still fret about who won the war). You cheer for your own Pirate and boo everyone else's at Pirates Dinner Adventure....I could go on and on but you get the idea. You pay a lot of money to be in those places, too.

Not so different at HOP. Maybe if you don't like someone boo-ing 'your' Presidental favorite, it might be irksome. But it's just a sound. No one is harmed in the process.

Last year someone posted about being offended because people nap in HOP. They consider that 'inappropriate behavior', and unpatriotic. At least the boo-ers and cheerers are conscious!

 

[k5thbeatle]

People cheer at the end of Soarin' and boo the 'bad guys' at shows (such as Sinbads at IoA). The North boos the South and the South boos the North at Dixie Stampede (Political statement? Maybe, if you still fret about who won the war). You cheer for your own Pirate and boo everyone else's at Pirates Dinner Adventure....I could go on and on but you get the idea. You pay a lot of money to be in those places, too.

Not so different at HOP. Maybe if you don't like someone boo-ing 'your' Presidental favorite, it might be irksome. But it's just a sound. No one is harmed in the process.

Last year someone posted about being offended because people nap in HOP. They consider that 'inappropriate behavior', and unpatriotic. At least the boo-ers and cheerers are conscious!

Inappropriate??? Unpatriotic??? How about it's just plain rude because maybe some of us want to hear the show and not what some half wit wants to say. It's waaaayyyy different bubba!

 

[JRawkSteady]

Hi - I'm one of the few who disagree. As long as you are keeping your language clean for the children, there should be absolutely no problem in voicing your opinion, no matter where you are! True it's not going to solve anything, but it doesn't hurt anybody as long as its not constant throughout the show.

Hall of Presidents teaches us that America is a free country...They're just following their Constitutional rights (since they're slowly being taken away from us)

If anything, these comments are EXTREMELY patriotic - they were doing what your forefathers wanted us all to do. Express ourselves by using free speech. It's the newfound demolition of one of the most sacred documents that makes America think otherwise now. Very very sad...