President Bush at the Contemporary?

[JennSaint]

President Bush is rumored to be coming the the Contemporary resort on Friday, February 17 for a Republican Fundraiser. I'm trying find out what time because we have an ADR for dinner there at 6pm. My DH says traffic is going to be horrible at Disney that day (we're staying at POFQ). Apparently they shut down roads etc. Anyone else hear anything on this???

 

[Quinn222]

Reason enough to instantly change my plans if it was me.

 

[BYC]

I wish I could be there! I would love to shake his hand!

 

[__disneygirl]

I'm not a huge Bush supporter (but I don't hate him), it would be cool to see/meet him in person, especially at Disney! I wonder if he will visit the parks.

 

[DisneyWisher]

OMG the poor people that are staying at CR. I don't see how this could be. With the monorail and the boats coming and going it doesn't seem like its something the Secret Service can secure. It would be different if it was AKL but CR has so many ways to get to it besides the roadways. I'd call the resort and see if this is just a rumor.

 

[snowy76]

Having a friend who works in the White House on these types of trips and having experienced 3 Presidential visits personally... With all the backroads at Disney that most people don't see/use, I would be surprised if traffic on the main roads on Disney property were blocked off, although some may be. Just from a safety standpoint, the Secret Service prefers the least obtrusive routes possible. That's IF he just goes to the resort and out again (which is likely given the millions of appearances someone like him makes). Going to a park would be a logistical nightmare for Disney and the White House.

As far as disruptions, I would be more concerned about anyone who lives locally between WDW and whatever airbase Air Force One would use.

--Andrea (who was once stopped by Secret Security for setting off their wands with the metal in her bra!)

 

[DisneyWisher]

It might be true. I just found this article


"Central to Bush's plan is about $500 million in a property-tax reduction that could save the owner of a home assessed at $300,000 about $80 a year.

The cut, however, could save Orange County's biggest landowner, Walt Disney World, about $1.6 million annually; Universal Orlando more than $400,000; and the Marriott hotel chain about $200,000 in the Orlando area alone."
Great our schools aren't bad enough in Florida as it is and now they are going to get worse. Its only saving people on average about $6plus a month. No real big savings. OK OK stepping off my soapbox. Sorry!!

Some other sites are saying he will be there too. yikes.

 

[wilderness gal]

Wishing I could be there but can't, knowing someone who helped coordinate a visit to our area, and having a friend who is a SS agent. The SS tries not to draw attention to themselves (usually); so they'll be finding those secret hideaways & passages around WDW . It's cool to see those guys working though, and how quickly they get their jobs done & you know what, you really never see "EVERYBODY". Someone even told me that they saw me at one of "Pres. Bush's functions" & I said how'd you know
I then figured out where they were, "SWEET"......... they are very good at their jobs.

 

[Selket]

I worked at a well known university in downtown DC for many years and they hosted several presidential visits and visits of heads of state and first ladies, etc. I would think that the time the President is actually on the ground there at the hotel there could be disruptions - if he has to walk through any public areas/roads, etc. to get to where he is going.

One time on campus when dropping off the payroll and yakking with a friend who was with me dropping hers off too we exited the building onto a walkway/driveway area that everyone used on campus to get around. Well apparently someone wasn't bright enough to put a guard on THAT door and we walked right out to where (then) first lady Hillary Clinton was getting out of the car and going into a bldg. next door to give a speech. We opened the door and stepped out and there she was....and there we were....and then all these secret service guys started yelling at us to go back in and shut the door! D'oh! Well at least they didn't shoot us

Well...you might want to reschedule that dinner just in case - or if you're curious then it could be interesting! I've personally seen enough of that stuff to last me a lifetime!

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I was at the GF when Bush was there in November of 2003, I think it was. There were visible secret service all over the grounds. The buses and monorail and motor launch boats had extra surveillence and people not staying at the resort come and go freely. Sections of the MK were closed off for periods of time. I actually did not see him personally even though I was staying there...but heard from a CM that he had a room somewhere in the resort. There was a luncheon in the conference center and there were TV station vans and cameras all over the front entrance. It wasn't a huge inconvenience, but it was a quite noticeable difference in atmosphere around the resort. It might not seem as different at the CR since it's a busier feeling resort to begin with. GF is normally feels quite placid.

 

[Sollenberger]

I, too would LOVE to be there, inconvience or not.

 

[BunnieGene]

When we were there in December 05, there was some sort of Democratic Party fundraiser at the CR. We were trying to get from MGM to GF by bus, which of course stopped at CR on the way. Traffic was HORRENDOUS. It took an hour to get through the long line of cars and through the CR security checkpoint. Not a highlight of an otherwise wonderful vacation

 

[tjmouse]

It is definately true. I know someone who will be there. They will be in the convention part of CR and I am sure they will have all access to that area blocked off so it shouldn't interfere with the restaurant access. But, traffic to and from the resort might be an issue. I would change if you can, but if you can't and it's important to you, just give yourself plenty of time to get there. Or better yet, go to MK early in the day and walk over for your meal if you have that option.

 

[dennis99ss]

I'll pay for your dinner if you promise to hold up a sign for him and the tv camera's to see which reads "2247 won't get to go to Disney--How many more".

 

[Sollenberger]

to Dennis - they cant go to protect your right to go......it is not Bush's fault, did you forget who the enemy is????

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I'm no authority here, but let's not hijack this thread with a political debate. Can we all just get along?

 

[maddhatir]

I'm no authority here, but let's not hijack this thread with a political debate. Can we all just get along?

sorry just had to do this.....

bush makes me

ok i'm done.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

My 2 cents....

I am a huge Bush/Republican supporter and I would love to have dinner reservations at the CR with the chance of seeing the President. I am jealous I would keep my dinner reservations and just allow extra time. When will you ever get such a chance to see the President at the happiest place on earth? Even all the secret service is kind of exciting.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I know what you mean Grace. I got to see the President at my alma mater during his Social Security tour. The atmosphere around a President is definitely different from normal.

 

[BlondeAlligator]

President Bush was at the GF during our trip several years ago. It made travel throughout WDW a real pain because they do shut down all buses, monorail, boats etc. while his motorcade is out & about. We got stuck at the GF after breakfast for about an 40 minutes while we waited for him to arrive. FYI...unless you are paying many bucks to be at the fundraiser, they won't let you anywhere near him.