Uggggggg......POTUS 12/7

[Pamela M]

That monorail story is true. Bob Gurr is the one who tells it and he was the one who gave Nixon the trip on the monorail without Secret Service. It wasn't intended to happen that way. It was at Disneyland, I believe.

The story I've heard it was opening day Disneyland and Walt took Nixon for a ride on the railroad and the Secret Service were freaking out.

 

[Disneypro1]

Love to be there!

 

[10CJ]

Honestly I am a little surprised Disney agreed to host this event.

I would definitely be annoyed if I had a trip planned at that time. Heck, I am annoyed by it anyway.

 

[VandVsmama]

The story I've heard it was opening day Disneyland and Walt took Nixon for a ride on the railroad and the Secret Service were freaking out.

The monorail at Disneyland opened in 1959.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

The monorail at Disneyland opened in 1959.

Nixon was vice president at the time.

 

[TongaToast21]

Any word on how long he'll be there? I arrive on the 14th and hoping he's gone.

I can't imagine he will be there for any time after the event is over!

 

[Wood Nymph]

We will be at WDW on Saturday, Dec 7th and since I always plan to avoid MK on Saturdays, his visit to GF should not impact our trip at all. I would assume that he will stick to the GF conference center and stay away from the park. I would think that his visit will disrupt the traffic going in and out of the area during the time he will be there. And off site guests and people staying at or visiting the GF would be impacted the most. If I had made plans to go to MK on that day then I would be quickly changing those plans. I wouldn't want to be in any traffic gridlock or encounter any extra security checks that day.

 

[Searc]

Any word on how long he'll be there? I arrive on the 14th and hoping he's gone.

He will be there long enough to give a speech and that's it. He'll be gone after a few hours.

 

[Pamela M]

Nixon was vice president at the time.

Sorry didn’t mean to spread misinformation but I had heard the story that way from a tour CM at Disneyland while on a tour. So always good to remember that even the tour CMs may not have the correct info.

 

[Eeyore daily]

Honestly I am a little surprised Disney agreed to host this event.

I saw on Facebook that Florida Democratic Party had or will have a convention at CSR so it's valid that both parties are represented there.

 

[smmco]

I'm sure he'll be in and out quickly. Considering the number of people that show up at his rally's, hopefully, it's a private event and doesn't disrupt people's vacations. Security will be insane I'm sure. I think it's always kind of cool to see the motorcades and how they get the president's in and out airports, hotels, etc. It is pretty amazing how efficiently they are able to do it.

 

[gwynne]

I'm sure he'll be in and out quickly. Considering the number of people that show up at his rally's, hopefully, it's a private event and doesn't disrupt people's vacations. Security will be insane I'm sure. I think it's always kind of cool to see the motorcades and how they get the president's in and out airports, hotels, etc. It is pretty amazing how efficiently they are able to do it.

Well yes, generally support folks work quite efficiently to the schedule.
But the real issue is whether he is delayed. There is no way to know ahead of the day if he'll be on time, or whether he will arrive (and/or depart) much later than expected.

 

[disneyseniors]

dont care who the president is, not being political here
but President Trump is going to be at the Grand Floridian 12/7.

Any idea how this may affect operations there and in the surrounding areas?

I was in WDW while Michelle Obama visited WDW. Even though she was in another park entirely, all transportation was closed until after her speech. We were in HS at the time, but were not affected by the wait. We loved HS at that time, but I can see where it would be a problem if you had reservations, FP's. The way it is apparently!

 

[SuJo]

Ugh, we are staying at GF that weekend and from what I have read on previous presidential visits, getting in and out of the GF on that day will be impossible

 

[Traveling on cc points]

Has a time been announced? We fly home on the 7th at 7:35 pm. (Approx 4:30 magical express pick up) luckily we have HS planned for that day and are staying at the beach club so we will just walk there. My only worry is will flights/traffic to the airport will be all screwed up if his speech is later in the day.

 

[smmco]

Well yes, generally support folks work quite efficiently to the schedule.
But the real issue is whether he is delayed. There is no way to know ahead of the day if he'll be on time, or whether he will arrive (and/or depart) much later than expected.

I would plan accordingly. The people that aren’t aware of what’s going on could be in for a bad day. I

 

[SuJo]

Has a time been announced? We fly home on the 7th at 7:35 pm. (Approx 4:30 magical express pick up) luckily we have HS planned for that day and are staying at the beach club so we will just walk there. My only worry is will flights/traffic to the airport will be all screwed up if his speech is later in the day.

It is a dinner that he is attending so I would assume some time in the afternoon if not all day things will be bad. Also assuming Secret Service will be there ahead of time to lock the place down.

 

[Skywise]

It was in one of the conference rooms at CR.

Not Presidential, but Princess Diana brought William and Harry when they were young boys back in the 90s. JustinScarred on YouTube did a fun video on it. They took up an entire floor of the GF.

I wonder if that was the main building/club level? That'd have been interesting.

I'm guessing it is much more disruptive today than the days of Nixon and Eisenhower. Really I can't stand any politicians and the only one I want to see at WDW is Emperor Palpatine.

Palpatine stayed at AKL for Star Wars Weekends (true story bro!)

Really it wasn't all that long ago you could drive by the White House and the people had free access to the halls of congress (because you have the right to talk to your congressman face to face!).
Of course it wasn't all that long ago you could ride the monorail without going through security.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

It is a dinner that he is attending so I would assume some time in the afternoon if not all day things will be bad. Also assuming Secret Service will be there ahead of time to lock the place down.

Thanks. I didn’t see the dinner part.
It will be an interesting last day for sure!!
We have been going back & forth whether or not to rent a car or just use Uber and I think this helped make our finial decision. The last thing I want to deal with at the end of vacation is wall to wall traffic on the way to the airport.
I’m glad I made the ME reservation.

 

[MomOTwins]

Just don't try to walk round the world showcase that weekend: you'll want to avoid the wall they'll be putting up between Future World and the Mexico Pavilion (joking).

In all seriousness, I do think security take longer at GF and on the resort monorail, and buses may be delayed briefly if there when the motorcarde passes through, but I doubt there would be much effect otherwise.