The Hall of Presidents is one of the most unique attractions at Walt Disney World. It’s one of those Disney experiences that mix history, technology, and real-time current events.
It’s not a thrill ride. It’s not flashy. But it reflects American history, and that makes every visit a little different depending on when you go. I personally love history, so I don't mind sitting for the 25 minute show every few visits.
Love it or skip it, it’s definitely one of Magic Kingdom’s most talked-about shows.
Here are some Disney Fun Facts:
The Hall of Presidents opened in 1971 on Magic Kingdom’s opening day.
Walt Disney originally developed the animatronic technology for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at the 1964 World’s Fair.
It was the first attraction to feature every U.S. president.
Every time a new president takes office, The Hall of Presidents is closed for several months so Imagineers can update the show.
Disney builds a completely new Audio-Animatronic figure of the incoming president.
To prepare, they study hundreds of photos and video clips of the incoming president. They analyze posture, gesture, and facial expressions. They first sculpt a clay model and then create a final figure with life like skin, hair, and costuming. The goal is realism, not caricature.
The sitting president traditionally records a short speech specifically for the attraction. Disney sends a script to the White House and the president records their lines. The recording is then integrated into the show.
This has been the tradition since Bill Clinton took office in 1993. Before that, the current president didn’t speak individually in the show.
Disney imagineers then program the facial movements to match the audio. They include blinking, breathing, subtle shifts and natural hand gestures.
Over the years, the animatronics have made incredible advancements compared to the original1971 version.
The opening film and narration are sometimes adjusted to reflect recent history.
The finale scene always include all presidents standing together and the current president delivering their speech.
After the newest president is add and the show reopens, it often draws long lines, especially from guests curious to see how accurate the new figure is.
When the current president appears or begins speaking, reactions sometimes include, applause, cheering, silence, and sometimes booing ( less common, but sometimes it happens). This has occurred with multiple presidents over the years, not just one party. Reactions were reported during the Obama, Trump, and Biden updates.
Because the show highlights the current sitting president, that moment can feel politically charged in an otherwise historical attraction, but Disney’s goal is always neutrality and show integrity.
Cast Members do not respond to applause or boos. The show continues uninterrupted. If reactions get disruptive, Cast Members may gently remind guests to be respectful, but this is rare.
The presidential remarks are traditionally patriotic and non-policy specific, focused on unity, democracy, and the Constitution. Disney’s stance is that the attraction is a historical presentation of the presidency, not a political endorsement.
After the 2024 election, The Hall of Presidents closed on January 20, 2025 (Inauguration Day) for its standard presidential update refurbishment. It reopened later that summer on June 29th. I was able to see the new show a few weeks later and something surprised me.
At the end of the show, when all the presidents are announced in their elected order, starting with George Washington, I noticed something was not right. Some of the presidents were mentioned in the wrong chronological order. After announcing President Obama, they mentioned President Biden, and then President Trump. Hmm, I remember President Trump taking office after Obama. Should it have been announced as President Obama, President Trump, President Biden, President Obama? Yes, I do think it should have been announced that way. Of course Americans will know the correct order, but I would think Disney would want to be historically accurate on all accounts. It doesn't cost any more to be historically accurate and announce the name twice. Many foreigners visit Disney World, and I feel like Disney may be providing misinformation to them by not being accurate in the timeline.
I also noticed this was done with President Grover Cleveland. President Cleveland also served two non-consecutive terms. In the show, they announced his first term, but not his second. In chronological order it should have been announced Cleveland, Harrison, Cleveland.
As of now, Disney skips over mentioning Trump during his first term, and only recognizes him for the second term. I do wonder if when the new president is brought into The Hall of Presidents in 2028, if they will reorder the presidents again and only mention Trumps first term, like they did Cleveland?
In any case, there’s something uniquely powerful about sitting inside the Hall of Presidents. No matter the political climate outside, the attraction reminds us that the presidency is bigger than any one person. Seeing every president represented together, past and present, feels like stepping into living history. It’s one of those Magic Kingdom experiences that’s quieter, but incredibly meaningful.
Whether you go for the technology, the history, or the air conditioning break, it’s always an interesting experience.
Have you watched it recently?
Till next time ~M and L
You may also enjoy these blog posts about attractions in Magic Kingdom:
Pirate Adventure Treasure Hunt
3 Rides in Magic Kingdom that are only available in the morning
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Fairytales and Fitness is a personal blog authored and edited by us, Meranda and Lacey. The thoughts expressed here represent only our own and are not meant to be taken as professional advice. Please note that our thoughts and opinions change from time to time. We consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind in an ever changing society. Any thoughts and opinions expressed within our out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those we may express today. Some links may contain affiliate links. Some links are just to pages we'd like to share.