Magic Kingdom - Hall of Presidents

Hall of Presidents

Year Opened: 1971
Show Length: 22:48 minutes

Overview/History:

The Hall of Presidents proves that Disney does know how to promote patriotism. This attraction will not disappoint those who might enjoy a bit of Americana with that Disney touch.

The atrium/pre-show area is full of Presidential portraits and memorabilia.  Getting the opportunity to see real articles owned by past Presidents is truly a treat.  One of the most popular areas is the display of First Lady Dresses. 

Once you get in the theater, the show begins with a digitally projected film that is narrated by Morgan Freeman.  He manages to capture the energy and spirit of the narrative without overshadowing the context.  The film delivers a message of the hardships the USA faced in its struggle to find a national identity.

Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address.  Smooth and flawless in his motions, there is no indication this is an audio-animatronic on the stage and not a real live, human being.

Lincoln sits back down and the movie and narrative continues with a focus on the struggles that all Presidents face as they strive to perform a most unenviable job.  Names and faces like FDR, JFK, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush remind us that each President faces his own challenges during his Presidency.

The curtain rises and we see all of the Presidents.  They are introduced to the audience one at a time in the order of their Presidency.  The introductions are much more fluid and much quicker than in the past, which is a welcome change to those of us who are waiting for them to ’speak’.  When the Presidents are named, you'll see a lot of realistic gestures such as nodding, a bit of fidgeting and the occasional whisper.

All of the clothing on the figures is an authentic reproduction of their respective eras, including the braces on Franklin Delano Roosevelt's legs.

Barack Obama personally recorded his figure's speech. The remaining speaking part in the show belongs to George Washington.

The Hall of Presidents is best suited for adults. Unless your child is a real history buff, chances are they're going to be bored. Still, if the park is busy and/or hot, sinking into one of the 700 comfy theater seats for a bit is a nice break.

Fastpass: No

Handicapped Accessibility: The theatre is wheelchair accessible.

For hearing impaired guests, reflective captioning is available (ask a Cast Member at the entrance for assistance), and Assistive Listening devices can be used here (check at Guest Services for details).

Fun Facts:  While the Hall was envisioned by Walt Disney, it was actually completed by his brother Roy.

Each one of the first 43 presidents were sculpted by Disney artist Blaine Gibson. Gibson, who is 90 years old, handed over the reins to his protégé Valerie Edwards, who created President Obama’s figure under his supervision.