President-elect Joe Biden seems like the next candidate to receive an animatronic version of himself at the Walt Disney World Hall of Presidents — but there’s been no indication about whether that will happen.
What’s going on?
Biden has been elected president of the United States, which means he is due for a new statue at the Hall of Presidents. But Disney has yet to comment on building an animatronic display of the president so far.
- There’s also a rumor that Disney is considering closing the Hall of Presidents for the long-term, especially if the 2020 election results head to the courts and continue to be disputed.
Donald Trump didn’t arrive in Disney World until December 2017, which was nearly a year after he was inaugurated, The New York Times reports.
- There were some conspiracy theories that the figure was delayed because Disney was trying to silence Trump, according to The New York Times.
- There was some indication that Trump hadn’t recorded his dialogue yet, which delayed the response.
Should it stay?
Robert Niles of The Orange County Register opines that Disney should end the Hall of Presidents altogether, The experience is often used an escape from the sweltering Florida heat, not to actually visit the presidents, he wrote. The park would do well to embrace the experience with something that teaches people about the presidency.
But I would hate to see Disney give up on what could be an engaging, must-see attraction for many Americans. With its The American Adventure show at Epcot, Disney has shown that it can produce a lesson in American history that both informs and entertains. So why not take Joe Biden’s election as an opportunity to reimagine the Hall of Presidents?
You think if we put those men in a room together, they would just stand around nodding at one another? No, I want to see the ultimate Presidential debate. Let them argue. And through that argument, let the audience learn something about how America — and the office of the Presidency — has changed over the past 230-plus years, in a way that no textbook can deliver.
And, maybe, “Hamilton” will influence the hall moving forward, The Washington Post reports.
- Disney blog Inside the Magic wrote in February: “Disney has the perfect opportunity to further collaborate with Lin Manuel Miranda and put a Hamilton spin on Liberty Square, and the Hall of Presidents at Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.”