Plans for a fifth Disney World park? Documents suggest possibility
There are no official plans for a fifth major theme park at Walt Disney World — at least not yet. But new planning documents hint at the long-term potential for expansion.
Fox – 35 Orlando
- Disney World’s Hall of Presidents has reopened after a temporary closure.
- The attraction features animatronic U.S. presidents, including a figure of President Donald Trump.
- The show is approximately 25 minutes long.
Disney World’s Hall of Presidents has reopened after a temporary closure earlier this year.
A longtime staple of the Magic Kingdom at Disney World, the attraction is particularly popular, especially during presidential election seasons. Following President Donald Trump’s second win in November’s election against former Vice President Kamala Harris, many have wondered whether his previous animatronic will be updated or replaced with a new one.
Is Disney World’s Hall of Presidents reopened?
According to WDW News Today, Disney World’s Hall of Presidents attraction quietly reopened on June 29.
Disney’s website also lists the attraction as open from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m.
Disney World officials did not immediately respond to the USA TODAY Network’s requests for details.
Did Disney reuse the previous Trump animatronic?
It is still unknown whether the Trump animatronic is brand new or if Disney made updates to the previous one. Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY Network, reached out to Disney for confirmation.
What is Disney’s Hall of Presidents? Is Hall of Presidents a ride?
Among the thrill rides and meet-and-greets with fictional characters, Disney World’s “Hall of Presidents” is a multimedia presentation and stage show that seeks to educate parkgoers on the formation of the U.S. and all 45 of its presidents.
The show features narrations from some of the presidents as they highlight various historical events and critical documents, including the signing of the Declaration of Independence and facts about the Civil War.
Walt Disney himself reportedly called for the attraction. Disney Wiki says that the show was initially intended for Disneyland’s theme park in Anaheim, California. Since technology had not advanced enough to support his vision, Disney instead focused on bringing a single animatronic president to life, creating Abraham Lincoln for the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
As plans were coming together for the new Florida theme park, Disney employees found that they could incorporate his vision for a show on the U.S. presidents. In October 1971, the attraction opened with the park, with then-president Richard Nixon ending the roll call.
Which theme park has the Hall of Presidents? Where to find it at Disney World near Orlando, Florida
How many presidents have been added to Disney’s Hall of Presidents since opening in October 1971?
Since its original opening, it has added nine new presidents to its lineup:
- Gerald F. Ford
- Jimmy Carter
- Ronald Reagan
- George Bush
- Bill Clinton
- George W. Bush
- Barack Obama
- Donald Trump
- Joe Biden
Do the US presidents record special speeches for Disney’s Hall of Presidents?
The show features a segment dedicated to the current president, during which they deliver a brief speech. Every sitting president since Bill Clinton has recorded his own remarks for the Hall of Presidents at the White House.
How long does it take for Disney World to add a new president to the attraction?
It took Disney World six months to reopen the attraction after it closed in January.
According to Plan Disney, it takes roughly a year from the election to produce a new animatronic leader. For example, Trump was added in December 2017 after the 2016 election, and Biden was added in August 2021.
“There are many steps involved including several levels of models as well as an interview with the actual president. So the voice you hear in the attraction will be the president’s real voice,” Plan Disney says.
Conspiracy theory about the Trump figure made by Disney
Since President Trump was added to the lineup back in 2017, the appearance of his animatronic has caused some controversy.
A few parkgoers and social media users claimed the figure also resembled Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee. This led to rumors that Disney, anticipating Clinton’s win in the 2016 election, had begun building a robot with her likeness, only to repurpose it after Trump won.
According to Snopes, this rumor has never been confirmed or even addressed by Disney officials.
How much are tickets to Disney World in Florida?
Tickets to any of Disney’s theme parks start at $119, prices rising depending on the season and which day you attend.
Disney World also just announced its “Summer Magic Ticket” offer exclusively for Florida residents. As of May 6, parkgoers can purchase tickets for as low as $60 per day, with no blackout dates. The offer is valid from May 18 through Sept. 27, 2025.
This story was updated to correct a misspelled word.
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