MK Hall of Presidents Replaced by Muppets American History Show???

Charlie The Chatbox Ghost

Well-Known Member
Broad age range, transitions nicely with HM and something for the Muppet fans. Hmm, checks many boxes. Interesting idea! Alienates the nostalgist and dedicated park purists... but I'm sorry, the HoP show is just tired. Think it'd work well.
Reading this made it click for me. Ignoring contemporary issues with the attraction, the show really is just tired. It’s been the same structure for 50+ years- video, then brief animatronic bit with Washington and Lincoln, with the current president bit being a fairly recent addition (I think it was Clinton who started it?). You can only change the script so many times and in so many ways. Modern crowds do not really care about it, especially now that MK is the most visited park in the world by international guests who also likely don’t care about getting an American history lesson that takes up a significantly large amount of time compared to most attractions.

It’s iconic, it’s classic, and it’s a part of MK’s DNA, but it’s also past its prime. It doesn’t really have a place anymore. You can’t update it like you can update the Country Bears (and I would argue the same goes for the Tiki Room- not much you can do to update it there but it has the protection of being Walt’s baby). You could have something still related to American history, but it’d have to be more entertaining to people from all over the world. Maybe an American folktale show hosted by the Muppets, or a larger version of the Muppets Liberty Square show, which was always a hit iirc.

ParkLore’s Magic Kingdom buildout put a larger focus on American tall tales in Liberty Square, and I think that'd be a great way to go.
https://parklore.com/vault/buildout-mk/5/
1745777431859.jpeg

(This whole buildout is amazing and worth the read- it turns the Magic Kingdom from a park that lives in Disneylands shadow to something that is entirely its own)
 

Agent H

Well-Known Member
Reading this made it click for me. Ignoring contemporary issues with the attraction, the show really is just tired. It’s been the same structure for 50+ years- video, then brief animatronic bit with Washington and Lincoln, with the current president bit being a fairly recent addition (I think it was Clinton who started it?). You can only change the script so many times and in so many ways. Modern crowds do not really care about it, especially now that MK is the most visited park in the world by international guests who also likely don’t care about getting an American history lesson that takes up a significantly large amount of time compared to most attractions.

It’s iconic, it’s classic, and it’s a part of MK’s DNA, but it’s also past its prime. It doesn’t really have a place anymore. You can’t update it like you can update the Country Bears (and I would argue the same goes for the Tiki Room- not much you can do to update it there but it has the protection of being Walt’s baby). You could have something still related to American history, but it’d have to be more entertaining to people from all over the world. Maybe an American folktale show hosted by the Muppets, or a larger version of the Muppets Liberty Square show, which was always a hit iirc.

ParkLore’s Magic Kingdom buildout put a larger focus on American tall tales in Liberty Square, and I think that'd be a great way to go.
https://parklore.com/vault/buildout-mk/5/
View attachment 855799
(This whole buildout is amazing and worth the read- it turns the Magic Kingdom from a park that lives in Disneylands shadow to something that is entirely its own)
I thought I was the only person here who read those.
 
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DisDude33

Well-Known Member
You are going to be very happy then.

How do you feel about Liberty Square? ;)
I deleted my original reply to this because after some reflection I have a more honest and thought out response.

If I were to rank the lands of WDW Frontierland would be the bottom but Liberty Square probably wouldn’t be a great distance higher. LS represents a time and place that I find more interesting but ultimately the only thing to do there is HM and HOP and while I don’t like to admit it HOP has a very limited repeatability value.

I would be okay with saying goodbye to LS if it was replace with something that brought freshness and value to the overall MK experience, like how I don’t mind losing ROA (even though it’s views are the only reason I walk through FL on most trips) because it’s departure makes way for villain’s and I’m personally willing to make that trade… we also get a cars ride and that… adds capacity.
 

Disstevefan1

Well-Known Member
I deleted my original reply to this because after some reflection I have a more honest and thought out response.

If I were to rank the lands of WDW Frontierland would be the bottom but Liberty Square probably wouldn’t be a great distance higher. LS represents a time and place that I find more interesting but ultimately the only thing to do there is HM and HOP and while I don’t like to admit it HOP has a very limited repeatability value.

I would be okay with saying goodbye to LS if it was replace with something that brought freshness and value to the overall MK experience, like how I don’t mind losing ROA (even though it’s views are the only reason I walk through FL on most trips) because it’s departure makes way for villain’s and I’m personally willing to make that trade… we also get a cars ride and that… adds capacity.
You are going to be very happy in the end.
RoA, TST, the riverboat will be gone.
I sincerely think LS, HoP and Frontierland will be gone sooner rather than later.

The happy side effect will be added capacity but in my opinion it’s not the only reason Disney wants to erase these things. To Disney I am guessing there are negative connotations about these things.

Don’t ask me what they are because I don’t know.
 

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
The two biggest fan theories for the post Muppet*Vision role for the Muppets were a Hall of Presidents overlay and a Rock 'n' Roller Coaster overlay. Given the current franchise popularity of The Muppets, it's honestly a little surprising that even one of those came to fruition.

Having said that, Hall of Presidents needs to be removed from the park 20 years ago. We are not mature enough as a society to handle this attraction. Moreover, no matter what Disney does to this attraction it will always be politicized simply because it features politicians. It is the most divisive attraction in Disney history and it would never be green lit today.

Honestly, offer it up to the Smithsonian.
 

Moth

Well-Known Member
Reading this made it click for me. Ignoring contemporary issues with the attraction, the show really is just tired. It’s been the same structure for 50+ years- video, then brief animatronic bit with Washington and Lincoln, with the current president bit being a fairly recent addition (I think it was Clinton who started it?). You can only change the script so many times and in so many ways. Modern crowds do not really care about it, especially now that MK is the most visited park in the world by international guests who also likely don’t care about getting an American history lesson that takes up a significantly large amount of time compared to most attractions.

It’s iconic, it’s classic, and it’s a part of MK’s DNA, but it’s also past its prime. It doesn’t really have a place anymore. You can’t update it like you can update the Country Bears (and I would argue the same goes for the Tiki Room- not much you can do to update it there but it has the protection of being Walt’s baby). You could have something still related to American history, but it’d have to be more entertaining to people from all over the world. Maybe an American folktale show hosted by the Muppets, or a larger version of the Muppets Liberty Square show, which was always a hit iirc.

ParkLore’s Magic Kingdom buildout put a larger focus on American tall tales in Liberty Square, and I think that'd be a great way to go.
https://parklore.com/vault/buildout-mk/5/
View attachment 855799
(This whole buildout is amazing and worth the read- it turns the Magic Kingdom from a park that lives in Disneylands shadow to something that is entirely its own)


To the Tiki Room point:
1000013944.png


To turning Liberty Square into having more of a focus to American Folklore: I say MK should one up Monster's Unchained and do a dark ride featuring Bigfoot, Mothman, Paul Bunyan, The Flatwoods Monster, the Chupacabra and the Jackalope. Hire me WDI, I'm available.
 

Bocabear

Well-Known Member
To turning Liberty Square into having more of a focus to American Folklore: I say MK should one up Monster's Unchained and do a dark ride featuring Bigfoot, Mothman, Paul Bunyan, The Flatwoods Monster, the Chupacabra and the Jackalope. Hire me WDI, I'm available.
but none of those except maybe Paul Bunyon are Disney IP...and the IP Mandate must be followed... A Disney version of Monsters Unchained I would think would be a great Villains dark ride...
I feel like this change to the MK is getting larger and will really ruin the entire fee of the park....So not it is the ROA,Steamboat, TSI,and then Liberty Square, HOP, andwhat currently exists as Frontierland?... So basically a good 3rd of the park could be under construction for the next decade as they continue to "refresh" the park...
 

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
Why is everyone talking about Tokyo removing the jungle cruise all of a sudden?
Off topic is a way of life for some.

 

Agent H

Well-Known Member
Off topic is a way of life for some.

I can’t read Japanese. Is Incredibles replacing the jungle cruise?
 

rle4lunch

Well-Known Member
Muppets is getting enough attention with replacing RnRc.. No offense to the Muppet purists, but they are past their prime as well.

In regards to HoP, yes, it's a bit tired, but if it could be structured a bit more like American Adventure, then it could be relevant again. I do think it's still valuable for kids 8-12 years old that are currently learning (or should I say, SHOULD be learning) in school to be able to connect some dots in their brains on things they've read about.
 

Charlie The Chatbox Ghost

Well-Known Member
To the Tiki Room point: View attachment 855967

To turning Liberty Square into having more of a focus to American Folklore: I say MK should one up Monster's Unchained and do a dark ride featuring Bigfoot, Mothman, Paul Bunyan, The Flatwoods Monster, the Chupacabra and the Jackalope. Hire me WDI, I'm available.
I have thought of what it’d be like to bring the Stitch overlay to the US but I can’t say I’m a fan. Love the song choices (especially Waikiki) but I’d say for the US it’d need more work

A modern Tiki Room redo would probably just be the birds singing Moana and Lilo & Stitch songs, with the OG Tiki Room song being left. I won’t get into it more out of veering off topic, but I’ve thought a modern take on the show with the same songs but added practical effects like wind and more water would be cool.
 

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