Hall of Presidents Previews Today

[dxwwf3]

Sounds like they've done a great job here. Can't wait to see it next year.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Why would you ever say that? That actually makes perfect sense and is logical and fair.

I'd even go so far as to suggest that Iger was only there because this HAD to be done right. This is the HoP. This is the first African-American prez in a very divided country. The big man had to check it out himself in a way he didn't have to check out Depp being added to Pirates or the Mansion redo.

As to Jay, the man is never seen in any of the parks unless Burbank or the media is. He doesn't share the love that fans and guests and cast do. This isn't exactly Disney's Best Kept Secret here.

That's probably a pretty good point. Plus... Who knows... Iger might have been present when Obama gave the audio (I know I would have been if I were in his place, regardless of personal political views), giving him a closer, personal connection to the final product.

 

[WDW1974]

That's probably a pretty good point. Plus... Who knows... Iger might have been present when Obama gave the audio (I know I would have been if I were in his place, regardless of personal political views), giving him a closer, personal connection to the final product.

Interesting thought ... and possible.

My guess is that Bob and Jay were nowhere around when Stitch's Dance Party debutted ...

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Interesting thought ... and possible.

My guess is that Bob and Jay were nowhere around when Stitch's Dance Party debutted ...

They hate it too?:lookaroun:lol:

 

[SirGoofy]

They hate it too?:lookaroun:lol:

I wouldn't be surprised if Jay didn't know what it was.

 

[drew81]

Interesting thought ... and possible.

My guess is that Bob and Jay were nowhere around when Stitch's Dance Party debutted ...

But they did watch Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party while they were in town.

 

[MousDad]

My guess is that Bob and Jay were nowhere around when Stitch's Dance Party debutted ...

In case nobody knows:

"debutted" - v. past tense. The act of audience members' butts getting the heck out of a performance venue.

My guess is this happened around 45 seconds into every performance.

 

[WDW1974]

But they did watch Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party while they were in town.

I think I saw a movie that was called 'Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It!' once ... like four times in one night.

But there were no Disney characters involved

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Interesting thought ... and possible.

My guess is that Bob and Jay were nowhere around when Stitch's Dance Party debutted ...

I'm pretty sure Bob was there. In a Stitch foamhead with an Elvis costume on. :lol:

 

[disney3371]

i'm really dont like the 9/11 stuff i dont think that was a god idea do we need it

:dazzle::drevil:

Thanks so much for your review and the info! It sounds like some interesting changes and I'm really looking forward to seeing it in December. I may make you watch it about 5 times!

I wonder why they went with so many somber events (Oklahoma City, 9/11)? Was there narration about Presidents overcoming such events?

Does it focus on the office of the Presidency and how it shapes the man or how the man shaped the office?

I obviously haven't heard it yet but I agree that Morgan Freeman was a great choice.

Thanks again!

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

Yes I think some somber parts of America's history must be shown in order to depict the challenges different Presidents faced throughout the years. It's not like sad things were the only things shown in any of the versions of the hall of presidents.

 

[Disneyson 1]

I'm not quite sure we should bring "reality" into the Magic Kingdom. I mean, I assume that before the refurb. the attraction was more based on presidential speeches and such, but not really focusing on events. I think that the new approach of "how events shaped the presidents", especially that they include new events, kind of brings it back to reality.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

The Civil War was a pretty big part of the last show, as I recall. That was definitely a reality-based event, albeit a historical one.

 

[TP2000]

I cannot imagine ANY other company in this day and age spending gobs of money on an attraction like this. It doesn't go fast, it doesn't go in loops, and it isn't attached to some sort of film.

The HOP is part of what makes Disney, DISNEY. It's an experience you cannot fine anywhere else. I am very excited that it's receiving the TLC that it deserves.

Way to go, WDW!

I couldn't agree more! It's great to know this needed refurb has turned out so well.

I had to chuckle at the comment about "running to the Hall of Presidents first when I get there in August". It's great that is something someone will actually do, and it might be the first time in Disney theme park history that it's happened! :lol:

 

[Animaniac93-98]

The Civil War was a pretty big part of the last show, as I recall. That was definitely a reality-based event, albeit a historical one.

Reality was always involved with HoP, but it's optimistic tone made it appropriate for MK. The absence of this tone is one of the reasons why versions 2 and 3 were so bad.

 

[imagineer boy]

I'm not quite sure we should bring "reality" into the Magic Kingdom. I mean, I assume that before the refurb. the attraction was more based on presidential speeches and such, but not really focusing on events. I think that the new approach of "how events shaped the presidents", especially that they include new events, kind of brings it back to reality.

Well, the fact that there's an Obama animatronic there pretty much already brings you into reality.

 

[JimJam]

Obama just made the show worse...:hurl: It was good, but Obama ruined it..:hammer:

 

[aladdin2007]

I would love to hear about the new music soundtrack too.

 

[Disneyson 1]

Well, the fact that there's an Obama animatronic there pretty much already brings you into reality.

Yes, but the fantasy and myth surrounding the role of "president" is still very much intact, no matter the new-ness. Older historical events are, I feel, more fabled and heroic than any event in the near present. I think that WWII is the perfect cutoff point. After that and the stories stop becoming "passive" and suddenly hit home, and not in a good way. People remember the present and become conscious of the now-ness of it all. I have a feeling that the new presidents, or at least Obama, will have minimal impact as he doesn't talk about the financial crisis, nor about haw he's the first black president, but rather on the same thing George Washington talks about, relating him back to the fantasy of presidents in general.

When you hear a little kid say "I want to be president some day!", they don't think about all the problems we have, but they see the reverence and magic of the idea of being president.

 

[donsullivan]

I would love to hear about the new music soundtrack too.

The musical soundtrack itself is not really anything distinct or special. There is certainly not anything unique like Golden Dreams from The American Adventure. To be honest, music is really not a substantial part of the show.

For the most part it's just background music underneath the dialog and narration with an orchestral, historic feel (if that makes any sense) to it. Lots of violins and some choral background (no words) underneath parts. It's the sort of thing that sounds familiar but you've never heard before. I don't recognize any of the music having been part of earlier editions of the show.

The music under the Roll Call has a rolling version of Hail to the Chief.

Underneath Obama's speach is America the Beautiful and that builds following his speach to become the closer of the show.