President Barack Obama to visit the Contemporary Resort this week

[The Mom]

We arrived at WDW the same day President Obama was there in January. The ride on Magical Express to Bay Lake Tower was interesting seeing all of the security and law enforcement(some were in trees). We took a detour and went around the North Side of the Magic Kingdom to get to the resort and that was very interesting, went right by the main fireworks launch site and saw a good glimpse of the FLE site. Even though they told us at check in to avoid Magic Kingdom, we went anyways and all of Main St was blocked off as that is where he was giving his speech. They detoured us to right of Main St and they had some very impressive parade floats from Spectro, Christmas, Halloween parades. Staying at Bay Lake we also saw all of the media set up on stages as that was their home press base at the Contemporary parking lot.

This is the sort of post that adds to the discussion without being political. Thank you!

 

[Timekeeper]

Disney insiders have noted that Obama is the first president to NOT view the Hall of Presidents attraction while visiting the MK.

Also, the extravagant degree to which changes are made for his visits is pretty interesting. For example, fresh coats of paint and the tunnels looking cleaner than they ever have before.

It's almost a shame that Disney would make these types of improvements for one person, and not for the thousands of employees or countless guests.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

President Barack Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney will be visiting Disney's Contemporary Resort on June 22 as part of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

I'm confused... can someone help me understand (without getting the thread locked down lol)

1. What is Obama's association with this group?
2. What visiting the Contemporary has to do with the organization?

 

[nepalostparks]

What visiting the Contemporary has to do with the organization?

The organization is holding their conference at the Contemporary.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

The organization is holding their conference at the Contemporary.

There we go! Thank you! I had a feeling but wanted to make sure I wasn't assuming.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

I'm confused... can someone help me understand (without getting the thread locked down lol)

1. What is Obama's association with this group?
2. What visiting the Contemporary has to do with the organization?

I assume both candidates are addressing the group in an effort to win votes in a key battleground state.

 

[bethymouse]

We arrived at WDW the same day President Obama was there in January. The ride on Magical Express to Bay Lake Tower was interesting seeing all of the security and law enforcement(some were in trees). We took a detour and went around the North Side of the Magic Kingdom to get to the resort and that was very interesting, went right by the main fireworks launch site and saw a good glimpse of the FLE site. Even though they told us at check in to avoid Magic Kingdom, we went anyways and all of Main St was blocked off as that is where he was giving his speech. They detoured us to right of Main St and they had some very impressive parade floats from Spectro, Christmas, Halloween parades. Staying at Bay Lake we also saw all of the media set up on stages as that was their home press base at the Contemporary parking lot.

Wow! Now that's a memory!

 

[wdwfan22]

I think it's always a bit exciting when the President visits Walt Disney World. Presidents have been making appearances at Disney for years, just expect a brief delay or two but everything will continue to be as magical as always.

 

[JIMINYCR]

I think it's always a bit exciting when the President visits Walt Disney World. Presidents have been making appearances at Disney for years, just expect a brief delay or two but everything will continue to be as magical as always.

Following your question, Which Presidents since MK opened have not made an appearance? And in election years have both presidential candidates ever made appearances together?

 

[DisDadEddie]

I bet he wishes he could walk around Disney with his family like everyone else. Life in the spotlight can't be easy at all.

 

[tdpolo26]

I bet he wishes he could walk around Disney with his family like everyone else. Life in the spotlight can't be easy at all.

who says he hasnt ....maybe he strolls the park in a costume...or was the conductor on the disneyland radio...i wonder where the president would like to work in disney if he had a choice

 

[WDW1974]

Disney insiders have noted that Obama is the first president to NOT view the Hall of Presidents attraction while visiting the MK.

OK. So what?

Also, the extravagant degree to which changes are made for his visits is pretty interesting. For example, fresh coats of paint and the tunnels looking cleaner than they ever have before.

It's almost a shame that Disney would make these types of improvements for one person, and not for the thousands of employees or countless guests.

Agreed ... but Disney often does so when its own leadership such as Iger or the BoD is around. It's so you can lie to the boss and not show him/them how things really look because of their leadership decisions.

 

[WDW1974]

I assume both candidates are addressing the group in an effort to win votes in a key battleground state.

Yes.

They are.

Nothing unusual. A friend who works there was lucky enough to be 'unlocked' from the room in which her group of CMs were being 'kept' to man a post in case of emergency when Romney spoke earlier.

 

[bethymouse]

Following your question, Which Presidents since MK opened have not made an appearance? And in election years have both presidential candidates ever made appearances together?

Interesting question. Hope someone has an answer or a link.

 

[Bob Saget]

This should help:
"With the exception of Lyndon Baines Johnson, every U.S. President since Harry S. Truman has visited a Disney resort property at some point in their lives.

• Seven U.S. Presidents have held and attended events at WDW while in office:

1. Richard Nixon – Disney’s Contemporary Resort (1973)
2. Jimmy Carter – Magic Kingdom (1978)
3. Ronald Reagan – Epcot (1983, 1985)
4. George Herbert Walker Bush – Epcot (1990, 1991)
5. Bill Clinton - Disney Institute (1996)
6. George Walker Bush – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (2003) and Disney’s Contemporary Resort (2006)
7. Barack Obama - Disney's Contemporary Resort (2012)

• Four U.S. Presidents have been to a Walt Disney World park during their term in office:

1. Jimmy Carter – Magic Kingdom (1978)
2. Ronald Reagan - Epcot (1983, 1985)
3. George Herbert Walker Bush – Epcot (1990, 1991)
4. Barack Obama - Magic Kingdom (2012)"

Link:http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/history-presidential-visits-disney-parks/nGTyy/

 

[ChrisFL]

Richard Nixon was also on-hand during the opening cermonies of EPCOT Center...and was at Disneyland for the Monorail opening IIRC? He was a big Disney fan I think

 

[The Mom]

This should help:
"With the exception of Lyndon Baines Johnson, every U.S. President since Harry S. Truman has visited a Disney resort property at some point in their lives.

• Seven U.S. Presidents have held and attended events at WDW while in office:

1. Richard Nixon – Disney’s Contemporary Resort (1973)
2. Jimmy Carter – Magic Kingdom (1978)
3. Ronald Reagan – Epcot (1983, 1985)
4. George Herbert Walker Bush – Epcot (1990, 1991)
5. Bill Clinton - Disney Institute (1996)
6. George Walker Bush – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (2003) and Disney’s Contemporary Resort (2006)
7. Barack Obama - Disney's Contemporary Resort (2012)

• Four U.S. Presidents have been to a Walt Disney World park during their term in office:

1. Jimmy Carter – Magic Kingdom (1978)
2. Ronald Reagan - Epcot (1983, 1985)
3. George Herbert Walker Bush – Epcot (1990, 1991)
4. Barack Obama - Magic Kingdom (2012)"

Link:http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/history-presidential-visits-disney-parks/nGTyy/

What about Dwight D Eisenhower & John F Kennedy? Did they visit when they weren't in office?

 

[Bob Saget]

What about Dwight D Eisenhower & John F Kennedy? Did they visit when they weren't in office?

JFK visited DL as senator in 1959. Eisenhower visited DL after his presidential term was finished.

Carter was the first President to visit WDW. It would be interesting to find a list of all world leaders who have visited any Disney location worldwide since the opening of DL.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Ronald Reagan co-hosted the opening of DL on TV. Of course this was wayyyyy before he was even Gov of California.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Richard Nixon was also on-hand during the opening cermonies of EPCOT Center...and was at Disneyland for the Monorail opening IIRC? He was a big Disney fan I think