The Hall of Presidents facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Hall of Presidents |
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| Attraction type | Multimedia and Audio-Animatronic show | ||||||||||||
| Model | Theater | ||||||||||||
| Theme | President of the United States | ||||||||||||
| Audience capacity | 700 per show | ||||||||||||
| Duration | 25 minutes | ||||||||||||
| Audio-Animatronics | Yes | ||||||||||||
 Wheelchair accessible |
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 Assistive listening available |
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 Closed captioning available |
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The Hall of Presidents is a popular show at the Magic Kingdom park in Walt Disney World Resort. It's located in an area called Liberty Square. This attraction uses amazing Audio-Animatronic figures, which are like advanced robots, to bring all the presidents of the United States to life.
The show first opened on October 1, 1971, when the Magic Kingdom itself opened. The building looks like Philadelphia's famous Independence Hall. Inside, you'll see a film about American history. After the film, the stage reveals all the presidents as Audio-Animatronic figures. Some presidents, like Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and the current president, even give speeches!
Contents
The Story Behind the Show
Walt Disney's Big Idea
Walt Disney had a dream for a long time to create a show about American presidents. He first wanted to build something similar at Disneyland in California. He imagined a place called Liberty Street.
At first, he thought about using wax figures of the presidents. But then he wanted them to move and talk! The technology wasn't quite ready for his big ideas back then.
Bringing Abraham Lincoln to Life
Walt Disney worked with his team, called Imagineers, to create the first human-like Audio-Animatronic. This special figure was of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. President.
This led to a show called "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln." It featured a very advanced Lincoln robot that stood up and gave parts of his famous speeches. This show was a big step towards the Hall of Presidents.
Building Liberty Square
After Walt Disney passed away, plans continued for Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The Imagineers decided to create a new themed area for the Magic Kingdom. Instead of a "New Orleans Square" like in Disneyland, they built Liberty Square.
This new area was the perfect place for Walt's dream show. So, the Hall of Presidents was finally created there. It was a way to bring his vision of "One Nation Under God" to life.
What You See in the Show
The Hall of Presidents show starts with a film. This film tells the story of the USA and how it became a nation. It shows how the country faced challenges and grew stronger over time. The film highlights the importance of freedom and the U.S. Constitution.
Early Years of the Show (1971-1993)
The first version of the show used paintings to show historical moments. You could hear George Washington and Benjamin Franklin speaking at the Philadelphia Convention. The film also showed how early presidents dealt with challenges, like the Whiskey Rebellion.
A big part of the film focused on Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War. This section was very similar to the "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" show. After the film, the screen would lift, and all the presidents would appear on stage.
Each president's name was called out, and their Audio-Animatronic would nod or wave. Abraham Lincoln would then stand up and give a speech. The show ended with the song "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the show has been updated many times. When a new president was elected, a new Audio-Animatronic figure was added.
- 1993 Update (Bill Clinton): The show got a big makeover. A history professor helped rewrite the script to talk more about important topics like slavery and civil rights. Bill Clinton was the first president to record his own voice for his Audio-Animatronic.
- 2001 Update (George W. Bush): George W. Bush was added, and the narrator changed, but the main story stayed similar.
- 2009 Update (Barack Obama): The show closed for a while to get new audio and visual effects. Barack Obama recorded his speech and the Oath of Office. Morgan Freeman became the new narrator. Also, George Washington was added as a speaking president alongside Lincoln.
- 2017 Update (Donald Trump): Donald Trump was added to the show. After the roll call, Washington gives a speech, followed by Trump reciting the Oath of Office and giving his own speech.
- 2021 Update (Joe Biden): The attraction closed again to add President Joe Biden to the show.
Who's Who in the Show
Many different people have lent their voices to the Hall of Presidents over the years. Since Bill Clinton, every sitting president has recorded their own speech for the show.
| Role | 1971–1993 | 1993–2001 | 2001–2009 | 2009–2017 | 2017–2021 |
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| Narrator | Lawrence Dobkin | Maya Angelou | J. D. Hall | Morgan Freeman | Joy Vandervort-Cobb |
| George Washington | Paul Frees | — | David Morse | ||
| Benjamin Franklin | Lawrence Dobkin | — | |||
| Thomas Mifflin | Paul Frees | — | |||
| Andrew Jackson | Dallas McKennon | — | |||
| Stephen A. Douglas | Paul Frees | — | |||
| Abraham Lincoln | Royal Dano | Peter Renaday | Royal Dano (archival recording) | J. V. Martin | |
| President of the United States | — | Bill Clinton | George W. Bush | Barack Obama | Donald Trump |
Images for kids
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The 2001–09 version of the show, featuring a speech by George W. Bush
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The 2009–17 version of the show, featuring a speech by Barack Obama
