Sunday, May 21, 2017

No Talking Trump Audio-Animatronic in WDW Magic Kingdom Hall of Presidents?



Earlier this week, an anonymous Disney cast member spoke to Motherboard's Kevin Wong about the possible rollback in a piece titled "Here’s the Secret Backstage Trump Drama at Walt Disney World’s Hall of Presidents". Since the early '90s, every sitting president has said at least a few lines at the Hall of Presidents. But now Disney is rolling back the attraction to a pre-1993 format, in which only Abraham Lincoln and George Washington speak. Here are a few of the highlights of the article, but definitely read the full article HERE.

"The Imagineers will likely revert the attraction to its pre-1993 format, where only George Washington and Abraham Lincoln recited lines, while keeping the more realistic, grounded tone of the current show."

"Given how polarizing the president is right now, Disney Parks & Resorts is currently trying to find [a solution] that approaches middle ground," said the source in an interview with Motherboard. "They want to include our 45th commander-in-chief in this 45-year-old theme park attraction, while at the same time, not seem to endorse or support some of Trump's more controversial policies."

"Given President Trump's current problems," continued the source, "Walt Disney World might elect to push the attraction's opening date back to the fall and then make further tweaks to the show."

... "Another contributing factor to Trump's auditory exclusion is his own lack of participation and obstinance. Disney reportedly reached out to Trump starting in January, but there has been no compromising effort to get things moving."

"That's a part of this—just getting time with him [to record]," said the source. "I guess there's also been some back-and-forth on his proposed script, which is something they're hoping to use as a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card. If he's not available to record, they can use that as a legitimate excuse… that's kind of what Disney's hoping for."

... "They were convinced that Hillary was going to win," said the source. "They were having conversations in late October and early November on how to dress her. 'Should it be the pantsuit she wore at the [Democratic] National Convention? Or should it be a darker color?' They were thinking along those lines. No one was giving any serious thought to it being Trump."

Remember that, as usual, until anything is announced officially it's always a rumor. May be Trump will now be furious when he learn about that and call WDI to tell them he has plenty of time to record the voice over for the AA ( which i doubt ) and Disney will need to change his mind, but basically i think that so far this "rumor" is very reliable and things shouldn't change.

Also, Disney decision is not about politics, it's all about money, period. They try to find a way that don't infuriate neither the Trump voters or the ones who didn't voted for him, and this ONLY to don't lose customers, and so, money. Don't lose time trying to find something else behind this no-talking Trump AA decision as there is nothing else than that.

Picture: copyright Disney

2 comments:

K. Martinez said...

Maybe they could lend the Trump-bot Donald Duck's voice and show him having a Donald Duck style tantrum on stage.

Anonymous said...

It's smart of Disney to not have him speak. Yes the conservatives will complain at guest relations but that's about the worst. Liberals go way beyond a complaint there could be protests outside the park entrances, vandalism with graffiti & broken windows - don't believe they would go as far to try and set fires but you never know with the common car burnings you see at many of the protest. Disney can't make both sides of America happy but I think less damage will be done this way.