Trump not to talk at WDW's Hall of Presidents?

This came up a while back here on Cbuzz; now there's reporting that Hall of Presidents will revert to its pre-Clinton version. Only Washington and Lincoln will speak. (Aside from them, only the Clinton, Bush and Obama audio-animatronics have spoken.) Thought it might be of interest.

http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2017/05/19/disney-will-...esnt-speak

We did the show just before it closed, and people were cheering for Obamabot. That was... weird. His speech, as well as Bush's before that, were of the generic humble flagwaving variety, and they exercised humility. I can't imagine you'd talk Trump into something like that.

So even if Trump wanted to, they would not let him talk like every other recent President and get rid of a bunch of speaking just because people say he's offensive?

Actually, I was surprised to learn that only the Clintonbot, the Bushbot and the Obamabot have spoken, so not having the current president speak is actually in keeping with 20+ years of the attraction's history.

And I'm guessing it's less not having him speak because people say he's offensive, and more WDW management understanding they're going to get sh*t no matter which way they go on Trump talking. Quietly re-opening the Hall with only two speaking, long dead Presidents may be the path of least resistance.

As I understand it, Disney has requested time for him to come speak since he was elected abdbhe hasn't returned their calls. Apparently it has less to do with his popularity and more about his golfing trips that have now outgrown the last 14 president's combined.

That, given they're at golf courses he 'owns', allows him to line his pockets at the expense of the American taxpayers.

Oops, did I just let my political bias show? :-)

I don't think "golf cart rentals" had ever before needed their own line-item in the Secret Service budget.. ;~)

Didn't you mean to say gilded golf carts?

I would not be surprised if Trumpbot had no lines. Disney avoids controversy like the plague. I'm a little surprised they gave Bushbot lines, as that election was also quite divisive---and ditto Obamabot, as I recall seeing the show with a few catcalls when he spoke.

This would not be about "we disagree with the current President" so much as "we know about half the audience hates the guy, so let's not give them a reason to be unhappy." Most guests will have no idea that the recent Presidents had speaking parts, so not having one for 45 is the path of least resistance.

I'm not sure whether he's likeable or popular, or even controversial is necessarily Disney's issue. He is president, after all. I think it's more about the challenge of getting him to say something where he doesn't sound like a total self-serving ass. And try to hand him something Disney-scripted? Yeah, like that would work. Probably best and easiest to just drop the entire notion.

Edit: I'm forgetting Jeff's comment that they at least gave him the opportunity, and maybe that's how it should be. But I also reckon they gave a sigh of relief as well.

Maybe they could have him randomly spazz-out making fun of the disabled guests.

That would go over well.

I don't find it weird at all that people were cheering for Obama-bot. I'm sure they weren't cheering for his "speech" as much as they were applauding for what once was.

I think the answer is even more simplistic, regardless of political affiliation; he's not a good speaker. Not all presidents are.

Then again, if they actually did offer him a chance to record something and he declined, well, what else is there to do? I agree with Brian as well. What Disney would not want to do would be to have Obama speaking and then Trump not speaking. Regardless of intent, that would send a pretty clear message that would do nothing than ignite peoples' divisiveness. Easier just to revert to a program where neither say a word.

In my fantasy Hall of Presidents, Mr Trump would be seated off to the side, tweeting to the audience...

They should put him in an ill-fitting white polo and give him a golf club.

Ok, I'm done.

RCMAC said:
Didn't you mean to say gilded golf carts?

"I have the best golf carts, I have the biggest golf carts, imported from my magnificent golf course in Scotland, covered in gold, with the best GPS, on-board cocktail bar, and Mar-a-Lago is giving the government a discount, only $35,000 per cart per hour."

GigaG said:

So even if Trump wanted to, they would not let him talk like every other recent President and get rid of a bunch of speaking just because people say he's offensive?

Whether or not he is deemed offensive is subjective; the fact that he is polarizing is objective. More than enough of a reason to steer clear of the issue.

I'm thinking back to all the hoopla about the trouble getting Ariel's hair just right on the Little Mermaid ride.

They could just take a soundbite from his many interviews and speeches over the years. For example,

I'm automatically attracted to beautiful—I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything ... Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.

Or if that's too vulgar, they could always use the infamous...

I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and wouldn’t lose any voters, ok? It’s, like, incredible.

Wouldn't that be great? :D

I can see why Disney would have a problem with implementing this.

Maybe they could have Trump and Obama have a duel a la the ballroom scene at Mansion...just down the street. Fits nicely with the Liberty Square/Frontier Town theme.

RCMAC said:

Didn't you mean to say gilded golf carts?

My golf carts are so luxurious. And we'll make the ANTIGO (Anti-golfers) pay for it haha

Tekwardo said:
As I understand it, Disney has requested time for him to come speak since he was elected abdbhe hasn't returned their calls.

To be fair, what with reading single page briefing docs covered with pictures and his name, watching TV with the sound off, tweeting and trying to hold Melania's hand the few times she's around, he has a lot on his plate :-)