an outburst at the Hall of Presidents

[Melanie]

I always spend so much time in the other countries that I end up skipping the American pavilion. This time we are going to check it out. I hope no one does this when we go. Other than info on the Presidents what else is there? I heard that they are adding in "National Treasure". So this thread doesn't get removed....tell me why you enjoy the American Adventure.

Just to clarify, we are discussing the Hall of Presidents in the Magic Kingdom, not the American Adventure in Epcot.

In order to remain on topic, you may want to start another thread regarding your questions about the American Adventure.

[thrillme]

I'm with the early poster...Dude was booing a robot? Go figure???

Personally I get a rather "annoyed" at anybody who tries to press hard political views on the general population in front of my child...THEN I find myself having to "explain" the WHY he/she might have done that (my DS gets really inquisitive about politics sometimes). We both know it's disrespectful. I'm really not in the mood to discuss "politcs" with an 11 year old (or younger) while on vacation. The booer should have been thrown out. I'm laying odds that the CM might have not seen "exactly" where it came from and they were in the middle of the row. To hard to go and snag them without causing further disruption.

Personally I'm not really all that pumped about the Hall of Presidents - but it's a great place to escape the heat and rest for a bit without going back to the hotel. Honestly it's been so long since we've been there I can't tell you much about it.

[Grace]

This same sort of thing happened when we visited HOP shortly after 9-11. Several people booed and whispered when Clinton stood

It's very disrespectful. We have always told our children, if you can't respect the person, at lease respect the office, whatever it may be!

[Marker]

Frankly, I find this very disrespectful regardless of whether it is an audio-animatronic figure, or a real person. The right to speak applies to everyone, not just those you agree with. Besides, how can you disagree with the message unless you actually hear it first. But to me, opposing opinions or views are no excuse for disrespectful, or rude, behavior. But that's just my opinion.

[Mickeylover71]

I personally have never experienced anything like that, especially in the Hall of Presidents. It's an attraction that is meant for entertainment..not to express political views.

For that matter, Disney is no place to express political matters. I don't mind of people have their own opinions, but don't shove it down someone elses's throat..especially at a family resort..Just my two cents.

BTW that guy should have been thrown out of the park

[BelleLovesTheBeast]

Just to clarify, we are discussing the Hall of Presidents in the Magic Kingdom, not the American Adventure in Epcot.

In order to remain on topic, you may want to start another thread regarding your questions about the American Adventure.

Well, I haven't been to that either but will have after this trip.

[Crystal Palace]

Is this typically allowed? A few weeks ago, our family went to the Hall of Presidents. When it came to the part where all of the presidents get introduced, a man in the crowd began to "boo" really loudly and make a scene when George Bush was introduced and kept at it to the point where we couldn't hear much of what was being said when George Bush was making the speech. Now I understand that everyone has different feelings about the president, but is it really necessary to display them during a WDW attraction? Regardless of whether or not you like the current president, shouldn't you still be respectful? And if not respectful for the president, at least respectful of the other guests that are trying to hear the show? I was really surprised that a CM did not ask this man to be quiet. Has anyone else witnessed such an outburst at the Hall of Presidents?

That's so rude! People need to learn when to keep their opinions to themselves. He's lucky I wasn't there! I would have told him off!

[SwtVaBrz7]

I like to imagine that there is a special bubble around Disney World where there are no politics... just happy times for guests.

Amen! I think one of the thousands of reasons why I love DW is because it's the one place I don't have to deal with politics for once!

[WinnipegDisneyFanatic]

Is this typically allowed? A few weeks ago, our family went to the Hall of Presidents. When it came to the part where all of the presidents get introduced, a man in the crowd began to "boo" really loudly and make a scene when George Bush was introduced and kept at it to the point where we couldn't hear much of what was being said when George Bush was making the speech. Now I understand that everyone has different feelings about the president, but is it really necessary to display them during a WDW attraction? Regardless of whether or not you like the current president, shouldn't you still be respectful? And if not respectful for the president, at least respectful of the other guests that are trying to hear the show? I was really surprised that a CM did not ask this man to be quiet. Has anyone else witnessed such an outburst at the Hall of Presidents?

When it all comes down to it, this man has serious issues. Because essentially......he was boo-ing a robot.

Think about that!

Chris

[tennantsrwe]

Geez, people will find a way to ruin just about anything....even a WDW attraction...when it comes to politics. I've never seen an incidient at HOP and I would have been stunned. I'm very suprised the CM didn't insist the man either quiet down or leave. I would have complained to guest services or something, just to make the higher ups aware of the situation. That's just ridiculous, it's a robot. I hope we don't have this problem on our Dec trip.

[malip]

This is very disturbing on a number of fronts. The thing that bothers me the most is that the individual must have planned his outburst prioro to going into the HoP. I would have been very upset and would not have been able to sit quietly and allowed this to happen. My wife and I try to raise our children with a great sense of pride for our country regardless of who is in power. Our trips to HoP and the AA in Epcot are very Patriotic for us. I even tend to tear during the AA because of my strong sense of pride. I am a Veteran of the Armed Forces and am very proud of our Country. I would never do such a thing in this setting.

[asrai555]

Its sad that people cant respect the leader of the free world for crying out loud. WDW is indeed a MAJOR part of Americana.

While I agree that the patron's behavior was incorrect, I think it is unfair to presume that people *must* respect a particular person.

The individual in question clearly doesn't respect Bush, and he shouldn't *have* to. The title, position, or job of an individual shouldn't automatically garner respect. Action and principle of the individual should.

[jedigrrrl]

LOL. yes. during GW Bush as well. People booed. It was so funny.

[McGoofy]

Ha! I can't believe this post got dragged back out again from our HOP visit in early August! I have since returned from another Disney trip just last week for Halloween. I am proud to report that there were no outbursts during my visit last week. When I originally wrote the post, I only mentioned that the man booed President Bush. When we were there last week, my DH reminded me that the man also stood up and applauded for Richard Nixon. I had forgotten about that. What some people will do.

[brownie]

Even my children have been taught that even if you do not like the President, you MUST still respect the position of President. How disappointing

My thoughts exactly.

How selfish to ruin the show for others around you by booing during it.

[WheresWalt]

I wonder if he even knew he was booing essentially a robot. Hope he felt manly doing so.

Priceless observation.

I had wondered if this had ever happened. Should have known there would be at least one idiot out there who would see nothing wrong with ruining others HoP experience just to boo at a robot.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I just don't get this at all...no matter what you feel about the current president, or any president, this is an attraction, and it is rude to disrupt any attraction....end of story in my books.

It should have less to do with pride or anger at the american political system, and more to do with just general decent behaviour!

[NJDad]

Although most humans have the same opinion of Bush as the gentleman in question, it wasn't right to do what he did.

However, his view of the Bush animatronic as Bush himself is more in the spirit of the attraction and WDW itself instead of the 'it's a robot!' statements.

They call it the Hall of Presidents, not The Hall of Robots. The guy went along and suspended his disbelief, as many of us do.

When you meet "Mickey" most don't treat him as what he actually is but as a beloved animated character who just so happens to be hanging out with us in the real world.

As a species, we're big on symbols. Take some fabrics and make a flag. Someone burns it, and suddenly we need to rewrite the consitution to protect what you could easily call 'some cloth'.

Take two straight lines, make a cross, and now it's a revered icon.

Take a robot, make it look like W., and, yes, some will take it for what it represents instead of what it actually 'is' along the same lines.

[magicofdisney]

This is very disturbing on a number of fronts. The thing that bothers me the most is that the individual must have planned his outburst prioro to going into the HoP. I would have been very upset and would not have been able to sit quietly and allowed this to happen. My wife and I try to raise our children with a great sense of pride for our country regardless of who is in power. Our trips to HoP and the AA in Epcot are very Patriotic for us. I even tend to tear during the AA because of my strong sense of pride. I am a Veteran of the Armed Forces and am very proud of our Country. I would never do such a thing in this setting.

Unfortunately, patriotism seems to be a lost value in our education system these days.

[LibertyTreeGal]

I try to look at it this way -- people believe about any president, whether Clinton, Bush or whoever, exactly what the press wants them to believe. No one has a real view because we are not in that office everyday, we just get half-stories that slant whichever way the media wants it to slant, and most of it boils down to gossip. We arrogantly assume that we know something when really we are operating on very little information -- that a man takes that very little information he gets through the media and turns it into hatred vented at a robot in front of people's kids is a sad commentary on us as a nation.