Corridor of Presidents in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World is now closed for refurbishment as of Inauguration Day 2025. This put up discusses the way it might change, with the almost definitely risk final result, plus our commentary about the way forward for the Liberty Sq. attraction in 2029 and past. (Up to date January 20, 2025.)
Let’s begin with the main points of the closure, which Walt Disney World introduced about one month upfront. Corridor of Presidents is now down for refurbishment as of January 20, 2025. Right here’s the assertion on DisneyWorld.com: “The Corridor of Presidents will quickly shut for refurbishment on January 20, 2025, and is anticipated to reopen later in 2025.”
There is no such thing as a particular finish date to the closure, which is typical for this sort of undertaking and in line with HoP closures prior to now. Nothing about this raises any purple flags–it’s precisely what we’ve been anticipating, and exactly what we predicted. With that mentioned, there may be one minor improvement to share…
Our buddies over at BlogMickey are reporting a verbiage distinction within the signage getting used this yr for the Corridor of Presidents closure. This yr’s signal merely reads: “The Corridor of Presidents is Closed for Refurbishment.”
That is as contrasted with the signage used the final couple of closures, which is beneath:
The distinction is that there’s no point out of welcoming the brand new president, which could possibly be construed as a purposeful change to counsel the refurbishment undertaking is one thing completely different and/or gained’t reinstate President Trump. In spite of everything, why not simply reuse the outdated signal if it’s a routine refurbishment of comparable nature?
Actually, I feel that’s studying method an excessive amount of right into a easy signage change. Apply Occam’s Razor: the best clarification is normally almost definitely to be appropriate. On this case, it’s that over the course of 4 years, the outdated signal obtained misplaced or destroyed, and whoever made the brand new signal wasn’t accustomed to the verbiage usually used. Because the new signal conveys exactly what is occurring, it was accredited. Walt Disney World routinely has signage with typos, directional errors, and different errors–all that by some means handle to get accredited.
One other clarification, as steered by a few readers within the feedback, is that Trump shouldn’t be technically a “New President.” This might mainly be the the alternative of an oversight–that the signage group deliberated tips on how to concisely ‘clarify’ this refurbishment, and made the purposeful determination to say much less for the sake of accuracy.
Whatever the clarification (or lack thereof), an indication that’s correct however inconsistent with previous precedent from 4 and extra years in the past is hardly one thing that raises purple flags for me. I’ve zero motive to consider that something out of the odd is going on with Corridor of Presidents. As mentioned within the commentary, the chance of a reimagining have been kicked down the street to 2029.
For no matter it’s value, it’s completely regular for Walt Disney World to not have a lot to say in regards to the Corridor of Presidents closure. Final go-round, the Liberty Sq. attraction was open on the eve of inauguration, closed with no discover the next day, and remained down with out an official reopening date on the official Walt Disney World calendar for the subsequent a number of months. A press release on the Walt Disney World web site merely indicated: “The Corridor of Presidents is at the moment closed for refurbishment.” (Identical to the present signal!)
Disney would later (additionally quietly) verify that President Biden can be added to the Corridor of Presidents and that the attraction would reopen later within the yr. That summer time, Walt Disney World shared a behind-the-scenes have a look at Corridor of Presidents and the brand new Joe Biden Audio Animatronics determine that may be put in. The attraction would go on to reopen with out fanfare on August 3, 2021.
That is just about the playbook we anticipate to observe with Corridor of Presidents in 2025. If there’s a Polymarket for Walt Disney World, that is the most secure wager. I might warning in opposition to anybody making an attempt to learn the tea leaves for clues about adjustments–these “clues” usually tend to be coincidences.
What follows is our earlier commentary in regards to the Corridor of Presidents closure from when it was first introduced in late December…
The largest distinction right here could possibly be that every thing happens on a way more accelerated timeline since Disney already has an Audio Animatronics determine of Donald Trump from ~8 years in the past. He additionally recorded dialogue for Corridor of Presidents then.
Trump is simply the second president in U.S. historical past to be elected for 2 non-consecutive phrases. Extra considerably for the needs of this put up, he’s the primary to take action because the Corridor of Presidents opened at Walt Disney World. Provided that, it’s unclear whether or not Imagineering will reuse his prior recording and Audio Animatronics determine, or make further updates to the determine or attraction as an entire.
Our expectation is that Imagineering takes the simplest choice, reusing each the prevailing Trump determine and dialogue. This might primarily imply ‘restoring’ the present to its pre-2020 standing (effectively, plus Joe Biden, who will clearly be moved from center-stage). If that is the end result, you’ll be able to anticipate the closure to be considerably shorter than final time. Walt Disney World might theoretically do a fast refurbishment, having the attraction closed for a month or maybe much less.
This assumes that there’s a way of urgency to perform the refurbishment and reopen Corridor of Presidents. That is probably not the case. Not due to any biases or as ‘protest,’ however out of cheapness. Corridor of Presidents isn’t precisely a marketable draw for most individuals of any political persuasions, and Walt Disney World has an extended and wealthy historical past of dragging its ft on refurbishments to avoid wasting working bills.
If Corridor of Presidents can’t be prepared in time for Spring Break, Walt Disney World would possibly decide to attract out its closure till crowds improve across the time of Disney Starlight Evening Parade, or someday after. Level being, don’t assume that simply because this might have a faster turnaround time that it truly will. At any time when Corridor of Presidents does reopen, it’ll most likely be pretty uneventful. There gained’t be something new, per se, to publicize when Trump resumes his talking position and the attraction has turn into divisive no matter who’s entrance and heart.
That’s actually all it’s essential know should you’re planning a 2025 Walt Disney World trip and need to know in regards to the Corridor of Presidents closure. What follows is extra thorough commentary, a lot of which is adopted from our pre-election lengthy examine the way forward for Corridor of Presidents, reassessed in mild of each Donald Trump’s victory and the announcement of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets.
It’s laborious to fault Disney for the faster and quieter strategy with the 2025 Corridor of Presidents refurbishment. When President Trump was first elected, Disney issued a press launch, which was adopted by an prolonged closure and rumors of in-fighting between Glendale and Group Disney Orlando. These tales weren’t confined to Disney fan websites, however fairly, spilled out into the mainstream information and prolific popular culture websites.
A quiet refurbishment might keep away from the complications of high-profile controversies over what’s in the end a low-profile Magic Kingdom attraction. It’s a wise transfer, even when Disney followers would possibly wish to know what’s occurring and when Corridor of Presidents will reopen. Walt Disney World doesn’t must tease Corridor of Presidents’ return with weekly updates on TikTok, as that may be extreme.
Despite the fact that the attraction has turn into a powder keg of controversy, that’s merely a mirrored image of society and the instances. It’s not Disney’s fault, and the corporate shouldn’t be ashamed of a historic, viewpoint-neutral attraction that’s patriotic to its core and make its founder proud.
Talking of the corporate’s founder, certainly one of Walt Disney’s ardour initiatives was Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln. This debuted on the 1964 New York World’s Honest and nonetheless exists to at the present time at Disneyland. The Corridor of Presidents constructed upon the present’s legacy–increasing it to all presidents–when it opened in 1971 at Magic Kingdom.
Walt Disney had no direct involvement in its creation, however his fingerprints and legacy are throughout it. In 1956, Walt Disney introduced plans for a Liberty Road at Disneyland to be situated behind the east aspect of Important Road. Included on this unbuilt enlargement would’ve been a corridor of presidential figures as mannequins.
Loads has modified since then, and the precise Corridor of Presidents attraction has advanced significantly in its 50+ years. The Corridor of Presidents adopted its present construction in 1993 when President Clinton was added. He turned the primary sitting president with a talking position in Corridor of Presidents. With the advantage of hindsight, I feel nearly everybody would agree that this was a colossal mistake.
Regardless, the purpose is that Corridor of Presidents is an iconic attraction with a wealthy historical past that ties to each the opening of Walt Disney World again in 1971 and the corporate’s founder. It’s historic, important, and deserves an area in Magic Kingdom. It’s additionally good counter-programming; one of many uncommon points of interest with an extended runtime than its wait time. An ideal alternative to get off your ft and take a breather for a bit. Closing it will even be a mistake.
However, we don’t anticipate Corridor of Presidents to exist in its present kind 20 years from now. One risk is that Liberty Sq. will both be redeveloped into one thing else, or absorbed into Frontierland and Fantasyland. One other is that Corridor of Presidents shall be reimagined to tackle a unique tone.
It’s extremely unlikely this may occur in 2025. If the format have been to vary, Walt Disney World doubtless would’ve said as a lot in its announcement. Whereas the announcement is mild on particulars, it’s precisely what you’d anticipate of a routine refurbishment–and there’s each motive to consider that’s what this shall be.
At this level, Corridor of Presidents is probably going protected till 2029.
Ready till then provides Disney time to make the announcement in early 2028 forward of a (hopefully!) much less polarizing election. It avoids the inevitable basic public controversy that may accompany a reimagining introduced after one of many candidates wins–controversies that may accompany each single election for the foreseeable future if Disney delays the announcement till after Election Day.
Suspending such a redo additionally provides Disney time to unravel its Liberty Sq. dilemma. A bit past the scope of this put up, however I think Disney is treading frivolously with the way it approaches this land, petrified of accusations that the corporate has turn into ‘distinctly unpatriotic’ given the removing of the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and Libety Sq. Riverboat. After all, there’s a completely different commonality amongst these items, however once more, optics additionally matter to Disney.
So what might Walt Disney World do to reimagine the Corridor of Presidents down the street?
One risk is that Disney will go in a very completely different path, with an mental property infused overhaul to the Corridor of Presidents. Over the past election cycle, there have been credible rumors that Imagineering would possibly make Corridor of Presidents much less partisan and polarizing. Formidable concepts have been tossed round, together with injecting the Muppets or making the attraction interesting to youthful audiences.
When beforehand discussing prospects in October, we talked about the Muppets. As we indicated then, rumors have been swirling a few Corridor of Presidents takeover by the Muppets. We had not heard something about that, however had heard of different competing pitches and potential initiatives involving the Muppets–solely certainly one of which (if any) can be greenlit.
Effectively, now you recognize which idea gained out: Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets.
Whereas I can not say so with full confidence, I’m fairly certain that announcement closes the door on the Corridor of Presidents takeover by the Muppets. Sadly, this isn’t a Toy Story situation, the place Disney is okay slapping the identical IP in every single place. The Muppets are fortunate to have one attraction at Walt Disney World.
With that mentioned, it’s additionally my understanding that Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets is considered as an interim overlay with a shelf lifetime of a decade or much less. So relying upon how far down the street the Corridor of Presidents reimagining will get kicked and the Muppets’ recognition (each inside Imagineering and among the many park-going public) within the late 2030s, we may be having this dialog two election cycles from now.
There are additionally different ideas for Corridor of Presidents down the street. The certainly one of these that may be best-received amongst WDW diehards is the “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” stage present that’s debuting in 2025 for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary. If that’s in style (and why wouldn’t or not it’s?) in California, it could possibly be delivered to Magic Kingdom to run in tandem with Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
In my opinion, this is able to be the perfect resolution. Though it will require a big upfront funding, it will have far fewer Audio Animatronics, so Walt Disney World would really like the decrease working and upkeep expense. It might even be uncontroversial, as Walt Disney and Abraham Lincoln are among the many two hottest People of all-time. Lastly, it’d be a improbable legacy attraction.
Whereas there’s lots of time between now and 2029 or the mid-2030s, and loads of good concepts could possibly be born between every now and then, changing Corridor of Presidents with Walt Disney – A Magical Life and Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln strikes me as the right compromise that respects the legacy of this area, the corporate’s founder, and our nice nation’s historical past. If changing points of interest have been a democratic course of, I’d vote for this selection. Effectively, assuming “keep the established order and maintain Corridor of Presidents intact” weren’t operating for reelection.
In the end, the Corridor of Presidents ought to unify People round our nation’s founding, the formation of our Structure, and our hard-fought struggles alongside the way in which. The attraction is in regards to the workplace of the presidency, and never the present occupant of that workplace.
Corridor of Presidents showcases how the US has risen to unravel widespread challenges and collective issues via the lens of the presidency. Anybody paying consideration would understand it’s not about people, and it needs to be an antidote to political tensions.
What it ought to be and what it is are, sadly, two various things. It’s comprehensible that many individuals need escapism out of Walt Disney World, and Corridor of Presidents is a non-starter for them regardless of their political persuasions. Past that, there was a refrain of (apolitical) complaints for many years that Corridor of Presidents is overly lengthy, boring, and dry.
My take, as all the time, is that not every thing must be for everybody. Making an attempt to cater to each visitor with each attraction is a idiot’s errand that makes every thing bland. There are many rides and exhibits we nearly by no means do as a result of they’re not for us. It’s completely nice that Corridor of Presidents shouldn’t be for everybody. As long as it retains the air-conditioning, it’s going to enchantment to many Walt Disney World guests.
Nevertheless, it’s additionally clear that on this hyper-partisan period, many individuals merely can not separate the workplace from its present occupant. That is nothing new–it has been true for every the final 5 presidents–and is unlikely to vary. How we really feel about Corridor of Presidents or suppose visitors ought to view the attraction is educational. It’s good for on-line discourse, however meaningless in the actual world and has zero affect on attraction preferences or how visitors truly behave. If the points of interest I assumed visitors ought to get pleasure from are those they really did, effectively, the unique EPCOT Heart would nonetheless be intact!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Expectations for the 2025 Corridor of Presidents refurbishment? Assume it’ll be routine, and a reasonably fast and painless means of ‘restoring’ the 2021 Corridor of Presidents (plus Biden)? Intrigued by the potential for the Corridor of Presidents being reimagined in 2029 or past? Do you agree or disagree with our ideas and commentary? Maintain the feedback civil and non-partisan; keep away from insults or endorsements of political candidates, or perpetuating pointless tradition wars. Respectfully arguing in regards to the attraction is completely nice, however don’t debate politics, assault individuals or troll for controversy. We shall be heavy-handed in deleting any feedback that cross the road, regardless of viewpoint.
