Corridor of Presidents Quietly Reopens in Magic Kingdom Forward of Independence Day


Corridor of Presidents in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World has reopened from refurbishment after a multi-month closure, with zero advance discover or fanfare. This presents the most recent information and what has not modified, plus our commentary about the way forward for the Liberty Sq. present within the 2030s and past and why a reimagining is inevitable.

Let’s begin with the unique announcement concerning the closure. Till at the moment, this was the one factor Walt Disney World had revealed concerning the refurbishment: “The Corridor of Presidents will briefly shut for refurbishment on January 20, 2025, and is anticipated to reopen later in 2025.” There was no particular finish date to the challenge, which wasn’t essentially stunning; it was typical for this sort of challenge and in line with HoP closures prior to now.

At the beginning of the final refurbishment, it was an identical situation, with the corporate issuing an identical assertion. The distinction then was that 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 season, Walt Disney World shared a behind-the-scenes take a look at Corridor of Presidents and the brand new Joe Biden Audio Animatronics determine that will be put in. The attraction would go on to reopen with out fanfare on August 3, 2021.

The largest distinction right here is that Walt Disney World already has an Audio Animatronics determine of Donald Trump from ~8 years in the past. He additionally recorded dialogue for Corridor of Presidents then. As you’re little doubt conscious, Trump is simply the second president in U.S. historical past to be elected for 2 non-consecutive phrases. Extra considerably for our functions, he’s the primary to take action for the reason that Corridor of Presidents opened at Walt Disney World.

Provided that, it was unclear whether or not Imagineering would reuse his prior recording and Audio Animatronics determine, or make further updates. Our expectation was that Imagineering would merely reuse the prevailing Trump AA, which was up to date to look extra true-to-life over the last refurbishment. We additionally anticipated that his dialogue can be lowered to simply the oath of workplace, in line with the shortened format launched for the Biden presidency (eradicating the speech–simply having the present POTUS ship the oath of workplace).

In different phrases, there’d be modifications from pre-2021, however they’d be using current belongings–no new movie, newly-recorded dialogue, superior Audio Animatronics, and so on. Corridor of Presidents isn’t precisely a marketable attraction round which many individuals guide journeys, so investing in one other big-budget refurbishment appeared unlikely.

Theoretically, Walt Disney World might’ve achieved a fast refurbishment, having the attraction closed for a month or maybe much less. From the start, we cautioned towards anticipating this, suggesting that the refurbishment could last more than “mandatory.” There are few issues Walt Disney World loves greater than saving on working bills, they usually seemingly finances round a 6-8 month closure of this attraction each 4 years.

Much more not too long ago within the face of rumors on the contrary, we reiterated that the seemingly plan was for Walt Disney World to quietly reopen Corridor of Presidents. In spite of everything, the foyer to the attraction had reopened in latest weeks as a spot for company to beat the warmth–a powerful sign that the venue as a complete had been turned over from building groups to park operations.

In all probability, the Corridor of Presidents would publish hours with out fanfare and easily be operational once more. With the summer season heating up and Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat all about to completely shut in a single week, and Starlight debuting, we had hoped Corridor of Presidents would reopen earlier than Independence Day.

That’s precisely what has occurred. Walt Disney World quietly reopened Corridor of Presidents this morning (June 29, 2025), giving no advance discover that the historic Liberty Sq. attraction would function at the moment.

The corporate merely up to date the attraction’s DisneyWorld.com web page so as to add working hours when the clock struck 9 am this morning. With that, Corridor of Presidents is open from 9 am to 9 pm for the rest of this month. No hours are posted but for July 2025, however we assume these are nonetheless being loaded into the positioning.

Walt Disney World additionally up to date the outline for Corridor of Presidents, rebutting “rumors” and confirming that the present president will nonetheless have a talking position: “Watch the curtain rise to disclose startlingly lifelike Audio-Animatronics replicas of each President of america—collectively for the very first time. Hear a speech delivered by George Washington and a recorded efficiency of the oath of workplace by President Donald Trump.” (Emphasis added.)

In the event you’ve adopted the assorted updates on this weblog, you recognize there are air quotes round rumors as a result of these by no means had any foundation in actuality. From what we had heard (repeatedly), that was a purely speculative try at connecting dots that aren’t there blended with a little bit of partisan cynicism or wishful considering, because the case could also be.

There have been credible rumors about Corridor of Presidents lengthy earlier than the election, however these died some time in the past–earlier than final November. Not one of the rumblings concerning the Muppets takeover, format change, or lack of a talking position have been correct as soon as 2025 rolled round. As we talk about beneath, the present is probably going protected in its present format till 2029. It altering sooner or later is inevitable, however not anytime quickly.

What’s most attention-grabbing right here is that Walt Disney World simply had a giant ‘dates drop’ for refurbishments late final week, solely two days earlier than Corridor of Presidents reopened! In our publish about that, Walt Disney World Reveals Main Magic Kingdom & EPCOT Trip Refurbishments for 2025-2026, we even touched on Corridor of Presidents, mentioning that the attraction might nonetheless reopen at any time with no discover. This could nonetheless underscore simply how delicately Disney is dealing with this controversial attraction.

We hope Corridor of Presidents by no means goes extinct. It’s a incredible piece of Disney historical past and a fantastic “counterprogramming” choice in Magic Kingdom. One in all Walt Disney’s ardour tasks was Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln. This debuted on the 1964 New York World’s Truthful 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 Avenue at Disneyland to be situated behind the east facet of Primary Avenue. Included on this unbuilt growth would’ve been a corridor of presidential figures as mannequins. Walt wasn’t glad with the presidents being easy wax figures, so he tasked his workforce at WED with arising with one thing extra bold for the World’s Truthful.

Lots 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, this was a colossal mistake. It’s additionally a bell that Disney might nonetheless “unring” in the event that they so desired.

Regardless, 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 one of many uncommon points of interest with an extended runtime than its wait time. An ideal alternative to get off your toes and take a breather for a bit.

Closing Corridor of Presidents can be a mistake. And we anticipate precisely that to occur someday in our lifetimes. I’d be shocked if Corridor of Presidents survives the 2030s in its present kind. That is hardly a daring assertion, and the identical sentiment that animated the entire hypothesis concerning the attraction format being altered or reimagined.

Corridor of Presidents has changed into a powder keg for Walt Disney World, as needs to be apparent by the way in which the refurbishments have been dealt with over the previous couple of election cycles. Giving no prior discover for the attraction’s reopening or selling it in any manner–particularly when a wide-ranging refurbishment replace was simply launched two days in the past–ought to underscore how controversial Corridor of Presidents has turn into.

As for its future prospects, one chance is that Liberty Sq. will both be redeveloped into one thing else, or absorbed into Frontierland and Fantasyland. This appears unlikely. One factor that Imagineers have revealed within the Piston Peak growth course of is the care they’re taking to protect sightlines from Liberty Sq., viewing the land as its personal model of Cape Code (at Tokyo DisneySea).

Extra seemingly is that Corridor of Presidents will probably be reimagined to tackle a unique tone. At this level, Corridor of Presidents is probably going protected till 2029. Ready till then offers 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 will 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.

If Corridor of Presidents goes to alter, my honest hope is that it’s a principally lateral transfer–one other meaty present that may nonetheless be appreciated by patriotic Disney followers. From that perspective, the choice that will 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 fashionable (and why wouldn’t or not it’s?) in California, it might be dropped at Magic Kingdom to run in tandem with Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

For my part, this could be the best answer. Though it could require a big upfront funding, it could 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 incredible legacy attraction.

Whereas there’s a whole lot of time between now and 2029 or the mid-2030s, and loads of good concepts might be born between at times, 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 house, 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 feature.

Nicely, assuming “preserve the established order and hold Corridor of Presidents intact” weren’t operating for reelection. I might even be completely high-quality with eliminating the talking position–even the oath of workplace–for the present president. If that’s going to occur, it simply must be telegraphed lengthy earlier than the election. With Disney’s reputational woes because of accusations of political bias, the corporate actually can not afford to be seen as politicizing the Corridor of Presidents.

Finally, 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 concerning the workplace of the presidency, and never the present occupant of that workplace.

Corridor of Presidents showcases how america has risen to unravel frequent challenges and collective issues by the lens of the presidency. Anybody paying consideration would realize 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 at all times, is that not all the things must be for everybody. Making an attempt to cater to each visitor with each attraction is a idiot’s errand that makes all the things bland. There are many rides and reveals we nearly by no means do as a result of they’re not for us. It’s completely high-quality that Corridor of Presidents is just not for everybody. As long as it retains the air-conditioning, it’s going to attraction to many Walt Disney World guests.

Nonetheless, I’m additionally a realist. It’s patently apparent that on this hyper-partisan period, many individuals merely can not separate the workplace from its present occupant. We will discuss how company ought to behave or what they ought to recognize till we’re blue within the face. It’s one other idiot’s errand–good for on-line discourse, however not a lot else.

Sooner or later, Walt Disney World will decide that Corridor of Presidents is extra bother than it’s value, and that low satisfaction coupled with lack of demand and the issues with that attraction necessitate a closure or reimagining. Truthfully, I’m shocked that time hasn’t already been reached. Disney has been strolling on eggshells with Corridor of Presidents for some time–as evidenced by the reopening with zero fanfare–so should you benefit from the present format, you would possibly need to see it and say your goodbyes earlier than it’s too late.

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study accommodations on our Walt Disney World Inns Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the things that you must know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Happy that Corridor of Presidents has reopened in time for Independence Day? Will you be visiting the attraction whereas saying goodbyes to Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat? Hope the present does or doesn’t change codecs within the 2030s? If it’s going to alter, does it must be introduced lengthy earlier than an election? Do you agree or disagree with our ideas and commentary? Hold the feedback civil and non-partisan; keep away from insults or endorsements of political candidates, or perpetuating pointless tradition wars. Respectfully arguing concerning the attraction is completely high-quality, however don’t debate politics, assault individuals or troll for controversy. We will probably be heavy-handed in deleting any feedback that cross the road, regardless of viewpoint.

Related Stories

Discover

Youngsters Fly Free to Guam on Night time Flights

Guam Guests Bureau Launches “Youngsters Fly Free” Night time...

The proper vegan trip in Langkawi

Langkawi is the Malaysian vacation island that continues to name us again. We’ve...

25 Greatest Bars & Lounges at Disney World in...

This record of the perfect bars & lounges at Walt Disney World ranks...

Travelling with your loved ones to the Maldives? Listed...

Understanding which resorts are greatest fitted to households isn’t at all times a...

How Hanam in Korea is Operating its Metropolis with...

Beginning with Empathy and resulting in Belief is what Mayor Lee Hyeon-jae desires...

Crystal Cruises’ Baltic, Stockholm to Copenhagen: Days 1 to...

As we board in Stockholm, the 740 passenger Serenity, from Crystal Cruises, undoubtedly...

Popular Categories

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here