Disney World's Hall of Presidents Closing for Refurbishment in January 2025

Dec 18, 2024 in "The Hall of Presidents"

Gallery / 6 Photos
The Hall of Presidents Audio-Animatronics 2023

Posted: Wednesday December 18, 2024 10:36am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

According to the Walt Disney World refurbishment calendar, the Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom is scheduled to temporarily close for refurbishment starting January 20, 2025. While Disney has not provided a specific reopening date, the closure aligns with the traditional practice of updating the attraction following the inauguration of a new U.S. president.

The Hall of Presidents Audio-Animatronics 2023

This refurbishment may include the addition of a new animatronic figure representing President Donald Trump, reflecting his return to the presidency in the 2024 election. The Hall of Presidents, which features lifelike animatronics of all U.S. presidents, has historically closed for updates following each inauguration. Most recently, the attraction closed on January 20, 2021, to add President Joe Biden and reopened on August 3, 2021. During Donald Trump’s first term, the Hall was closed on January 17, 2017, and reopened on December 18, 2017.

Donald Trump audio-animatronic figure

The Hall of Presidents has been a staple of Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom since the park’s opening in 1971. The attraction’s combination of history and advanced animatronics provides guests with an overview of the American presidency, highlighting moments of unity and leadership throughout U.S. history.

Joe Biden in the Hall of Presidents

Disney has not announced whether the current refurbishment will follow the tradition of giving the sitting president a speaking role or whether the format of the show might be adjusted in response to evolving guest expectations. Past closures for updates have typically lasted between six and eight months, although the exact duration can vary based on the scope of the refurbishment.

What's Next for Disney's Hall of Presidents After Trump Wins 2024 Election?

Hall of Presidents overview

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Bocabear24 days ago

I would think the completely shuttered Stitch's Great Escape would be a higher priority as it stands at the entrance to Tomorrowland... And move Monsters INC while they are at it over to the new Monstropolis at DHS. Between those two attractions it is a lot of space to work with...and frankly the Speedway needs to be a better attraction or be redeveloped.... to me, those are more pressing than HOP...

Dranth24 days ago

Let me preface this by saying I really like the HoP, at least when there aren't people in there ruining it for others, but times have changed and it just isn't as appealing to folks these days. Ignore everything else for a moment and just look at it from a business perspective. It is in a prime area of the park with high traffic that seems to sit half empty all day. It receives some of the lowest guest scores out of all the attractions at the MK coming in tied with Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Think about that a minute, overall guests like Aladdin just as much as HoP. So why not target Aladdin instead of HoP? Easy, HoP is a large enough space to make a difference. Just looking at a list of all the attractions that are still operational at the MK that have the same or lower guest rating as HoP (according to TP) we have: HoP - 3.8 Tom Sawyer Island - 3.8 (being replaced) Magic Carpets of Aladdin - 3.8 Swiss Family Treehouse - 3.5 Liberty Square Riverboat - 3.7 (being replaced) Barnstormer - 3.6 Tomorrowland Speedway - 3.5 Astro Orbiter - 3.5 Of those that are not already being replaced, only one would have an equal or larger impact and that is the Tomorrowland Speedway. Everything else is either too small a footprint or serves a very specific niche (Barnstormer as a kid’s coaster for example). Seems like it is just a matter of time to me.

The Mom25 days ago

Please stay on topic, and remember no politics or social issues, please.

solidyne25 days ago

🥁🎹"Washington, Adams, Tho–mas Jefferson..."🎺

Ayla25 days ago

Different experiences produce different traits.

solidyne25 days ago

Um, hence my scare quotes. Also my confessed "bashing" is a kind of admission of guilt.

MisterPenguin25 days ago

Well... most of these generational labels are hogwash. Yes, a generation that grew up on broadcast TV and one that grew up on VHS and cable and one that grew up on streaming will have different attitudes to content-consumption. But that doesn't make one of those generations more industrious or lazy; kinder or meaner; thoughtful or capricious; etc... Social scientists can't find such distinctions in the generations with regard to personality types and traits. These so-called traits that one generation has that the other doesn't is more akin to astrology trying to define what Leos are like compared to Virgos (i.e., hogwash). Generations have different experiences, not different traits. And within any one generation you'll find people in that generation that don't adhere to the stereotypes of them. So, assuming someone has a particular trait because they're of a certain generation is just bigotry. Now get off my lawn.

Grimley196825 days ago

I have a great deal of nostalgia for this attraction going back to early childhood, but being honest my nostalgia isn't necessarily tied to enjoying the presentation, etc. It may literally be more tied to the enjoyment of a cool dark experience in the middle of a hot day and possibly napping a few minutes. I can literally name the presidents in chronological order from memory without needing robots to nod at appropriate times. Walt himself used to say the park should never be finished, and something new should always be coming online. Maybe an American history themed show with Muppet involvement to make it more fun wouldn't be such a bad thing. Sam Eagle would be welcome in that space for me, as long as it's still a salute to mostly America.

AidenRodriguez73125 days ago

Living in the world an experiencing things? Wtf are you experiencing? Presidents nodding as their name is said? I really tried to like this attraction but I can't find anything that justifies it that couldn't be replaced with a much better, more popular, or funnier experience. Muppets is a fun take on the show that has precedent near presidents (ha). I would much prefer a show with the Muppets trying to create American History (would be even more funny if it was like a true Muppet movie with 1 human character and everyone else being muppets) Hell the show can even be educational overall still with jokes to fill in and keep everyone entertained. Or just bulldoze the thing and make a busbar Sleepy Hollow Attraction. Super simple yet modern take on the old Fantasyland rides. Hell. Put a Hamilton attraction in its place at this point. I would take a national treasure attraction, a Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Tall Tales of America attraction or American Sings if you want to go non IP. There's a lot better that can be done with this space honestly.

JohnD25 days ago

Normally about 5-6 months from closure (January 20), especially if there is a new video before the reveal of the Presidents. I suspect it's not as simple as moving the Trump AA from the back to the front. That AA just bows. It's odd to think about but it wouldn't surprise me if the Trump AA is re-skinned as the Biden AA to just bow. And the Biden AA is re-skinned as the Trump AA since more movement, etc.

solidyne25 days ago

Agreed. I bash "Gen Z" a lot, but what I wouldn't give to be a teenager again going to WDW!

Casper Gutman25 days ago

Why the ageism? This is something new on these boards and it’s deeply unattractive. We’re a bunch of old fogeys but we don’t have to act like it. For the record, I’m not young, I get choked up by the American Adventure, and I’d wager I know more about presidential history than almost any other poster here and I don’t think HoP is a particularly moving or inspiring presentation.