When will The Hall of Presidents reopen at Walt Disney World?

  • Many wondering when Hall of Presidents will reopen
  • Disney says the attraction will reopen "late 2017"
  • No official announcements have been made since June

That’s the question many Disney fans continue to ask as the end of 2017 draws near.

When the Magic Kingdom attraction closed in January, it was originally scheduled for a six-month refurbishment. During that time, Disney World Imagineers planned to add an audio-animatronic Donald Trump, who had been elected the 45th president of the U.S.

However, as the months passed, the June reopening was abandoned.

At the time, Disney gave a new reopening date as “late 2017.” Disney also confirmed to Spectrum News 13 that Trump would have a speaking role, squashing earlier speculation that the animatronic President Trump would be silent.

“The same thing that we’ve done with other presidents is the same plan we have for President Trump,” Vice President of Communications Jacquee Wahler said in June.

This came on the heels of Disney CEO Bob Iger in May telling CNN that a script had been sent to Trump’s team.

Around this time, Vice published an article about alleged “behind-the-scenes” drama between Trump and Imagineers. Vice later retracted the article.

Disney called the article “inaccurate” and released an official statement on its Disney Parks Blog.

“Despite some media reports to the contrary, President Trump will have a speaking role in The Hall of Presidents, like every president since 1993,” the statement said, in part.

Disney also used the statement to announce some changes to the attraction, which they said was the reason for pushing back the reopening. In addition to Trump, the attraction would feature a new show and an upgraded theater with new sound, lighting and projection systems. Disney has remained mum in the months since, not posting updates or official announcements.

That has again led to rumors and speculation.

Most recently, Disney bloggers WDWMagic said the long-delayed attraction will debut before Christmas. The report cites “sources familiar with the matter.” That certainly fits into the “late 2017” time frame Disney previously mentioned. But again, that’s not specific.

So, will Trump’s animatronic soon take center stage, or will we have to wait until next year?

Spectrum News 13 contacted Disney on Tuesday, but a representative only reiterated that the attraction “will reopen in late 2017.”

No official opening date has been announced.


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