Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

[cy1229]

Ok I'm not sure he's going to be there for DINNER, but love him or hate him, the President is coming to WDW. This is copied/pasted from the Allears.net newsletter:

President Barack Obama will visit Walt Disney World during a planned trip to Orlando this coming Thursday, January 19. There, he will give a speech and "unveil a strategy that will significantly help boost tourism and travel." Disney is planning heavy security around the Magic Kingdom and has imposed parking restrictions at the Contemporary Resort. Main Street, U.S.A. will be closed to guest traffic from park opening to late afternoon. When you arrive at the Magic Kingdom Main Entrance, you will be directed via an alternate route to other areas of Magic Kingdom. The Pirates League, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Harmony Barber Shop, Crystal Palace, and Cinderella’s Royal Table will all be open and honoring reservations, but allow extra time to reach these locations due to expected foot and vehicle traffic. If you have reservations for a tour or at the Plaza Restaurant for that day, you will be contacted with instructions on how to proceed. In addition, Walt Disney World theme park hours for January 19 have been significantly changed as follows:
-- The Magic Kingdom will not have Extra Magic Hours as originally scheduled. Instead, park hours will be 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. The afternoon parade will be at 3:30 p.m., the Main Street Electrical Parade at 7 p.m. and Wishes at 8 p.m.
-- Disney's Animal Kingdom will have morning Extra Magic Hour from 8 to 9 a.m. Park hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
-- Epcot will have evening Extra Magic Hours, from 9 p.m. until midnight. Regular park hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
-- Disney's Hollywood Studios will be open 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., and will host a special fireworks presentation called "Rock the Night!" at 7 p.m. Extra Magic Hours will be held afterward from 7 to 10 p.m.
If you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel this week, you can find additional updates on Channel 19 of your resort TV.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-dail ... 8781.story

[dstrawn9889]

that silly SOB, couldnt have done it @ 07:30 and taped it, could ya? NOOOOOO, gotta make a mess of a beautiful park and flow, by disrupting all main street flow and access to the HUB... 'Ize gotzta gits ma' headlines!'

[disneylizzy]

Its kind of a mess the way it was thrown together - I mean, some people plan their wdw trips years in advance and now they've got to do something else on the fly or spend hours trying to get to a reservation at a restaurant in Magic Kingdom. I get that its the president and all, but still stinks for anyone who is at disney now and planned to go to Magic Kingdom that day. Great publicity for Disney though.

We were planning to pop in for the day on Thursday but due to this (and the likely crowding at other parks b/c it will be so hard to get into MK) we will go on Friday instead.

[dstrawn9889]

if you get there at rope drop, make a run for FP's (and some clandestine pictures of the backstage)... and then come back in after the fiasco is over, you might make a good day outta it...

[cy1229]

It's sad that he is so self-absorbed and clueless that he doesn't realize what his impromptu decisions do to disrupt the lives of so many ordinary people.

[disneylizzy]

It's sad that he is so self-absorbed and clueless that he doesn't realize what his impromptu decisions do to disrupt the lives of so many ordinary people.

Lets not talk politics or personalities here - but its Disney's decision not the president's. They could have said no b/c it is so last minute, but they are bending over backwards. I guess it would look bad if they told the president he couldn't come to Disney.

[cy1229]

It's sad that he is so self-absorbed and clueless that he doesn't realize what his impromptu decisions do to disrupt the lives of so many ordinary people.

Lets not talk politics or personalities here - but its Disney's decision not the president's. They could have said no b/c it is so last minute, but they are bending over backwards. I guess it would look bad if they told the president he couldn't come to Disney.

I'm not trying to discuss politics. Truth be told I'm not completely happy or completely irritated with any of them. And it's also fairly unrealistic to expect Disney to tell the President no. It's just not done, like it's not done to tell the Queen she can't do something in her own country. This kind of announcement could have been made anywhere. I would have the same opinion if it was any other politician or dignitary who caused such a major disruption.

Ok just re-read what you said about Disney saying no, and we agree on that point. I can't wait to go to the eye doctor and get a new pair of glasses!

[Amy]

I'm glad I am not there. I would be very disappointed if I had to plan around this mess

[Sharonofwindham]

It's sad that he is so self-absorbed and clueless that he doesn't realize what his impromptu decisions do to disrupt the lives of so many ordinary people.

I really don't think that this is something that they can plan ahead, and even if they did, due to security they probably wouldn't announce it to the public so far in advance. Alot of twisted minds out there unfortunately.

[cy1229]

It's sad that he is so self-absorbed and clueless that he doesn't realize what his impromptu decisions do to disrupt the lives of so many ordinary people.

I really don't think that this is something that they can plan ahead, and even if they did, due to security they probably wouldn't announce it to the public so far in advance. Alot of twisted minds out there unfortunately.

Good point. People. Can't live with them, can't shoot them. Just kidding.

[disneylizzy]

It's sad that he is so self-absorbed and clueless that he doesn't realize what his impromptu decisions do to disrupt the lives of so many ordinary people.

I really don't think that this is something that they can plan ahead, and even if they did, due to security they probably wouldn't announce it to the public so far in advance. Alot of twisted minds out there unfortunately.

Wow, this didn't even cross my mind. I guess its good that I'm not part of the secret service lol.

[MmeLeota]

I'm glad I am not there. I would be very disappointed if I had to plan around this mess

Yeah, me too. But the awesome bonus EMH would help!!!

It's sad that he is so self-absorbed and clueless that he doesn't realize what his impromptu decisions do to disrupt the lives of so many ordinary people.

I really don't think that this is something that they can plan ahead, and even if they did, due to security they probably wouldn't announce it to the public so far in advance. Alot of twisted minds out there unfortunately.

Wow, this didn't even cross my mind. I guess its good that I'm not part of the secret service lol.

Though it seems last minute to us, actually, this has probably been planned for a while but not released to the public...and only to those on a need-to-know basis. Scheduling a president (current or former) is a huge undertaking with security, transportation and what not...it's not something that can be planned at the drop of a hat.

Either way, it's going to be crazy at the parks!!!!

[dstrawn9889]

still sayin, could have been taped early and rebroadcast, plenty o' sunlight there at 730... and NO security risks (other than staff)

[theBIGyowski]

If it weren't for the whack-jobs in the past who attempted assassinations, we wouldn't have to deal with all of the over-the-top security.

[Amy]

still sayin, could have been taped early and rebroadcast, plenty o' sunlight there at 730... and NO security risks (other than staff)

I figured he was making a vacation out of it, bringing the family and all, but according to the press release, he is only going to be there about 3 hours. So yes, I would think they could have done it earlier in the day and avoided all the disruptions to the park guests.