Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

[disneylizzy]

We watched the speech during lunch, and I was actually impressed with what he had to say (rare for me to say about him or any other president, but we shall leave it at that). MK looked so weird all empty!!! I was disappointed that our local news cameras didn't have the castle behind him- just a retaining wall from near Casey's Corner and some shrubs! Bad angle on their part!

So there wasn't anyone there to watch the speech? I though that they would let a certain # of folks in there to watch it (maybe after they cleared additional security?) - seems funny to give a speech to nobody.

[dstrawn9889]

there could be a Charles Whitman or a LHO in that group, then what would the country do? swear Biden in?

reading the last posts reminded me of Full Metal Jacket---

[referring to Lee Harvey Oswald and mass murderer Charles Whitman]
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Do any of you people know where these individuals learned how to shoot?... Private Joker.
Private Joker: Sir. In the Marines, Sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: In the Marines. Outstanding. Those individuals showed what one motivated Marine and his rifle can do. And before you ladies leave my Island, you will all be able to do the same thing.

[MmeLeota]

We watched the speech during lunch, and I was actually impressed with what he had to say (rare for me to say about him or any other president, but we shall leave it at that). MK looked so weird all empty!!! I was disappointed that our local news cameras didn't have the castle behind him- just a retaining wall from near Casey's Corner and some shrubs! Bad angle on their part!

I didn't see it, nor did I hear what he had to say. I don't like to get involved with politics and all, but I'll only say this...he's up for re-election and knows that he is in danger of not winning a second term. He's liable to say anything... (that really applies to any candidate at this point... )

Note did anyone catch when he called WDW Disneyland? Our office started shouting at the telly when that happened!

That's awful! But sadly, the only people that probably noticed are the true Disney people

I agree...sad but true.

[MadEye]

We watched the speech during lunch, and I was actually impressed with what he had to say (rare for me to say about him or any other president, but we shall leave it at that). MK looked so weird all empty!!! I was disappointed that our local news cameras didn't have the castle behind him- just a retaining wall from near Casey's Corner and some shrubs! Bad angle on their part!

So there wasn't anyone there to watch the speech? I though that they would let a certain # of folks in there to watch it (maybe after they cleared additional security?) - seems funny to give a speech to nobody.

Oh, there were people there but they were on an invite only list. They used the Scar parking lot and transported them over to MK in at least 6 shuttles (that's how many I saw yesterday).

[Amy]

I'm probably going to try and watch the speech on YouTube tonight. I still can't figure out why the speech had to be made at Disney as it was mostly about freeing up visas and making it easier for foreigners to visit the US right?

[dstrawn9889]

probably disney's political weight being thrown around. i believe it is prolly disney wanting lower restrictions and wait times on temporary entry visas, to collect more cas-----guests in their parks in the good ol' USofA

[Wizzard419]

I'm probably going to try and watch the speech on YouTube tonight. I still can't figure out why the speech had to be made at Disney as it was mostly about freeing up visas and making it easier for foreigners to visit the US right?

Because it is more impressive to talk about tourisim related government actions at a tourist site rather than in the press room.

[Soarin08]

We watched the speech during lunch, and I was actually impressed with what he had to say (rare for me to say about him or any other president, but we shall leave it at that). MK looked so weird all empty!!! I was disappointed that our local news cameras didn't have the castle behind him- just a retaining wall from near Casey's Corner and some shrubs! Bad angle on their part!

So there wasn't anyone there to watch the speech? I though that they would let a certain # of folks in there to watch it (maybe after they cleared additional security?) - seems funny to give a speech to nobody.

Invited guests only.

[Wizzard419]

I can think of no reason why they shouldn't let the public in.

[SorcererDonald16]

probably disney's political weight being thrown around. i believe it is prolly disney wanting lower restrictions and wait times on temporary entry visas, to collect more cas-----guests in their parks in the good ol' USofA

I was reading around about this last night, and someone was saying Iger has political aspirations and has been looking for "ins" with the "right" people. Didn't know that, but if true, this would make more sense to me.

Personally, I think the whole thing was idiotic and unnecessary, and if I was at WDW, I would have been royally ticked off. Even more so if I had ADRs canceled due to that (I plan ADRs way in advance). I saw the videos on YouTube, and there was really no excuse for the whole thing not to have been done prior to park opening, if it had to be done at all. On the other hand, if it had been him bringing his girls to WDW and they needed extra security and to close things for a bit here and there while they moved around, I would've had no problem with that. The fact that it was for a speech is where my beef lies. Not about political leanings for me; I feel that way about other Presidents who visited for speeches while in office as well.

Anyhow, regardless of all that, I am having a hard time understanding why any of his advisers thought this would be a good idea. The jokes just write themselves, as the late night comics showed (living in Fantasyland, closing down Main Street, etc.). Bad advice, IMO.

[cy1229]

Anyhow, regardless of all that, I am having a hard time understanding why any of his advisers thought this would be a good idea. The jokes just write themselves, as the late night comics showed (living in Fantasyland, closing down Main Street, etc.). Bad advice, IMO.

Maybe the CiC had a hankering for a Mickey ice cream bar.

[SorcererDonald16]

Anyhow, regardless of all that, I am having a hard time understanding why any of his advisers thought this would be a good idea. The jokes just write themselves, as the late night comics showed (living in Fantasyland, closing down Main Street, etc.). Bad advice, IMO.

Maybe the CiC had a hankering for a Mickey ice cream bar.

Maybe so. Or a Dole Whip and a Churro.

[Amy]

Anyhow, regardless of all that, I am having a hard time understanding why any of his advisers thought this would be a good idea. The jokes just write themselves, as the late night comics showed (living in Fantasyland, closing down Main Street, etc.). Bad advice, IMO.

Maybe the CiC had a hankering for a Mickey ice cream bar.

Maybe so. Or a Dole Whip and a Churro.

Yup, now that I watched it, I don't know why they had to do it at WDW. Yes I get that the statement makes more of an impact when given at a tourist destination, but why do it at a place where they know tourists almost definitely want to go. Why not somewhere more off the beaten track, showing the beauty of America, like the Redwood Forests or Mount Rushmore? Less disruption and a boost to the ailing National Parks system...

[pixiesparkles]

Glad I am not there...talk about messing up your day at the Kingdom (no offense to the president) for a vaca that you probably planned way in advance.

[Soarin08]

Glad I am not there...talk about messing up your day at the Kingdom (no offense to the president) for a vaca that you probably planned way in advance.

It didn't actually end up messing anything up.... and guest complaints were among the lowest Disney has ever received.

Kinda wish people would get the facts straight before assuming stuff...