Obama visits WDW

[Tom Morrow]

President Obama will make a speech at Walt Disney World

Obama: I'm going to Disney World Orlando Sentinel President Barack Obama, set to unveil a new policy for boosting U.S. tourism, has chosen a fairy-tale setting for the Thursday announcement: Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, with its iconic Cinderella Castle as a backdrop. And if some Disney magic rubs off on his re-election bid, too, then so be it. Details of the event were made public Tuesday. Air Force One is expected to land at Orlando International Airport in late morning Thursday, with the president's motorcade taking him directly to Disney World. He is to leave Central Florida less than three hours later. Disney's Contemporary Resort will be used as a staging area for news media. Disney is bracing for heavy security around the Magic Kingdom, its biggest and best-known park and the expected stage for Obama's announcement. The resort has canceled extra hours in the park for guests staying in its hotels, pushed back the start time of a daily parade to move it farther from Obama's visit, and prohibited employees from using entrance passes for the day. At the same time, Disney has extended operating hours and added entertainment at its three other parks in hopes of steering guests away from the Magic Kingdom. Resort workers have also distributed in-room letters to people staying in Disney hotels, advising them of the changes. Mid-January is one of the slowest periods of the year for Disney World and the region's other theme parks. But there are still likely to be tens of thousands of tourists in the Magic Kingdom when Obama delivers his speech. by Mark K. Matthews, Jason Garcia & Sara K. Clarke complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[PhineasTheGhost]

Hope he goes to Hall of Presidents.

[Ezra]

I don't think he has time. It sounds to me like he'll give his speech in the Magic Kingdom, do some press one-on-ones at the Contemporary Resort, then immediately head back to the airport. He'll only be in Florida for three hours.

[Disneyland_DHI]

I've actually had something of a day-dream thing kind of like this. The presidential family would be planning a vacation to Disneyland. (How? I don't know. It was a day dream for crying out loud.) Obama wanted the "best Disneyland tour guide" in the world. Then I was tracked down by the FBI because Obama somehow found out I was "the best."

A little conceited and far-fetched, but like I said, it was a mere day dream.

[MajesticMatterhorn]

the speech wiill be broadcast in HOP, i doubt highly that he will not go to HOP, he's in there, its a great photo op, and shows the diversity of the parks

at 12:15, President obama will be speaking at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, The first sitting president to do so since Ronald Regan's 2nd Inaugural parade/speech on memorial day 1984 at Epcot Center......it will be broadcast live at www.whitehouse.gov/live

President Reagan Inauguration Parade Speech at Epcot- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqB-wnsyfWA (START IT AT 2:45)

[bodhran105]

^A little off: the stream will start at 12:15, the speech will begin at 12:30.

I wonder what he's gonna say. Is he going to explain why he's at MK?! What's the purpose?! Questions must be answered!!

His speech is about U.S. Tourism- like foreigners coming to the U.S.? Or boosting U.S. Citizens to take holiday?

[kairamoon]

Running a little late lol but his speech is about making it easier for other countries to come to the U.S. mainly India, China and Brazil *shoots self*

[Executioner]

Is this a ploy to get more people to like him since it sorta shows him liking Disney being at the park? Meh. Make the speech and go. Leave the park for the people that actually want to enjoy the park and not use it for political purposes.

[Tom Morrow]

“Walt Disney World is open for business”
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Obama's Disney speech: 'America is open for business' Orlando Business Journal President Barack Obama's 13-minute speech at Walt Disney World on Thursday may have been short, but his message was clear: "I want America to be the top tourist destination in the world." As expected, Obama also talked about his intentions to expand the State Department's global entry program for trusted international visitors, as well as expand — and accelerate — visa application processing for certain countries, and add more countries to the visa waiver program. “China, India and Brazil have huge populations of people that want to come to Florida, but we make it too hard for them,” Obama said. “We want them to know that Orlando, Walt Disney World and the U.S. is open for business.” continue — complete article

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From Pennsylvania Avenue to Main Street, U.S.A. President Obama at Magic Kingdom Disney Parks Blog “I am glad to be at Disney World, the Magic Kingdom!” This was the spirited welcome President Barack Obama delivered earlier today as he stood on Main Street, U.S.A. with the iconic Cinderella Castle glittering behind him. “It’s rare that I get to do something that Sasha and Malia envy me for,” the President joked, referring to his young daughters. “Maybe they’ll actually ask me at dinner how my day went.” The President’s remarks were for an invited audience and necessitated closing a portion of Main Street, U.S.A. for a few hours. To access the park, guests were ushered from the main entrance through a special backstage area that was lined with scores of colorful banners and parade floats and live musical entertainment. A capacity crowd of guests who wanted to hear the President’s speech even watched a live broadcast of his remarks in the most appropriate of settings — The Hall of Presidents attraction in Liberty Square. Back on Main Street, U.S.A., President Obama finished his remarks, then turned to look at the “Partners” statue in distance. The President gave a friendly wave to Walt and Mickey, then exited the stage to end this historic day at the Magic Kingdom. by Jennifer Fickley-Baker complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[alyx92]

I was gonna go into the parks today but upon hearing this i decided not too.

I think it was not the worst thing in the world that he gave his speech from WDW. After all, orlando is the tourism capital of the world. Him giving a speech about tourism there is like him going to Wall Street to unveil a new economic policy. It sort of makes sense IMO

[Nagused]

lol, he said Ecpot Center...His speech writer is either old school Disney fan or has not been to Orlando for a looong time :)

[bodhran105]

^Huh. Could of sworn the signage out front says: "Epcot Center at the Walt Disney World Resort?"