Five Things to Know About The Hall of Presidents

Thrill rides usually dominate the plans for most folks as they think about a day at Walt Disney World. But for my money, the often-skipped-over Hall of Presidents is one of Disney’s most powerful attractions. It’s a museum, a theatrical production, and a piece of Walt Disney’s original vision—all rolled into one! Read on to learn more, but if you just want to skip over to the whys, wheres and hows, here’s your shortcut.

1. The queue is a mini museum of American democracy.

To queue up, you enter a beautiful building designed to evoke the best in architectural style from colonial America. You step into a large rotunda with high ceilings, polished floors, and quiet music in the background. It feels more like you’ve entered a gallery than a waiting area. Presidential portraits hang on the walls. Display cases filled with artifacts from former presidents and first ladies surround you.

Disney worked with museums and combed through archives to create and curate these exhibits, so they’re 100% authentic. You can easily pass the time waiting for the main show to begin by reading and browsing the fascinating displays. A personal fave is one featuring Walt Disney and Abraham Lincoln. Don’t skip over this part of the Hall of Presidents, or you’ll be missing out.

2. The show is a true Disney blend of storytelling and technology.

Blending history with Disney magic, the show honors the office of the presidency – along with a chance to sit in air-conditioned comfort for nearly a half-hour! When the doors to the theatre open, you’re ushered into a 700-seat auditorium.

The giant screen comes to life, and you watch a stirring film highlighting key points in American history. Midway through the presentation, the Civil War erupts onscreen. An Audio Animatronic Abraham Lincoln appears on stage, stands, and recites the Gettysburg address. (Note: It’s totally ok if tears well up in your eyes or chills run down your back. It’s honestly quite moving.)

The film presentation resumes, with more excerpts of significant presidential speeches. Each highlights a critical event in the decades since World War II. Throughout, the narration is powerful but not overwhelming, striking the balance between education and entertainment perfectly. It reminds guests that the presidency is not about one individual, but about a continuous story of leadership, conflict, and progress.

At the conclusion of the film, the screen rises, and you see every American president, together, on one stage. Just seeing the sheer number of presidents represented all at once is striking. Then, one by one, they acknowledge their names as the roll is called. George Washington stands and speaks. “My fellow citizens, no events could have filled me with greater anxieties than that notification on the 14th day of April 1789, that you had selected me to lead our nation. But it was with the confidence of my fellow citizens that I took an oath: thirty-five simple words that have been repeated by every American president throughout history.”

An Audio Animatronic of the current sitting president then steps forward to recite the Oath of Office in their own recorded voice—a tradition since the Clinton administration. Lastly, the narrator (Joy Vandervort-Cobb) concludes, “The presidency of the United States is a role unique in the world, an office entrusted to each president by us – “we the people.” The music swells up, and the show is over.

3. The history behind this historic attraction.

The Hall of Presidents has its roots in Walt Disney’s admiration for Abraham Lincoln. In the early 1960s, Disney Imagineers created the first human Audio-Animatronic figure. Debuting at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, it was for a show called Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. The show was a breakthrough success, combining technology and history in a way nobody had ever seen before. You can still see this show at Disneyland.

The success of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln led Walt to envision one that could include all of the U.S. presidents. But animating dozens of human figures at once was way beyond what Imagineers could achieve in the 1960s. And, sadly, Walt passed away in 1966. But Walt’s vision became reality in 1971 when the Magic Kingdom opened. The Hall of Presidents was one of Liberty Square’s opening-day attractions, bringing together the nation’s leaders in one show as Walt had wanted.

Since then, the attraction has been continually updated; the Hall of Presidents isn’t just a static historical exhibit but something that evolves with each election cycle. Each new figure requires sculpting, painting, costume design, and detailed programming. It’s one of the only attractions at Walt Disney World that literally changes with history!

4. True or false? Fun facts about the Hall of Presidents.

True: Each President is individually crafted.

Imagineers use historical research, official portraits, and modern references to sculpt each president. Their clothing is custom-tailored to match the styles of their eras. In the case of recent presidents, some have donated items from their personal wardrobe such as shirts or ties or jackets.

False: The building is a replica of Independence Hall.

I have to believe this claim was made by someone who had never looked at Independence Hall or even visited Philadelphia. While the architectural style of the Hall of Presidents is meant to suggest Independence Hall it’s not an exact replica. Independence Hall is much wider, and the entire front face of the building is flat – there’s no covered portico.

True: The voices are (mostly) real.

Since Bill Clinton, each sitting president has recorded their lines for the show. So the words you hear are truly spoken by the president themselves, not an actor. Two exceptions however, for obvious reasons: actor David Morse voices George Washington, and J.V. Martin, a prominent voice actor, is Abraham Lincoln.

False: The date on the pediment above the entrance, 1787, is the year the Constitution of the United States was ratified.

1787 is the year the Constitutional Congress convened. That’s when the Constitution was written and submitted to the 13 states for ratification. The Office of the President didn’t exist until the Constitution was written – so that’s why 1787 is important. Turns out the Constitution wasn’t ratified by the needed quorum of states until 1788. (The last state to ratify didn’t sign until 1790.) And George Washington was not sworn into office until April 30, 1789, more than a decade after 1776!

True: The Presidents don’t just sit there.

There are lots of subtle movements that add some life to the presentation. Look closely and you’ll notice presidents shifting in their chairs, adjusting their hands, or nodding along. Small touches, but they add a sense of realism to the presentation.

False: The Seal on the atrium carpet is the Seal of the President of the United States.

The large seal in the center of the rotunda carpet is surrounded by a banister so guests can’t walk on it. Look at it and you’ll see that the inscription around the seal reads, “The Great Seal of the United States.” Clearly, it’s not the Seal of the President of the United States.

One side note here: Why was the Great Seal of the United States used instead of the Presidential Seal? I like to think it’s because of Walt’s idea for an attraction like this. At the very beginning of the presentation, you hear these words: “In 1971 [Walt’s] love for America inspired the creation of the Hall of Presidents: a place to celebrate the optimism and goodwill he saw at the heart of the American story. Walt’s vision was to honor the nation by honoring the American presidency.”

5. The Nuts and Bolts.

The Hall of Presidents is located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom. As an indoor attraction with an indoor queue area, it’s unaffected by inclement weather. The theatre is air-conditioned, offering a nice refuge from the Florida heat.

The theater-style seats are padded and comfortable. Guests may remain in a wheelchair/ECV to watch the show. Assistive Listening Devices and Handheld Captioning services are available. Devices are available through Guest Relations and require a refundable deposit. You must return the device on the same day for a refund. There are no height restrictions, no health or safety advisories for the Hall of Presidents.

The show runs throughout the day and lasts about 25 minutes. The short, air-conditioned wait combined with a half-hour air-conditioned show makes this attraction perfect for escaping the crowds in the hottest, busiest times of the day. The Hall of Presidents is not open for Early Theme Park Entry or Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. It’s also not an attraction eligible for a Lightning Lane pass – but you don’t need one. The wait times are usually short; check the large clock under the marquee for the next performance time.

The Bottom Line.

I love the Hall of Presidents, regardless of who is in office. Its message is never out of date, and serves as a powerful reminder to us all about America. Here, Imagineers found a way to make American history entertaining, inspiring, and definitely Disney. From the museum-like rotunda to the lifelike Animatronics, every detail reflects the Imagineers’ commitment to immersive storytelling through creativity and imagination.

Sadly, over the last decade or so, it’s become commonplace for some members of the audience to cheer or jeer, as the current president and his contemporaries are named. Many folks find these partisan displays divisive, but they aren’t likely to go away any time soon. If you’d rather not be reminded of politics on vacation, you may want to skip the Hall of Presidents or choose a less crowded time to experience it.

Do you plan to see the Hall of Presidents on your next visit? For the show, for the air conditioning or maybe both? Let us know in the comments!

(Originally published February 20, 2023. Last updated/republished August 28, 2025.)