Disney World to Shut Down ‘Main Street USA’ for Obama Speech on Tourism
- Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:23pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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Disney representatives told News13 that the Magic Kingdom will host President Obama when he unveils his tourism “strategy” right from the park’s very own “Main Street USA.” The Disney Main Street will remain closed, with guests being re-routed to other parts of the theme park, for the entire duration of Obama’s visit.
Disney said it will also cancel extra magic hours for the Magic Kingdom and postpone the “Celebrate a Dream Come True” parade in anticipation of the event. Employees will be prohibited from using their passes to gain access to Magic Kingdom while Obama is present.
A White House official said:
On Thursday, the President will travel to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, where he’ll unveil a strategy that will significantly help boost tourism and travel, an important sector in the U.S. economy. The action will be taken as part of the President’s “We Can’t Wait” agenda of executive actions that will aid job growth and don’t require congressional approval.
The speech comes on the heels of a recent push by members of the tourism industry to implement easier travel visa standards for tourists from Brazil, China and India. Some suggest this might be one part of Obama’s announcement.
News13 reports that the president’s last visit to Orlando was in October for a fundraiser.
Meanwhile, parents who have been planning well in advance a vacation with their children to visit Magic Kingdom and Main Street will likely not be pleased to find out they are barred from those areas.
(h/t: Weasel Zippers)
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Comments (154)
garbagecanlogic
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:39pmGee wlhiz, disney folks are liberal minded, who would have thunk it!
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
MCDAVE
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 3:19amObama is not safe in public, Not even at Disney world…The people hate him…If i were Disney,..I’d tell him to stay out Disney world,he creates to much unhappiness
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 6:43am.
Report Post »It must be Gay Day at the House of Mouse………….
@leftfighter
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 7:00amObama shows up at Disney and Mainstreet USA shuts down.
How apropos.
Report Post »jkjk
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 7:49amWho the hell does this idiot ***** think he is. I can’t wait to boot his as# out of the White House. He makes me sick. I hope mickey mouse sticks his big foot in his as#.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 9:35amThe perfect place for a liberal fantasy program launch.
Report Post »oneshiner
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 9:39amYup! Just another Obama trick. He can go on vacation all he wants, costing $4million dollars, and now he wants to go spoil the little peoples vacations at Disney World by shutting down any and everything in that area while he’s there. If I had just spent hundreds for admission and was told I couldn’t be in the general area, I’d demand my money back. Obama=spoiler
Report Post »leklogic
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 12:43pmnow wait not all disney folks are liberal minded, my younger sister who works there is actually quite happy her shift doesn’t start until his majesty leaves as well as others that work there. I was told that this whole thing is about bringing in Asian tourism as well as south America, but I can tell you disney does not have any problem bringing in those tourists. Yet another dumb move by the dumbo in chief. Its disney everybody around the world goes to DISNEY. Our money would have been better spent if went to places like Hershey, PA or some other SMALLER PARK.
Report Post »db321
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:06pmAnother slap in America’s face. This is not the characteristics of a man running for an election – this is the blatant in your face signal of a man taking over America with no election.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 9:24pm.
Report Post »It’s Fantasyland!
Perfect.
Jinglebob
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 10:07amHow much confusion has this caused, ruined plans, lossed money by vendors, crying children? This bum fancies himself as a King. This King has no clothes.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:32pmyes, we’d be right onboard to sue disney for taking our hard-earned money under false pretenses.
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 7:02amInstead, he‘s redistributing Tinkerbell’s pixie dust.
Taking it now, then repackaging it for the Obamazombies later.
Report Post »daguanno1972
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:32pmhopefully no one mistakes him for one of the characters….with Mickey, Minnie, the princesses, Goofy, Chip and Dale, Pluto all walking around, some one may mistake him for one of these characters or maybe dumbo……
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:37pmThe way he lies .. Pinnocchio
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:38pmOops think I put in an extra n —- Pinocchio ;-)
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:47pmThat‘s why they pulled the employees’ passes.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:14amWith his Ears he will fit in with Dumbo!!!!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:31pmwe would be at that front office demanding our hard-earmned money back if we were not allowed to see the ENTIRE park just because that filthy communist animal was getting special treatment for his vile speeches there.
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:27pmBest guess: where do you think he’s going first?
I was thinking Fantasyland, but you know how much he likes to hear himself talk, so maybe the Hall of Presidents?
Then again, he might be duped into going onto the Carosel of Progress, which he’ll hate because literally every advance on there came as a result of Capitalists.
Report Post »PrivateSectorContractor
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:26pmOMG! OBAMA MUST GO! I hope the tourist there sue Disney World for their spoiled vacation.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:36pmI would ask for my money back .. .especially if I had a park hopper pass and could not get into the park of my choice .. also if you are staying in a Disney Property .. and your last day was going to be that park .. I would want a refund for the hotel room. I hope they get a lot of flack!
Report Post »ChuckJ
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:19pmKinda ironic. He is shutting down Main Street USA in Disney World while closing the door on American business here in small town USA.
Report Post »gosutag
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:23pmAnother ironic point is that he’s shutting down Main Street USA while also shutting down USA. :D
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:19pmHmm , maybe Mickey can drop some mouse ohm him, lol.
Report Post »What an oxymoron, keep tourists out to promote tourism. Oh yea, white tourists are terrorists, I keep forgetting that outright lie pandered by Janet “I gave the Muslim brotherhood top secret clearances” Napalitano. My world is upside down.
majorsco
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:08pmI wonder how many thousands of tourists are going to be shunned during Obama’s stunt promoting tourism? If he cared about the tourism he’d not cause disruption to thousands of vacationers to do a photo Op! This guy doesn’t care about people. He doesn’t care about the economy. He only cares about how big a photo splash he can make. What a shister!
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:18pmWhy is Disney going along with this? Imagine having your vacation planned for months and then find out you l miss a day of your 4 day vacation because the pseudo emperor wants to give a speech about userping more of the constitution because his Dem senators block every thing.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:27pmWhat people don’t realize is this will mess up the whole property .. the bus routes and traffic throughout all the property will be impacted .. what might be a 15 minute ride to another park (other than Magic Kingdom and Main Street which is in it) could take an hour or more because everything is re-routed .. they had us going in circles on their own park owned Disney Transportation .. finally our bus driver just pulled over and called in and asked WTF was going on … That was when Clinton was just staying at the Disney Insitute and decide he wanted to “jog” on the Golf Course. I would imagine that I-4 will also be interupted .. and that is the people trying to get to Universal and other entertainment. What a mess he is making for people who work hard and save to have a vacation … considering he has been on one for the last 3 years .. he has a LOT of nerve.
Report Post »GUNNSUP
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 3:04amRemember this clown is a narcissist…its all about him. BTW what the hell does this dope know about tourism? He’s scheming with the mouse to get votes.
Disney fits right in with the lib agaenda. They bring in foreign workers with green cards for cheap labor, thus putting alot of locals out of work. Alot of Haitians that are easy to manipulate.
Report Post »ma rita cha kita
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:06pmMy cousin is heading there soon….hope this doesn’t wreck her families vacation!
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:03pmHas anyone else wondered if there are a lot of news/soundbites where ordinary Americans shunned Obama? Of course, those little tidbits would never see the light of day. Kinda like asking Muslim (scarf wearing) women to NOT be in the background during the 07/08 Debates???
Report Post »shackero
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:01pmWhat a CRAP-Vacation!!!!!
Report Post »I hope he never shows-up at a park where I am taking my kids—–would ruin the whole experience……………
BetterDays
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:09pmNormal GOD fearing, conservative Americans aren’t allowed to lick his boots, so you‘d be nowhere near him don’t worry.
Report Post »oceandove
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:01pmKing Obama is doing well with shutting down the country, so seeing Main Street USA shut down is not surprising.
Report Post »LogicalMetaphysician
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:59pmThe most Mickey Mouse president in history shuts down Main Street USA. How appropriate.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:54pmFantasy Land is exactly where Obama belongs.
Report Post »Annika2011
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:00amHis fantasy is a NIGHTMARE for the country !
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:29pmYou sure he’s not going to the Hall of Presidents?
You know how much he likes to hear himself talk. Just sayin’.
Report Post »Sherlock01
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:54pmAnother Obama vacation… Yay!
Ask for a trillon and then spend in on yourself.
Report Post »dwmcalister
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 6:01pmI don’t see the problem…I am sure his wife and kids will be there riding the rides, eating all the junk food, and having fun. What!!! They are doing it on my dime…NOW THERE IS THE PROBLEM.
Report Post »vtxphantom
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:53pmToo bad obama does not have a work ethic. I’m talkin about his white half. His black half is just along for the ride.
Report Post »13th Generation American
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:49pmI knew Disney was a communist.
Report Post »oceandove
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:48pmIf I were going during this time, I would cancel. This is such an unbelievably idiotic stunt. People go to Disney World to get away from it all, not to have their DREAM turned into a NIGHTMARE!
Report Post »rsanchez1
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:46pmHail to the king baby!
Report Post »mbean
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:42pmObama shuts down Main Street? That will be the historians view of his short? Presidency and his war on free enterprise.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:51pmMan … and I thought Clinton was bad when he screwed up our Disney World vacation .. even CLINTON didn’t do it to this extent .. I would be so PO’d.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:39pmJust more of the “in your face” attitude – only one thing matters to him and that is him, power and money and basically screw everyone else.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:56pmI was hoping he was going to give this speech to the “little people” .. here I was ready to hop in my SUV and drive to Disney to see Obama and his speech (okay yes I was going to heckel– him so??) .. but they aren’t going to let us peons near. Just shows how out of touch Obama and this administration are.
Meanwhile I just got an email to attend a Santorum event (that makes three invites for three events from Santorum) and a Gingrich event.
Report Post »PeachyinGA
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:39pmDisgraceful! Ear-envy of Mr. Mickey.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:34pmMeanwhile Disney is going to use Obama as the model for the new Mickey Mouse ears.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:41pmNo, no, no because barry’s are way too big.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:43pm@ares338
Report Post »I think you mean DUMBO…..
KangarooJack
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:32pmI think I‘d be kinda pissed off if I’d spent a yr. or two planning this trip with my kids and then this thing shows up.
Gee, Disney really trusts their Mickey Mouse/Goofy/ and Pluto employees…they are barred from using their passes. Then again, probably a good thing. I was about to type something that would have ensured my computer will then be messed up for two friggin days, so I’m not gonna type it.
So Obama wants to have Disney Photo Ops for his Campaign…errr, Promotion of Tourism (on the taxpayers’ dime) ? Why doesn’t he visit the Canadian Border and say “Yep, coming this Spring a Pipeline down to the Gulf???”
Report Post »Dougral Supports Israel
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:30pmObama’s tourism strategy? Make energy cost a lot so people won’t fly? Spend trillions on high speed rail that no one will use? Destroy jobs so everyone stays home in poverty? He’s a Mickey mouse president and positively Goofy. Guess that‘s why he’s at Disney!
Report Post »PeachyinGA
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:50pm@dougral, you reminded me about the high speed rail he announced a few years ago that would run from Tampa to Orlando. The new FL Gov. nixed it. Wonder if the Big O will use his Mickey Podium to whine about no rail to bring in the tourists … because he doesn’t like losing.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:33pmLittle doubt he will try to demagogue the issue and weaken Gov Scott .. but Scott is right .. it was a stupid idea … most people don’t fly into Tampa to go to Orlando or visa versa when you can just rent a car and have it to use .. and if you drive you would have to park (pay) buy tickets for train (pay) lug your luggage onto train get a cab or rent a car at the other end … etc … when you could just drive I-4 and have the use of your own car. The taxpayer would have gotten stuck with paying for an underutilized rail system.
Report Post »Dougral Supports Israel
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:53pmI don’t live in Fla but I have friends in St. Cloud, south of Orlando. I can’t see many people using a Tampa to Orlando rail. It doesn’t take long to drive between the cities and its a damn sight cheaper than the high speed rail would be.
Report Post »Cat
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 8:42amDougral >
Good point about the HSR issue
Report Post »The logic fits
The king wants all states to be dependent on him.
A state’s governor denounces the king’s plan for a financial hold on his state, cloaked by the offer of a useless HSR system.
So the king goes to the city in the state with the largest entertainment center in the world on the premise he’s promoting tourism, shuts down the heart of that entertainment center and fast tracks straight to the governor screwing up the king’s plans to hold the governor’s state hostage.
And the narcissistic king’s bonus … hundreds of family’s vacations are ruined, because the governor of that state didn’t do it the king’s way.
fblair
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 11:39amWhat is interesting about the intro, “he wants to make it easier for people from Brazil and China to be able to travel to the US”. The parks are full of Brazilian families at this time, it is their summer and tour companies bring them in by the hundreds. On any day at any Disney park, a large majority of guest are from other countries. He just wants an opportunity to speak again and get pictures for his campaign.
Report Post »