Condolensces RE: SG's on president's visit

[seeing_eye_child]

Looks like Disney is doing a good job of offering up alternative entertainment opportunities and routes around Main St for the president's visit on Thurs.

...I doubt that SG's and the CM's who'll have to deal with them will agree. I can hear the petulant/entitled/pissed off refund demands echoing forward across time and space already.

Good luck to you all!

[edit - Also, I'm getting something that sounds like wailing and gnashing of teeth. I think those are the guests who want to ride TSMM after 5, and the CM's who have to deal with them]

[TechieSidhe]

I second the condolences! At LEAST he came on a weekday instead of a Friday/Weekend....I work by a major airport and everytime he or the VP comes through, it's near impossible to get to or from our office. I don't know why they don't fly him into the air force base down the road...

[avengador1]

I can heard all the guests visiting the Magic Kingdom and cast members grumbling right now. This was announced only yesterday.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com...0117,0,6753781.story

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.
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. It has also imposed parking restrictions at a nearby hotel, Disney's Contemporary Resort, which will be used as a staging area for news media.
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.

Main street will be closed to guests as will other areas the president decides to visit. Obama will be there to deliver a speech on improving tourism and the park guests will not be allowed to see it in person.

President's Remarks Not Open To Park Guests, Disney Says

http://www.wesh.com/themepa...l.html#ixzz1jpAoaTg6

The president's remarks are not open to guests, Disney said in the memo. Invitations are being handled by the White House. Park guests will not be able to attend without a White House invitation.
Walt Disney World is getting the word out to its more than 64,000 cast members about changes on Thursday in light of President Barack Obama's visit to Magic Kingdom Park for an economic address.
In a document distributed to cast members that was obtained by WESH 2 News, Disney outlines what the presidential visit will mean to park operations that day.
Disney advises that Main Street, U.S.A., including shops like the Emporium, will be closed to guests from park opening through late afternoon.
When park guests arrive, they will be directed through "alternate routes" to enjoy other areas of the park, Disney said. Main Street, U.S.A. will open later in the day, in time for the "Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade" at 3:30 p.m.
Disney's hotel guests will be informed about the changes beginning Wednesday, the document said. Letters will be sent to each guest room and Disney's in-room television information system will be updated.

[Big Wallaby]

The best part? I have a friend that a few hours ago called Guest Relations and was told that the park would be open on time at 9:00.

That is a travesty. The fact that people are coming into the resort, thinking they will get into the park on time, only to miss half a day for their price of getting in...

There are very few events for which the President belongs on Disney soil. One is the Fourth of July, swearing in the new citizens. That is very cool, and it happens before the park opens, early in the morning. I will never have a problem with it.

I am guessing by the amount of time they will be there that he is taking his daughters on rides and stuff. Sorry, but when you run for President, it may not be spoken, but there are certain places where you are effectively giving up the right to take your family. For one person to so inconvenience so many others, I really don't care who it is.

[avengador1]

I am guessing by the amount of time they will be there that he is taking his daughters on rides and stuff. Sorry, but when you run for President, it may not be spoken, but there are certain places where you are effectively giving up the right to take your family. For one person to so inconvenience so many others, I really don't care who it is.

I could say something about this, but there are other forums for that. I'll just say that I don't like how our president is acting and leave it at that. ;)

[Zazu]

Could be worse. At least Michael Eisner isn't visiting again. All those sharpshooters on the rooftops really made me nervous.

[Near Philly]

My condolensces in advance to every WDW CM directly and indirectly affected by this.
Great big hugs to MK Guest Relations, they'll probably need it.

Since Mama Always Said.......I'll just enjoy a nice :eatpopcn:

[kurtisnelson]

There are very few events for which the President belongs on Disney soil. One is the Fourth of July, swearing in the new citizens. That is very cool, and it happens before the park opens, early in the morning. I will never have a problem with it.

2009 would have been a great opportunity for him to have come for that. Hall of Presidents reopening media event was combined in with that, and the economy/parks actually needed the help then.

[Big Wallaby]

Could be worse. At least Michael Eisner isn't visiting again. All those sharpshooters on the rooftops really made me nervous.

To be fair, a President's sharp shooters probably have more respect for human life than Eisner's. Not that that's really saying much.

Any man who can get fired from a CEO position, then a couple years later host a talk show and invite his old subordinates on to laugh at them and how horribly he treated them...

[shilohmm]

Sorry, but when you run for President, it may not be spoken, but there are certain places where you are effectively giving up the right to take your family. For one person to so inconvenience so many others, I really don't care who it is.

Agreed. Or at least you should expect to be the one dealing with the hassles of fame, rather than expecting to inconvenience everyone more than necessary (the Secret Service makes some choices not all Presidents would). I have more sympathy for the movie and TV stars who have to sneak in from the back, because some of them really didn't realize they'd end up so well known (some people go to Hollywood hoping for steady work but not fame).

Why can't the President hold his essentially private party where everyone else does when using WDW; there are plenty of venues. It doesn't sound like he's doing the usual thing when someone buys the park out for a private party, either; closing it around six or so. :shaker:

Although I am thinking of the guests whose days will be disrupted, mostly I feel for the CMs, who will bear the brunt of it. Best of good luck to anyone working that day; may all the guests see it on the news or otherwise be alert enough to know what they're getting into, may there be a temporary hiatus on SGTs, may the president's visit be amazingly smooth and your weekend unbelievably good.

Why, yes, I do believe in requesting the impossible. I also believe in expecting the inevitable, but I still figure it can't hurt to ask for better. ;)