Obama's Selfish Disney World Speech Ruins Families' Vacations

Team Obama shuts down 'Main Street'

By Tony Lee and Jarrett Stepman, Human Events

Posted 01/19/2012 ET
Updated 01/19/2012 ET

Large parts of Walt Disney World in Florida will close when President Barack Obama makes an economic address there on Thursday, but the imagery associated with Obama’s visit may undercut the very message he is trying sell.

A White House official said Obama will speak at Disney World to “unveil a strategy that will significantly help boost tourism and travel,” but local newspaper reports in Florida have revealed that Disney World’s Main Street, which is centrally located in the park and contains much of the food and other items that can be purchased in the park, will be closed until late in the day. According to these reports, the guests who are at Disney World when Obama visits have been barred from attending the speech unless they get special permission from the White House and Disney’s employees will not even be able to use their passes to get into the park.

Guests who have travelled to Disney World have been told to expect longer wait times in travel and inside the park, frequent security checks, changed event times, and an earlier closing time. The White House waited until Wednesday, to inform customers of the changes to the park schedule. Employees will have their work hours changed or eliminated, and they will not be allowed to use their passes to get into the park.