Disney World Removes Obama From Theme Park, Keeps Tribute to George W. Bush

This week, a tribute to President Barack Obama disappeared from Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort. Around the same time, the Central Florida Disney park announced that it would once again extend an exhibit of paintings by President George W. Bush at EPCOT.

President Obama Exhibit Removed From Disney World

On February 18, Inside the Magic reported that a basketball belonging to former Democratic President Barack Obama had been removed from the Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World Resort. As Magic Kingdom Park guests wait for the next showing of the audio-animatronic show, they can explore authentic artifacts from several former White House administrations.

President Obama’s basketball, pictured next to a photograph of him playing and a plaque about his love for the sport, was displayed in a cabinet dedicated to the personal lives and interests of former Commanders in Chief. The photo and plaque remain, but the actual basketball has disappeared. An image of President John F. Kennedy with White House pony Macaroni has taken over the space.

The basketball was on loan from the Barack Obama Presidential Library. The Obama Center is set to open in Chicago this summer, and the basketball may be displayed there. The museum is set to have its own basketball court.

Walt Disney World Resort has not issued a public statement on the removal of President Obama’s basketball from the lobby of the Hall of Presidents.

President Bush Display Extended

Also on Wednesday, Disney Parks Blog announced that the “Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors” exhibit will remain on display at EPCOT through the upcoming Fourth of July weekend. The series of paintings by Republican President George W. Bush first debuted in the American Adventure Pavilion in June 2024 and initially extended through early 2026.

Walt Disney World Resort extended the exhibit, which includes over 60 of President Bush’s paintings of post-9/11 veterans, as part of its upcoming celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary. The Central Florida Disney destination will also celebrate the United States’ anniversary with expanded Fourth of July fireworks shows and the new Soarin’ Across America attraction at EPCOT and Disney California Adventure Park.

Was This Decision Political?

It’s unlikely that this was a political decision by Walt Disney World Resort, though the timing of the President Bush exhibit’s extension is indeed a strange coincidence. President Obama’s basketball was on loan and, as property of the Barack Obama Presidential Library, could be removed at any time.

Did you have the chance to see President Barack Obama’s basketball in the Hall of Presidents before the display was removed? Share your experience with Inside the Magic in the comments!