Disney World is known for making magical memories. Every day people from across the world visit the Walt Disney World Magic Kindgom Park for a chance to meet Mickey Mouse and zoom through space on Space Mountain. The Magic Kingdom is the place where wishes come true, and it was always the dream of Walt Disney himself that every visitor to the park experience the joys of being a kid again at any age. Over the July 4th weekend, the dream of American citizenship became a reality for over 1,000 new citizens at the Magic Kingdom. People ages 18-82 from over 100 countries experienced the opportunity of a lifetime as they became American citizens at the Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom.

This patriotic event fits the environment and ideals of the Disney name. Walt Disney was an avid patriot of the US and listed Abraham Lincoln as his hero. It was his love of America that created the “One Nation Under God” attraction at Disneyland, an attraction that was reborn as “The Hall of Presidents” in Orlando’s Magic Kindgom. The recently “re-Imagineered” Hall of Presidents now features the addition of Barack Obama and a crisp new audio presentation of The Gettysburg Address by an animatronic Abraham Lincoln.

The citizenship ceremony was led by actor Andy Garcia. Originally from Cuba, Garcia is now famous for starring in hit movies like The Untouchables, The Godfather III and Ocean’s 11. Garcia delivered the key-note address to the new citizens in front of Cinderella’s castle. 25 Disney employees were among those naturalized at the ceremony, reciting their Oath of Allegiance to the United States amidst a backdrop of red, white and blue décor and Disney characters dressed in American revolutionary wear.

After the naturalization ceremony, the new American citizens originally were treated to a presentation at the grand re-opening of the Hall of Presidents, now titled The Hall of Presidents: A Celebration of Liberty’s Leaders. The attraction is open to anyone with Disney tickets to the Magic Kingdom park. Showings of the new presentation now narrated by Morgan Freeman are held daily in Liberty Square.