Which US Presidents Have Visited Disneyland?

Even the Commander in Chief needs a little dose of Disney magic. When Camp David won’t do, there is no better place to go than the Happiest Place on Earth. Here’s a look at the United States Presidents who have visited Disneyland over the years.

Harry S. Truman (visited 1957)

Mr. and Mrs. Truman experienced several Disneyland attractions with the notable exception of Dumbo the Flying Elephant. It is said that the Democratic president did not want to be photographed with a symbol of the Republican Party.

Dwight D. Eisenhower (visited 1961)

Gen. and Mrs. Eisenhower were made honorary members of the Disneyland fire department as they donned firemen’s hats for a tour of the park.

John F. Kennedy (visited 1959)

Then senator of Massachusetts, Kennedy met President Sekou Toure of Guinea at Disneyland City Hall.

Richard Nixon (visited 1955, 1959, 1961, 1968)

First visiting as vice president and later while campaigning for the presidency, the California native traveled to the Disneyland Resort more times than any other commander in chief.

Gerald Ford (visited 1964)

The Nebraska native visited Disneyland while still congressman for the state of Michigan.

Jimmy Carter (visited 1982)

Jimmy Carter holds the distinction of being the only US president to have a running tour of the park. Carter took the early morning jog while in the area to attend a convention at the Disneyland Hotel.

Ronald Reagan (visited 1955 and 1990)

The actor-turned politician was part of the park’s opening-day ceremonies and later returned for the 35th anniversary celebration.

George Bush (visited 1988)

While vice president, George Bush joined Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and California Gov. George Deukmejian during a special Olympic Salute event.

Barack Obama

President Obama visited Walt Disney World to promote international tourism. As part of the media coverage from the event, we learned that Obama visited Disneyland in California as a child.

A few years later, at a campaign rally in Anaheim, California, former President Barack Obama recalled how he once got kicked out of Disneyland. Obama said that during his days as an Occidental College student in Los Angeles, he traveled with some friends to see a Kool & the Gang at the park. After the concert, Obama said he and his friends stayed in the park and made their way to the Skyway gondolas.

“I’m ashamed to say this, so close your ears young people, but a few of us were smoking on the gondolas,” Obama said as the crowd laughed and whistled. “These were cigarettes, people. Terrible thing, but I’m a teenager, I’m rebellious.”

Obama then described reaching the end of the gondola route to be received by “two very large Disneyland police officers.”

“They say, sir, can you come with us,” Obama said. “And they escorted us out of Disneyland. This is a true story everybody. I was booted from the Magic Kingdom.”

Despite getting kicked out, Obama said he fondly remembered the officers, who told him he was welcome back any time.

“They said, ‘You’re going to have to leave sir, for breaking the rules of the Magic Kingdom, but you are welcome to back anytime,’ which I thought, ‘That was nice of them,'” Obama said. “Anyway, those are my memories of Disneyland.”