Students gave their opinions on this afternoons remarks by President Obama at Walt Disney World regarding tourism.
UPDATE:3:00PM: The President announced his intentions to expands the U.S. State Department’s Global Entry program and make it easier for frequent and trusted visitors to enter the United States. The president noted the great weather and atmosphere of the park, stating “We’ve got the best product to sell. I mean look at where we are,” refering to the park itself. Obama talked further regarding increasing foot traffic throughout U.S. tourist locations and his goal to make the United States the top toursim destination in the world.
UPDATE: Obama has delivered his speech at Disney World. KnightNews.com’s Jake Sadowksy was there, just feet away from Obama as he gave the speech. Here’s a phone report he just filed.
Obama is not expected to leave Orlando International Airport until around 2 p.m. Be aware of traffic issues between Disney and OIA during the afternoon.
Earlier reports:
US President Barack Obama has landed on Air Force One at Orlando International, and is on his way to Walt Disney World to speak about tourism.
KnightNews.com has a crew at Walt Disney World working to gather information, and we’ll carry a live video stream of Obama’s speech below.
It’s scheduled to start shortly after 12:30 p.m. Obama scheduled the speech before Florida’s Jan. 31 Republican Presidential Primary. Central Florida will be an important battleground during that 2012 election.
Check back to KnightNews.com for updates from our crew at Walt Disney World.
The following reports come from the press coverage pool, which KnightNews.com is participating in for this event:
Report 1:
Air Force One touched down at Orlando International Airport at 11:36 a.m., four minutes early, on a completely cloudless, cool Florida morning.
President Barack Obama was joined on the plane by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who had been attending a mayors’ convention in Washington D.C., and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Jon Bryson.
Report 2:
The president and Dyer made their way across the tarmac to shake hands with a few of the about 75 supporters before entering the motorcade headed for Walt Disney World.
Report 3:
The motorcade left the airport at 11:52 a.m. and made the trip, via State Road 528 and Interstate Four, and arrived on Walt Disney World property at 12:10 p.m. passing along otherwise vacant Disney roadways, except for a few crowds of waving onlookers in Hess gas stations and other spots. The motorcade stopped in the back-stage area behind the Magic Kingdom at 12:20 p.m.
