Kathy met Ranger Stan!

[hideeh]

:goodvibes

That for us is the official start to vacation when Ranger Stan welcomes us home! Believe it or not, he does the daily flag family ceremony on the roof! He is in better shape than many people 20 years old!

Kathy, it was so nice to know someone else found him as charming as we do!

Heidi

[Dodie]

I know! I was so excited to hear her speak about him. If you don't know - Ranger Stan is like a "rock star" to Wilderness Lodge and VWL fans.

I would love to one day get the chance to be the flag family - with Stan leading us up to the roof in the morning to raise the flag.

:goodvibes

[safetymom]

He is a true gem. I wrote a letter to Disney about him.

[beachwarmer]

We had the honour of being Flag Family this past December. Here is a photo of Ranger Stan and I as we raised the flag. He is amazing. He is the little bit of Disney magic at the WL and VWL.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj242/beachwarmer/Camera_Download_20071229A391.jpg

He let my daughter raise one too.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj242/beachwarmer/Camera_Download_20071229A394.jpg

[safetymom]

I am jealous. :)

[Dian-er]

Just so everyone knows, Ranger Stan was originally, a bus driver in the loops at Fort Wilderness. He was very talkative & did great stories the whole time he drove the loops. He tried to retire (several times I believe), but got coaxed into being the ranger at Wilderness Lodge. We have known him since Brian was 10 years old. We have been the Flag family too. It is a super experience to go up on that roof & raise the flag with Stan. He is a very special man.
I haven't seen Stan the last few times that I have been at the Wilderness Lodge, so thought he had, finally, retired. So glad to read your post that he is still there & going strong. I intend to pop in & see him soon.
I have a picture of us as the Flag Family, when I can figure out how to get it on the computer, I post it. (I'm not the techie in this family) Diana

[safetymom]

Brian was telling me about Stan the other day when we were recording the podcast.

I didn't know he had been a bus driver. I am jealous you got to be a flag family.

Thanks for the stories.

[beachwarmer]

Just so everyone knows, Ranger Stan was originally, a bus driver in the loops at Fort Wilderness. He was very talkative & did great stories the whole time he drove the loops. He tried to retire (several times I believe), but got coaxed into being the ranger at Wilderness Lodge. We have known him since Brian was 10 years old. We have been the Flag family too. It is a super experience to go up on that roof & raise the flag with Stan. He is a very special man.
I haven't seen Stan the last few times that I have been at the Wilderness Lodge, so thought he had, finally, retired. So glad to read your post that he is still there & going strong. I intend to pop in & see him soon.
I have a picture of us as the Flag Family, when I can figure out how to get it on the computer, I post it. (I'm not the techie in this family) Diana

I remember Bob telling me about his WL experience at the podcast meet last December. I was telling him that we were going to be Flag Family and we were hoping that Ranger Stan was going to be there to take us up. My daughter even took the Yeti up with us. Ranger Stan is still talking about retiring and told us we might not see him on our next trip to VWL, but I sure hope he stays around a lot longer.

I would love to see your Flag family photo if you can get it up. It was really a treat to visit with Bob at the podcast meet and then see you all again at Le Cellier on Christmas Eve.

[burberryplaid]

Just FYI, it appears that Ranger Stan will be retiring next year. :( Some of the WL fans are trying to put together a momento for him. There is info in this post on the WL thread in the resorts board: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=27404421&postcount=1947

[NDM#1]

Park Ranger Stan rocks! He is in one of the last chapters of my book that I just wrote (link in the signature). He and I had a really cool moment together that in slightly uncommon (according to him). Disney is going to lose a "Great One" when he goes. They should probably put up some type of tribute to him at the lodge if he leaves.:flower3: