Does Disney ever do anything to commemorate Sept. 11?

[BelleBete]

Sorry if this has been asked before; I searched and couldn't find anything.

I will be in WDW in September and was just wondering if any parks/resorts do anything to commemorate Sept. 11?

 

[LC102310]

Hi,

My husband and I were in Disney in 2009 on 9/11. He is a firefighter, so he was asking around if there was going to be any kind of tribute or something on 9/11. Everyone we asked said no, they weren't having a tribute.

Lisa

 

[PSUGuy]

No, nor Pearl Harbor Day or the sinking of the Maine.

Bill From PA

 

[BelleBete]

Ok, thanks! Just thought since it was the ten year anniversary there might be something going on.

 

[Guest-expert]

No and i'll tell you why...

Disney is a place to get away from the world, and to keep to that tradition, they seldom participate in those events. I remember Desert Storm, and everyone was wearing Yellow ribbons and there was a stink among the employees that wanted to wear them to support the troops, but to truly be in character, they needed to focus on the fantasy and not the reality of the world. Disney is an escape...

 

[jmkjr72]

originaly disney thought about handing out a special button when they reopened after the attacks
heck they even went as far as rushing them thru being made
and they decided agaisnt it

 

[RalphinSC]

I can understand their stance on this.

 

[goofyernmost]

No and i'll tell you why...

Disney is a place to get away from the world, and to keep to that tradition, they seldom participate in those events. I remember Desert Storm, and everyone was wearing Yellow ribbons and there was a stink among the employees that wanted to wear them to support the troops, but to truly be in character, they needed to focus on the fantasy and not the reality of the world. Disney is an escape...

Absolutely agree with that. It would be easy to start wanting to commemorate every single thing that ever happened, but that really wouldn't be a good idea. Everyone needs to move on from tragedies and focus on the future not dwell in the past. Disney is indeed a fantasy destination. Focusing on sad and catastrophic events would not be a wise choice.

Every individual can make their own choices about how to remember a traumatic event, many people do go to Disney so they can spend a few hours not thinking about things like that.

 

[RalphinSC]

Absolutely agree with that. It would be easy to start wanting to commemorate every single thing that ever happened, but that really wouldn't be a good idea. Everyone needs to move on from tragedies and focus on the future not dwell in the past. Disney is indeed a fantasy destination. Focusing on sad and catastrophic events would not be a wise choice.

Every individual can make their own choices about how to remember a traumatic event, many people do go to Disney so they can spend a few hours not thinking about things like that.

You guys say it so much better than I can

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We'll be there for 9/11 this year too. It's DHs birthday actually.

 

[BelleBete]

I agree with their stance on this as well and I was expecting the answer to be no. It's not as if I'd like some solemn march through MK or anything like that. I just knew that *if* there was something planned it probably be low-key and not loudly advertised.

 

[clc053103]

We will be there for 9/11 this year. We were also there on 9/11/2001- and though they did close the parks for the rest of the day, they did everything they could to entertain and keep people comfortable. When parks reopened the next day, bag checks started.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

We have been there nearly every year since 9/11/01 on 9/11 till this year and while Disney does nothing they do make a special limited edition Patriot Day pin, which is to commemorate 9/11.

 

[focusondisney]

Yes they do. We were there in 2009. There was a special ceremony during the "Flag Retreat Ceremony". This takes place about 5:30 PM in town square at the Magic Kingdom. It was definately a special ceremony. There were red, white & blue flower arrangements placed around a small podium. The Voices Of Liberty from Epcot's American Adventure sang several songs. There was a brief narration & a veteran assisted Disney's color guard to lower the flag. Total was about 15-20 mins for the whole thing. It was not the usual Flag Retreat, definately something special for Sept. 11th.

Bit it was hard ti find out about. I think we had asked at the concierge desk at Yacht Club & were originally told there would not be any special ceremony anywhere at the parks. Luckily, one of the 5 cast members working at the time knew about this special flag lowering ceremony.

We will be there this Sept 11th also & I intend to be at the Flag retreat. I am betting they will do another special ceremony.



Edit to add: They even passed out small American Flags to everyone gathered around the area before the ceremony began. I still have it. It was a very moving event. Many people were wiping away the tears.

 

[tony609]

originaly disney thought about handing out a special button when they reopened after the attacks
heck they even went as far as rushing them thru being made
and they decided agaisnt it

True. However I was working at the Disney store, I did for 11 years, and they did give us a button, it was Mickey in front of a flag saluting.

 

[sunking]

Here is a link to Mousesurplus.com where they are offering 9/11 buttons that were produced but never handed out. You can buy them if you like!

http://mousesurplus.myshopify.com/c...nreleased-epcot-september-11th-button-pin-lot

Have fun!

 

[CdnCarrie]

We were there on the 1st anniversary and they stopped everything and did 2 minutes of silence. Not sure why they won't do that on the 10th anniversary.

 

[focusondisney]

We were there on the 1st anniversary and they stopped everything and did 2 minutes of silence. Not sure why they won't do that on the 10th anniversary.

What park were you in? Like I said earlier, I am sure they will do something. I don't think they'll stop everything, that would be too much, I think. But it will probably be hard to find out what & where. The Flag Retreat ceremony was very moving. And it was a respectful, understated way to acknowledge the day. BTW, I think they referred to it as a "Patriot's Day" ceremony.

 

[PoohsFan1]

No, nor Pearl Harbor Day or the sinking of the Maine.

Bill From PA

We were there last December during Pearl Harbor day and they had the U.S. flag at half mast. When I noticed it we were waiting in line for the monorail at the CR, and since we never know what is going on in the outside world while at Disney, I thought something major happened. I asked the monorail CM about it and he said it had to do with honoring Pearl Harbor. Then this past September we were there (on 9/11) and the flags were again at half mast (this was at the CR again), so not sure if all of Disney does this or just at the CR .

 

[tink576]

originaly disney thought about handing out a special button when they reopened after the attacks
heck they even went as far as rushing them thru being made
and they decided agaisnt it

True. However I was working at the Disney store, I did for 11 years, and they did give us a button, it was Mickey in front of a flag saluting.

Soon after 9/11 they did hand out a pin to DVC holders and to guests through the Disney Store (I have one of each). The DVC pin is similar to the pin series that they did for the world showcase with the American flag in the shape of a mickey head except that it is smaller and on the back it said in remembrance of 9/11. The Disney store pin was a red, white and blue bell that came on a card that said in remembrance of 9/11.

Yes they do. We were there in 2009. There was a special ceremony during the "Flag Retreat Ceremony". This takes place about 5:30 PM in town square at the Magic Kingdom. It was definately a special ceremony. There were red, white & blue flower arrangements placed around a small podium. The Voices Of Liberty from Epcot's American Adventure sang several songs. There was a brief narration & a veteran assisted Disney's color guard to lower the flag. Total was about 15-20 mins for the whole thing. It was not the usual Flag Retreat, definately something special for Sept. 11th.

I believe they actually do the flag retreat every day, not just on 9/11, and veterans can volunteer to be a part of the ceremony.