Magic Kingdom Flag Ceremony.

[luna99]

Just curious about the flag ceremony... I was thinking of seeing if my father, who is an army veteran, could participate.

What all does the person participating do? Anyone have any experience with this? I know when you get to Magic Kingdom you should go see if you can be a part of it but is it possible to call ahead to reserve a "spot"??

thanks everyone.. this would be a really special thing to surprise my dad with and I really hope I can do it for him. I know I'll probably cry if it happens... lol. Thanks!

 

[meliss1214]

My husband did it in2008 and it was really nice. You go to town hall to sign up and they tell you when and where to go. Basically, they take the flag down nd fold it while the dapper dan's sang. There is a small parade (no characters) where the veteran walks the flag down Main Street. The Dapper Dans sign and walk with the vet. You get a limited edition pin and a free photo of the procession. It took about 15 minutes total, but it was very nice. Other guests came up to us after and shook his hand and thanked him. It was very simple, but nice. I recommend it.

 

[luna99]

My husband did it in2008 and it was really nice. You go to town hall to sign up and they tell you when and where to go. Basically, they take the flag down nd fold it while the dapper dan's sang. There is a small parade (no characters) where the veteran walks the flag down Main Street. The Dapper Dans sign and walk with the vet. You get a limited edition pin and a free photo of the procession. It took about 15 minutes total, but it was very nice. Other guests came up to us after and shook his hand and thanked him. It was very simple, but nice. I recommend it.

thanks for the info and so quickly! so the veteran walks all the way down main street huh? My dad has a bad back and has to ride in an ECV while we are at Disney (he can't walk too far without hurting) so I guess he would just ride down Main Street then correct? I'm going to keep researching this but would love to hear if anyone else has other experiences or advice. Thanks!

 

[mickeyonasticky]

Last I heard you can't really "sign up" for it anymore. I mean, I guess you could go to City Hall and ask about it, but just don't get your hopes up or really expect anything, you know?

I mean, they still do the Flag Retreat Ceremony every day with a veteran. I just don't know how they go about selecting a veteran nowadays.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

What all does the person participating do?
. . . meet with guard
. . . you are escorted and walk to MK Flag in Town Square
. . . watch, and sometimes assist, with the "flag retreat"
. . . small walk on Main Street with folded flag to a return point
. . . get a souvenir photo

Anyone have any experience with this?
. . . did it
. . . my 87-year-old father did it

I know when you get to Magic Kingdom you should go see if you can be a part of it but is it possible to call ahead to reserve a "spot"??
. . . no ressies
. . . must register day-of-ceremony at Towney Hall
. . . in past ressies were not always honored
. . . then, no one available to help with retreat
. . . so, now you must register in-person at MK

this would be a really special thing to surprise my dad with and I really hope I can do it for him. I know I'll probably cry if it happens
. . . it is indeed a special event
. . . and, yes, you will have tears

 

[katiemely]

Can it be an active duty service member??

 

[CandleontheWater]

Can it be an active duty service member??

yes it can be!

 

[kirrrby]

Would anyone find it weird if it were a 20 year old active duty servicemember?

 

[buzzCMlightyear]

You can no longer ask to be a part of this. Every day a random vet is chosen by certain people.

 

[katiemely]

how do they know who are vets

 

[buzzCMlightyear]

how do they know who are vets

A good amount of vets visit each day wearing hats, vests, jackets and more.

 

[katiemely]

just checked on the mom's panel on the wdw website and they posted a few months ago that you go and sign up when you get there

 

[bearlyanne]

I have no idea how to sign up for this, but "if" Disney wanted to find Vets, it should not be hard. Vets and active military are allowed to purchase park tixs and book hotel rooms at a discounted fee; not to mention that there is a hotel for specifically for military and their families on property. I am sure that it is an easy track off of our KTTW to find who booked as a veteran.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

In 2009 my DH tried to "sign up" to be Veteran of the day. I had read on here as well as many other sites that you had to go to City Hall to request to do the flag retreat. When we arrived we went straight to City Hall only to be told that they randomly select a veteran each day. We told them how we had read on many websites that you can request it, but were told they no longer did it this way. We even asked if they had already selected a veteran, which they said no, and we told them that he was leaving for his second tour of duty in Iraq in less than a month and that this would mean so much to us. The answer was still no. Not sure if they've changed it back, but at that time you definitely could not go in and request this.

 

[Robin"D"]

I am a 25 yr Vet, retired from the Army, don’t forget they do have a resort for all active duty, retired, DOD called “Shades of Green”. I think this is way they get most of their picks from, not sure.
Just a thought

Robin & Angel "D"

 

[katiemely]

I know that when you go into the park with your military ticket they know you are military. BUT they wouldn't know by just looking in the crowd who's military or not I guess when they are doing the flag ceremony and "randomly select" someone that's military I guess they would just ask if there were any military/vets there that would like to participate. We will be there in three weeks and are going to at least ask at Town Hall since there is conflicting info.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

I know that when you go into the park with your military ticket they know you are military. BUT they wouldn't know by just looking in the crowd who's military or not I guess when they are doing the flag ceremony and "randomly select" someone that's military I guess they would just ask if there were any military/vets there that would like to participate. We will be there in three weeks and are going to at least ask at Town Hall since there is conflicting info.

From everything I've read in the past, and our experience the one day we tried to do it, it appears they select someone during the morning. They don't wait until the actual flag retreat to pick someone. When we were told we could not request it we did ask how would they know who is military. All the person we spoke with (who was a manager by the way) would tell us is that they have a "system" and always find a veteran to do the ceremony. I'm guessing they look for shirts, hats, or pins while people are entering the parks.

Definitely go to Town Hall/City Hall, whatever its called, and see if things may be different now, but also have your military family memeber wear something that would identify them as military to increase your chances. That's what I'm having my DH do in December. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to get to do this after all.

Good luck to everyone wanting to do this. I know how much my DH wanted to do it, and it would have meant so much to us, especially at that particular time in our lives (just weeks away from a year long deployment). We did attend the ceremony that day, even tho DH couldn't participate, and it was truly beautiful and moving, and there was a wonderful family with a very proud grandpa who was the Vet of the Day. As much as I wanted it to be us, I was really happy for that other family. They seemed to really enjoy it.

 

[luna99]

From everything I've read in the past, and our experience the one day we tried to do it, it appears they select someone during the morning. They don't wait until the actual flag retreat to pick someone. When we were told we could not request it we did ask how would they know who is military. All the person we spoke with (who was a manager by the way) would tell us is that they have a "system" and always find a veteran to do the ceremony. I'm guessing they look for shirts, hats, or pins while people are entering the parks.

Definitely go to Town Hall/City Hall, whatever its called, and see if things may be different now, but also have your military family memeber wear something that would identify them as military to increase your chances. That's what I'm having my DH do in December. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to get to do this after all.

Good luck to everyone wanting to do this. I know how much my DH wanted to do it, and it would have meant so much to us, especially at that particular time in our lives (just weeks away from a year long deployment). We did attend the ceremony that day, even tho DH couldn't participate, and it was truly beautiful and moving, and there was a wonderful family with a very proud grandpa who was the Vet of the Day. As much as I wanted it to be us, I was really happy for that other family. They seemed to really enjoy it.

Thanks for the info everyone. I think I'm going to go ahead and try to call/go by City Hall the day we are there just in case.. all they can do is say no right? And I'm also going to encourage my father to wear something indicating that he is a veteran.

He is not using a military ticket or staying at Shades of Green (though he has before) because they wanted to take advantage of the free dining promotion and they (he and my mother) wanted to stay at the same resort as my husband and I so they could be near their new (and only so far) grandson who they don't get to see very often.

I think we'll watch the ceremony though even if he's not involved in it. Also, my brother-in-law who will be with us as well is also in the Army and will be going to Afghanistan a few months after the trip so it will be a special thing for all of us to at least watch.

thanks!

 

[jlevis]

...
I think we'll watch the ceremony though even if he's not involved in it. Also, my brother-in-law who will be with us as well is also in the Army and will be going to Afghanistan a few months after the trip so it will be a special thing for all of us to at least watch.

thanks!

I'm an Army Veteran and we were there on 9/11 this year. The ceremony is well worth watching and I would think you would find it as moving as my wife and I did.

 

[iadis58]

The flag retreat and "veteran of the day", I was trying to set this up and see what my options where. I was informed, just FYI, no ceremony 12-2 to 12-5 as the flag pole will be down for the parade taping. Some people are chosen in advance of the day, if the date is open, a CM will walk around and talk to guests about there visit and personal information and will try to find a willing veteren that way. You can try going to City Hall first thing and see if it is still not assigned, they do sometimes, sounds like not often, choose a person that way.