WL/Flag Family Question

[rkrivas]

Has anyone been chosen as the flag family at WL?

Is it tough to get picked because a lot of people ask for it? Also, if you were chosen, did you get a couple days' notice?

Thanks!

 

[dreaminofdisney]

I have not done it yet. That is not for my lack of trying though! You ask at check in. They have a folder they go get. It keeps track of each morning's Flag Family. They tell you that the first available morning would be_____. So far it has always been AFTER we check out.(About 5 - 10 days out, depending on time of year)

Good Luck,
Carolyn

 

[disneyfanstimes4]

Yes, our family was the flag family in Sept 2002. Upon check in ask the CM if there are any opening for Flag family during your stay. They will check the folder & if there is an opening they will write your family down for it. The day before your selected date, you will recieve a letter in your room stating what time to be downstairs in the lobby to meet Ranger Stan (I think it was around 7am).

It is such a great experience. Ranger Stan give you the background on WL and you go up to the roof and put up five flags. The pictures come out great, especially with the castle in the background.

My children still talk about it and hope when we return next week we can do it again! After the flag ceramony you go back downstairs with Ranger Stan and he give you a certificate that you can frame.

Hope it works out for you!!

 

[kjustice]

I've tried repeatedly too. I've called ahead, and once "dropped by" to see if I could get on the list weeks before arriving (I live in Tampa).

No such luck... unless you are checked in, they won't let you sign up. It seems to work best for families with extended stays.

 

[rkrivas]

Thanks for the info! At least I know not to get my hopes up since we're only there for 5 days!

 

[DisnyMama]

I hope you guys get picked. My DS and I got to be Flag family last September just before Hurricane Jeanne and it was the greatest experience. What a view. Spectacular. I also find raising our countries flag personally a very moving experience so to see my DS raise the Stars and Stripes was great. Unfortunately Ranger Stan was not their. A very nice female cast member took us and she was great. I could have stayed up on that roof for an hour just taking in the view of all WDW and beyond. It was a little unsettling watching the clouds move in from up their knowing that by later that night Jeanne would be on us plus it was very windy. If it weren't for Jeanne we would not have been chosen. We were scheduled to leave the day before but because of the airport closure I had to extend our vacation an extra 3 days so they say that and we got lucky. We were originally booked for 7 nights so I think the best bet for getting a spot is 10 nights or more.

All the best of luck and make sure that you get on the list as soon as you check in-it is definately worth it! Have a blast!

Shannon

 

[jiggerj]

I have always wanted to do this! It sounds fantastic! We are doing a split stay in Nov/Dec '05 and hopefully we will luck out. When they say "flag family" would that also include a magical gathering group? There are 15 of us!

 

[mudogs]

We got to do this 2 years ago and it is a great experience. We also had a lady CM who was very patient with us and let us take as much time as we wanted enjoying the view! Good Luck! Hope you get to do it!

 

[pozey]

We were the Flag Family during both our stays in 2001 and 2002.

Immediately after checking in, I just walked down to the end of the check-in counter and asked if there were any days available.

It is a fantastic experience. I have some great pictures that I took from up there.

 

[Mojomanny]

We were a flag family in 2002.

I just realized I never posted any pictures from this trip.

I will post them at http://community.webshots.com/user/mojomanny

If you do not see them, check back in a day or two.

UPDATE -- they were already there (sigh of releif, could not believe I could have been that stupid)

This link might take you right to the VWL photos ... if not, use the one above:

http://community.webshots.com/album/131084080yhQvfw/0

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

How bad are the stairs to get to the roof? How steep? How many?

 

[DemonLlama]

I want to say Ranger Stan told us the stair count was 72, but I could be mistaken.

We checked in at noon, staying 7 days, and got the last day (day of departure) available for us, so don't forget to ask as soon as you've checked in!

You will start with the American flag (and say the pledge), then the Disney flag, the Wilderness Lodge flag (#1 white), the state of Florida, and finally the heaviest green Wilderness Lodge flag down in the stairwell.