WL Flag Family

[jdtopgun71]

Has anyone ever gotten to be the WL Flag Family? Can you ask about being the Flag Family at the front desk or do they just randomly select you?

 

[j-jhall]

Has anyone ever gotten to be the WL Flag Family? Can you ask about being the Flag Family at the front desk or do they just randomly select you?

We were last February. You inquire at the front desk, and I would do that immediately upon arrival. It was spectacular! We spent a good 30-45 minutes up there, and even had a photopass photographer come with us.

 

[jdtopgun71]

Sounds good. We've actually already checked in so I doubt they will have any spots left for the next few days but we are going to check.

 

[shburks]

We did last October and it was such a fun experience! I'm so glad we did it and asked about it. We were there for 9 days and were able to sign up for it on our check-in day for day 7 or 8.

 

[Sue M]

We got to be Flag Family last Jan, we signed up at check in. We were there 8 nights, and on day 7 we were Flag Family. There was also a spot open on day 5. Maybe someone had to cancel? But we thought we'd save it for our last full day as something special.
We met Ranger Jack in the lobby at the Concierge desk, he was wonderful.
The views from the roof are amazing. There was only my daughter & I and we helped raise all the flags. So glad we finally got to be Flag Family. This was our 3rd stay at WL. Tried our first 2 stays, but no luck.

 

[jvattes]

What is a flag family?

 

[Wooden Eye]

Unfortunately, if you're there now, you're out of luck. Due to construction/refurbushment on the roof, the Flag Family (raising the flags in the morning) is not available for the next few months.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Has anyone ever gotten to be the WL Flag Family? Can you ask about being the Flag Family at the front desk or do they just randomly select you?

Unfortunately, if you're there now, you're out of luck. Due to construction/refurbushment on the roof, the Flag Family (raising the flags in the morning) is not available for the next few months.

According to Mammaz who was at WL this month, the front desk told her that FLAG FAMILY is scheduled to resume around June 17.

 

[marymac123]

FYI, when it does start up again...we shared our 1st Flag Family experience with another family that we never met before. It was nice to meet new people & kinda took my mind off the height

 

[Sue M]

What is a flag family?

It's something you can sign up for at check in. They take 1 family each morning. You get a date if there is one available during your stay. You meet up with the Ranger in the lobby, and he takes you up to the roof to help raise all the WL flags. He tells you all about each flag, and some history, you get an amazing view of all 4 parks from the roof top. It is only open to WL guests.

 

[Wooden Eye]

I was there this past week (June 19). I asked the front desk castmembers and was told that it is currently not available due to refurbishment activity. The front desk folks said they didn't know when it would be available, but advised it would likely be at least another month or more.

 

[Mouse14]

I actually pulled me strings in feb 11 and proposed to my wife up there during magic kingdom fireworks... And then the next morning got to be the flag family ... Awesome experience

 

[PSULion]

Does anyone know if there's an age limit for kids to participate? I know my older DS would love this, but my younger DS will just have turned 1. I didn't know if maybe there's any safety issues for the little ones?

 

[Missytara]

One of the guys that works in our office - his daughter works at WL - I took three other girls from work and he offered to give her a call and get us up there, but we were staying at POR and weren't able to get over there.

He did show us some wonderful pictures she took on a really foggy morning as the sun was coming up; they were breath-taking.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Wilderness Lodge Flag Family,
from someone who has guided many Flag Families and done the "ceremony" many times:

1) You request at-or-after check-in.
2) You cannot request prior to arrival date or check-in (WL guests only).
3) If you are staying a full week or more, you have a good chance.
. . . most people stay less than 1-week
. . . thus, the 6th day, 7th day, or later, may still be open
4) The other good chance is to check-in VERY early in the day.
5) First-come-first-served, but there is a wait-list.
6) Rules
. . . no more than 5-guests, since with guide, that is six people
. . . must respect the flag
. . . not handicap accessible
. . . climb stairs - one long steep inside stairway and one outside steep flight
. . . not afraid of heights, as you are about 90-feet in the open air
. . . fog, rain, mist can cause cancellation, with no rescheduling
. . . children must behave, because roof can be a dangerous place
. . . cameras and video recorders are allowed, as all four parks are visible
7) The Flag Family
. . . gets an escort to the top of Wilderness Lodge to raises all the flags
. . . gets a story on the flags and some WDW history
. . . can pose on top of the rooftop for photos
. . . can take see every part of WDW, including all four parks
. . . gets a souvenir certificate with their name and date noting the occassion
. . . there is usually only one Flag Family per day


NOTE1: Requesting to be a Flag family ahead of time is not fair to others.
Also, there is no way to make certain you will keep your hotel ressies and
be there for your Flag Day. Should you not cancel, then there is a day that
someone else could have taken. It is just better to have people wait until
they arrive to request a day.

NOTE2: Flag Family is unavailable until refurb is done.

 

[BigKid45]

We were a Flag Family in 2008. We were visiting with another family and they checked in about 1 hour before us. Our friend asked the concierge if his family could be a flag family and then told them that we would like to be a flag family too. Both families were chosen as Flag Families on consecutive days. It was a great honor. We heard a lot of history, raised flags and took lots of pics. We took one pic of our youngest daughter raising a flag and shared it with her Girl Scout Troupe and she received a special badge. It was a great experience.

Although each member needs to be able to climb the stairs to the roof, the walls were plenty high to help protect anyone from falling off the roof. Always ask at check in.....although there are just over 700 rooms at WL not everyone knows to ask at check in.