Hello, Linda! Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
As a United States Air Force Veteran, my husband has had the
Flag Retreat at
Magic Kingdom Park on his
Walt Disney World Resort “bucket list” for years. The closest he’s come to it, though, was when our daughter was selected to say the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the ceremony a few years ago.
My husband was having his hair cut at the
Harmony Barber Shop, and my daughter and I were standing outside the Firehouse on Main Street, U.S.A. looking through our
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom cards when one of
The Dapper Dans approached us and started a conversation. After a couple of minutes, he asked me if it would be OK for my daughter to participate in the Flag Retreat by saying the Pledge. We both enthusiastically said “yes” and followed him to the central hub where they gave us an overview of what would happen next. And my poor husband was still sitting in the barber’s chair!
From that experience, I do know that the veteran chosen to participate in the Flag Retreat is selected early in the morning as Magic Kingdom Park opens for the day. The selection is completely random, but it does help to wear something that indicates your military service. Get there before the Park opens and strike up a conversation with the Cast Members just inside the proscenium of Magic Kingdom Park and you never know what pixie-dusted Magic may come your way.
I wish you the best of luck, Linda! Have a magical visit to Walt Disney World Resort. We’ll see you real soon.
Amy