Disney hosted Marines and Sailors in port for Los Angeles Fleet Week, a salute to U.S. Sea Companies Members held over Memorial Day Weekend every year. The corporate shocked 100 service members with a day at Disneyland and California Journey. This shares a fast have a look at their go to, together with our expertise within the parks on the identical ‘Distinctly Patriotic’ day and commentary.
Based on the corporate, the Sailors and Marines had the prospect to “Have fun Blissful” through the Disneyland Resort seventieth Celebration by having fun with points of interest inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Mickey’s Toontown. Service members additionally had the chance to fulfill Mickey Mouse in his model new seventieth apparel in entrance of Sleeping Magnificence Citadel.
To wrap up the day, they received to expertise the return of “Paint the Night time” parade and “Wondrous Journeys” nighttime spectacular. Right here’s a rundown of the remainder of the day providing a Salute to Service Members at Disneyland Resort…
Particular Flag Retreat Ceremony
Most notably, Solid Members and company had the prospect to honor their valiant service with a particular flag retreat ceremony in City Sq., accompanied by the Disneyland Band, The Dapper Dans and particular honoree, Rear Admiral Richard W. Meyer, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet, U.S. Navy.
“What number of instances in your life do you might have the chance to truly get to take part within the occasions which might be taking place at Disneyland, The Happiest Place on Earth?” stated Rear Admiral Meyer. “To have the ability to come right here, share that with the general public, take part within the occasions, get to see among the cool new issues at Disneyland, and get to point out off the Sailors and Marines to the group — I believe that’s what made this a extremely special occasion.”
Day by day flag retreat ceremonies have been an integral a part of Disney parks operations for the reason that opening of Disneyland virtually seven a long time in the past, persevering with with Magic Kingdom since its opening in 1971. This beloved custom continues with safety forged members elevating and reducing the American flag every day, as leisure forged members contribute musical performances to convey emotion to the time-honored ritual.
Over time, Disneyland Resort has honored numerous service members, veterans and their households, together with Fleet Week Sailors and Marines final 12 months. Disney is honored to host these service members who work tirelessly to defend our nation, and create blissful reminiscences with a day at DCA and Disneyland.
“Disney actually embraces our veterans, and it’s been a part of the DNA of the Disneyland Resort. You see it in all places you go — from the flag retreat to Veteran’s Day to Fleet Week 2025 — it’s at all times on the forefront of what we do right here on daily basis,” stated Ariel Elias, class supervisor, Disneyland Resort, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
Honoring & Remembering the Fallen
Among the many celebration, it’s additionally vital to pause, replicate and keep in mind those that made the last word sacrifice defending these United States of America–particularly over Memorial Day Weekend.
One of many methods Disney acknowledges these fallen heroes is by displaying Lacking Hero Tables, which are supposed to symbolize and honor these courageous service members who gave their lives in service to our nation or went lacking in motion and haven’t discovered their method again house.
At Disneyland, a Lacking Hero Desk was reserved at Tiana’s Palace Restaurant to honor the courageous and selfless American army members who by no means made it house. We dined at Tiana’s Palace on Could 22 and noticed the desk from our seats–it was a solemn reminder of the sacrifice, and one which made us much more grateful that we have been free to get pleasure from a enjoyable day within the parks.
Lacking Hero Tables characteristic the next:
- A slice of lemon on the bread plate reminds us of the bitter destiny of those that won’t ever return.
- A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those that have sacrificed all.
- An inverted glass is symbolic of those that can’t toast with us right now.
- The chair is empty, the seat that continues to be unclaimed on the desk.
“The Lacking Hero Tables we show right now are supposed to be a robust visible image of those that are now not with us, that those that see them could cease for a second to replicate and hopefully present appreciation for the freedoms we get pleasure from because of the nice sacrifice that these many heroes have given for us,” defined Disneyland Resort major entrance operations supervisor and U.S. Navy veteran, Nick Filippone.
Disney VoluntEARS, Sailors & Marines Give Again
Forward of LA Fleet Week, Disney VoluntEARS had the chance to work alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps for a particular clean-up challenge on the Boys and Ladies Membership of Backyard Grove.
Since 2012, Disney has contributed funding and media help to non-profit organizations that target creating happiness for veterans and army households.
The Walt Disney Firm is grateful to not solely get to acknowledge heroes inside Disney parks but additionally by charitable giving and relationships with organizations just like the USO, Blue Star Households, Fisher Home and Scholar Veterans of America or by hiring initiatives like Heroes Work Right here.
Turning to commentary, we occurred to be in Disneyland and DCA on at the present time (Could 22), and it was a incredible expertise. I actually want I might’ve taken extra images and video, however it was only a “for enjoyable” go to to soak up the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary with our daughter, and with out the stress of documenting something “for analysis.” (We attempt to strike this steadiness with our park days.) I didn’t plan on masking this, as I didn’t even notice it was an precise ‘occasion’ till later within the afternoon.
What we actually appreciated in regards to the U.S. Sea Companies Members Day at Disneyland was the ambiance. I do know we throw across the phrase ‘Distinctly Patriotic’ quite a bit as a Salute to All Muppets However Largely Sam Eagle, however this actually was a distinctly patriotic day. Disney indicated in its launch that the corporate shocked 100 service members with a day at Disneyland. I might’ve by no means guessed the quantity was so low. It felt like hundreds.
Whereas within the parks, we noticed Marines and Sailors continuously. It was like form of like whenever you’re visiting Magic Kingdom throughout a cheer or dance competitors and repeatedly get caught in line behind the worst kind of company conceivable, and conclude that 70% of the park’s company are there for the youth sporting occasion, when in actuality it’s extra like 7%.
It was solely form of like that as a result of it was the precise reverse of that (no offense to cheerleaders). Each single time we noticed the Sailors and Marines, they appeared excited to be there. The vitality they exuded is unimaginable to articulate–like 100 Tom Cruises or Glen Powells for High Gun: Maverick. Only a sure swagger and charisma.
We visited Disneyland throughout Los Angeles Fleet Week, a salute to U.S. Sea Service Members held Memorial Day Weekend, and had an opportunity to listen to the thirty second Road Brass Band carry out in DCA. Disney ought to give free tickets to service members on daily basis if it means nice music like this! pic.twitter.com/ocdcmpfxPW
— Disney Vacationer Weblog (@DisTouristBlog) Could 26, 2025
This was everywhere in the parks, however the spotlight for us was on the Hollywood Backlot Stage, the place we caught the thirty second Road Brass Band carry out. This was purely accidentally, as we made our common pilgrimage to Schmoozies and Award Wieners (on a tangentially-related word, don’t sleep on the Mickey-shaped Confetti Waffles–actually the most effective Disney waffles we’ve ever had).
The thirty second Road Brass Band was incredible. From their web site: “The thirty second Road Brass Band performs upbeat music for homecoming ship arrivals and group occasions. By incorporating the types of jazz, funk, Dixieland, and R&B, the thirty second Road Brass Band will be sure you hold you shifting and entertained. The thirty second Road Brass Band brings a celebration ambiance to any venue.”
Once more, that they had a sure swagger, making everybody within the viewers wish to dance. We’d’ve spent hours again right here had this leisure been higher publicized by the park, as our daughter completely beloved this–it was the spotlight of her day, and it was a go to that included assembly Mickey, Minnie, and Daisy. Disneyland ought to be giving out tickets to tons of of service members each single day if it means music like this, and injecting vitality into an in any other case lifeless nook of DCA.
Above all else, I’m actually happy to see Disneyland Resort providing a salute to service members, particularly at a time when the corporate has grow to be extra of a frequent fixture of tradition wars and erroneously accused of being unpatriotic in sure circles. To anybody who truly visits Walt Disney World or Disneyland, that’s nonsense.
Few Individuals ever have been extra patriotic than Walt Disney. He was so distinctly patriotic that he even tried to hitch the Military in 1918 however was rejected for being too younger. Walt Disney went on to serve his nation in some ways, and that legacy continues to be carried on at each Walt Disney World and Disneyland to at the present time. Paving over the Rivers of America at Magic Kingdom for Automobiles Land doesn’t change that, even when it does sting (quite a bit).
Even so, whole lands like Primary Road USA and Liberty Sq., in addition to the Rivers of America and New Orleans Sq. at Disneyland to a lesser extent, are patriotic. Then there are the extra overt points of interest, like Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln, The American Journey, and Corridor of Presidents. I might additionally argue that Carousel of Progress, Electrical Water Pageant, and extra are patriotic. There are such a lot of little ways in which Disney celebrates America that go unnoticed by most company.
We make some extent of spending each Fourth of July at Disneyland, largely as a result of I can suppose few locations extra patriotic than Disney. (Okay okay, and the fireworks.) As with Memorial Day Weekend, there are at all times a ton of army bands performing in each parks at Disneyland over Independence Day (Anaheim is pretty near San Diego, so it is smart).
The underside line is that if there are extra patriotic theme parks than Disney, I haven’t visited them. What separates Walt Disney World and Disneyland from different ostensibly patriotic parks is that it’s substantive and never superficial window dressing. Disney showcases what it actually means to be patriotic in honest and considerate methods.
The previous couple of years have been fraught with controversy and political standoffs between Disney and each California and Florida, main some to query the corporate’s values. However the actuality is that Disney has at all times been patriotic, and patriotism will not be the identical as politics. Typically it’s good to have a reminder of that distinction.
In the end, it was nice to see Disney as soon as once more honor service members throughout this ‘Distinctly Patriotic’ Day at Disneyland. Too typically, the army is seen as an abstraction and other people aren’t conscious of the sacrifices these people and their households have made for our nation.
I notice that is good PR for Disneyland, which is why Disney shared this story after the occasion versus beforehand. However what I’d actually like to see occur is for Disney to announce its plans for Los Angeles Fleet Week upfront subsequent 12 months and publicize it higher. Like they do with Geese Day at Disneyland or related one-off occasions. As a result of these Sailors and Marines actually did add an excellent vitality to the park, and I do know some company would completely go to for the particular Flag Retreat or different methods Disneyland Resort saluted service members.
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Your Ideas
Would you go to the parks throughout Los Angeles Fleet Week or a comparable ‘Distinctly Patriotic’ Day have been it to be introduced upfront? Respect Disney saluting service members? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!