Disney hosted Marines and Sailors in port for Los Angeles Fleet Week, a salute to U.S. Sea Providers Members held over Memorial Day Weekend annually. The corporate stunned 100 service members with a day at Disneyland and California Journey. This shares a fast take 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 Comfortable” 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 satisfy Mickey Mouse in his model new seventieth apparel in entrance of Sleeping Magnificence Citadel.
To wrap up the day, they acquired 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, Forged Members and visitors 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 could have the chance to really get to take part within the occasions which are occurring 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 indicate off the Sailors and Marines to the neighborhood — I feel that’s what made this a very special occasion.”
Each day flag retreat ceremonies have been an integral a part of Disney parks operations because the opening of Disneyland nearly seven a long time in the past, persevering with with Magic Kingdom since its opening in 1971. This beloved custom continues with safety solid members elevating and decreasing the American flag every day, as leisure solid members contribute musical performances to convey emotion to the time-honored ritual.
Through the years, 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 completely satisfied recollections 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 all the time on the forefront of what we do right here every single day,” 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, mirror and bear in mind those that made the final 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 approach again house.
At Disneyland, a Lacking Hero Desk was reserved at Tiana’s Palace Restaurant to honor the courageous and selfless American navy 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 had been free to take pleasure in a enjoyable day within the parks.
Lacking Hero Tables function 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 not toast with us presently.
- The chair is empty, the seat that continues to be unclaimed on the desk.
“The Lacking Hero Tables we show presently are supposed to be a robust visible image of those that are not with us, that those that see them could cease for a second to mirror and hopefully present appreciation for the freedoms we take pleasure in because of the nice sacrifice that these many heroes have given for us,” defined Disneyland Resort fundamental 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 undertaking on the Boys and Women Membership of Backyard Grove.
Since 2012, Disney has contributed funding and media help to non-profit organizations that concentrate on creating happiness for veterans and navy households.
The Walt Disney Firm is grateful to not solely get to acknowledge heroes inside Disney parks but in addition via charitable giving and relationships with organizations just like the USO, Blue Star Households, Fisher Home and Pupil Veterans of America or via 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’d’ve taken extra images and video, but it surely was only a “for enjoyable” go to to absorb the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary with our daughter, and with out the strain of documenting something “for analysis.” (We attempt to strike this steadiness with our park days.) I didn’t plan on protecting this, as I didn’t even understand it was an precise ‘occasion’ till later within the afternoon.
What we actually appreciated concerning the U.S. Sea Providers Members Day at Disneyland was the ambiance. I do know we throw across the phrase ‘Distinctly Patriotic’ rather a lot 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 stunned 100 service members with a day at Disneyland. I’d’ve by no means guessed the quantity was so low. It felt like hundreds.
Whereas within the parks, we noticed Marines and Sailors consistently. It was like sort of like once you’re visiting Magic Kingdom throughout a cheer or dance competitors and repeatedly get caught in line behind the worst kind of visitors possible, and conclude that 70% of the park’s visitors are there for the youth sporting occasion, when in actuality it’s extra like 7%.
It was solely sort 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 unattainable to articulate–like 100 Tom Cruises or Glen Powells for Prime 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 every single day if it means nice music like this! pic.twitter.com/ocdcmpfxPW
— Disney Vacationer Weblog (@DisTouristBlog) Could 26, 2025
This was all around 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 very best 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 neighborhood occasions. By incorporating the types of jazz, funk, Dixieland, and R&B, the thirty second Road Brass Band will you’ll want to hold you transferring and entertained. The thirty second Road Brass Band brings a celebration ambiance to any venue.”
Once more, they’d a sure swagger, making everybody within the viewers need to dance. We’d’ve spent hours again right here had this leisure been higher publicized by the park, as our daughter completely liked this–it was the spotlight of her day, and it was a go to that included assembly Mickey, Minnie, and Daisy. Disneyland needs to be giving out tickets to lots of of service members each single day if it means music like this, and injecting vitality into an in any other case useless 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 People ever had 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 (rather a lot).
Even so, whole lands like Predominant 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’d 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 visitors.
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 all the time a ton of navy 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 few 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 all the time been patriotic, and patriotism will not be the identical as politics. Generally 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 navy is considered as an abstraction and folks aren’t conscious of the sacrifices these people and their households have made for our nation.
I understand 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 prematurely subsequent 12 months and publicize it higher. Like they do with Geese Day at Disneyland or comparable one-off occasions. As a result of these Sailors and Marines actually did add a terrific vitality to the park, and I do know some visitors 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 had been it to be introduced prematurely? Respect Disney saluting service members? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
