No one will ever forget the tragedy of September 11th, 2001. All you have to do is ask someone where they were and they will tell you what was going on in their lives when they first learned about the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. The entire nation was affected by the terrible event and the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland were no different. It’s no secret Walt Disney was an incredibly patriotic man and that is a sentiment still very much engrained in the Disney family today.

The day of the attacks, Disneyland kept their parks closed. Because of the time difference no one had gone to visit the parks, but there were still people at the resorts. Food and beverage stations remained open and all telephone charges were suspended so visitors could call their families. Groups that had been stranded were entertained by free Disney movies over at Downtown Disney.

Here at Walt Disney World, Cast Members were instructed to link hands and form a human wall to gently guide visitors out of the parks. Hotels let stranded visitors stay in and also suspended telephone charges so people could try and connect with their loved ones. The closing of the Disney parks on September 11th marks only the second time in history the Disney parks closed. The first was when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.

There are plenty of ways to salute America and be patriotic in the parks. Over at the Magic Kingdom you can visit the refurbished Hall of Presidents. Over at Epcot you can visit the American Adventure Pavilion at the World Showcase. Check out Voices of Liberty, an eight singer group that sings classic American songs or check times for the next performance by the The Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps. This incredible group marches right into the streets with incredible renditions of “Yankee Doodle” and “God Bless America” all in colonial costume. You can also view the 30 minute American Adventure which features music, film and Audio-Animatronics of important figures from American history like George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. Despite the country’s ups, downs and tragedies the spirit of Walt Disney and patriotism will always be found at Walt Disney World.