# Why does Disney use "fake" American flags? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 6, 2022, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384 "2022-04-06T11:28:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/1 "2022-04-06T11:28:17Z")
[Apparently the flags that fly at Disney World are not proper American flags](https://insidethemagic.net/2021/09/main-street-u-s-a-flags-not-american-rwb1/) in that they don’t have 50 stars. Therefore Disney doesn’t have to follow the Flag Code. My question is: why? I don’t care that they’re not real, but why not use 50-star flags? Is there some advantage? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/2 "2022-04-06T11:34:02Z")
From the photos, taking those down/putting them up daily would be very difficult to near impossible. The article does note that the real flags at the entrances are lowered/raised properly. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/3 "2022-04-06T11:35:54Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Therefore Disney doesn’t have to follow the Flag Code. While the Flag Code is enshrined in federal law, it’s not something that anyone has to follow - there’s no penalty for violating it and it was never intended to be enforceable, but is merely just a code of etiquette. That being said, my first guess would be that fully observing the Flag Code for each and every flag-like decoration on Disney property (raising and lowering it at sunrise and sunset, taking it down in inclement weather, lighting it appropriately, reverential disposal and replacement, flying it half-staff when appropriate, never letting it touch the ground, etc.) would be extremely labor and time intensive, and using prop flags gives them the wiggle room to say they’re treating the handful of “real” flags in their parks with respect without going through all the effort for all of the rest of them. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/4 "2022-04-06T11:46:48Z")
Over/Under on how soon (assuming it hasn’t already) this gets into the QAnonsense swamp as further “evidence” of Disney’s pernicious socialist satanic libtard evil ways? (Bonus points if “gold fringe” gets into the narrative somehow.) ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/5 "2022-04-06T12:03:43Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Over/Under on how soon (assuming it hasn’t already) this gets into the QAnonsense swamp as further “evidence” of Disney’s pernicious socialist satanic libtard evil ways? This was indirectly why I asked the question. A coworker of mine who’s quite conservative mentioned it in a way that implied there was something nefarious about the flags i.e. they never have to put them at half-mast! So I was curious about it. Most sites I can find at work just mention that the flags are inaccurate but not why that might be done. Haven’t found anyone Q-uestioning it but haven’t looked for it either. ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/6 "2022-04-06T12:27:26Z")
If Disney wanted to be able to half-staff all their flags they would find a way. Are you sure this is true? I’m skeptical since there isn’t even a picture of these supposedly fake flags of high enough resolution to tell. It sounds like an Urban Legend to me. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/7 "2022-04-06T12:33:09Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > A coworker of mine who’s quite conservative mentioned it in a way that implied there was something nefarious about the flags i.e. they never have to put them at half-mast! Maybe you should tell him they can’t put the flags at “half-mast” because they’re not on a ship. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/8 "2022-04-06T12:39:00Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Maybe you should tell him they can’t put the flags at “half-mast” because they’re not on a ship. 😃 What about the Jungle Cruise, smarty? ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/9 "2022-04-06T12:39:50Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Most sites I can find at work just mention that the flags are inaccurate but not why that might be done. Um… you put the answer in your OP. > [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Therefore Disney doesn’t have to follow the Flag Code. If that’s not the answer, then I’m confused by what you’re asking. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/10 "2022-04-06T12:41:51Z")
Surely the answers that have been given so far explain why Disney doesn’t lower the flags at night and raise them again in the morning. But it doesn’t explain the use of non-50-star flags. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/11 "2022-04-06T12:42:05Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > That being said, my first guess would be that fully observing the Flag Code for each and every flag-like decoration on Disney property (raising and lowering it at sunrise and sunset, taking it down in inclement weather, lighting it appropriately, reverential disposal and replacement, flying it half-staff when appropriate, never letting it touch the ground, etc.) would be extremely labor and time-intensive, and using prop flags gives them the wiggle room to say they’re treating the handful of “real” flags in their parks with respect without going through all the effort for all of the rest of them. Sorry, I was curious if there was some benefit to them not following the Flag Code or just in not having standard flags, but it looks like in retrospect @Smapti gave a good, reasonable explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/12 "2022-04-06T12:44:50Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Sorry, I was curious if there was some benefit to them not following the Flag Code or just in not having standard flags, but it looks like in retrospect @Smapti gave a good, reasonable explanation. Yeah, not following the Flag Code _is_ the benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/13 "2022-04-06T12:48:31Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > Yeah, not following the Flag Code _is_ the benefit. Or is it? _Dun dun duuun!_ (Yes, it is.) ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/14 "2022-04-06T12:52:34Z")
I googled since this piqued my interest. yes, many of those flags are on small poles on top of turrets and towers (i.e. along “Main Street”). It’s not like they have the flag raising and lowering ropes, nor are they easily accessible. (do they use a bucket lift after hours when they need to fix a flag?). ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/15 "2022-04-06T13:07:30Z")
Because the use of not “real” flags gives them an answer to the people who are outraged that they are neither taken down nor properly illuminated at night , or not lowered when the President or governor orders it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/16 "2022-04-06T13:12:06Z")
Example here of 45-star flag and detailed explanation. Basically not really so much flag code as evoking the 45-star era of the US. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/5kpGotHJv8E/maxresdefault.jpg "Disney's Unofficial Flags on Main Street USA") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kpGotHJv8E) ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/17 "2022-04-06T13:13:52Z")
Either that, or it’s meant to be reminiscent of the time when the US flag had 45 stars - which was 1896 to 1908, a time that would fit well with the overall “Main Street U.S.A.” theme (and with Walt Disney’s childhood, born 1901). ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/18 "2022-04-06T13:56:13Z")
This was my thinking. Main Street is supposed to look like a set out of _The Music Man_. And Main Street _is_ a set. The red white and blue banners are props; not flags. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/19 "2022-04-06T14:11:41Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > This was indirectly why I asked the question. A coworker of mine who’s quite conservative mentioned it in a way that implied there was something nefarious about the flags i.e. they never have to put them at half-mast! When dealing with the UberPatriot brigade, it would seem to me that they’re in a lose-lose-lose-lose situation. Use real flags, but don’t go through all the Flag Code rigamarole? DUUURR! TeH FlAg!!! Respeck! Use Fake Flags, but UberPartiots don’t realize that? DUUURR! TeH FlAg!!! Respeck! Use Fake Flags, which the UberPartiots realize? DUUURRR! Fake Flag=Fake 'Murrica!!! CommieNazi Libtards! And then there’s the “Use no flag-like objects at all” option. DUUURRR! Disnee is renouncing its 'Murrican Citizenship!!! Might as well be EuroDisnee!!! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384/20 "2022-04-06T14:24:10Z")
But Tomi Lahren can wear one as a costume, which is specifically against the flag code and conservatives (especially her) started doling out the ‘but that’s different’ reply almost before anyone even had a chance to call her out. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-disney-use-fake-american-flags/962384.md?page=2)