100 Things I am Looking Forward to...
100. Checking into the Royal Pacific Resort
99. Italian Margarita and a Cheeseburger in Paradise at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville
98. Breakfast at Chef Mickey's
97. Experiencing the Osborne Lights
I have it planned to take in the Osborne lights the day before our official start at WDW, mainly so we can see the lights and experience F! and then tour DHS on a day later in the trip without these events for lower crowd levels. From this pictures the Osborne Lights look BEYOND AMAZING! I was reading that some of the music they play during the light show is from Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I love this group. We used go to their Christmas Show each year, but the ticket prices have sky rocketed and they are now only playing larger arenas...so that would mean at least a 2 hour drive to see them. Each Thanksgiving Night we officially get into the holiday spirit by watching our DVD of their Lost Christmas Eve show. I have all of their music on my iPhone and love when I hit shuffle and their music comes up year around...does not have to be Christmas season for me to listen to TSO.
Here are so of the tips I have found so far about touring the lights:
*Music is playing, but every 3 or 4 songs the lights "dance" -- the lights are synchronized to the music. See this show from several different angles - it's so beautiful! Between episodes of synchronized dancing lights people are singing along with the holiday music and dancing in the streets - it's so much fun!!
*Allow plenty of time (there are Hidden Mickeys to find in the displays!) and enjoy your visit! ... and get a great group photo to include in your Christmas cards this year!
*Packed is the word for it! The lights are normally turned on at 6:00 pm. Bring patience, a sense of humor, and a pre-set meeting place. I bring my cell phone as well since it is easy to get separated in the crowd, and this way I can find my husband and talk him in (he has a different number). I do recommend getting there before the lights are turned on. Take up a position looking down the street and get ready to be amazed when they throw the switch!
*There are PhotoPass photographers available, although the lines can be long. Take time to look at the details; not only are there hidden Mickeys, but there is normally one Halloween decoration included. We loved seeing the leg lamp from A Christmas Story in one of the windows. At the far end of the street is the creche, with angel lights. And it even "snows" a bit. Depending on your crowd tolerance and love of lights, allow at least 30 minutes to look around (my husband feels 3 minutes is plenty, but then his nickname is Grinch).
*We tend to find that the lights are pretty packed from when they're turned on, with the crowds thinning later in the evening, so you may want to go a little later
*I definitely recommend waiting until a little later in the evening to see the lights. The crowds are much thinner then plus it's often not totally dark when they first throw the switch so you don't quite get the full effect that you do later in the evening.
*This is not something you want to rush through, so just slow down and take in the beauty of it all!
*In the way of tips, there really arent many. When The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights are running, the Streets of America can get packed. This is especially true right when the lights are turned on. For the first hour or two of operation, its really difficult to move. Although this can be one of the best times for photography since you will have the deep blue dusk sky to compliment the colorful lights, you will find crowds to be much lower if you wait.
15 minutes? Ug...like I mentioned we will be driving an hour. Plus...those security checks... it will take some time to get through those. 
So we really do need that 2 hours before the flight.
But you still depart at a time that they aren't going to be asking all day "Is it time yet?"
...so I made it a point to seek out the meet and greet and text Goo a picture to prove Boo wrong. He has that picture hanging in his room to this day! Big brothers can be such party poopers at times! I understand that they refurbished the meet and greet area last summer when CARS2 came out, so I am excited to see that. Also, I read somewhere that the Stunt Show has Lightning in it...does anyone know if this is true?
It hasn't, so it would not have done my any good if the prices had dropped. 
