Any thoughts about Osborne Family Lights???

[omalley1118]

I have heard from a couple of Disney fans that this was the last year for it... Please tell me that's not true!!!!

 

[ArwenMarie]

I doubt its the last year. They dont seem to building anything new there anytime soon, so I cant imagine they wouldnt display them next year. Unless they close them down to cut costs I guess which is always a possibility.

 

[ucfknight]

The rumors of the Osborne light going away is tied with the rumored Star Wars Land and/or Cars Land areas which would take over the area of New York Street. Given that neither of these rumored new areas is apparently going to break ground anytime soon, the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights will be back next year.

 

[buzznina]

Here is what I read on a website about this rumor. "There is speculation that this may be its last year, the idea being that one of the upcoming expansions (Monsters? Star Wars? Could it be Cars Land? None have yet been announced) will take the place of the entire cityscape."

I cannot imagine WDW getting rid of the Lights, it is one of the best draws during Christmas time.

 

[MrsDuck]

Until there are firm plans for something new at DHS, I think they'll keep the lights.

 

[TDC Nala]

Just a rumor. And yes, there's no announcements at all about any plans to tear down anything or build anything new at Studios. No need to worry yet.

 

[Luvchefmic]

My thoughts are the lights will always be a part of WDW Maybe sometime they will be moved ( they haven't always been in the present location ) for a new rumored something or other eventually but they will still be here

 

[rwdavis2]

I heard a show with Jim Hill and he indicated that the Osbournes are looking to charge Disney a licensing fee for their name after letting Disney use it for free for so many years. He then said that some channel is setting up a new reality series based on the best Christmas light displays. His conclusion was that the winner would get to be the next "Osbourne" for the next year.

A lot of speculation but an interesting story.

Just found the link to the show: http://abc.go.com/shows/the-great-christmas-light-fight

On ABC (Disney) so is this a shot across the bow of the Osbourne's to not jack up the price too high?

 

[xie]

I'll jump in and rumormonger too...

So there's really no sign that they're actually going to DO anything with Cars or Star Wars at HS, other than dump it full of merchandise next year when the first new Star Wars film comes out. So my guess is that the lights aren't going anywhere for a year or three.

The rumor part was that the lights could be moved to Epcot. There's certainly plenty of room for them there. and it would give people more reasons to wander around some of the little used walkways in Future World and between Future World and World Showcase. (Personally, I'd actually rather see them at Epcot than HS!)

 

[wiigirl]

Until there are firm plans for something new at DHS, I think they'll keep the lights.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I heard a show with Jim Hill and he indicated that the Osbournes are looking to charge Disney a licensing fee for their name after letting Disney use it for free for so many years. He then said that some channel is setting up a new reality series based on the best Christmas light displays. His conclusion was that the winner would get to be the next "Osbourne" for the next year.

A lot of speculation but an interesting story.

For the blissfully ignorant (Me) who is Jim Hill ?

 

[rwdavis2]

For the blissfully ignorant (Me) who is Jim Hill ?

An excellent question. Google: Jim Hill Media to get his web site. He seemingly knows tons of Disney history and inside stories and is major source of Disney rumors. Some people think he's full of it most of the time but he's always interesting.

He has done about 50+ interviews with The Unofficial Guide's Disney Dish podcast. Some very interesting and entertaining info. Worth a listen.

 

[jeepnx01]

For the blissfully ignorant (Me) who is Jim Hill ?

Same question. Also from everything that I have read the family kinda "sold" the lights to Disney years ago when it was moved to DS after their hometown was threatening legal action because of the crowd and traffic drawl it caused. I have also read that Mr. Osborn loved that they were moved there because he was a big fan.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I ALWAYS ask excellent questions I'll check him out

 

[Zandra]

Same question. Also from everything that I have read the family kinda "sold" the lights to Disney years ago when it was moved to DS after their hometown was threatening legal action because of the crowd and traffic drawl it caused. I have also read that Mr. Osborn loved that they were moved there because he was a big fan.

LOL yup! The family (who we know personally) moved away from the original house where the lights became an attraction. They wouldn't cause too much of a spectacle now, as they don't live off a main area anymore.
That being said, the city probably still doesn't want them!!!

 

[rwdavis2]

Same question. Also from everything that I have read the family kinda "sold" the lights to Disney years ago when it was moved to DS after their hometown was threatening legal action because of the crowd and traffic drawl it caused. I have also read that Mr. Osborn loved that they were moved there because he was a big fan.

This pretty much matches what Jim Hill said. Supposedly the now deceased Mr. Osbourne negotiated a free stay for his extended family at WDW in lieu of being paid. He actually had all his lights boxed up and sent to Florida. He eventually send some employees who knew how the lights were set up down to WDW to help them. All originally done on the fake streets in the back lot tour.

 

[doconeill]

Given that most of the current rumors center around all new park plans with the exception of Avatar are on indefinite hold (reportedly due to the costs of MyMagic+ and delays), and as mentioned earlier that the loss of Streets of America was tied to Star Wars and/or Carsland, would seem to indicate that the Lights will return for a while longer. Even then, there was some level of expectation that they will move to another location.

I don't believe in the stories about Mr. Osborne threatening to sue, and giving his name to the winner of a TV show. The name doesn't mean a lot outside o those that knew him and the WDW fandom. And the show was already on this past holiday season.

 

[Minniekins]

I heard a show with Jim Hill and he indicated that the Osbournes are looking to charge Disney a licensing fee for their name after letting Disney use it for free for so many years. He then said that some channel is setting up a new reality series based on the best Christmas light displays. His conclusion was that the winner would get to be the next "Osbourne" for the next year.

A lot of speculation but an interesting story.

Just found the link to the show: http://abc.go.com/shows/the-great-christmas-light-fight

On ABC (Disney) so is this a shot across the bow of the Osbourne's to not jack up the price too high?

This show was on ABC this past Dec, and we actually live less than a half hour from the family and house that won! It's awesome but I can see that replacing anything in any way - it's not nearly as big as the current Osbourn Light. Beautiful though! We stopped on the way to and from seeing the Saving Mr. Banks movie to check them out. They've been doing lights there for years I guess, but we just never got there to actually watch them, though we'd seen the house all lit up from the road. They did have dancing lights that had the music to listen to thru a radio station. They also had lighted words, radio station number and various other words, along with DISNEY running up/down the one traveling lights wall. The night we went they played music from Fantasmic and from Illuminations, and another Disney Xmas medley, I think, among all the other music as well. Anyway, a bit of extra info, and again, I can't see how this could possibly replace the Osbourn lights. It's a big house still just one very large house. But they did win a trophy and $50,000!

 

[andyman8]

That "channel" someone referred to is ABC (owned by Disney) and the show was the "Great Xmas Light Fight" which was airing earlier this year. Certainly would be cheaper to do it the way Jim Hill said if Mrs. Osborne does indeed want to charge a licensing fee. That said, there are A LOT of problems with what he said as well. Firstly, the series in its initial run ended its first season two days before Xmas, so you'd have to move it to a less timely October run if you wanted to be able to have the lights up by early November and that doesn't really include the time it takes to ship the lights (and their "owner") down to FL and assemble them. Realistically, it would only work if last year's winner decorated the SoA this year however by that point, most interest in that person would be long, long lost.

 

[omalley1118]

The rumors of the Osborne light going away is tied with the rumored Star Wars Land and/or Cars Land areas which would take over the area of New York Street. Given that neither of these rumored new areas is apparently going to break ground anytime soon, the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights will be back next year.

Yay thanks!!!