DHS Osbourne Holiday Lights

[DaisyNY]

Will be at DW the week of December 14th...we've never seen Osbourne Holiday Light Show at DHS...What time can we expect it to begin? Does it run continuously or on the hour?

 

[Robo]

Will be at DW the week of December 14th...we've never seen Osbourne Holiday Light Show at DHS...What time can we expect it to begin? Does it run continuously or on the hour?

Continuously beautiful starting at about 6PM.

Additional short animated "light-shows" happen every 10 to 15 minutes all evening.
--------------------------

The Osborne Lights attraction presented an unusual
problem for WDW.
When they were "acquired" by Disney from the Osborne
family (not OZZY, BTW) there was a huge amount of
national publicity about them.
Disney got a lot of "mileage" out of having them and
they needed to DISPLAY them for lots of guests to see
(after dark).
But...
Even in the winter months, it simply does not get
really DARK in Florida until about 6pm.
So the lights can't be properly viewed until that
time.
(They simply are NOT a daytime or even "regular hours"
attraction).
And the DHS park usually closes (except EMH) only an
hour or so after dark.

Since Disney spends a major (MAJOR) amount of time and
money to set-up, promote, fund the electricity and
CM's and (after the holidays) remove and store these
hundreds of thousands of lights, they needed a way
that guests could actually VIEW them.
(Otherwise, what's the POINT?)

So since, at sunset, MOST (up to 7,000) guests in DHS
are SITTING IN THE FANTASMIC! THEATER and can't SEE
the lights as it gets dark... AFTER the show, the CM's
actually ENCOURAGE the exiting crowds from Fantasmic!
to go over and see the Osborne Lights.
Even though the rest of the park is closed, the lights
are in full glory, and there are even some concessions
open for refreshments.

There are some nights when the OLights are being used
for a private "event" and regular guests are not
allowed in.
You simply will not KNOW about this unless you stop at
Guest Relations that day and ask if the OLights will
be available after Fantasmic!

As for how late?
If Fantasmic! is at 7pm, then its over at 7:25pm, most
guests are out of the theater by 7:50pm and headed to
the Osborne Lights.
I'd estimate that they would keep the OLights open for
a hour-plus, so, say 9:15pm-9:45pm would be the
approx. wrap-up.

On EMH nights, the OLights should be on and open to guests until the EHM is concluded.

 

[DaisyNY]

We do not plan to see Fantasmic as we have done that many times...I think we'll head over to the light display around 6:15 as Fantasmic is scheduled for 6:30 that evening...Does this sound like a good plan?

 

[Robo]

We do not plan to see Fantasmic as we have done that many times...I think we'll head over to the light display around 6:15 as Fantasmic is scheduled for 6:30 that evening...Does this sound like a good plan?

 

[disnut8]

We do not plan to see Fantasmic as we have done that many times...I think we'll head over to the light display around 6:15 as Fantasmic is scheduled for 6:30 that evening...Does this sound like a good plan?

One thing I wanted to mention is that a crowd usually will start to form for the official "turn on" of the lights. We walked up that way around 5:45 one evening and could barely get through the crowd as we were headed to a nearby eatery for dinner. We got our food and were sitting down when the lights went on (we couldn't see the lights) but the people waiting all moved forward and it was a bit of a crowd crush. When we left after eating, it didn't look like the throngs were moving all that fast in the display area.

So, my recommendation is to not be there right at the turn on of the lights. Maybe go a half hour after that when most of the first crowd is through the display.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We do not plan to see Fantasmic as we have done that many times...I think we'll head over to the light display around 6:15 as Fantasmic is scheduled for 6:30 that evening...Does this sound like a good plan?

Yep, that's the best plan.
And give yourself a lot of time to really walk around and enjoy them and look for the details!
I think the lights are possibly the best thing about WDW

 

[staceyrhood]

I would also go on a Monday-Thursday night to see them , it gets very busy with locals on the weekends.

 

[brertoad]

Does anyone know when the end date is for this season? I can't find when they will take the lights down.

 

[mesaboy2]

Does anyone know when the end date is for this season? I can't find when they will take the lights down.

It typically lasts a few days into the new year. I don't believe I've seen an official end date for them, and sometimes an official end date is never announced.

I would add that the least-crowded time to see them each night is at the end of the park's operational day, as the lights stay on a good 45 to 60 minutes after park close. Just be sure to make your way over there before the park closes, maybe arriving 10-15 minutes before. Otherwise, CMs may not let you back into that area of the park and instead direct you towards the exits.

 

[DaisyNY]

Thanks for all the suggestions...we'll try to get over there around 6:20, we're going on a Thursday pm...Last night of MVMCP...see the lights and head back to the Contemporary for our 7:30 reservation!

 

[Robo]

Thanks for all the suggestions...we'll try to get over there around 6:20, we're going on a Thursday pm...Last night of MVMCP...see the lights and head back to the Contemporary for our 7:30 reservation!

Sorry, but that will not work very well, time-wise.
(Unless you plan on looking at the OLights for 15 minutes, or so.)

 

[DaisyNY]

I think that's about all the time we'll have...action-packed day planned! We could head over around 6 but a previous poster warned of crowds...

 

[bellebud]

I thought I had read a while ago that last season was the last season for the lights... glad that's not true. was that a rumor at some point??

 

[mesaboy2]

I thought I had read a while ago that last season was the last season for the lights... glad that's not true. was that a rumor at some point??

It has always been a rumor. No validity at all still.

 

[Robo]

I think that's about all the time we'll have...action-packed day planned! We could head over around 6 but a previous poster warned of crowds...

I'd seriously consider moving (or dumping) the reservation at the Contemporary and staying at the OLights longer.

On a scale of "what's special at WDW," the OLights would outrank a dinner by a substantial margin.

Maybe change your late dinner to the Brown Derby, for instance.

Just a suggestion.
But, base it on the idea that getting from as far back from the DHS front gates as is possible at the Streets of America and OLights (a 10-12 minute trudge just to get back to the front gates,) and then a very long ride (car? bus? each with its own set of delays on the starting end) and then having to get to the restaurant on whatever floor of the Contemporary... is a daunting, time-eating task!

 

[t_catt11]

I'd seriously consider moving (or dumping) the reservation at the Contemporary and staying at the OLights longer.

On a scale of "what's special at WDW," the OLights would outrank a dinner by a substantial margin.

This, so many times over. The lights are amazing, the ambiance is amazing. A half hour is pushing it, much less 15 minutes.

 

[brertoad]

It typically lasts a few days into the new year. I don't believe I've seen an official end date for them, and sometimes an official end date is never announced.

I would add that the least-crowded time to see them each night is at the end of the park's operational day, as the lights stay on a good 45 to 60 minutes after park close. Just be sure to make your way over there before the park closes, maybe arriving 10-15 minutes before. Otherwise, CMs may not let you back into that area of the park and instead direct you towards the exits.

Yes, I just wish I could find the official end date. We've got a scheduling dilemma. My in laws have Epcot after 4 passes that expire during Christmas week, and we were thinking of "upgrading" their renewal to a Weekday Select pass which is subject to seasonal block out dates and weekend block outs, so the only way they can see them this year is if the lights extend to Jan 5th, 2015.

Last season I believe it went until the 6th.

 

[Robo]

the only way they can see them this year is if the lights extend to Jan 5th, 2015.

Last season I believe it went until the 6th.

We'll know more as the dates get closer.

 

[DaisyNY]

Going to try and get the reservations changed based on everyone's suggestions...we bought DVC points a few years back and BLT is our home resort...we can eat at the California Grill on another visit!

Thanks for the help all!