Disney Holiday Firsts at Last! - 2 Days to Go and It's Quiet, Too Quiet

[FauntleroyFAN07]

I soooo want to be at the Osbourne lights when they turn on. Do you know of a good spot to be standing at for it other than the obvious area where they "throw the switch"?

well unless you get there really early, to be right up front when they throw the switch you wont see it, a decent amount of people are there around it and hard to see.

we started watching the show at the end of the street down by the lights motor action stunt show.

good spot and you can see the whole "main" street, without having to spin 360 to see it all...

if you dont mind spinning 360 then go right smack in the middle of the T where you can spin around and see everything but it might be a little packed there.

we spend a good 45 minutes just walking along and taking it all in after it started.

here is the first chapter of our lights


the pics and video dont do it justice at all, in person is the only way to see it
here is the second chapter of our lights

will seeing the lights give you enough time to see the 630 show of fantasmic? that is what you had in your schedule.

 

[mnmrmustard]

well unless you get there really early, to be right up front when they throw the switch you wont see it, a decent amount of people are there around it and hard to see.

we started watching the show at the end of the street down by the lights motor action stunt show.

good spot and you can see the whole "main" street, without having to spin 360 to see it all...

if you dont mind spinning 360 then go right smack in the middle of the T where you can spin around and see everything but it might be a little packed there.

we spend a good 45 minutes just walking along and taking it all in after it started.

here is the first chapter of our lights


the pics and video dont do it justice at all, in person is the only way to see it
here is the second chapter of our lights

will seeing the lights give you enough time to see the 630 show of fantasmic? that is what you had in your schedule.

Looks like LMA is a good spot to start from, I have no need to be around the crowd & the swtich. It must be truly amazing to witness it all coming to life in a blink of an eye. And I didn't know they did snow machines with it - that rocks!!!

I love the two shots of Parker, just on the edge of sleep and then snoozin'

That switch would have been tempting!

I couldn't watch the vids, it asked for a private password. But I have seen a couple of vids on YouTube ...it is just enough to know you have to be there to truly experience it.

And on the Fantasmic! showing, I read that sunset is around 5:30pm but wasn't sure how long after sunset the lights would actually come on. I've seen Fantasmic! twice and will probably see it again with Bean on our Daddy/Daughter day so missing it that night wouldn't be a biggie to me. It will really depend on what DW/DD1 want to do

 

[Trentmom]

When we saw the Osborne lights, we waited until about last half hour to 45 mins of them and then went back to see them. It was dead and Trent was able to dance around and play. We were able to see everything, not stuck in masses of people.

The janitors were doing line dancing too to songs. So fun

Just some food for thought

 

[mnmrmustard]

When we saw the Osborne lights, we waited until about last half hour to 45 mins of them and then went back to see them. It was dead and Trent was able to dance around and play. We were able to see everything, not stuck in masses of people.

The janitors were doing line dancing too to songs. So fun

Just some food for thought

So you didn't see them turned on? I think we'll have to have a family discussion about how we want to play it. I like seeing things without crowds

 

[heartpooh]

Lovin' this thread!!!.

We went last year at Christmas (our first trip for the holiday but our 11th trip all together!) and loved it. It is now our favorite time of the year to visit! We are going back this year and have actually booked two nights of the MVMCPARTY.

I had a thought for your family as this is the first time you all are going at Christmas. Have you thought about going around to the different resorts to check out the decor. Most people miss this fantastic opportunity but it is so worth it. We usually stay at the Contemporary and we just hop the monorail to check out the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian. The GF even has a lifesize gingerbread house (made out of real food) that they sell refreshments out of and the lobby is gorgeous!!! Just wanted to give you a little tip just in case you wanted to do something besides the actual parks!!!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

Looks like LMA is a good spot to start from, I have no need to be around the crowd & the swtich. It must be truly amazing to witness it all coming to life in a blink of an eye. And I didn't know they did snow machines with it - that rocks!!!



And on the Fantasmic! showing, I read that sunset is around 5:30pm but wasn't sure how long after sunset the lights would actually come on. I've seen Fantasmic! twice and will probably see it again with Bean on our Daddy/Daughter day so missing it that night wouldn't be a biggie to me. It will really depend on what DW/DD1 want to do

i like trentmoms suggestion, but you know yo ucould always, watch them turn on, then leave and come back at the end of the night when it is not crowded and do both

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

awwww.... I just saw that Test Track is now definitely scheduled to be down till December 6th? Wow that is tacking seemingly forever...

If you don't like crowds it sounds like you might be better off skipping the light turn on for Osbourne... I'm not a huge crazy crowd fan either... I like a little moving room...

Do you think that its possible to do Fantasmic and see the lights?... I really wanted to do both...

Doing the Hotel Holiday Hop is a really fun thing to do in December... they go all out and the decorations are in keeping with the themes of the resorts... it really is impressive...

 

[mnmrmustard]

Lovin' this thread!!!.

We went last year at Christmas (our first trip for the holiday but our 11th trip all together!) and loved it. It is now our favorite time of the year to visit! We are going back this year and have actually booked two nights of the MVMCPARTY.

I had a thought for your family as this is the first time you all are going at Christmas. Have you thought about going around to the different resorts to check out the decor. Most people miss this fantastic opportunity but it is so worth it. We usually stay at the Contemporary and we just hop the monorail to check out the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian. The GF even has a lifesize gingerbread house (made out of real food) that they sell refreshments out of and the lobby is gorgeous!!! Just wanted to give you a little tip just in case you wanted to do something besides the actual parks!!!

Thank You! I'm happy to hear you had a great time here last year Two nights of MVMCP - cool! I know some people who are addicted to Hawaii at Christmas ...I'd say WDW at Christmas is a much better addiction

We will at least check out the GF's gingerbread house. How does the Polynesian look at Christmas?

i like trentmoms suggestion, but you know yo ucould always, watch them turn on, then leave and come back at the end of the night when it is not crowded and do both

That could be the best of both worlds. Maybe watch them come on near Muppet Vision and do a minor walk-around, and then head for Fantasmic! One big factor will be how tired our feet are by that time of the evening. If the dogs are barkin' we'll probably go sit for Fantasmic! and then go see the lights. Or does Fantasmic! close the park in December?

awwww.... I just saw that Test Track is now definitely scheduled to be down till December 6th? Wow that is tacking seemingly forever...

If you don't like crowds it sounds like you might be better off skipping the light turn on for Osbourne... I'm not a huge crazy crowd fan either... I like a little moving room...

Do you think that its possible to do Fantasmic and see the lights?... I really wanted to do both...

Doing the Hotel Holiday Hop is a really fun thing to do in December... they go all out and the decorations are in keeping with the themes of the resorts... it really is impressive...

Yup, unless they pull something off and decide to open it early we'll have to miss that one. And I'm with you on crowds ...I tend to go in the opposite direction as them as a rule. The whole light turn on thing has me torn. And I'm in the same boat and hope to get some more feedback from people who've attempted to do both. I think I'll go post in the Dec 2012 thread about it and see what response I get.

Several people have talked about the resort hop and I know we'll do GF, I've always wanted to tour it anyways.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey Mike,

I was just thinking...(A dangerous pastime ) and how is it possible to do the Osbourne lights and Fantasmic? Do the leave the lights on after Fantasmic.... because other wise i'm not sure how the timing would work out... ?

Sigh I hope it's possible.

 

[disney67]

Hey Mike,

I was just thinking...(A dangerous pastime ) and how is it possible to do the Osbourne lights and Fantasmic? Do the leave the lights on after Fantasmic.... because other wise i'm not sure how the timing would work out... ?

Sigh I hope it's possible.

I agree it might be a tad hard to do both in the same day. I did both but 2 separate days did osbourne lights on my full day and the other just to see Fantasmic good luck i hope you are able to do both in one day I would love to see the video of this in High speed

 

[mnmrmustard]

Hey Mike,

I was just thinking...(A dangerous pastime ) and how is it possible to do the Osbourne lights and Fantasmic? Do the leave the lights on after Fantasmic.... because other wise i'm not sure how the timing would work out... ?

Sigh I hope it's possible.

I agree it might be a tad hard to do both in the same day. I did both but 2 separate days did osbourne lights on my full day and the other just to see Fantasmic good luck i hope you are able to do both in one day I would love to see the video of this in High speed

Well I spent the past couple of days trying to keep up with the extremely fast-moving PART THREE! *December 2012 Roll Call* Holidays, FLE & MVMCP!! A very, merry thread! and that was one of the questions I asked.

The general consensus both from responses here on my PTR and there on that thread is that the best method is to just go see Fantasmic! and when it is over you'll have a good 30 minutes to enjoy the Osborne lights with much lighter crowds than you would have if you were there when they turn on the lights.

 

[mnmrmustard]

Hello All! Today's installment is a simple one - goodies from Disney!!!

The image quality isn't the best as it took them in our room which doesn't have the best light, with my unsteady hand snapping them with my phone. But you get the 'picture', right?

First off we have our Custom Maps!

Next, our Disney Rewards Redemption card with almost $200 on it!

And then we have our PhotoPass+ Voucher

Finally and the coolest to have in hand for me - our first set ever of MVMCP Tickets!!!

And now they're all tucked back away in a nondescript folder in a pile of papers in my bedside dresser. Less than two weeks out from the beginning of placing our clues around the house. For now I'll go back to working on ye ole packing list and try to catch up on everyone else's PTRs!

 

[disney67]

Well I spent the past couple of days trying to keep up with the extremely fast-moving PART THREE! *December 2012 Roll Call* Holidays, FLE & MVMCP!! A very, merry thread! and that was one of the questions I asked.

The general consensus both from responses here on my PTR and there on that thread is that the best method is to just go see Fantasmic! and when it is over you'll have a good 30 minutes to enjoy the Osborne lights with much lighter crowds than you would have if you were there when they turn on the lights.

I guess if you can do it go for it . but i only did it once and being there when they turn the lights on were awesome .

Hello All! Today's installment is a simple one - goodies from Disney!!!

The image quality isn't the best as it took them in our room which doesn't have the best light, with my unsteady hand snapping them with my phone. But you get the 'picture', right?

First off we have our Custom Maps!

Next, our Disney Rewards Redemption card with almost $200 on it!

And then we have our PhotoPass+ Voucher

Finally and the coolest to have in hand for me - our first set ever of MVMCP Tickets!!!

And now they're all tucked back away in a nondescript folder in a pile of papers in my bedside dresser. Less than two weeks out from the beginning of placing our clues around the house. For now I'll go back to working on ye ole packing list and try to catch up on everyone else's PTRs!

disney mail thats Magical and will turn anyones day magical

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

love the mickey mail

did you get your ME stuff yet?

 

[Trentmom]

yay for Disney Mail!!!

 

[reelmom]

Mickey Mail always makes you realize that your trip is really gonna happen and happen soon.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Well I spent the past couple of days trying to keep up with the extremely fast-moving PART THREE! *December 2012 Roll Call* Holidays, FLE & MVMCP!! A very, merry thread! and that was one of the questions I asked.

The general consensus both from responses here on my PTR and there on that thread is that the best method is to just go see Fantasmic! and when it is over you'll have a good 30 minutes to enjoy the Osborne lights with much lighter crowds than you would have if you were there when they turn on the lights.

Well thanks for that info... (I tried to check out that link and your right it is extremely fast moving...)

Well I think that doing Fantasmic and then the lights is the way to go but if I can swing it on two separate nights (since we'll be at the Beach Club) that might feel less rushed... Choices, Choices...

Ahhh Mickey Mail is the very, very best mail that there is...

 

[mnmrmustard]

I guess if you can do it go for it . but i only did it once and being there when they turn the lights on were awesome .

disney mail thats Magical and will turn anyones day magical

I'm sure it is, just seeing Dan's pictures and story on it plus a few YouTube vids make me want to see the streets come to life. We'll probably just see how tired we ware when it comes close to time for it and decide from there.

love the mickey mail

did you get your ME stuff yet?

Amen brother! And no, no travel packet yet. I checked with our travel agent and she expects it to be here in about 2 weeks.

yay for Disney Mail!!!

You got that right Sharky!!!

 

[mnmrmustard]

Mickey Mail always makes you realize that your trip is really gonna happen and happen soon.

I know, it feels more "real" every day!

Well thanks for that info... (I tried to check out that link and your right it is extremely fast moving...)

Well I think that doing Fantasmic and then the lights is the way to go but if I can swing it on two separate nights (since we'll be at the Beach Club) that might feel less rushed... Choices, Choices...

Ahhh Mickey Mail is the very, very best mail that there is...

No problem Patricia, and yes - it is nearly impossible to keep up with the thread. But the info on the first page alone is so very helpful!

Yes, doing it on two separate nights would be the way to do it if you can swing the time for it

Mickey Mail rocks!

 

[sunnysideup3]

Mickey Mail is the BEST! I can't wait to get the DME and packet-o-info very quickly!!!

Isn't the element of surprise both exciting and maddening??? I want to be able to leave stuff out and not pack behind a locked door, but oh well. It will be worth it in the end.