Epcot Tree Lighting Ceremony's Stage Show Officially Cancelled!

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I have been on another messageboard where they have been discussing a lot of the operational cutbacks at WDW that are happening now and those cutbacks that are coming soon.

One of the cutbacks that is coming very soon is that the stage show with characters and entertainers at the Epcot Tree Lighting Ceremony has been cancelled for 2008. Disney decided that it was something that they could do without.

I thought that I should share this here, before you guys end up being even more broken hearted. I understand they will still light the tree around 6pm, but without a show.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Mickey's Tree Lighting Treat was not listed on Steve Soares' site's update for next week. He added the Santas and Storytellers that are supposed to begin their work the day after Thanksgiving. I hear that there has been no stage built at the base of the Epcot Christmas tree.

http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/EPCOT.htm

Has anyone checked to see if this is happening this year or not?

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

So I wrote Steve Soares and this is his reponse.

Thanks for the question, you jogged my memory! I checked with guest relations and they said there will be no tree lighting ceremony but the tree and lights of winter will be turned on at 6pm starting Friday. They said the change was due to safety concerns. It got pretty jammed around the tree in previous years.

I'll update my site to reflect this information.

Steve Soares
Webmaster of WDW Live Entertainment
http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares

Sadly, it's officially not happening this year.

 

[WebmasterJohn]

This is unfortunate.

The good news is our Mousefest Meet on the 14th is really about getting together in honor of Bob - the tree lighting was just a way to determine where we would meet and when and to pick a location we knew Bob loved at Christmastime.

It stinks that this was cut back and some folks will never get a chance to experience it - but it has no effect on the meet on the 14th.

 

[Becx N Gav]

Awww, that is sad

As you say John we have never seen it before and now prob won't
Looks like the shape of things to come

 

[RNtheRN]

I sure hope this economy turns around pretty soon. When they start to make cutbacks at WDW you can tell things are getting a little murky.