Epcot's lights of winter

[bigbrian-nc.com]

I sometimes find myself nodding along with the occasion rants on the show, usually until they get to a point where I have already developed my own opinion and will interject my own spin on one point or another that i see a little differently from the ranter (we all have things that set us off not just Pete).

I will admit that I may tend to lean a bit more to the Polyanaish side and tend to give Disney the benefit of the doubt on some things that others may be upset about much more quickly, so what you will get here is the view from the "Polyanana side" looking at the announcement by Disney.

When they said that this technology was obsolete, what I imagined was that when they went to fire up the lights the control board or some other part of this that would have been relatively expensive to replace did not work, and much as I have to do when my old car breaks down and needs a repair they had to say "do we replace this part, or do we just save that money and put it toward the development of a new show" (in my case it would be towards a newer car)

I understand that "they are Disney" and it's not going to "break thier bank" to replace the expensive part even if it was for just another couple of years until they replace this, but it just did not really bother me at all, now i will also admit that the "lights of winter" were not something I paid a lot of attention to, and I TOTALLY understand that others will have their own opinions possibly formed by cherished memories of their own experiences that tied in with these lights, but for me they never did much and if the decor in this part of Epcot went away for a few years it really would not bother me a bit.

One last disclaimer, and I hope it is an unnecessary one since I think I've been trying all along to point this out, we all have our own opinions on this, but almost all of the opinions I have heard on this have been on the "negative feelings about this change" side and I just wanted to point out that there are quite possibly some others out there who have a differing opinion on this particular subject.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Hi Brian....

I agree that each and every person will have an opinion and no one opinion is more valid than the others.

I think the thing I have an issue with is the way this was handled.

Disney announces that this feature is "obsolete" and I have ask why the man down the street can come up with a flashing, dancing, music playing display in a residential neighborhood. If he can do it....I'm guessing Disney has the "know how" to do it as well. Look at Cinderlella Castle and the Osbourne Lights as examples

Also, one of the big sponsiors at Epcot is Siemens. They make Sylvania light bulbs. Ask for their help.

Disney has removed the LOW and the Tree lighting show and ceremony. What's next? The Santa / St Nick / Pere Noel storytellers explaining the customs at each country? What happens when they take away the Candlelight Processional because they've lost the sheet music. In my opinion, that excuse is no lamer than the fact that their lights are obsolete.

I think we are all smart enough to understand that the "obsolete" excuse really means "too expensive to fix and/ or put up" and I think that if Disney were honest and told people that, it might cut down on the criticism and speculation.

Getting back to your original point....everyone has an opinion. I realize that your opinion is that this isnt that big a deal. Based on that....what's the thing that Disney might take away that would make you feel it was a big deal?

 

[crazydisneyman]

Hey Brian. Thanks for your thoughts.

My thought about the whole issue is more along the lines of what Kevin is saying.

In my opinion, my matter what the excuse, they should not have waited until November to announce something like this. They took the lights down in January. They have had many opportunities to do something. Imagineer something. They had to know this was not going back up at least by spring or early summer. (Referencing Bawb Varley's Christmas Tour where he stated that Disney preps for the holiday season begining in January.)

I understand your thoughts, but I don't agree with them.

 

[safetymom]

OP, I agree with the others. To me using the obsolete excuse was terrible. Just be truthful. I am sure if Disney had really wanted or needed the parts someone would have been happy to provide them.

 

[bigbrian-nc.com]

Hi Brian....

Edit to get to the question

Getting back to your original point....everyone has an opinion. I realize that your opinion is that this isnt that big a deal. Based on that....what's the thing that Disney might take away that would make you feel it was a big deal?

I think the example you gave of the Candlelight Processional would be pretty big, I see your point.
I will say I am hoping that they do eventually bring something similar but updated back.

 

[aspen37]

I also agree with the others Brian. Plus the other thing that did not sit well with me was that they made the announcement on Twitter.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I also agree with the others Brian. Plus the other thing that did not sit well with me was that they made the announcement on Twitter.

Right, the Twitter thing and that they tried to say they are replacing LOW of with a gospel choir???? How are those 2 things even remotely similiar to the point that they could replace each other? I found that insulting. Maybe I shouldn't feel that way, but I do, because it's just so ridiculous.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I found that insulting. Maybe I shouldn't feel that way, but I do, because it's just so ridiculous.

Besides the fact that the lights are gone.....and I'm one of those that liked walking out on Christmas Eve under those lights....I think this is thre thing that irks me the most.

I'm really not good at being treated like I'm dumb and this excuse (being obsolete) requires me to be dumb to believe it.

All of the technology in "it's a small world" is obsolete as well. It's not like you can drop into Home Depot and pick up a 3 foot can-can dancers with clicky eyes.

Disney tells us that we now have access to the most advanced animatronic figure ever seen (our current President in HOP). He sits, he stands, he blinks, he breaths, he puffs out his cheek and purses his lips. Your telling me you know how to do that and you cant fix CHRISTMAS LIGHTS???????

Ok....mini rant over.

 

[shellyminnie]

One of my new favorite Pete lines is on this subject, "they''re freaking blinking lights, you idiots!!" I think that says it all!!

 

[Joshua_me]

It's just such a blatant and obvious thing to take away from Epcot at Christmastime without so much as a plausible excuse.

It's not like the slowly shrinking filet's and tomato stacks at LeCel, or the gradual homogenisation of the merchandise available throughout World Showcase.

Those are somewhat isolated examples that not everyone would experience or even notice.

But LOW is (was) something that *every* nighttime visitor to the park enjoyed. It made a fantastic first impression and left a wonderful memory in most of our minds. For me, it was as much a part of Christmas at Disney as the lights on the castle or the gingerbread house at the GF. ( Is that house*next* on the chopping block ? "Sorry, many of our weight-conscience guests objected to the simple carbs on display" )

I often hear the words "tipping point" brought up on the Podcast, and usually it refers to things going on in corporate Disney that are of much more consequence than simple Christmas lights, but I suppose for me that's just the point. They represent more than just "lights" to me, and their abrupt dismissal leaves me with a feeling of, "Frankly, park goers, we just don't give a damn, you'll show up anyways..."

And that is what is most offensive of all. The slow eroding of the park experience, and the obvious disregard of Walt's original intention. To go that extra mile to make Disney parks the best parks in the world. Profit has taken the place of magic, greed the place of creativity, and the bottom line the place of the best guest experience possible.

 

[kbelle8995]

Frankly without the Lights of Winter, Epcot looks a lot less festive.

The only decorations that I saw this past week was at the countries. It just misses the Lights of Winter. Maybe you wouldn't notice if you were a first time guest but if you're not you do notice.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Sadly, I am going to WDW for my first holiday visit in two weeks and I won't get to see some of the wonderful things that I've been hearing and reading about for months/years. I am really disappointed that they 1) have a lame reason/excuse and 2) they waited until now to mention it to me - LONG after I planned my trip. That just stinks like old fish.

 

[zuzu]

Sadly, I am going to WDW for my first holiday visit in two weeks and I won't get to see some of the wonderful things that I've been hearing and reading about for months/years.

I am sad for my DH too because for him, this will be his first trip during the holiday season. I really wanted to share all the holiday magic with him.

One of the quotes I hear most often in regards to Disney is how they always "plus" everything but lately there have been many "minuses". Price increases are so much easier to swallow when you either are adding to the value of the experience or at the very least not detracting from it.

 

[mainegal]

In 2006, I saw LOW for the first time during the day time. No lights, but I still thought the archway looked pretty special. Then I saw them at night, wow, pretty and sparkly! But my sister was rushing us through to someplace.

In 2008, I saw the lights all lite up. I stayed and marveled at them. Then they started blinking and dancing and changing colors and I was mesmerized. But I was with a friend who was cold and didn't want to stay in the same place for twenty minutes.

I am sorry that I won't get a chance to see them again.

I still hold out hope that Disney will find another way to bring sparkle to the parks.

 

[BeamsofLight]

When they said that this technology was obsolete, what I imagined was that when they went to fire up the lights the control board or some other part of this that would have been relatively expensive to replace did not work, and much as I have to do when my old car breaks down and needs a repair they had to say "do we replace this part, or do we just save that money and put it toward the development of a new show" (in my case it would be towards a newer car)

I can appreciate where you're coming from, and I would be on board with that line of thinking if it wasn't established through Disney (via their backstage tours) that they're constantly preparing for the holiday decorations to go up, year-'round. These lights aren't more obsolete now than they were in, say, March, and I don't believe for a second they didn't test them until just before they were going to put them up. If they want to save money and make a new show, then the new show should have been ready to go to replace LoW before now.

Earlier this week I got a discount code offer (an email PIN) from Disney for 30% off deluxe resorts from Dec 25 to Jan 2. That should be the busiest time of the year for the parks. And they're hawking discount rates at the last second. Hmm. To me, cutting LoW is nothing more than cost-cutting, and while I don't begrudge them cost cutting if they're (apparently) hurting financially, I do begrudge being lied to and/or being talked to like I'm an idiot. By any company (or person, for that matter).

I've been going through a difficult time recently (and I fully acknowledge I'm a little 'emotionally unsteady' because of it at the moment) and we'd been considering a last minute trip to WDW to see some Christmas cheer. This announcement sucked any and all desire out of me to do that.

I do hope they're going to do as you suggest, and pour the money that would be required to 'upgrade the technology' into another show, but I'm not holding my breath. And I honestly hope Disney can prove me wrong, but I'm not holding my breath for that anymore, either.

 

[PeterPan09]

I will miss the LOW very much. I love the way the lights were choreographed with the holiday music, it was fun walking out after Candlelight singing the carols with my Dad. I love the fountain at EPCOT too, I'm probably one of the few folks that actually stops and watches the water dance to the music-I hope that's not next on their chopping block.

 

[Paul in CT]

I, too, will miss the LOW. I am glad that on our last December visit that we stopped to enjoy them for a few minutes and took some video. It would have been better for Disney to just remove them with no comment than to insult our intelligence with the "obsolete" excuse.

 

[CinderellasSister]

I, too, will miss the LOW. I am glad that on our last December visit that we stopped to enjoy them for a few minutes and took some video. It would have been better for Disney to just remove them with no comment than to insult our intelligence with the "obsolete" excuse.

I completely agree. I'm so glad that I stopped to enjoy them as well, and was able to see the joy on my kids' faces while they watched the dancing lights. This really is just another poor choice from Disney. They're going to drive people away. I, as well as a lot others here, are looking forward to spending the Christmas season together before and after PCC 2.0. I shudder to think what else will be pulled by next year that we'll all miss out on.

 

[BriarRosie]

I hadn't done a December trip in 4 years, so I was really looking forward to the Lights of Winter. One of the things I liked on past December trips was taking the monorail from the TTC to Epcot once it became dark enough for the Lights of Winter, because the monorail would pass through them. It was an awesome thing I loved to experience.

There was an actor at the Adventurers Club who used to poke fun at the diminished fireworks on Pleasure Island, back when Pleasure Island had fireworks, not to mention clubs! He used to tell people that they could go outside around midnight to watch them or stay in the club, since the fireworks show was "just a one-armed man waving a flashlight and a dog with a sparkler in its mouth."

And that's the extent of these cutbacks, summed up in a snarky nutshell.

 

[NancyIL]

I hadn't done a December trip in 4 years, so I was really looking forward to the Lights of Winter. One of the things I liked on past December trips was taking the monorail from the TTC to Epcot once it became dark enough for the Lights of Winter, because the monorail would pass through them. It was an awesome thing I loved to experience.

Taking the monorail to Epcot at night is one of my favorite things to do, too - especially at holiday time! I have visited WDW in late November or early December annually since 1997, and the Lights of Winter made Epcot so festive.

I'll be at WDW in less than 2 weeks, so I'll withhold final judgment until I see it for myself.