Epcot's lights of winter

[kaligal]

Obsolete, my...foot. And another part of my anatomy, as well.

 

[ADP]

Very nice thoughts Brian.
Although you maybe right, my biggest complaint is the secrecy Disney World seems to operate. If, in fact, they do plan to replace the Lights of Winter why not tell the public they are looking into a replacement. They don't have to tell us what the replacement might be, but at least tell us if it will be replaced someday.

 

[crazydisneyman]

I hate to even mention this, but I will.

Is this a ploy to get you over to MGM to see Osborne Lights?

Just saying something like this makes me cringe.

 

[FireDancer]

I was thinking much the same that Brian was. As much as the LoW is a nostalgic favorite of many, including me (Epcot is my favorite park by far) I was thinking that they discovered a bad part and didn't want to replace it.

My issue was with the dishonesty if that is the case. If a part is broken and you are taking a year off for re-imagineering it than just say that. To be honest I do think the lights look dated. The incandescent bulbs strung up over big white molds is a bit 80's. They can replace the arches with flexible lighting tubes and the bulbs with LEDs that are brighter, can do more colors, and cost much less to run. This is Epcot after all and they should be using at least current technology if not future technology. I would love them to use some of the technology being developed for OLED and other advanced phosphorescence because that would be future leaning, the whole point of FUTURE world.

I don't want to knock the choir idea until I hear it though because that doesn't seem fair either. In my heart of hearts I am hoping that they are developing something new for next year and filing in the gap with the choir until they do. I won't hold my breath though.

 

[NancyIL]

I hate to even mention this, but I will.

Is this a ploy to get you over to MGM to see Osborne Lights?

Just saying something like this makes me cringe.

Based on the hordes of people viewing the Osborne Lights - I doubt it!

 

[DisneyKevin]

I was thinking much the same that Brian was. As much as the LoW is a nostalgic favorite of many, including me (Epcot is my favorite park by far) I was thinking that they discovered a bad part and didn't want to replace it.

My issue was with the dishonesty if that is the case. If a part is broken and you are taking a year off for re-imagineering it than just say that. To be honest I do think the lights look dated. The incandescent bulbs strung up over big white molds is a bit 80's. They can replace the arches with flexible lighting tubes and the bulbs with LEDs that are brighter, can do more colors, and cost much less to run. This is Epcot after all and they should be using at least current technology if not future technology. I would love them to use some of the technology being developed for OLED and other advanced phosphorescence because that would be future leaning, the whole point of FUTURE world.

I don't want to knock the choir idea until I hear it though because that doesn't seem fair either. In my heart of hearts I am hoping that they are developing something new for next year and filing in the gap with the choir until they do. I won't hold my breath though.

I will as you the sme question I asked the OP.

I read pretty much all of the Dis Unpugged board and you've posted in the past that certain discussion points either dont affect you personally or you dont see them as a big deal.

What will Disney take away that would make you think it was a big deal?

And are you happy with the lame excuse that the "technology is obsolete"?

I also have to disagre with the LoW looking dated. I found them a bit timeless.

They remind me of the photos of Tivoli (Walt's inspiration for Disneyland).

They also briidged Future World and World Showcase very well in my opininion.

I'm not trying to be argumentative....just curious about the things that people se as irreplaceable.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I see nothing as irreplaceable at Disney. The problem with this is that they aren't really replacing it.

If they had come up with something better, more amazing, and maybe even more economically and ecologically sound, I'd be thrilled to see some of the more dated technology disappear. I'm not emotionally attached to a particular light array. But please...lights are an essential part of ANY winter celebration, since the beginning of human society. While augmenting the displays with music is fine, replacing lights with music is completely inadequate.

 

[FireDancer]

What will Disney take away that would make you think it was a big deal?

For me it would be closing attractions and not replacing them. When I am down there I am about 95% concentrating on the attractions. When they make changes like the seats in restaurants or the number of times they show Fantasmic I may not like them but it is such a small part of why I go I don't let it bother me. On most trips I only make one ADR anyway.

And are you happy with the lame excuse that the "technology is obsolete"?

I find it dishonest and think that even if it is true a bit more clarity would be nice. If it is obsolete because they can't replace a broken part just say we decided it wasn't cost effective to fix them and we will replace them shortly. If they are being discontinued for any other reason they should say so. I find the dishonesty more of a problem than the removal of the lights.

I also have to disagre with the LoW looking dated. I found them a bit timeless.

Different people will look at these things differently. I think they could be updated to be more future-leaning and going with the theme of Future World better. I am hoping they are a temporary omission until something new can be created. If they are gone forever and not replaced then I am mistaken and am prepared for that but I hope they will have something new and undated for next year.

I'm not trying to be argumentative....just curious about the things that people see as irreplaceable.

I guess I don't see much as irreplaceable, pretty much the castle and Main Street. I don't mind updates to the "classic" attractions like PotC or IASM because even Walt said that they park is never done. Sometimes the updates will be good (Haunted Mansion) and sometimes they will be very much not good (Tiki Room). I don't mind them trying stuff that doesn't work, that is part of the creative process. If they start taking attractions down and not replacing or refurbishing them I would probably get towards my breaking point. If it does turn out the LoW are permanently gone and not replaced with something new in another year (or whenever the economy turns around and frees up money) I will be much more annoyed than I am now. I really am just looking at it as temporarily gone until they can re-imagineer it. Which is why I wish they would clarify what they mean by outdated, it would keep us from having to speculate about what they mean and what their plans are for the future.

To be fair I don't get bothered by a whole lot in general which is probably why I come across on these kinds of threads as not as outraged as many. I know that if they really push me too far I just won't go and in the end the only way they will know they went too far with anything is if we stop going, not if we complain and continue to go.

 

[DisneyKevin]

As Minday and Frank have pointed out....I think I the word irreplaceable when what I realy meant was something that will be sorely missed.

I agree that nothing at WDWis irreplaeable.

I still miss the old gleaming white Tomorrowland o my childhood and the old WDW logo with the big squrish D with the mouse ears globe in the middle.

 

[BriarRosie]

As Minday and Frank have pointed out....I think I the word irreplaceable when what I realy meant was something that will be sorely missed.

I agree that nothing at WDWis irreplaeable.

I still miss the old gleaming white Tomorrowland o my childhood and the old WDW logo with the big squrish D with the mouse ears globe in the middle.

I still see that logo on an old plastic retractable brush I have. It's very "old school" Disney and I love it.

 

[FireDancer]

I still miss the old gleaming white Tomorrowland o my childhood and the old WDW logo with the big squrish D with the mouse ears globe in the middle.

My favorite old logo is:

I have a couple of old mugs made out of aluminum with the logo on it and they are my favorite souvenirs from when I went as a kid.

 

[kbelle8995]

I have nothing against the gospel choir. It is very hard work to be in a choir. I spent too many hours in my church practicing to look down on a choir.

The Lights of Winter were great all I had to do was pay for admission to get to see them. They added to the festiveness of Epcot during the holidays. Now they are gone you can see a difference. No Xmas decorations there at all just an empty area with some lights in the trees. Only decorations we saw at Epcot were at the countries and some of the store windows. No lights of Winter and no sparkly Xmas balls. Nothing. I have no issue with changes but at least put something else decoration wise there.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

The Lights Of Winter were one of our favorite things last year! DH said he could sit there for hours and just listen to the music and watch the lights. He said it felt so Christmas-y. Without the Lights of Winter - Epcot won't look much different than it does at other times.

I agree that the reason is lame - and insulting to our intelligence. But, if they were looking to cut costs - wouldn't you think there are more expensive holiday things that could have been eliminated? I guess maybe they thought they could sneak this one out without too much complaining?

Maybe we'll start losing a couple of storytellers each year until they are gone too?

 

[wdwscout]

For me it would be closing attractions and not replacing them.

I saw the Lights of Winter as an attraction. It was someplace I would go and sit and enjoy the music and the lights. I view the Fountain as an attrraction as well.

I still see that logo on an old plastic retractable brush I have. It's very "old school" Disney and I love it.

I have that brush too!! Very retro, and easy to carry in my purse.

 

[CinderellasSister]

The Lights Of Winter were one of our favorite things last year! DH said he could sit there for hours and just listen to the music and watch the lights. He said it felt so Christmas-y. Without the Lights of Winter - Epcot won't look much different than it does at other times.

I saw the Lights of Winter as an attraction. It was someplace I would go and sit and enjoy the music and the lights. I view the Fountain as an attrraction as well.

Maybe that's the reason, they don't want anyone "just sitting" and watching the lights when we can be shopping or otherwise spending money. Heck, they took the backs off of the chairs so we wouldn't sit too long. It's a wild guess, but not all that far fetched given some of the other crazy Disney excuses from the past.

 

[BriarRosie]

I have that brush too!! Very retro, and easy to carry in my purse.

Wow. I can't believe someone else has that brush! How cool is that? I thought it was odd enough that I had one.

 

[Halbleib1]

I agree with those of you saying that it is a poor excuse. If I can make my home Christmas tree dance to music Disney sure as heck can. It is very inexpensive to do this. Heck you can decorate your whole house in lights and set it to the music with a box you can buy at Sears manufactured by GE for $99.00.

 

[Halbleib1]

I will as you the sme question I asked the OP.

I read pretty much all of the Dis Unpugged board and you've posted in the past that certain discussion points either dont affect you personally or you dont see them as a big deal.

What will Disney take away that would make you think it was a big deal?

And are you happy with the lame excuse that the "technology is obsolete"?

I also have to disagre with the LoW looking dated. I found them a bit timeless.

They remind me of the photos of Tivoli (Walt's inspiration for Disneyland).

They also briidged Future World and World Showcase very well in my opininion.

I'm not trying to be argumentative....just curious about the things that people se as irreplaceable.

I must agree with you I did not find them dated at all. Besides I think we are removing too much of the nostalgia from the Holidays. I am all for technological advances and making life easier but it is still nice to have some of the traditions from our childhood. Everything does not have to be the most up to date technological stuff out there. Heck I still have bubble lights for my tree. LOL

 

[wdwscout]

I sent an email to WDW Guest Communications 15 minutes after they Tweeted this announcement.
I got a response today.

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.

As a part of our normal course of business, we regularly evaluate and
adjust our offerings. As a result we have made the decision to retire
the Lights of Winter, the illuminated canopy along Showcase Plaza at
Epcot®, as the technology is obsolete.

Although we understand your disappointment with this change, we have
several offerings for Holidays Around The World. We hope you will visit
us as we continue to feature the nightly Candlelight Processional at
America Gardens Theatre, holiday storytellers throughout World Showcase
and a special holiday fireworks salute each night following
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. In addition, we are pleased to
debut a lively new gospel choir, DVine Voices. The group will perform
daily Nov. 27 through Dec. 26.

Our Guests' feedback, as well as their continued enthusiasm for our
products and services, is very important to us. We genuinely appreciate
the time you took to share your thoughts.

Sincerely,

John Mann
Walt Disney World® Resort

I honestly do not feel any better about this.

 

[Paul in CT]

"In addition, we are pleased to debut a lively new gospel choir, DVine Voices. The group will performdaily Nov. 27 through Dec. 26."

I hope that this is not the same gospel choir featured in past years. They were not very good.

I would like to see them bring back "Cast in Bronze".