We are heading to WDW 11/14 - 11/19. Our plan is to go to HS on Weds, 11/18. The park closes at 8pm. Do you think we will have time to see the lights (not sure when they go on?) and the 7pm Fantasmic! show? The lights are way more important to me but wondering if this is a good idea - need to book my dining package in a few weeks if we decide to do it!
I think Fantasmic is only 25min so was thinking we could do the Lunch dining package, see the lights when they are first turned on, head to Fantasmic and then back to the lights before Park close?
Am I crazy?
See F! first, then the O-Lights.
Even with a F! Dining Pkg. you should arrive at the F!
at least 30 minutes before show-time.
F! runs 30 minutes, then it can take up to 10-15 minutes to exit the F! theater and another 10 minutes, or so, to get to the O-Lights area.
--------------------------
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 7,000-8,000) 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 7:30pm, 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.
