We will be at WDW the week after Thanksgiving with our son (almost 5). On our MGM day, the Osborne spectacle only goes from 6 to 7 p.m. although the park is open till 8. And Fantasmic is at 6:30.
Could anyone tell me whether it's accurate that they turn off the lights before the park closes? I'm confused about why they would do that, and if Fantasmic is really a little scary for young children? I took him to Beauty and the Beast recently and he was scared of the Beast (either that or bored and being manipulative, lol). Is it worth missing Osborne to see this? Do I really have to choose?
The Osborne Lights attraction presented an unusual
problem for MGM.
When they were "acquired" by Disney from the Osborne
family (not OZZIE, 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 MGM 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) guests in MGM
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 7:25pm, 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.
The dates for 2007 are November 12, 2007 - Jan. 6, 2008.
VIDEO CLIP-
Osborne Lights DANCING to "Trepak" (Nutcracker) by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (30 seconds)
(This is just a hand-held shot from my STILL Camera, but its a good example of the lights.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMlmWjKPVto
Sorry that the quality must be so severely reduced for posting on the web.
