Festival of Lights Annual Pass Cele.

[scauzilloc]

We just got back from the Osborne Festival of Lights at Disney MGM and for the first time in our lives as a annual passholder we are disappointed with this magical show. In the past they gave hot cocoa, cider, cookies, 3d glasses, snow and A PHOTO. Guess whch one we did not get this year. That's right, the photo. Now maybe I am being spoiled, but we look forward to this every year. We dress up for the holidays and always order when we get them in. But imagine the let-down when we got there and it was not set up. Not only that, but they didn't have the carolers singing. And one last thing, they didn't anticipate for the crowds Saturday and ran out of 3-d glasses. You would think they would of learned from the AK fiasco.
Disney is forgetting about the people and they are more worried about the almighty dollar.

 

[manning]

Maybe the people who knew about the AK fiasco where let go and they didn't have a clue.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

We were there on Friday night. It was our first (most likely only) AP event. We had a nice time. It is funny how perspective makes so much difference. Last year we saw the lights after Thanksgiving with A LOT of other people. It was hard to just walk down the street. Friday we found it so nice to walk around easily and to see Goofy Santa and Pluto. We enjoyed the hot chocolate and cookies. Since we didn't know about the picture we didn't miss it. I was excited to get to see the lights, and it was a nice ending to our trip.

 

[floridaminnie]

Disney switched companies that take the pictures at their "special" events. We went to the Halloween party at magic kingdom and the quality of the new campany was not anywhere close to the old company. It is a bad digital camera photograph versus a real photograph.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Since this was my first year as an APholder, I didn't know exactly what to expect. But I do remember the lady on stage saying something about the photos, then saying "Don't even go there! Right?" So I figured it was something that had been a disaster. I think it's terrible that they ran out of glasses. For one thing, maybe they should have had a bin in case some people wanted to return theirs when they left-I would have. BTW, were you there right at 6:00 when the lights didn't go on? I'm still not sure if that was planned or an honest "Oops!" CMs I've talked with insist it was an honest error since there was a child involved in turning them on. What do you think?

 

[roymccoy]

I think Disney is making a big mistake by cutting too much right now. I know that times are tough but they're going to lose people if they don't maintain their high standards. They're being pennywise and pound foolish.

Roy

 

[drdelsol]

I was suprised that it was on. If it wasn't for these boards I would not have known about it. I've been a passholder for years and this year I did not receive any notice about it. Must have been lost in the mail.

 

[JeffH]

We had a great day, Saturday...getting to WDW real early to enjoy the free goodies and sales at Downtown Disney (Once Upon a Toy and World of Disney opened at 7:30am for passholders), then had a great day at MGM, followed by the wonderful Osborne Lights (which we've enjoyed every year since it started except last year). The only time I even considered getting upset was iff the lights had failed (they didn't come on right away and we had to wait...but that was fun in itself, being unexpected and all).
The pictures were always an extra unusual perk, not getting them was no big deal (we will get our xmas pics at Mickey's Very Merry Xmas Party), especially considering the event is free.
We really enjoyed the cocoa, cider and cookies.
My only gripe was that Disney should have published the new policies (no guests, no pictures) so that those who brought guests didn't get turned away and those who dressed up for pics (not us) didn't get disappointed. I immediately sent an email to WDW when I got my Mickey Monitor, but didn't get a response until after we got back from the event. I managed to figure out a way to get my brother in, though, so it didn't matter, but I would have liked to know this years policy ahead of time.

 

[Gillian]

drdelsol, I read on the Theme parks board that there were 2 versions of the mickey monitor this time around. Did you get yours? The info was on the front page of the version for regular & premium pass holders, but the one for seasonal passholders did not have it. I can't verify this, as mine had the info (I don't live in FL).

I'm sorry this was such a big mess for everyone!

 

[scauzilloc]

I have annual and my father has seasonal. When he got his it was the same except it did not talk about the annual passholder nights. They must have omitted that article.

 

[JeffH]

If I remember correctly, seasonal passport holders have been excluded from this event since the 2nd year it was held due to the crowds during the 1st year.