It's Official: last year of Osborne Lights

[pooh4evr]

 

[DisneyBelle27]

Ughhhh, I'm so sad!!! I've ALWAYS wanted to see these and now I'll never get the chance!

 

[lucas]

I'm so sad to hear this. The lights were one of my favorite Christmas things for the holidays.

 

[Gina Starr]

My husband and I have never seen them but we are planning a trip for the first week of January. We arrive January 3rd which is the last day for the Christmas parade at MK and last day for the lights at HS so we are planning to hit up both of those. Knowing that the 3rd isn't just the last day for the lights for the year, but forever, will definitely make it bittersweet.

 

[Magpie]

Every year I fail to find the purple cat. This year I WILL find it!

 

[NavyDad]

Does anybody know where a good spot would be to read about the history of the lights, how they came to be at Disney World and about the Osborne Family?

Thanks?

 

[DrewJB]

It is true that outside of the Lights event, the Streets of America was a big waste of space that inevitably was going to have to go away for something else - especially as the park transitions from a "studio" park to an "immerse yourself into the movies" park. That area doesn't make any sense with the direction that Hollywood Studios is going.

That said - the light show was my favorite thing by far about Christmas at Disney. The "Wow factor" was off the charts. I think it would be a major mistake to not take the concept elsewhere (Disney Springs). The only problem the lights show had was you pretty much had to move like cattle to go see it and then you watched it for a while and left to do something else. If you mixed that light show with a REAL street of REAL shops, restaurants, and bars that are open for business - that could be absolutely amazing for guests (and merchandise sales).

I'll remain hopeful that they'll reconsider ending it entirely and consider a move to Disney Springs.

 

[yulilin3]

Does anybody know where a good spot would be to read about the history of the lights, how they came to be at Disney World and about the Osborne Family?

Thanks?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Osborne_Family_Spectacle_of_Dancing_Lights

 

[Ninja Mom]

I'm crushed!

11 18 14 Osborne sign blur by Joanie E-K, on Flickr

~NM

 

[yulilin3]

Every year I fail to find the purple cat. This year I WILL find it!

they move him every week to keep the people looking. So if someone says he's on top of a tree or something and you go a week later he most probably has been moved

 

[chartle]

Glad we saw them last year...and happy at least they are letting people know ahead of time!

Now how about moving them to Epcot? Over the top Christmas lights as part of the American Experience lol!

Sounds good but it would create a huge traffic jam right in the middle of the WS. Probably worse than when they had a parade.

 

[yulilin3]

needless to say if you have a favorite attraction or live entertainment that is housed on or around streets of America enjoy it soon.

 

[NavyDad]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Osborne_Family_Spectacle_of_Dancing_Lights

Haha - thank you for posting the wiki link

Sometimes people post links to really good stories or blogs concerning interesting WDW stuff. That's more what I had in mind. Or even an old thread on here with some backstory. I did a search but didn't find much.

Thanks again...

 

[GreatLakes]

I can't say I'm surprised. With all the changes Streets of America is totally out of place. I don't think the lights would work at Epcot and while Disney Springs sounds like a good idea on the surface I don't know if A) they want them outside of a park that charges admission and B) they want to create the walking nightmare that is the lights in a shopping area. I am not sure if the lights being there would generate enough extra revenue to pay for them which would be the only logical reason for having them there in the first place.

I think we will see some pretty cool Star Wars and Toy Story Christmas stuff when that construction is done.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Oh I am so sad about this. So sad.

The Osborne Lights were the best thing at WDW during the holidays. Better than seeing the Castle lit up, at least for me.

The bad news is now I have to find the time/money to book a quick trip down to see them one more time. The good news is I won't have to go to WDW anymore during the holiday season in the future.

 

[Superchikk]

This will be our first year to see the Osborne lights at DHS. We actually planned our trip so that it would fall within the dates of the lights.

However, this will not be MY first time to see the Osborne lights. I grew up about an hour from Little Rock and when I was a kid, our grandmother would take us over to see the lights in their original location, the Osborne home. I remember the lines of traffic and getting our first glimpse of the lights through the trees, traffic, and houses. It was spectacular. I am so excited I get to share it with my kids this year. I'd already considered using a photo from the lights for our Christmas card, and the fact that they're going away has solidified my decision.

I do have a couple of questions, though. What time are the lights typically lit? (A Chat CM just told me 8pm, which I cannot imagine to be correct as the park closes at 8.) Could we do the Osborne lights and F! in the same evening if F! is at 7pm? We currently have a H&V F! package, and I hate to give it up considering what I had to go through to get it. We have another evening - we could hop over to HS from Epcot and spend the evening with nothing on our agenda but the lights. What say you, Osborne veterans?

 

[yeheyprincex2]

I'm very sad about this news
My family really does enjoy the lights and had a wonderful experience on our last trip when they were up. I have lots of pictures, video of the Osborne lights, I guess those will have to do.

 

[AllysonL]

We saw them last year for the first time. I'm trying to get DH to commit to a trip back there to see them one last time. They were definitely magical, and so awesome! But walking through there was a total cluster you know what.

We have it on video, so we'll always have that memory if we don't get to see it again. But I really hope we can go back!

 

[yulilin3]

This will be our first year to see the Osborne lights at DHS. We actually planned our trip so that it would fall within the dates of the lights.

However, this will not be MY first time to see the Osborne lights. I grew up about an hour from Little Rock and when I was a kid, our grandmother would take us over to see the lights in their original location, the Osborne home. I remember the lines of traffic and getting our first glimpse of the lights through the trees, traffic, and houses. It was spectacular. I am so excited I get to share it with my kids this year. I'd already considered using a photo from the lights for our Christmas card, and the fact that they're going away has solidified my decision.

I do have a couple of questions, though. What time are the lights typically lit? (A Chat CM just told me 8pm, which I cannot imagine to be correct as the park closes at 8.) Could we do the Osborne lights and F! in the same evening if F! is at 7pm? We currently have a H&V F! package, and I hate to give it up considering what I had to go through to get it. We have another evening - we could hop over to HS from Epcot and spend the evening with nothing on our agenda but the lights. What say you, Osborne veterans?

they are turned on at 6pm and stay on until an hour after official park closing so you could do F! and then head over to see the lights

 

[Superchikk]

they are turned on at 6pm and stay on until an hour after official park closing so you could fo F! and then head over to see the lights

Thanks! I couldn't imagine waiting until 8pm to turn them on!