It's Official: last year of Osborne Lights

[GreatLakes]

Wow, some people on social media are saying Disney is attacking religion by this removal of the lights.

Many people on social media are kind of dumb so I'm not surprised.

 

[Murfee17]

I don't post often but had to come and commiserate with everyone else. I started crying also. Most things don't bother me. Onward and upward and progress and all that! But this just makes me sad. It was one of the things I wanted my daughter to see. She is 18 months and do not have a trip scheduled.
Osborne Lights you will be dearly missed and hold a place in my heart right next to The Adventure's Club

 

[Murfee17]

Double post

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Wow, some people on social media are saying Disney is attacking religion by this removal of the lights.

I like Jesus as much as the next person, but this is such a bizarre stance to take. I know I've only been to the Lights once, but other than angels, I don't recall anything super religious-y about the lights. Lots of Santa, though, which I thought offended those on the extreme Religious Right, so you'd think they'd be pretty agnostic about this.

 

[CAS239]

Mistake on Disneys part. I can think of many other things I'd rather see go at Hollywood Studios before I'd see the Lights leave. Hopefully sometime in the future they bring it back. Smh

 

[famy27]

I am very glad we booked our Thanksgiving trip. We were initially planning a non-WDW trip for this year, but we changed our minds. At least younger DD will get to see them once. I knew this was inevitable, but I'm still a little sad about the official announcement.

 

[leebee]

I have seen the lights twice; once when they were on Residential Street, and once where they are crammed into now. As you can probably tell, I really preferred the Residential St. display, but they are still fantastic to see! I'm glad we'll see them one last time in November. I think it's really a shame that Disney has removed both the Lights of Winter and now the Osborne Lights. Both displays were so breathtaking and festive. Higher ticket prices, less entertainment/fewer attractions. Thanks, Disney.

 

[khertz]

I am seriously so sad to read this news...probably the saddest I have been about anything Disney has taken away in the past! I am really glad we have had the opportunity to see them twice, but it sucks because at the time, we didn't know it would be the last time we would see them. I wish we could manage a quick trip to see them this year, but with two trips coming up in October and February, DS in school, and me getting back from maternity leave next month and not having a lot of paid time off, I just don't see it working out.

 

[mummabear]

i told him we should pay in full NOW.... before dollar drops any further....

Tell him he is lucky he isnt in NZ, our dollar has dropped from 0.85 to 0.63 since we booked our trip.....

 

[yesmylove]

So sad, we loved the lights. The first time we saw them was when they use to hand out the 3D glasses to watch them with. Anyone else remember that? Hubby will be so sad when l tell him.

 

[jacknsally19]

I just want to add to the chorus that this it terrible news. I am thankful I had already planned a trip for this December. This is literally my favorite thing at HS. I see no other reason to go there (and have skipped HS on recent trips since it isn't Xmas time.) I have always accepted changes but this one really burns my britches!

 

[Glenn]

I have to agree that Disney is doing less and less every year for Christmas. Even a relative with dvc has dropped back to every other holiday now.
Considering that it takes Disney 2 or 3 years to build anything the studios will be become a 1/4 day park. And if you dont have a hopper you may as well skip it all together for the next several years.

 

[Figment1990]

I too am so SAD over this. I have been a faithful Disney World fan for a LONG time through a lot of changes, but this might be the last straw for me. Actually the entirety of letting MGM/DHS languish and totally abandoning any concept of the actual magic behind movies/tv/etc pushed me to the brink. This latest thing just finally made me open my eyes and close my wallet.

I MIGHT consider taking a quick trip to see the lights this year since we have AP's. But we just might stay at a Universal hotel when we do just b/c I'm so flipping annoyed.

And as a family that appreciates Frozen as a nice movie but aren't Frozen crazy, I really hope it's not replaced with Frozen winter wonderland whatever.

 

[buzznina]

Hey gang, Tristan here, yes sadly the lights will be coming to an end after the 2015 Holiday Season. My family sat down with the directors of the lights last night, and we were told that this year is going to be the biggest and best year for the lights as a final blow-out and the 20th year celebration. There are currently no plans to move the lights to any portion of HS or any other park on Disney property. (In fact we were given and inventory sheet of the items in the lights that belong to our family, which further cements the fact that they will never again be displayed on Disney property.)

While the family is sad that the lights will be leaving Disney, we are so very happy that we had the chance to spend 20 years lighting up HS and the many, many people we were able to meet and make their lives brighter after seeing the lights.

We hope you'll join us for one last hurrah, before the streets go dark. And don't worry I'm sure Disney will fill the void with something equally as magical as the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights was for the last 20 years!

-Tris

OMG, this is soooooo sad I would like to thank your family for putting on an amazing show and say how much it was one of the main reasons we would go to WDW during November or December. It has always got us into the spirit of the holidays after viewing all of the lights and displays. There were a couple of years when we just could not get in the mood and decided to take a last minute trip and do the 7 hour drive and stay a couple of nights just to see the lights. It never failed to brighten our spirits up and we would even dance in the street with our DDs, it was such a great time. Now more then ever, we are so glad that we decided to take a trip to WDW over Thanksgiving week this year. I think this is a mistake by WDW. Universal would be smart to come in and make a deal with your family. Cannot wait to see your display in a couple of months, and you can bet they will be kicking us out at park closing that last night.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I cried when I read this news today. I have precious memories of experiencing the Lights with our daughters when they were little and again last November when DH were on our solo trip for our 25th Anniversary. The news of their departure makes me feel very, very sad.

 

[mummabear]

Interested in hearing more details about the "Merry & Bright Dessert Party" and the "Merry & Bright Dinner Reception" ~ love that reservations open on 9/16 and "more info will be released at that time" It would be too much to ask, I guess, that they release the info prior to reservations opening so that you actually knew what your were booking.

Dont be silly

 

[bellazachmom]

Dont be silly

I know! What in the world was I thinking?!?!

 

[PirateD]

So many have expressed my exact feelings, but I will still add my voice and say that we will greatly miss the Osborne Lights too! We have seen them twice before and they were the highlight of our trip and are sweet memories of holidays spent with family! I have never before and will probably never experience a more festive environment. I'm glad that I will always have those memories of singing and dancing to holiday music with the lights, my family, and complete strangers all with huge smiles and in complete awe! Nothing can compare!

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I'm so grateful we will be able to experience this one last time in December with our whole family! It makes our trip even that more special and precious! We will be there Christmas Eve (the only reason we are going to DHS). It will be crowded I'm sure, but an amazing way to spend Christmas Eve!

 

[Quellman]

Star Wars Christmas Special anyone? You just know it is coming!

 

[jgraney106]

Not happy about this one bit ! First it's no more Off Kilter, now I learn today , no more Mulch, Sweat & Shears after October 10th, and to top things off, this is the last year for Osbourne Lights ! Glad we decided to go and take my 84 year old Christmas loving Mom to see this show in November this year. She has never seen it before.
The only new thing I am looking forward to for the future is the new Toy Story area that they will be building. We have no interest in that Star Wars stuff.I love updates but I really don't care for the changes that Disney is planning in general. SAD !