It's Official: last year of Osborne Lights

[aleh021]

This is really sad! But hopefully they can make up for it somewhere else

 

[phillymummer]

We went for the first time last year and absolutely LOVED them. We splurged on the dessert party and I'm glad we did b/c we got to sit there and really listen to the music and the story behind the Osborne Lights. The story is wonderful and the family behind the story is amazing.

what dessert party? Is it available this year? I am so glad I am able to be there for the first night (Nov 6). It will be my first and last time seeing the lights. Should I do the a dessert party? Or is it better to be on the street?

Is there someplace I can read up on these parties?

 

[ArwenMarie]

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

Whoa that's a stretch.

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.

There was a beautiful Nativity scene at the entrance. But yeah, not what I would call a religious display in general.

 

[stephaniesnyder]

I am so sad about this also. My husband and I got engaged at the Osborne Lights in 2010. I am so sad to think that we can't go back to where we got engaged. Luckily, we are already booked for this December. I am happy to see the lights once last time. I think next year we'll skip our day at HS and head over to Universal.

 

[TeeterTots]

I am so glad I am able to be there for the first night (Nov 6). It will be my first and last time seeing the lights.[/QUOTE]

Us too! I added another night just so we could see it!

 

[DougEMG]

Sad to see them go as going to see them are one of our favorite Christmas activities. Just glad we'll get to see them one last time this year.

 

[stitchfan75]

We were going to go in November but switched to September for F&W. Bummed we may never see the now.

 

[klmall]

Sad to see them go but honestly, the changes in the way viewers were forced to enter and move through the lights made our last visit ridiculous. Unlike our previous visits where we could at least move through the crowd at will, 2014 from the first moment was unbearable. I truly felt uncomfortable and suffocating as I tried to move through and take a few pictures. The crowding at Osborne Lights was by far the absolute worst crowding we saw during our 5 days in early December. (It didn't help that the park was closed the night before for a private party so fair warning to those planning to go on December 10th this year!)

 

[Crystal824]

Super sad over this news. I really wish Disney would move the display to another location. Happy I got to experience the O Lights twice.

 

[Gillyrose779]

what dessert party? Is it available this year? I am so glad I am able to be there for the first night (Nov 6). It will be my first and last time seeing the lights. Should I do the a dessert party? Or is it better to be on the street?

Is there someplace I can read up on these parties?

It was a Frozen themed dessert party last year- included alcohol, a lithograph of the lights/frozen pin, and special seating for the Frozen Singalong. It was pretty pricey but the drinks were quite good and there was a large array of desserts. The Disney Blog just stated they are doing a dessert party again this year but I imagine there will be no alcohol or lithograph/pin and may be a bit cheaper- could be wrong as they haven't given any details other than it will go on sale Sept. 16th I think.

Last year the party was off to the side - you could see the lights but you were not in the middle of it all. The plus about it was you really got to listen to the music and the narrator. I found it really nice to relax there with some dessert and a drink and just take it all in. When we were done I took a hot chocolate for the road and we spent another hour+ just going through it all. Some may not have enjoyed it but we did.

 

[thr33boys]

I suspect crowd levels will be even higher after this announcement. There is a reason why Disney released the news 2+ months in advance. Gives people an opportunity to see if they can work in a visit to see them one last time.

 

[phillymummer]

It was a Frozen themed dessert party last year- included alcohol, a lithograph of the lights/frozen pin, and special seating for the Frozen Singalong. It was pretty pricey but the drinks were quite good and there was a large array of desserts. The Disney Blog just stated they are doing a dessert party again this year but I imagine there will be no alcohol or lithograph/pin and may be a bit cheaper- could be wrong as they haven't given any details other than it will go on sale Sept. 16th I think.

Last year the party was off to the side - you could see the lights but you were not in the middle of it all. The plus about it was you really got to listen to the music and the narrator. I found it really nice to relax there with some dessert and a drink and just take it all in. When we were done I took a hot chocolate for the road and we spent another hour+ just going through it all. Some may not have enjoyed it but we did.

Thank you for the info!!

 

[aprilp]

First the Lights of Winter, then the christmas decorations over Main Street at MK (I know, I know, it was for the parade, which is cool but still!), now this. As both a christmas fanatic and a WDW fanatic, this is horrid news. Not much left of christmas in the parks, might as well go any time now that they are getting rid of everything good. After seeing them this year, I guess I will be reduced to seeing them on youtube, like I am with my beloved SpectroMagic.

 

[ktlm]

So sad we are not going to get to see them one last time since we are not going this Holiday season. They were my favorite thing about the Holiday season at WDW, other than seeing the castle lit up. I even looked at booking a weekend trip sometime during the holiday season to try to get to them one more time, but it is just too expensive to go for such a short trip, by the time the airfare from here and park tickets are added in. I knew this was coming, but it is still heartbreaking. I will miss the music and the magic.

 

[katibosch]

I'm so glad my DW and DD will get to see them this year!

 

[Canuck16]

Now everyone this year will be flocking to DHS for one last chance to view these lights before they go away.

I guess this in one way for Disney to give DHS one last "shot in the arm" attendance wise with the recent articles coming out advising people to skip this park while Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land are being constructed.

 

[crewmatt]

I love how Disney Parks has pulled this down off their FB page. Additionally my comment seems to be removed after I make it. Odd. I didnt think I was posting anything wrong here

"I truly hope this isnt the case. The Osborne lights were one of the truly magical things that Disney World had around the holidays. And while I understand that the Streets of America is being torn down to provide space for Star Wars Land, and that DHS will certainly benefit greatly from the additions - it doesn't seem like this has to be a one or the other type thing.

There's a perfect solution for where to move Osborne lights - Disney Springs. Its an amazing space with all kinds of interesting building shapes and park spaces to play with the lights. Additionally it is significantly larger, allowing for more people to flow through (even if it was simply restricted to one of the 3 sections). Additionally with the retheme to Disney Springs this seems like the perfect addition to it.

Imagine how good it would look from the water on a boat, or from neighboring Saratoga Springs resort.

I truly hope the Disney Execs who made this call genuinely rethink it. It seems such a waste to eliminate something so magical when I'm willing to bet the increased foot traffic in Disney Springs during that time of the year could certainly offset crowding in parks and increase merchant foot traffic. "

 

[Egdisney]

We were going to go next holiday season with my parents. My mom posted this to my Facebook and I was so sad. But now we've decided to take a quick trip, just my mom and I. I can't have another thing on the bucket list disappear before I get to cross it off, and my husband encouraged me to do it!

 

[CarolynU]

This is the saddest news yet. Thank goodness I'm booked to come in November, and the lights are the entire reason that I'm coming. We used to come every year, and even met Jennings Osbourne one year (2000) I think, but since my husband passed away we haven't been back. I decided to take a trip this year, and I can't believe that I will never see them again. This decision sucks!

 

[Quicklabs]

I will truly miss them. We saw them a number of times; they always put my husband and me in full Christmas Spirit mode. I remember when they used to be on the homes featured in the old backlots tour. Disney used to give out special glasses to guests. When you put the glasses on, each light viewed close up became an angel. I still have some of those old glasses. Sorry that it will now live only in memories.