It's Official: last year of Osborne Lights

[DisneyHolidayFan]

Agree 100%...maybe even 500%!! Disney isn't offering much in the way of holiday spirit anymore. The Christmas party has gone downhill badly. There wer years that I would go twice in one trip. Now? There are trips with no party booked. Why? Not really worth it anymore. Disney has gotten so money hungry that they oversell the parties. Sure, it's a business, and I don't begrudge any company making a profit. But seriously? Back in the day, you got a free photo, keepsake button, more options for cocoa and cookies. The party specific items were more plentiful and worth spending the money on. Yes, the park was crowded, but you could still easily make your way around. Now? Double the tickets sold, take away the free photo/button, narrow down the spots where cocoa and cookies are. Fewer characters out, and those that are out have hugely long lines. Oh, and then they go and raise the price for the ticket!!! The party ticket cost has gone up every year, while Disney takes stuff away.
The Lights of Winter in Epcot? Don't get me started on that one!! Antiquated technology was the reason it was taken away. And the international show each night around the Christmas tree? Nothing antiquated about that....where is it today? Epcot barely has any Christmas feel to it anymore. DHS will be barren without the Osborne Lights...it doesn't have anything else holiday-wise.

I have a Nov/Dec trip coming up. So glad I'm going to be able to see the Lights for one last time. I know I'll be more than a little teary as I leave DHS that last time!!! But seriously Disney? I can't wait to find out what the cost for the new 'parties' during the Lights will cost! You've already added a 'ferry-tale' experience over at MK. In addition to the Wishes Dessert Party. I don't know. I can make the choice to not participate in all these extra cost things. But, I can also decide not to return to WDW as much as I do now. How often is that? Well, lets see.....a week last Sept, a week in May, a week in July and heading down again for another week in Dec! I own DVC, usually have an AP. But, that doesn't mean I have to go nearly as often...especially during the holiday season. There seem to be other places I can spend my money and get in the mood for Christmas. What's next Disney? Candlelight Processional???

Thanks for posting!! My feelings exactly!

 

[samsteele]

At what time does it start.. My BOg diner is at 5pm, so was maybe tinking of going from MK to HS after diner

Definitely park hop from MK to HS if you can. I wouldn't cancel your hard won ADRs in the other parks just to be in HS all day. Sounds like you will be there for opening night of the Lights on Nov.6? A great use of your park hopper. I was there last year on the first night of the lights and the families around me had all park hopped over to see it. I'm also lucky to be there this year to see it one last time. Enjoy it while you can!

 

[mick1229]

Give less...charge more...

 

[agwood123DLFerguson]

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

This will be our family's first trip to Disney World. The lights were our main reason for going during the Christmas Season. I'm so thrilled to know we will be there to see them off. You've brought wonder and delight to so many people. Thank your family for sharing this blessing with us.

 

[pilferk]

Bummer.

For us, the lights were the mst festive thing at wdw during the holidays. We've been underwhelmed by mvmcp...and have skipped it the last couple trips. This s our "oct" year...next year will be early dec....and i'm disappointed we'll mss the last run. He k, maybe we will skip the holiday trip and just go early jan...or skip 2016/early 2017 and just go back in oct 2017.

It's really too bad.

 

[JasonMouse]

If it makes you feel any better, the lights were bad for the environment. Every year they just cut them down and throw them out.

 

[Jawolf]

We arrive on 7th January, so we will miss them!
Really glad we got to see them in 2005, but they were really impressive. A really big WOW!!!!! moment so will be sorry to see them go.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Another one bites the dust. Not much reason to visit during Christmas. Bah humbug.

 

[RealBlast3]

First off, while I try to be a very positive person and not complain and love Disney World to pieces, I have to say in advance that this is negative post, one where I will complain, so trigger warning in advance for those that don't want to read it.

I am devastated by Disney's decision to get rid of the Osbourne Lights. It was the single greatest thing about my last vacation to Disney, there last December for the first time that season. I would honestly say that not only does it rank hugely high in Disney attractions but that it was genuinely one of the greatest experiences I have ever had in my life.

Now, I also grew up on Star Wars - they were my favorite movies as kids, and I saw Toy Story as an adult and thought it was a classic, no I've certainly got nothing against those franchises. That being said, a decision such as this can't help but make fans draw a line in the sand over Star Wars/Toy Story and the Osbourne Lights.

Maybe it's because I'm an adult, and not a child but a very large part of me is so upset right now that I really do feel like "Who cares about Star Wars and Toy Story right now?" TO me, this is the latest in a long line of sad decisions by Disney where they truly miss the mark on what makes Walt Disney World special. It is SO much more than any one particular movie or animated franchise that has a presence in the park.

I am by no means against change and growth and keeping up with the Joneses, to an extent that you don't morph yourself into some unrecognizable competitor of Universal. To me, these moves reek of desperation of Disney to match the surging popularity of the Harry Potter lands in Universal. But Disney just doesn't get what makes Disney tick. Landing the movie franchise of the century won't take Disney to the next level because people don't go to Disney to see any one movie themed park or character. Disney could have won the rights to Harry Potter and I honestly don't think it would have made a tremendous difference in their overall outcomes because we all know they wouldn't have done with it what Universal did because that isn't Disney's style.

Disney is slowly and surely destroying each and every truly creative and original attraction and/or theming that doesn't have a tie-in to whatever the latest $1 Billion franchise is. I'm sorry, but no Star Wars roller coaster or Jaba the Gut cantina restaurant or Toy Story attraction can possibly equal what it means to stand in the middle of the Christmas dancing lights as they dance to the music. Perhaps it is the kind of simple pleasure that causes such elation and joy only an adult can enjoy? I don't know.

What a shame.

 

[MapleGirl]

Wow. I am SO HAPPY we decided to book for November this year, we haven't seen the lights before and have been talking about seeing them.

Yes. Us too!

 

[KateP85]

I'm really disappointed too We're locals so we'll be able to take a few trips to see the lights this year, but I'm so sad that will be that. I took my 2-year old to see the lights when he was about 2 weeks old and he just stared and stared at them! He's been back every year since and is enjoying them more as he grows up. I'm pregnant with my second child, but not due until March 2016 and I'm so sad that baby will never get to see them. I know Disney won't put them anywhere else in the parks, but I would love it if Universal snapped them up!

I was super excited about the expansions announced for DHS; I love all things Toy Story and, although I know nothing about Star Wars, I think Disney will do a good job with this because, well, they have to. But it's such a shame to have so many closures years before anything new opens up. The announcement basically confirms rumors that construction will be on Streets of America and the surrounding area, which means I think Honey I shrunk the kids, Muppet Vision and Mama Melrose/Pizza Planet are all next on the chopping block. The park is going to be one big construction site and I can't imagine how they are going to keep it open with all that going on.

 

[minniemous]

First off, while I try to be a very positive person and not complain and love Disney World to pieces, I have to say in advance that this is negative post, one where I will complain, so trigger warning in advance for those that don't want to read it.

I am devastated by Disney's decision to get rid of the Osbourne Lights. It was the single greatest thing about my last vacation to Disney, there last December for the first time that season. I would honestly say that not only does it rank hugely high in Disney attractions but that it was genuinely one of the greatest experiences I have ever had in my life.

Now, I also grew up on Star Wars - they were my favorite movies as kids, and I saw Toy Story as an adult and thought it was a classic, no I've certainly got nothing against those franchises. That being said, a decision such as this can't help but make fans draw a line in the sand over Star Wars/Toy Story and the Osbourne Lights.

Maybe it's because I'm an adult, and not a child but a very large part of me is so upset right now that I really do feel like "Who cares about Star Wars and Toy Story right now?" TO me, this is the latest in a long line of sad decisions by Disney where they truly miss the mark on what makes Walt Disney World special. It is SO much more than any one particular movie or animated franchise that has a presence in the park.

I am by no means against change and growth and keeping up with the Joneses, to an extent that you don't morph yourself into some unrecognizable competitor of Universal. To me, these moves reek of desperation of Disney to match the surging popularity of the Harry Potter lands in Universal. But Disney just doesn't get what makes Disney tick. Landing the movie franchise of the century won't take Disney to the next level because people don't go to Disney to see any one movie themed park or character. Disney could have won the rights to Harry Potter and I honestly don't think it would have made a tremendous difference in their overall outcomes because we all know they wouldn't have done with it what Universal did because that isn't Disney's style.

Disney is slowly and surely destroying each and every truly creative and original attraction and/or theming that doesn't have a tie-in to whatever the latest $1 Billion franchise is. I'm sorry, but no Star Wars roller coaster or Jaba the Gut cantina restaurant or Toy Story attraction can possibly equal what it means to stand in the middle of the Christmas dancing lights as they dance to the music. Perhaps it is the kind of simple pleasure that causes such elation and joy only an adult can enjoy? I don't know.

What a shame.

Could not have said it better.

 

[disnut1149]

So sad! It was so great to have something so wonderful that was included in your park ticket. It seems like there are so many extra events now that you have to pay extra for. They took away the Lights of Winter, the characters welcoming in Christmas around the Epcot tree and now this. I know I've seen the Osborne lights 4 times, but am so sad that my DGDs will never get to experience them. Now they'll have to watch on YouTube. What will be the big draw at DHS at Chrismas? I guess they'll think up some party that you'll have to pay extra to attend.

 

[DOOM1001]

First off, while I try to be a very positive person and not complain and love Disney World to pieces, I have to say in advance that this is negative post, one where I will complain, so trigger warning in advance for those that don't want to read it.

I am devastated by Disney's decision to get rid of the Osbourne Lights. It was the single greatest thing about my last vacation to Disney, there last December for the first time that season. I would honestly say that not only does it rank hugely high in Disney attractions but that it was genuinely one of the greatest experiences I have ever had in my life.

Now, I also grew up on Star Wars - they were my favorite movies as kids, and I saw Toy Story as an adult and thought it was a classic, no I've certainly got nothing against those franchises. That being said, a decision such as this can't help but make fans draw a line in the sand over Star Wars/Toy Story and the Osbourne Lights.

Maybe it's because I'm an adult, and not a child but a very large part of me is so upset right now that I really do feel like "Who cares about Star Wars and Toy Story right now?" TO me, this is the latest in a long line of sad decisions by Disney where they truly miss the mark on what makes Walt Disney World special. It is SO much more than any one particular movie or animated franchise that has a presence in the park.

I am by no means against change and growth and keeping up with the Joneses, to an extent that you don't morph yourself into some unrecognizable competitor of Universal. To me, these moves reek of desperation of Disney to match the surging popularity of the Harry Potter lands in Universal. But Disney just doesn't get what makes Disney tick. Landing the movie franchise of the century won't take Disney to the next level because people don't go to Disney to see any one movie themed park or character. Disney could have won the rights to Harry Potter and I honestly don't think it would have made a tremendous difference in their overall outcomes because we all know they wouldn't have done with it what Universal did because that isn't Disney's style.

Disney is slowly and surely destroying each and every truly creative and original attraction and/or theming that doesn't have a tie-in to whatever the latest $1 Billion franchise is. I'm sorry, but no Star Wars roller coaster or Jaba the Gut cantina restaurant or Toy Story attraction can possibly equal what it means to stand in the middle of the Christmas dancing lights as they dance to the music. Perhaps it is the kind of simple pleasure that causes such elation and joy only an adult can enjoy? I don't know.

What a shame.

Now just send this exact message to Disney to complain about them removing the lights,I already sent mine earlier today.I'm sure if they get enough backlash they'll at least have to realize they have to bring them back,relocated if necessary but you just can't get rid of them!!!

 

[crostorfer]

Universal should do it... right where the Macy's parade is

I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see Universal expand their holiday offerings like this. Not. One. Bit.

 

[stephaniesnyder]

There has been a petition started on change.org for anyone interested.
https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-d...utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

 

[DOOM1001]

There has been a petition started on change.org for anyone interested.
https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-d...utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

Signed!!

 

[acceber32]

I'm so beyond sad about this. I love, love these lights. They are so magical! I just can't believe it. I really hope they change their mind and decide to put them somewhere.

 

[LoverDisney]

Wow! I am so glad that we are going this year to see them for the first and, unfortunately, last time.

 

[tmh43]

Wow, I'm glad we decided to go this year. I've only seen the lights once (we always went to Disney in the summer) and it was a magical experience. I think my son is going to absolutely love it, so at least we'll get to share the experience with him once.

If it makes you feel any better, the lights were bad for the environment. Every year they just cut them down and throw them out.

This will definitely be my consolation. I find it hard to believe that this is an acceptable practice in this day and age! I have to admit though that a trip to Disney in and of itself is pretty terrible for the environment. I'm going to need to plant some trees when I get home...