Kathy, I'm with you. Lights of Winter

[kbelle8995]

Kathy, both my sister and I want you to know that we agree with you about the Lights of Winter.

That part of Epcot is so barren without them.

So we are fellow members of bitter town.

 

[safetymom]

I am glad someone agree with me. You need to go over to Sea World. They have a beautiful Christmas tree display that was syncronized to music.

 

[WUVmyDISNEY]

I miss the Lights of Winter too. Epcot just isn't the same at Christmas without it! We actually are planning on Sea World this trip. It seems like there is so much talk of Disney taking away holiday decorations, but other places seem to be adding so not sure Disney is making the right decisions about this!

 

[Danibelle]

Kathy, both my sister and I want you to know that we agree with you about the Lights of Winter.

That part of Epcot is so barren without them.

So we are fellow members of bitter town.

I agree. When I visited in 2009, there was definitely something missing!

 

[sayhello]

I haven't been back to Epcot at Christmastime since they got rid of the Lights of Winter (how long ago was that? Couldn't have been THAT long ago...) I am really, REALLY going to miss them. I could sit there for hours and watch the lights. I have tons of video of them, but it's just not the same. Guess I'll have to venture to Sea World next time.

Sayhello

 

[OKW Lover]

Val & I used to love the Lights of Winter.

I really wish Disney would stop cutting back on decorations. Those of us who go regularly do notice. They are going to get to the point where people just won't see the value anymore.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I suppose every little bit helps, but how much money can Disney be saving with these holiday decoration cutbacks? Like the packages under the Epcot tree...they already have them, how is it saving money not to put them out? I still can't believe they don't do the lighting ceremony anymore, now they aren't putting out the presents for under the tree? Is there some kind of technology excuse for that too? The discussion at the end of this week's podcast made me very sad. What is Disney thinking?

 

[Grumpy92]

Another member joins you. Epcot just doent look like christmas. We went to DHS to get the xmas feeling. We used to sit there for hours and watch the lights of winter. It is a good thing I have some of it on video to watch from home. The last few years have seen more and more little cutbacks like this that start adding up and make me want to go elsewhere. We will have to look into sea world.

 

[mjtm610]

Kathy, I couldn't agree more about the Lights of Winter. Epcot has lost alot of magic by turning off those lights. I don't care about the fountains playing music.....I want the Lights of Winter back!!!

 

[SamSam]

I agree too. I loved the Lights of Winter and simply don't understand this kind of cut back.

 

[FireDancer]

I gave them the benefit of the doubt last year because when they said the technology is outdated I agreed with them. Incandescent Christmas lights are outdated, especially in Future World where they should be showcasing cutting edge technology or at the very least current technology. In this case that would be LEDs. I thought they meant that a part had broke and they were not going to spend the money on fixing what was old technology.

I did, however, expect them to be replaced this year with that new or current technology and when they weren't I realized my benefit of the doubt was misplaced and I am disappointed. The LEDs would have cost substantially less to operate and probably could have paid back their investment in savings against running the incandescent bulbs in a year or two.

 

[sjsjbrook]

I have fond memories of sitting in the middle of the Lights of Winter just enjoying the music and lights. I think I enjoyed it more than the Obsborn lights (it was just relaxing and you could sit and listen and watch)

We were also lucky our last trip in December 2007 they still had the tree lighting ceremony and in Magic Kingdom we were able to see Mickey's Twas the night before Christmas. It was all so magical.

I am so glad we were able to enjoy these, I feel bad for those who will never enjoy these.

 

[EJKorvette]

Oh well. Another fun thing at Disney that isn't there any more.

And it's not worth it for me to drive the extra distance to Sea World just for Christmas lights.

 

[kaligal]

A lot of stuff Disney cuts leaves me thinking, "...another disappointment."

But that really bugged me.

 

[mainegal]

If not the arches, they could have at least put stings of lights on the trees in e pathway.

 

[safetymom]

I agree they could have put some kind of lights in that area. Glad to see others agree with me.

 

[OKW Lover]

The really strange thing is that all the LoW were was arches strung with standard out-door christmas tree lights. Sure they were plugged into a controller box but the box shouldn't care if the lights are the old incandescent or the newer LED's. I'm guessing it was the box itself that gave out.

 

[safetymom]

Since they can get the lights to dance at Osborne and Sea World it doesn't seem that Disney would need to invent the technology?

 

[OKW Lover]

Since they can get the lights to dance at Osborne and Sea World it doesn't seem that Disney would need to invent the technology?

Certainly not! It really ought to be trivial.

You know, when we hear the "spinning Disney's World" guy on PCC 2.0, we ought to ask who comes up with these lame excuses. I'm surprised they didn't use the old "guest demand" line.

 

[kbelle8995]

There is this little very cynical voice in my head stating that the real reason is not the technology. But the reason of "We can't sell a dinner package with this" and presto thus went the Lights of Winter.

But that this the cynical side of me that I don't let out often.