Lights of Winter - EPCOT archway ??

[WDSearcher]

I too am waiting for approval for my post there:

Our children are now grown and still come to join us at WDW for Christmas. We spend 90% of our time in one park during our Christmas trips. Epcot is where we choose to be. First "Cast in Bronze" was eliminated, then the tree-lighting ceremony. And now the substantial rumor is that Lights of Winter will not be installed.

Just for the record, "Cast in Bronze" was not "eliminated." They received a better offer (a tour, part of which included opening for Mannheim Steamroller) and chose to take that gig instead of returning to Disney.

 

[wendydarling826]

Someone from Disney must read these boards - why don't they just say whether or not the rumor is true? If it is true that there will be no more LOW, I am going to be very disappointed. I was so looking forward to it on our upcoming trip. I also didn't realize that the tree lighting had been cancelled and am disappointed about that. Is there a tree lighting ceremony in any of the other parks?

 

[BroganMc]

More and more it's looking like this rumor is true according to internet reports.

I hope it isn't. Just in case, I've sent off a couple e-mail queries to Disney Guest Communications and DVC Member Satisfaction.

Has anyone called yet? Who do we talk to?

I'm one of those sorely disappointed because I just planned a big family trip for early December. (17 people). This would be the first time my three siblings (and their families) have even seen WDW at Christmastime. I was figuring if they fall in love with it like I do, I'd plan an annual trip so at least some could join us year after year.

I'm getting tired of saying "You'll have to see this... Oh wait, Disney cut it this year. Ok see that... wait, they're cutting that too?"

 

[miranda1979]

via twitter

http://twitter.com/DisneyParks

 

[PryncessChrysty]

Note:The Lights of Winter at Epcot has been enjoyed for years. But tech to operate the lights is obsolete, prompting us to retire the lights

Because the tech is obsolete? That is such a crappy excuse for "we don't want to spend the money on it, or spend the money on updating it". I was so sad when I read that update on Twitter. I have never been to WDW at Christmas time, but we're planning a trip for next year. I was really looking forward to seeing this because we don't have anything quite like that out here at DLR.

 

[DoOverDreams]

Darn it all.

 

[BroganMc]

Lamo excuse!

 

[december14disney]

Wow many things have been cut etc. but this one got to me. And to inform us via Twitter with that weirdly worded excuse hurts. Can you not be honest in a press release that it was cut because you didn't want to pay?

I just feel sad.

 

[mickeysaver]

Awaiting Moderation....

How is it that your corporate partner at Epcot, Siemens, who owns Sylvania, a company that makes lighting technology among other things, and the awesome Disney Imagineers, who create amazing tech gadgets could not in the past 11 months have figured out something to fix the problem or have created something similar with newer tech? People love to look at lights at night, it is a magical experience for all ages.

I am so lost as to how this has come to pass. Honestly, the cuts keep coming and unless there is something done to fix or suitably replace the Lights of Winter, we are not going back to Walt Disney World next year. As it is right now, I wish that I had just kept our original reservation at the Poly. The Yacht Club is cool, but the whole point of staying there was to be near Epcot to enjoy the Lights of Winter in the evenings. I feel an itinerary rework coming on. We arrive in about 3 weeks and this just stinks.

Tweeted....

@DisneyParks How is it that Siemens who owns Sylvania, who makes BULBS and Disney who creates amazing tech gadgets can't get the LoW up?

I am so mad at this lame excuse.

 

[wdwpirates]

This just makes me so very sad.....

 

[Colleen27]

I'm really starting to be sorry we booked a trip this year. No Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas, No Epcot Lights.

I hate to say it, but I'm thinking the same thing. Our original plan was for January. It would have been cheaper, less crowded, and easier to plan, but holiday decorations/festivities convinced me to go with Dec. instead. I'm regretting that a bit right now, because two of the things I was most looking forward to are gone with lame replacements - Mickey's Twas show and now the Lights of Winter. And this has me wondering what will be cut from the next special event we're planning a trip for, because the whole reason for our May trip is Flower & Garden.

 

[Robo]

this has me wondering what will be cut from the next special event we're planning a trip for, because the whole reason for our May trip is Flower & Garden.

The Flower Power concerts were cut last year to weekends only.

 

[tinkbyday]

This stinks - I had never been during the holidays and one of the draws was that beautiful picture of the LoW at Epcot. My DD and I are so disappointed that we will not be able to ever see these in person.

It's a good thing that my reservation is a room only and I haven't booked airfare - maybe this trip won't happen after all. Maybe I'M too cheap!

 

[Pjimmeyer]

This was our first trip to WDW during the Christmas season. I guess we will never get to see them. I posted a response on the blog:

"This is a very disappointing development. No Lights of Winter…we were really really looking forward to them. Please return them to us…there is still time. Losses like this continue…and the magic slowly disappears."



-Jimbo

 

[DisneyNDecember]

Wow, that Twitter response is a POOR excuse !! Are you kidding me, "They don't have the Tech to support it", this is Disneyworld, are you kidding me-- this is the best excuse they could come up with ?? Geez.....

 

[mountdew1]

Not sure if this has been posted in this thread yet, but even if it has, I can't reinforce it enough, if you feel badly about this change, send WDW a handwritten letter.

Disney Complaints and Comments:
Walt Disney World Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10,040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

Emails and blog comments and msg board threads are great, but hand written letters really help to let them know that you were affected by their change. Writing a letter takes some thought unlike a blog comment which can be done in a second, so they tend to carry more weight. Contact Disney any and every way you can, but take time to be insightful in your comments, don't just say "It stinks you changed this. Change it back!" but say "We will really miss LoW this year. It has been a family tradition to get our picture taken, and now we can no longer do that." Give them the logic and reasoning behind your feelings and emotions. If you do contact someone directly, don't take it out on them, most likely they are just a front line CM who had nothing to do with the change.

 

[DisneyNDecember]

Not only does Twitter have a reply, the Disney blog board that we all replied on NOW has a reply as well--


Yes…the Lights of Winter canopy has been enjoyed for years. But the technology to operate the lights is obsolete, prompting us to retire the lights and find a new experience.

That is a very poor excuse, they can light an entire castle & can not come up with the technology to work the Lights of Wonder, that is bullsh...... Sorry, but I am really ticked!!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2009/11/disney-parks-blog-weekly-recap-3/




Guess I will be changing my name from DisneyNDecember for 2010 !!!!!

 

[DisneyNDecember]

I just posted this on the Disney Blog board...

Your reply does not seem true to form to me, that is a very poor excuse, Disneyworld can light an entire castle & you are telling me they can not come up with the technology to work the Lights of Wonder, that is very hard to believe. I guess I may need to rethink my vacation plans for 2010 in December & start vacationing elsewhere for the months of December.

 

[doconeill]

I posted a reply on this in another thread and the News and Rumors board...

I suppose it is entirely possible that given that they are now prepping and installing all the holiday lights that during testing they found that the existing controllers had some major faults, and if they are "obsolete" to replace them would have been somewhat difficult in the short term.

So it could mean that even though LOW will be missed this season, something all new and even more spectacular next season is currently in the works.

Right?

Right, Disney?

Oh, wait, who am I kidding.

 

[FigNewton]

The blog comments really exploded over night since I last checked it. This really is one of the lamest and most difficult to accept explanations I've ever seen.