Osborne Lights-Dates Posted

[kmores]

I know as far back as 2002, we were there during the week of Veteran's Day and staying at the BC. We went to bed - no xmas decorations; woke up in the morning - the place was completely decorated!

I hope this late start of Osbourne lights doesn't also mean that the resorts won't start to be decorated! (it just keeps getting better and better> )

when we went in Thanksgiving 2006 we weren't expecting to see decorations. we were at Coronado. then we woke up on Sun or Mon before Thanskgiving (which was on the 23 that year) and voila - Christmas decorations! so last Thanksgiving (which was 11/22 - dd b'day) they didn't go up until like Wednesday...we were so disappointed. had watched Disney specials about all the Christmas preparations and wanted to go to the resorts to see all the displays. so this year Thanksgiving is one week later, and they are CUTTING the lights? we leave the 27th to return home - nonrefundable tickets, too. if they were refundable, I would cancel them and do the Norwegian Cruise we had originally considered that same week. I thought things were supposed to improve year to year. When people are forced to make plans months or years in advance and expect /look forward to certain elements to be in effect/in place, it is incredibly disappointing to see these things not happening. I understand rides go down and all, but this is something they should understand and prepare for.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

This is why we decided to stick with our annual time frame of the first few weeks in December. Thought about going before Thanksgiving but I decided I didn't want to miss all the Christmas decorations.
I know it is dissapointing for people but hey you are on vacation, not at work, and at Disney. Be HAPPY!!!! It isn't the end of the world. (I am putting on my flame suit now)

I guess I'll put my flame suit on with you!lol It's just one attraction. My kids are finally big enough to ride rockin' roller coaster, but the last two times we have gone, it has been down for repairs. Yes, it's disappointing when you find out you don't get to experience that great thing you have heard all about, but there are literally hundreds of other wonderful things to do - don't let this one thing ruin your entire trip and expectations for having a wonderful time!

 

[Minniekins]

You know, it's not necessarily only that one very popular, seasonal only attraction is having its days/hours of operation severly reduced. That's bad enough and very disappointing. But, something that really bothers me is the way Disney seems to have total disregard for it's customers. They know that many people plan their trips far in advance and that this is necessary to do so. They also know that people use the way things have been done in the past, and the info disney gives as our guide in this planning. Knowing the importance of having correct info to go on, it would be nice if they respected their customers enough to work with them and gave them useful and accurate info with a generous amount of time to help people as they plan. They seem to have no regard for how upset customers have been with hours being posted very late or big changes in popular seasonal attractions. This info given in a timely manner would have helped people to plan accordingly and not to feel that they are totally disregarded but for their money. As a PP said, they have no trouble setting up MVMCP parties that they charge for plenty early enough, and at the time they usually do so. And, when responding to inquiring emails, they ignore questions, or say they don't know, or give the dates again, and just give double talk without saying much. And, CMs don't seem to know anything or they lie about it. They should all be able to have access to daily updates so they are all informed with pertinent info. If there was some problem, they could have simply made a statement that the hours could be expected by a certain time, that would have saved many from being upset, and now the OFL. So, there's no way I believe disney hasn't known this info for a long time as well as the hours they took so long in giving out. They are a big corporation that hasn't been this successful by not knowing what was coming up in the year to come. This treatment from disney doesn't feel good at all. And, we were thinking maybe disney had something special in mind for us, maybe celebrating Mickey's bday. Guess that was dumb.

sorry this is so long and ranting, just disappointed in my disney, and not feeling as loved back.

 

[Camster0307]

Vent away, Minniekins! I get where you're coming from!

While I am very disappointed about not seeing the Lights, I know I'll still have a wonderful time - WDW is our absolute favorite place to visit! But I'm angry about the way this whole thing has been handled by the powers that be at Disney. I feel there could have been better communication to it's customers about what was going on or what to expect.

I know this is a little off topic, but how about all of those travellers who booked the second weekend in Nov. to attend SuperSoap weekend and have now found out it's been pushed back to the the third weekend? As long as I can remember, SSW has been the second weekend in Nov. and people who were going to WDW specifically for that event are now left scrambling because Disney decided to change that date without warning.

Disney needs to get it's act together. If they are going to encourage guests to book resorts rooms ahead of time; or make advance dining reservations at 180 days out, then they need to remain consistent with their schedulling of seasonal events.

 

[firechick139]

Disney needs to get it's act together. If they are going to encourage guests to book resorts rooms ahead of time; or make advance dining reservations at 180 days out, then they need to remain consistent with their schedulling of seasonal events.

I admit, I am a first-timer planning a trip and this has been nothing but a headache. It's not even that they changed the dates or was late posting them. If they would have ANNOUNCED something like "We apologize, but the hours will be posted late this year due to blah, blah, blah" or "Please be informed that some of our Christmas attractions may start later this year" ANYTHING to give the customers a heads-up instead of complete silence or giving the run-around. I don't care if the whole IT dept. (or whoever makes up the schedules for these things) just said "WOO HOO, let's party and not do any work for a month!" that's FINE. Just TELL us the hours are going to be late before the fact. TELL us that there might be a change in schedules. I don't see how hard it can be to make a one sentence announcement. That's what makes me upset the most.

And to the people saying it's not the end of the world, no, it's not, especially for the people that are still going to be able to see the OL. Will we still have fun? Yes. But I have been trying to carefully plan this trip for quite some time to be able to get in all that we want to see and do. We have been saving for a long time for this trip and who knows, we may never get to go back. It's disappointing to know that we will not be able to see something we really would have enjoyed.

 

[Marc A.]

Amen to Firechick and minniekins!!!!
I feel the same way

 

[bobbiwoz]

Amen to Firechick and minniekins!!!!
I feel the same way

Me too. I am happy that some can express the frustration I feel.

Bobbi

 

[kmores]

e-mailed the contact number from earlier voicing my extreme displeasure that the O-Lights would not be on during my stay. Their response:

=============
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:18:32 -0700
To: <kmores@>
Subject: Message regarding the Disneyworld.com web site
From: Walt Disney World Guest Mail <guest.mail@wdw.disneyonline.com>

Thank you for writing us! Your message is very important to us and
we'll be getting back to you as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Walt Disney World Online Communications

 

[ransom]

e-mailed the contact number from earlier voicing my extreme displeasure that the O-Lights would not be on during my stay. Their response:

=============
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:18:32 -0700
To: <kmores@>
Subject: Message regarding the Disneyworld.com web site
From: Walt Disney World Guest Mail <guest.mail@wdw.disneyonline.com>

Thank you for writing us! Your message is very important to us and
we'll be getting back to you as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Walt Disney World Online Communications

Ah, the wonders of modern corporate communications!

 

[babydovesx2]

The day the dates were finally posted I got this response to a rather nasty email that I sent a few day prior. Since the dates were posted I did not bother to call this lady. But for all of those who are not going to get to see the lights maybe you should call. We will get to see the lights but I had to re-arrange our plans to do so. We were hoping to avoid the parks the day after Thanksgiving but we had to change things around.


Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.

When we receive comments from Guests, such as yours, they are shared
with various areas of our organization. This allows us to identify
what
we are doing right, and what we can do better. You may be assured that
your observations have been shared and taken seriously.

If you should wish to discuss your comments further, or provide us with
additional details, you may call me at 407-560-3392. If I am not
immediately available when you call, please leave your telephone number
and an indication of the best time to reach you.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback.
We hope to have future opportunities to entertain you at our Resort.

Sincerely,

Lucretia Esposito
Executive Offices
Walt Disney World® Resort

 

[usmc0369]

If you should wish to discuss your comments further, or provide us with
additional details, you may call me at 407-560-3392. If I am not
immediately available when you call, please leave your telephone number
and an indication of the best time to reach you.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback.
We hope to have future opportunities to entertain you at our Resort.

Sincerely,

Lucretia Esposito
Executive Offices
Walt Disney World® Resort

Im going to call first thing Monday morning. Maybe if we tie up her phone lines and voice mail we will at least get some answers.

DW and I are planning to take our DS 4 and DD 2 Nov 15-23. We were hoping to see the lights. We would love to stay thru Thanksgiving but DW manages a retail chain and we have to be back before the day after Thanksgiving.

 

[punkin413]

e-mailed the contact number from earlier voicing my extreme displeasure that the O-Lights would not be on during my stay. Their response:

=============
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:18:32 -0700
To: <kmores@>
Subject: Message regarding the Disneyworld.com web site
From: Walt Disney World Guest Mail <guest.mail@wdw.disneyonline.com>

Thank you for writing us! Your message is very important to us and
we'll be getting back to you as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Walt Disney World Online Communications

just so you know, that's (obviously) their generic response to all (i think) e-mails. i've sent disney 3 e-mails in my lifetime and i always get this back very soon after i sent them. then i eventually get a more personal one. just thought i'd let you know you'll probably get another response from them. it may not answer all your questions, but will be more detailed than this one! and i realize that's what it says above......just wanted you to know that pretty much everyone gets these (i think - at least i have!)

 

[cheshirekatxxx]

I'm joining all of those that are disappointed to. We have been booked for months to come over mid-November to see Disney Christmas style (it is the only time of year that we haven't been and we had to get special permission from employers as holidays are not allowed at this time of the year.)

We hoped that they would be on mid Nov as they have the past few years. It is also interesting that the current Disney planning DVD advertises that they start mid Nov which is what we based our trip on

Is there any chance that Disney may change their mind on this one if they have enough complaints?

 

[DisDarling]

We saw them in 2005, and they were Beautiful, DO NOT miss them!!

 

[firechick139]

We saw them in 2005, and they were Beautiful, DO NOT miss them!!

Many of us do not have a CHOICE but to miss them, hence, all the disappointed people on this thread.

 

[maj42169]

I am joining in on the dissapointed list! I think it is just one more drop of the ball on Disney's part this year! First, the park hours for November are over a month late...........and with no good reason because they are almost identical to last year...........THEN they choose to push back the start of the lights.........as stated earlier........it suggests in the planning DVD that they will start in MID November.

 

[Minniekins]

Vent away, Minniekins! I get where you're coming from!

While I am very disappointed about not seeing the Lights, I know I'll still have a wonderful time - WDW is our absolute favorite place to visit! But I'm angry about the way this whole thing has been handled by the powers that be at Disney. I feel there could have been better communication to it's customers about what was going on or what to expect.

I know this is a little off topic, but how about all of those travellers who booked the second weekend in Nov. to attend SuperSoap weekend and have now found out it's been pushed back to the the third weekend? As long as I can remember, SSW has been the second weekend in Nov. and people who were going to WDW specifically for that event are now left scrambling because Disney decided to change that date without warning.

Disney needs to get it's act together. If they are going to encourage guests to book resorts rooms ahead of time; or make advance dining reservations at 180 days out, then they need to remain consistent with their schedulling of seasonal events.

Well, I definitely totally agree with your post 100%!

And, not to get started again, but SSW was another thing I forgot to mention. We were one of the families ready to go to Disney the week before and have had to change our plans, which really don't work out that well, though luckily I hadn't booked airfare yet at the time we finally found out that unimportant date switch. Plus, that second weekend usually has at least a couple off days from school, which helps. I feel guilty taking her out of school, but she is a good student who gets the same grades whether she takes off school or not, so we are still going, but it was nice when a couple of the days were actually off anyway, alway worked so well in the past.

Am anxious to hear from the PP poster who is going to call to complain at the posted phone number on Monday! Let us know what they say and give them an earful from us!

Wow, can't believe they advertised on the planning dvd that lights would be on mid Nov. Gosh, just thinking of this whole mess that's been going on with planning and switching and everything again makes me mad! I just hate feeling so disrespected by Disney when I work so hard to be able to go and want to be in the 'happiest place on earth', and they don't seem to care whether I come or not, or that I'm disappointed, because they don't really need me.

 

[suemac]

I do not know if this has been answered or is just a silly question but here goes...

The hours listed are starting Nov 28th dusk until close

We are on a very tight schedule that weekend. What time would you say "dusk" is that time of year?

 

[loveDmouse]

I do not know if this has been answered or is just a silly question but here goes...

The hours listed are starting Nov 28th dusk until close

We are on a very tight schedule that weekend. What time would you say "dusk" is that time of year?

I am pretty sure they start at 6.

 

[Robo]

I do not know if this has been answered or is just a silly question but here goes...

The hours listed are starting Nov 28th dusk until close

We are on a very tight schedule that weekend. What time would you say "dusk" is that time of year?

I am pretty sure they start at 6.

Yes.

The "lighting" is at 6pm.