Osborne lights- flipping of the switch?

[WeLoveTheMouse]

I read something on here about a ceremony for the flipping of the switch for the Osborne lights. Does anyone know what time they do this? We will be there on Dec. 9th for this. We have reservations at Sci Fi at 7:30. I am guessing it will be dark around 5 -6 in Orlando then.

Is this a definite don't miss?

 

[crzy4mickey]

When we saw Osborne Lights in 2004 we got there about 10 minutes before they turned them on. I want to say it was 7:00 but not sure, could have been earlier. Anyway we watched the ceremony and it was cute. They had a little girl that was disabled flip the switch. She was so cute and so excited. Her mom was standing off to the side and the tears were pouring down. What a magical moment for them. It was really nice to see, I even had tears in my eyes! I don't know how they picked her, if it was pre-arranged or she was just picked out of the crowd but it was nice to watch. They had the stretemosphere characters out in full force that night which was great. One character was standing next to a Christmas tree lot and he was selling trees. My son got picked on and I laughed! He ended up selling my son a tree for $2,667.42! Hmmm come to think of it they never did deliver the tree!

 

[NancyIL]

It will be dark by 6:00 - so that's my recollection of when the lights go on.

 

[WeLoveTheMouse]

Thanks for the help. The park closes at 7 that night and our ADR is for 7:30. I guess we can look at the lights while we wait the few minutes. I wonder if they will still be on when we leave.

 

[Robo]

Thanks for the help. The park closes at 7 that night and our ADR is for 7:30. I guess we can look at the lights while we wait the few minutes. I wonder if they will still be on when we leave.

The Osborne Lights attraction presented an unusual problem for MGM.
When they were "acquired" by Disney from the Osborne family (not OZZIE, BTW) there was a huge amount of national publicity about them.
Disney got a lot of "mileage" out of having them and they needed to DISPLAY them for lots of guests to see (after dark).
But...
Even in the winter months, it simply does not get really DARK in Florida until about 6pm.
So the lights can't be properly viewed until that time.
(They simply are NOT a daytime or even "regular hours" attraction).
And the MGM park usually closes (except EMH) only an hour or so after dark.

Since Disney spends a major (MAJOR) amount of time and money to set-up, promote, fund the electricity and CM's and (after the holidays) remove and store these hundreds of thousands of lights, they needed a way that guests could actually VIEW them.
(Otherwise, what's the POINT?)

So since, at sunset, MOST (up to 10,000) guests in MGM are SITTING IN THE FANTASMIC! THEATER and can't SEE the lights as it gets dark... AFTER the show, the CM's actually ENCOURAGE the exiting crowds from Fantasmic! to go over and see the Osborne Lights.
Even though the rest of the park is closed, the lights are in full glory, and there are even some concessions open for refreshments.
If Fantasmic! is at 7pm, then its over at 7:25pm, most guests are out of the theater by 7:50pm and headed to the Osborne Lights.

I'd estimate that they would keep them open for a hour-plus, so, say 9:15pm-9:30pm would be the approx. wrap-up.

 

[WEDWDW]

When I was there last December they were not doing an opening ceremony.Also,I was told by the CMs that the lights would be turned on at 6:00,but both nights I was there they were turned on at 5:45.They are really spectacular.There is also a "radio station" that broadcasts from the event and plays music.Have fun!

 

[dogladyjw]

What are the osborne lights?

 

[Robo]

What are the osborne lights?

http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/h_osb.htm

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/specialEventsDetail?id=OsborneLightsSpecialEventPage

http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/osbornelights.htm

http://www.planetchristmas.com/Osborne2005.htm

 

[mickeysgirl17]

The osborne lights is a christmas display of lots and lots of lights in the new york street area of MGM Studios. It's very pretty and takes about 15 min. to see it all. It also gets crowdes and many many people think its awesome. It is displayed in Dec. and starts around 6pm.

 

[WeLoveTheMouse]

Thanks for all the info. I saw the official hours were only from 6 - 7. We will have to see them before we eat and then if they are still on when we leave it will be an added Magical Moment.

The Osborne Lights attraction presented an unusual problem for MGM.
When they were "acquired" by Disney from the Osborne family (not OZZIE, BTW) there was a huge amount of national publicity about them.
Disney got a lot of "mileage" out of having them and they needed to DISPLAY them for lots of guests to see (after dark).
But...
Even in the winter months, it simply does not get really DARK in Florida until about 6pm.
So the lights can't be properly viewed until that time.
(They simply are NOT a daytime or even "regular hours" attraction).
And the MGM park usually closes (except EMH) only an hour or so after dark.

Since Disney spends a major (MAJOR) amount of time and money to set-up, promote, fund the electricity and CM's and (after the holidays) remove and store these hundreds of thousands of lights, they needed a way that guests could actually VIEW them.
(Otherwise, what's the POINT?)

So since, at sunset, MOST (up to 10,000) guests in MGM are SITTING IN THE FANTASMIC! THEATER and can't SEE the lights as it gets dark... AFTER the show, the CM's actually ENCOURAGE the exiting crowds from Fantasmic! to go over and see the Osborne Lights.
Even though the rest of the park is closed, the lights are in full glory, and there are even some concessions open for refreshments.
If Fantasmic! is at 7pm, then its over at 7:25pm, most guests are out of the theater by 7:50pm and headed to the Osborne Lights.

I'd estimate that they would keep them open for a hour-plus, so, say 9:15pm-9:30pm would be the approx. wrap-up.

 

[blondeheroine]

I didn't know about the actual switch, but I've been there twice for the lights when the snow starts and the lights come on. It truly is amazing. Your times guide will have the exact start time.