Osborne Lights question

[bsiev1977]

Getting close to making my ADRs for my December trip. Trying to figure out/remember the timing of the Osborne lights vs. the timing of Fantasmic. My last trip was in December of 2013. Am I correct in remembering that the Lights turn on at sundown? As well, is it possible to see both Fantasmic and the Lights in one night?

 

[Robo]

Getting close to making my ADRs for my December trip. Trying to figure out/remember the timing of the Osborne lights vs. the timing of Fantasmic. My last trip was in December of 2013.

1. Am I correct in remembering that the Lights turn on at sundown? As well,

2. is it possible to see both Fantasmic and the Lights in one night?

1. Roughly. Figure 6PM, plus or minus 15 minutes.

2. The Osborne Lights attraction presented an unusual problem for WDW.

When they were "acquired" by Disney from the Osborne
family (not OZZY, 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 DHS 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 7,000-8,000) guests in DHS
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.

There are some nights when the OLights are being used
for a private "event" and regular guests are not allowed in.

You simply will not KNOW about this unless you stop at
Guest Relations that day and ask if the OLights will
be available after Fantasmic!

As for how late?
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 the OLights open for
a hour-plus, so, say 9:15pm-9:45pm would be the
approx. wrap-up.

On EMH nights, the OLights should be on and open to guests until the EHM is concluded.

 

[bsiev1977]

1. Roughly. Figure 6PM, plus or minus 15 minutes.

2. The Osborne Lights attraction presented an unusual problem for WDW.

When they were "acquired" by Disney from the Osborne
family (not OZZY, 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 DHS 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 7,000-8,000) guests in DHS
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.

There are some nights when the OLights are being used
for a private "event" and regular guests are not allowed in.

You simply will not KNOW about this unless you stop at
Guest Relations that day and ask if the OLights will
be available after Fantasmic!

As for how late?
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 the OLights open for
a hour-plus, so, say 9:15pm-9:45pm would be the
approx. wrap-up.

On EMH nights, the OLights should be on and open to guests until the EHM is concluded.

Thanks for the insight. I'm considered planning on going back to HS a second night, after we get done with our AK day. Will make things simpler than worrying about the timing of the lights after we see Fsntasmic.

 

[100acreHiker]

We saw a 6:30 or 7pm Fantasmic show last November, then just walked over to see the lights for 15 or so minutes. Worked out just fine. They weren't encouraging us to leave the park at any point. It was a bit of a hike from F! to the lights with two tired kids, but was totally worth it. Lovely experience.

 

[tabistar]

We saw a 6:30 or 7pm Fantasmic show last November, then just walked over to see the lights for 15 or so minutes. Worked out just fine. They weren't encouraging us to leave the park at any point. It was a bit of a hike from F! to the lights with two tired kids, but was totally worth it. Lovely experience.

That's exactly what we did. It worked out great.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Thanks for the insight. I'm considered planning on going back to HS a second night, after we get done with our AK day. Will make things simpler than worrying about the timing of the lights after we see Fsntasmic.

This is a solid plan. While AK is technically open until 6:00 many days in December, the animal areas and safari close much, much earlier than that (around 4:30) and frankly, there isn't a whole lot to do then. In my experience, the crowds end up flocking to EE and Dinoland because nobody wants to ride Kali in December. If you wanted to spend nearly a whole day at AK, you could take in the second to last Lion King show (it will probably only be half to 3/4 full at most) and then head to DHS. You can tour AK pretty easily without FP+s, so you could even save your FP+s on that for DHS and hit up TSM/RNRC and TOT with FP+ before the Osborne lights.

 

[bsiev1977]

We saw a 6:30 or 7pm Fantasmic show last November, then just walked over to see the lights for 15 or so minutes. Worked out just fine. They weren't encouraging us to leave the park at any point. It was a bit of a hike from F! to the lights with two tired kids, but was totally worth it. Lovely experience.

If we feel we can make it to the Lights after Fantasmic, we will do that. Oth

This is a solid plan. While AK is technically open until 6:00 many days in December, the animal areas and safari close much, much earlier than that (around 4:30) and frankly, there isn't a whole lot to do then. In my experience, the crowds end up flocking to EE and Dinoland because nobody wants to ride Kali in December. If you wanted to spend nearly a whole day at AK, you could take in the second to last Lion King show (it will probably only be half to 3/4 full at most) and then head to DHS. You can tour AK pretty easily without FP+s, so you could even save your FP+s on that for DHS and hit up TSM/RNRC and TOT with FP+ before the Osborne lights.

hadnt thought about doing AK without FP. Saving my FPs for second night at HS is a good idea. Will think on that.