Osborne Lights

[colleen costello]

Can someone fill me in on how this event works? We are visiting Florida at holiday time and I want to see the lights. I understand they "open" every night at a set time but wondered if they are then just "left on" and you can walk through later in the evening, until the park closes? I have read some accounts that say it can be very crowded when they first open... We will probably go the week after Xmas when it is less crowded. We have annual passes so going later is no big deal. Thanks.

 

[CTXRover]

After the lights are "turned on" at dusk every night, they are kept on for the rest of the evening until the park closes. You can walk up and down the Streets of America where the lights are at any time you want. The busiest times seem to be when the lights are first turned on for the evening. In general, after that initial rush, I have always found the crowds manageable. In fact, I love to find an open bench or edge of a wall and just sit there for a while and listen to the music and look at the lights.

New this year, the lights will "dance" to music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra every 15-20 minutes. The lights along the entire street will come on and off in sections choreographed perfectly to music. Its a similar idea to what was seen on the internet and Budweiser ads last year with the one house that had lights dancing to music. The big difference is this is on a much larger and grander scale. It should be a sight to see.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

They turn the lights on at around 6pm in the streets of america area of MGM. They stay open until about 7pm or 8pm. My suggestion would be to go see them when Fantasmic starts or is about to start. Many people will disappear to fantasmic leaving the rest of MGM with very light crowds.

 

[jwfla422]

Actually they are on for a good hour after park closing. In previous years we used to love having dinner right around park closing and then afterwards we'd go tour the lights and it would be empty.

I can tell you if you are claustraphobic stay away from the 6pm lighting as it can be mobbed!! Make a PS for dinner at one of the restaurants for the last seating and then tour the lights after the Fantasmic people have been through it, VERY COOL!! I do miss the old back lot decorations though, it felt like you were in a real neighborhood. But even with the current display it's definitely a "must do" when it's up!

 

[electroretro]

Did I read somewhere that they use fake snow with the lights as well?

I know they do a MVMCP but I am sure I read they use it at MGM as well?

 

[ellyn2000]

The fake snow is on the city street where you enter the Osborne Lights. It's sudsy bubbles that fall from the rooftops to look like snow falling. I think it was Thanksgiving 2000 that it was so cold the bubbles were freezing and falling in clumps on the ground. Thank goodness for the hot chocolate vendors! I hope you enjoy it. It's a wonderful start to our holiday season.

 

[mamamary]

Last week they had the lights on from 6 until 7 (since there was no Fantasmic that night). We got there just at 7 (after eating at H&V) and I was so disappointed they would not let us go near them. I just assumed they would stay on while people lingered about but nope - stopped right at 7.

 

[campingcorgi]

The lights were on last night and it wasn't very crowded at all. No snow or dancing lights, though. We'll have to drive back over to see those.

I couldn't find the cat. Anyone found it yet? I asked a CM but she said I'd have to keep looking....