Osborne lights

[Ronda93]

The last time I saw the Osborne lights was probably 2003/2004. IIRC it was a hodgepodge of lights. There was a globe, but save that, it was lights strung on buildings. There was snow. But it was nothing special.

Fast forward to now. My brother saw them a couple years ago. Raved. My SIL thinks they are the coolest thing.

I haven't been for the holidays since it was moved/reworked. For those who saw both incarnations, is it all that?

 

[Robo]

The last time I saw the Osborne lights was probably 2003/2004. IIRC it was a hodgepodge of lights. There was a globe, but save that, it was lights strung on buildings. There was snow.

1. But it was nothing special.

Fast forward to now.

2. My brother saw them a couple years ago. Raved. My SIL thinks they are the coolest thing.

I haven't been for the holidays since it was moved/reworked.

3. For those who saw both incarnations, is it all that?

1. Many, many, many guests would have disagreed with you in 2003/2004.
2. Many, many, many guests would have agreed with them in 2012/2013.
3. Many, many, many guests love and have loved them, year after year, then and now.

 

[lroger01]

I saw them last year. I love well though out light displays that use color and animate everything perfectly to sound. The Osborne lights resemble a home display on steroids. It's like they had a great initial set up, and then added something to it every year for like 100 years.

It's a lot of lights, things move, and it "dances" to music at times. If Disney built it themselves (from scratch) it would be much better. As a home grown light show on steroids, it's absolutely perfect.

 

[Ronda93]

Thanks.

It was an overwhelming number of lights. So many they blanketed everything. It sounds like it's still a huge number of lights, but now LED and dancing.

I know it's popular, just wondered if it had changed. Sounds as if it hasn't.

 

[Networth]

The last time I saw the Osborne lights was probably 2003/2004. IIRC it was a hodgepodge of lights. There was a globe, but save that, it was lights strung on buildings. There was snow. But it was nothing special. Fast forward to now. My brother saw them a couple years ago. Raved. My SIL thinks they are the coolest thing. I haven't been for the holidays since it was moved/reworked. For those who saw both incarnations, is it all that?

I think your probably the only person I have ever met who was underwhelmed by the lights by being overwhelmed by the amount of them.

 

[magicaldisney]

I think your probably the only person I have ever met who was underwhelmed by the lights by being overwhelmed by the amount of them.

Agreed. I have never heard anyone not like the lights. So interesting that we all have different views on it.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Often wondered if all those flashing lights could bring on a seizure for certain people with certain medical conditions?

 

[flatlandcycle]

Crowds have necessitated directional, flow control, into the event. Technicolor vomit, kitschy, synchronized, pulsating lights, to a soundtrack of Christmas Rock. Add hot coco that is either too sweet or too weak and you are bound to have a little dyspepsia. Nothing signifies Christmas like Osborn Family Lights. I can't go a year without satisfying this itch. It's a train wreck, with massive explosions, that occupies the lizard brain, you just cannot avoid being drawn, like a moth, to the flames.

 

[flatlandcycle]

That void in my soul, that I let Martha Stewart occupy, dies a little bit every year.

 

[flatlandcycle]

Come to think of it it's probably Ana Gasteyer doing Martha Stewart who lives there.

 

[tjevans]

There are plenty of videos and photos online. Just go to youtube, search, and see for yourself whether it's "all that."

Myself, I cannot help but wonder if you saw the same thing I did.

 

[CarolynFH]

We liked them much more when they were on the false fronts of the houses - it looked like a neighborhood but also the displays were spread out and could be enjoyed individually.

That being said - we're looking forward to seeing them when we're there next week!

 

[xApril]

I too miss when it was a big path to walk down to see all the lights. Now that it's confined, it's pretty much the same thing every year with the addition of one or two new songs and the moving of the purple cat.

It's nice though, and I enjoy taking people that haven't seen it before so I can see their reactions.

 

[Raenstoirm]

You are the only person I have ever heard who didn't love them. Not saying that is a bad thing, since it is your opinion. They are way over the top, wacky-tacky, and just wow. We love them.

 

[Ronda93]

It's just too Griswold for my tastes. I can find that lots of places.

Thanks for the updates.

 

[nuzmom]

OP - just asking... did you see them synchronized to the music? And, was it to a song that you liked?

I only ask because the very first time we saw them (years ago), it was crowded and we had just missed them "dancing". We looked at them for a short while and then hightailed it out of there. The next couple of days we kept discussing that we didn't understand the big deal with them. And, we were puzzled why they said they were "dancing lights". Well, a few night later, we decided to watch the opening show - them throwing on the switch and then they proceeded to "dance". Wow. We had no idea that they did that. At the time, I think it was every 15 minutes or more and we had totally missed it on our first day.
Now, we realize that we enjoy some of the songs much more than others. I just think some are better sync'd than others (& some songs are "cooler"). We always stay until we hear Mannheim Steamroller.

 

[FLchick415]

We stood and watched them for at least 20 minutes Saturday evening. I really wanted to stay to hear "What's This?" lol

 

[Ronda93]

No, I don't remember coordinated dancing. Some flashing, for sure. I think they spruced up the presentation when it took a hiatus and changed streets. Or I missed it. It's been ten plus years and all that remains is the lack of whelm ; )

 

[jknicholas]

i too have been, first time back in 2007 and second time just last year. its one of the reasons why i am going back again next week around the same times as previous... i thoroughly enjoy them, considering, i am huge into the whole xmas light/synchronization craze. i think theyre great, and i also like the story behind the actual Osborne light display.

 

[seelyt2]

Although it's no comparison - - Google is your friend - - Give it a whirl. Our family LOVES it and we're making a special trip to see them since rumor is it may not be around/or in it's current form next year.