Osborne Lights

[TiggerFreak]

Looks like the OL might get a stay of execution
WDWMAGIC is reporting that the planned demolition of the residential street may be delayed to enable the OL fest one more time.

Now will they leave them up through Marathon Weekend 2004

 

[IASW Rider]

When we were at WDW, a few weeks ago, a CM told us that the Spectacle of Lights had already been cancelled for this year. Now I hear that the demolition of Residential Street may be postponed, so maybe there will be one more display of the Osborne Lights, after all!

 

[Bob O]

I hope this isnt true!!!! I wanted them closed this year so they would be open somewhere in the park when i visit in 2004!!!
Without them wdw is losing their best x-mas special program that anyone can visit.

 

[HB2K]

While I'm not headed back to WDW for a while (TOOT TOOT FROM CAR 4), I'll say this.

One of the highlights from our trip last year was the Osbourne lights. They truely are something special. It will be a sad day when they are closed down....even if temporarily.

And to that point....why should they miss a year? The show is not in use for at least 10 months out of a year. If the location has to change, you mean to tell me they couldn't do it during the late winter, spring, summer & fall???

 

[LostBoyinVA]

I know for a fact they start putting the lights up in late October. Possible sooner, but they where going up when where where there in 2001 for my sons 5th Birthday on October 28th. Given the relatively late start it would take a lot of work at this point to move the Lights to somewhere else in the park. Alot of the the ones I saw where on wire frames and such and probably have designated spots they have to go. It takes a lot of work to hang that many lights and you need to have a good plan on where to hang them and what you have to hang, etc. It should be possible to redesign them and hang them elsewhere for 2004, but not for 2003, there just isn't enough time.

That said, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will be showing this year, as we will be in the Parks over Thanksgiving Weekend before doing 7 Days on the DCL Magic for our 10th wedding anniversary and I don't know when if every I will be there between Thanksgiving and Christmas again.

 

[HB2K]

It should be possible to redesign them and hang them elsewhere for 2004, but not for 2003, there just isn't enough time.

Quite honestly, I refuse to believe that Disney could not re-assign the lights to a different location prior to October 20. You're talking 3 1/2 months to find a location in the park, running any needed electrical cable and stringing the lights.

Far from impossible.....unless you just don't want to do it.

 

[DebbieB]

They were working on putting up the lights in early October when we were there 3 or 4 years ago, so it's a big project.

They were saying that they were to be moved to NY Street next year, the problem is that they were also planning to redesign NY Street, which meant it would be closed this Christmas also.

At this point, they would be better off postponing the whole thing, have Osborne Lights as before, work on the plans and start working on the new thing in January.

 

[Bob O]

I agree with hb2k in that the Osbourne lights were always a highlight for my family the last several times we have been to wdw at x-mas time!!!!! It is a great attraction and truely special and not something you have to pay extra for like MVMCP. If disney wanted too they could come up with some plan to have the lights somewhere on park property but keeping their guests happy isnt a high priorty right now.
If the lights are gone they will lose a sizeable portion of the x-mas magic IMHO, espeicailly since thye seem unwilling to re-do Its a Small World or HM like DL has done to great effect IMHO.

 

[KNWVIKING]

"Quite honestly, I refuse to believe that Disney could not re-assign the lights to a different location prior to October 20. You're talking 3 1/2 months to find a location in the park, running any needed electrical cable and stringing the lights."

All those lights on the homes are custom made for each house. Where else on property will they fit. I don't recall what tour we were on, but the details behind the display are incredible. Maybe it could be done, but you would almost have to start from scratch.

 

[HB2K]

All those lights on the homes are custom made for each house. Where else on property will they fit. I don't recall what tour we were on, but the details behind the display are incredible. Maybe it could be done, but you would almost have to start from scratch.

Puleeze...

You're talking about Christmas lights....not finding a cure for cancer.

If Disney wants to do it somewhere else, there is still MORE than adequate time to get it done for 03....never mind 04.

 

[KNWVIKING]

"Puleeze...

You're talking about Christmas lights....not finding a cure for cancer."

No, we're talking about a few million lites specifically constructed in "blankets" that fit an exact location on the back lot.Lites that are packed away in a very organized and specific manner and then painstackingly reinstalled over the course of a month or two in the exact reverse order.Somewhere I have a picture of the sign they put up telling how many thousands of man hours went into the display each year.

Instead of giving me a 'Puleeze" give me an answer. Where and how would you do it ?

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
[

No, we're talking about a few million lites specifically constructed in "blankets" that fit an exact location on the back lot.

Wrong..the Osborne Lights were not specifly desined for the backlot. That is where they are currently being displayed.


A little history...

Jennings Osborne, a Little Rock, Arkansas, businessman, began putting up lights nearly a decade ago, at the request of his young daughter. Each year, he added to the displays. When he ran out of room, Osborne bought the two houses on either side of his home so he could continue his creativity. Neighbors complained, however, and the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled in October 1994 that Osborne's house, when adorned with the 3 million lights, was a public nuisance. Although legally barred from causing a "spectacle", Osborne still lit the display three nights. He was found in contempt of court and fined $1,500. The court suspended a 10-day jail sentence, but ordered him to pay $7,000 in attorneys' fees. In 1995, the Walt Disney Company brought the Osborne Christmas lights to Walt Disney World! Disney's agreement with Osborne gives it the option of keeping the display for 5 years, possibly longer.

 

[KNWVIKING]

... I wasn't refering to the origins or history of the display, I was refering to what was done with them at MGM. The lights we see are not a reproduction of what was in Arkansas, they are Disney's version of them. My point is those are not simply strings of lights like we put up on our houses each year, they are specially built blankets,panels,whatever you want to call them,tailored specifically for each house. You can't simply throw those lights into a truck & drive them over to some other location and string them up.

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
... I wasn't refering to the origins or history of the display, I was refering to what was done with them at MGM. The lights we see are not a reproduction of what was in Arkansas, they are Disney's version of them. My point is those are not simply strings of lights like we put up on our houses each year, they are specially built blankets,panels,whatever you want to call them,tailored specifically for each house. You can't simply throw those lights into a truck & drive them over to some other location and string them up.

No they are the exact same lights and displays that were in AK. The only thing that has changed is how they are presented. If Disney can bring the lights in and assemble the for the first time in less then a year what would stop them form doing it again in a different location. Of couse specific mounts and such would need to be remade but it is not the undertaking that your making it out to be.

 

[HB2K]

No, we're talking about a few million lites specifically constructed in "blankets" that fit an exact location on the back lot.Lites that are packed away in a very organized and specific manner and then painstackingly reinstalled over the course of a month or two in the exact reverse order.

Sorry...but you're not changing my opinion with statements like that.

They are Christmas lights. Period. Maybe they've been customized for where they are located, but a GOOD majority of them are moveable to another location....IF Disney needed to. The ammount of custom work wouldn't be enough to justify a cancellation when you have 5 1/2 months until opening.

Would it be a tough job? Yeah. But far, FAR from impossible.

Instead of giving me a 'Puleeze" give me an answer. Where and how would you do it ?

The Puleeze is in response to how much of an undertaking your making this out to be.

I mean what kind of answer do you want? They're christmas lights. It's not brain surgery, it's not rocket science, it not even building an attraction....it's stringing up some christmas lights (albeit a lot of em)....

 

[KNWVIKING]

How is that possible. In AK there were 3 houses decorated. How many are on the backlot ? If you tell me the actual lights are the same lights,I'll accept that. But the people in AK would not recognize the backlot as what they saw.

"I mean what kind of answer do you want? They're christmas lights. It's not brain surgery, it's not rocket science, it not even building an attraction....it's stringing up some christmas lights (albeit a lot of em)...."

You think it can be done, maybe it can. But I would like to know where you think it should go. I'll assume you're familiar with all the WDW parks. Where is there anywhere on property that you could duplicate a rural neighborhood street ? How about ToT with 8 million lights on it ? (actually,that might be kinda cool). I wish I had all the info we were told about the lights. The original set up was a huge ordeal but because they assemblied it right, it could be setup over and over in ONLY a month or two.

 

[TiggerFreak]

Whoa, guys/girls

Hows about a litlle Cheer around here

Take a deep breath. . . .

Now repeat the phrase, "Merry Christmas to All" 3 times

Now doesn't that feel better

 

[KNWVIKING]

I don't use all those cute winky smiley faces with my post so sometimes I may sound angry or mad but in reality I'm not. I may get frustrated sometimes but never mad. This thread is still fun to me, if it stops being fun, then I'll stop posting.

 

[TiggerFreak]

I was just a little dismayed that a postive post looked to be turning into a "debate", like so many other posts have in the past.

Not that I would ever sink to DISagreeing with anything any of my fellow DISer's would post

Now about those houses on .. . . . .. .

 

[KNWVIKING]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/osborn_lights.htm