Osbourn Lights @ MGM?

[kirstiebird]

I understand that the listed time for the Osbourn Lights at MGM is from 6-7pm. Does anyone know whether they stay on for EMH? Thanks!

 

[Michele]

They do stay on all night. I believe the 6-7 time is the time they come on. It is not a set time, they come on at dusk. So not always the same time when they come on. IN fact, when we were there in Dec, they came on at about 5:45.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Yes!! Well, they were last year. It was so amazing as there was NOBODY on the street when we were there. It was like we had the entire light display to ourselves. Very magical!

 

[jimmybop]

they stay on until park close, and in fact, sometimes they stay on after park close. Last fall some night they let people walk over and see them after fantasmic was over.

 

[kirstiebird]

Thanks a billion for the quick responses! Love the DISboard!

 

[shannon1219]

We got to see them after fantasmic one time so they must stay on pretty late.

 

[Robo]

We got to see them after fantasmic one time so they must stay on pretty late.

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.

 

[BelleChick]

What is the first month that you can view the lights?

 

[Robo]

What is the first month that you can view the lights?

They have historically been "offically lighted" for nightly viewing by the middle of November.

 

[Hugpug]

They light up starting Nov 14th per the Disney web dite. This the same date they started last year.