Random Musings from First Week of Dec

[Kirby]

We were at WDW Dec. 4-10. it was crowded, but nothing like our last June trip! The Osborne lights was the absolute worst.....shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and you just could not move at all! We're glad we got to see them, but the crush was unbelievable! DSIL commented that he felt like he'd been raped by Christmas lights! LOL

I can remember back in 2002 when we went Thanksgiving week and the Osbourne lights were manageable then. And it seemed like the lights were more strung out than all jammed basically on one street.

This year (Dec. 4th) it was wall to wall people until you could get past everyone. I'm thinking that if I ever go again during this time I will either enter at the back or skip it altogether unless that improve upon the lights and the crowd control.

 

[Donut23]

1) Go the first week of December

2) Avoid staying where the Pop Warner kids stay.

3) Avoid parade taping.

4) Get to the parks at rope drop.

5) Only do the MK on days they are having MVMCP.

Still, way too crowded than a few years ago.

But the BIGGIE? Way too much gone forever. Here is an example. Tree lighting at EPCOT when the decorations were so grand. Be sure to watch to the end for Lights of Winter !

Don't even get me started about removing "One Solitary Life" from Candelight Processional. Too Christian? It's the story of the Christ child! Anyone who has seen Marlee Matlin narrate or had the pleasure to see Rita Moreno stop the show with a standing ovation after reading One Solitary Life will agree it's empty without it.

Watch the video then watch current tree lighting at EPCOT.

Where is the platform the tree stands on, all the characters on stage, Lights of Wintet, the big displays from LOW to the fountain.....big white peace doves and giant white balls.

http://youtu.be/xGHhUk56pe8


Hubsters never has forgiven them for doing away with Lights of Winter at EPCOT. Here is the entire glorious show....down by the Christmas tree.


http://youtu.be/w5Y-rdTmCk4



Now? EPCOT is a bit of a yawn in comparison....nice enough in a stripped down way.

OMG! They shortened the Illuminations Holiday Poscript. Walter Cronkite is gone along with about half of the shells in the finale. YouTube it from 2013. Again, ok if you haven't been enchanted by the full show.....:like the devoted are too stupid to notice......or don't care that Disney is offering less and charging more.


We take our Disney play $$$ to DL. Clean, happy castmembers in comparison. DL is not the Cinderalla of parks that WDW has become.

 

[jo-jo]

Thank you for posting that link.

We used to have "our" bench, where we could see the lights of winter and the fountain show. We would sit there for about an hour.


Now even the bench is probably gone too.

 

[MrInfinity]

I was there the first week of December. The only time that I felt it was overly crowded was at Osbourne Lights. There are definitely places in each of the parks where it is more crowded due to the area you are walking through. I would definitely go at that time again vs summer time.

Can you tell me what is so busy about the Osborne Lights? Maybe I don't understand what they are. I was under the impression this is just the Streets of America done up with tons of Christmas lights right? People cram in to see Christmas lights? There's tons of space in that section of the park... Is there a light show or set to music or something? Aside from the blinky ears you can buy... (obviously we've never been this time of year)

 

[mom2rtk]

Can you tell me what is so busy about the Osborne Lights? Maybe I don't understand what they are. I was under the impression this is just the Streets of America done up with tons of Christmas lights right? People cram in to see Christmas lights? There's tons of space in that section of the park... Is there a light show or set to music or something? Aside from the blinky ears you can buy... (obviously we've never been this time of year)

There are just THAT many people wanting to be in that area at the same time.
The lights do dance from time to time, but that does not drive the crowds.



I highly recommend going during Fantasmic. But even then it is still very crowded. I had someone run over my shoe one night in a scooter. I was very lucky they only caught the tip of my shoe and missed my toe. But it was so crowded it was hard to avoid.

 

[Kirby]

Can you tell me what is so busy about the Osborne Lights? Maybe I don't understand what they are. I was under the impression this is just the Streets of America done up with tons of Christmas lights right? People cram in to see Christmas lights? There's tons of space in that section of the park... Is there a light show or set to music or something? Aside from the blinky ears you can buy... (obviously we've never been this time of year)

We entered the Streets of America from Commissary Lane. I believe that's what it's called. We walked in past Sci Fi Diner. It was wall to wall people at that point. Could hardly move. We should have entered from the back walking past Toy Story and where the Backlot used to be.

 

[Satchmo128]

We entered the Streets of America from Commissary Lane. I believe that's what it's called. We walked in past Sci Fi Diner. It was wall to wall people at that point. Could hardly move. We should have entered from the back walking past Toy Story and where the Backlot used to be.

I believe that going in through Pixar Place/Backlot area is actually the "front" of the Lights. At least, that is how the CM's directed us to get back there when we were there last week.

My least fave part of the lights is actually the soap "snow". Ew.