RIP Lights of Winter - Post Your Shots Shots Here

[WDWFigment]

It's been confirmed...

Post your best shots of the show here.

I'll start:


Clicking the picture takes you to its Flickr page, where you can read my commentary about the confirmation of the cancellation of the Lights of Winter.

 

[annnewjerz]

Warning: Vent Ahead

I have no photos to post, and it seems that even though we are going this Christmas season---I'll never have any---ever. It really burns me that they're retiring the LoW. The LoW were something that I was really looking forward to seeing, they were something that I drooled over pictures of while planning our trip this December and something I'm extremely sad I won't have the chance to experience.

The fact that they are using the outdated technology excuse burns me even more. I have stood around listening to all of the things that have been cut or impacted "due to the economy" in The World and rationalized everything, thinking to myself that the wonderful people at Disney wouldn't get rid of something that made so many people happy unless they really had to......


........Well, I don't believe for a second they had to get rid of this. And the rumors that they are replacing it with a "Gospel choir"----NUTS! Isn't that what the Candlelight Processional is anyway? Do they really need another one and is that really a sufficient replacement for the wonderful display of lights? Methinks not.

This cut, aside from all of the others, make me wonder why I'm shelling out so much money on "extras" like Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, the Behind the Seeds tour, etc. when the things that I expected to be included in the price of admission aren't anymore.

Vent Over

FANTASTIC shot Tom. The reflections of the lights on the water are great, but the fact that you timed it out to catch the monorail going by puts this shot over the top---it just may be my favorite shot I've ever seen you post.

Great job, and Merry Christmas!

 

[Quicklabs]

Tom, your photos always rock! This one is right up there with the best of them.
I was wondering about the LoW yesterday when I was at EPCOT--the tree was up, but no structure for the lights. I thought they were just going to do it later on. What a bummer. Those lights always felt magical to me!
Here's one from last year.

These are also gone as part of the LoW display. At least they weren't in place when I was there yesterday.

 

[Golf4food]

I'll throw one in:




But I'm not devestated. They're nice, but not amazing. They are trellaces with lights on them. Woo. How incredible. I could do that over my own driveway. They block the view of the Christmas tree until you are right up on the tree and then block SSE coming back the other way. I won't miss them. Not like they're getting rid of the Castle Lights or Osborne Lights...

 

[klmall]

Glad I got there in 2007!

Are these leaving too?

 

[hjd0411]

What a shame that this is not there anymore. I have only seen it once (2007) but I thought it looked beautiful - but I am a sucker for all the lights!!
Tom - your photo is amazing - like all of your photos! I love looking for you posts - I know I'm always going to see something beautiful!
Thank you for sharing.

 

[daannzzz]

 

[ukcatfan]

But I'm not devestated. They're nice, but not amazing. They are trellaces with lights on them. Woo. How incredible. I could do that over my own driveway. They block the view of the Christmas tree until you are right up on the tree and then block SSE coming back the other way. I won't miss them. Not like they're getting rid of the Castle Lights or Osborne Lights...

My thoughts exactly!!! While I think they are a good decoration, I really did not like the placement of them. This should open up many more opportunities for shots of the tree and SSE.

 

[boBQuincy]

Great photo, Tom!

I will really miss the Lights of Winter this year! Staying after Illuminations and standing under the lights while Epcot cranks up the Christmas music, with the fountain spraying in sync and the lights blinking... it is magic and one of the things that gets me in the holiday spirit.

Yes, they are just lights on a trellis, but what a show! I will give Disney the benefit of the doubt (yet again) and believe there was some failure for which parts were no longer available, meanwhile hoping they bring LoW back again next year, better than ever!
It is rare that I am this much of an optimist!

 

[ssanders79]

Click on the images to view bigger.
My favorite from behind the fountain.


A few others that I had on Flickr

 

[ThurlFan]

Dec 2, 2008

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

Just got back last night and Epcot just looks barren and neglected when it comes to Christmas. They didn't even have the angel at the top of the tree lit. There weren't even any christmas topiaries, just flat expanses of red and white flowers. Booooring.

 

[ukcatfan]

Just got back last night and Epcot just looks barren and neglected when it comes to Christmas. They didn't even have the angel at the top of the tree lit. There weren't even any christmas topiaries, just flat expanses of red and white flowers. Booooring.

No offense, but they do not start celebrating the holiday season until Thanksgiving Day. What exactly were you expecting two weeks early?

 

[WDWFigment]

My thoughts exactly!!! While I think they are a good decoration, I really did not like the placement of them. This should open up many more opportunities for shots of the tree and SSE.

With the distance between the tree and SSE, unless you're across the lagoon using a telephoto lens, this won't open up many shot opportunities, in my opinion (and if you're talking shots from across the lagoon, the Lights of Winter didn't really interfere, anyway).

 

[WDWFigment]

Great photo, Tom!

I will really miss the Lights of Winter this year! Staying after Illuminations and standing under the lights while Epcot cranks up the Christmas music, with the fountain spraying in sync and the lights blinking... it is magic and one of the things that gets me in the holiday spirit.

Yes, they are just lights on a trellis, but what a show! I will give Disney the benefit of the doubt (yet again) and believe there was some failure for which parts were no longer available, meanwhile hoping they bring LoW back again next year, better than ever!
It is rare that I am this much of an optimist!

Agree with you completely on your take on the lights. For me, it's one of those 'stop and just take it in' places. Pure magic.

 

[ukcatfan]

With the distance between the tree and SSE, unless you're across the lagoon using a telephoto lens, this won't open up many shot opportunities, in my opinion (and if you're talking shots from across the lagoon, the Lights of Winter didn't really interfere, anyway).

I meant "and" more like an also, not meaning in the same shot.

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

No offense, but they do not start celebrating the holiday season until Thanksgiving Day. What exactly were you expecting two weeks early?

No offense taken. Hopefully they just weren't finished decorating. I suspect that to be the case since F&W just ended. World Showcase seemed to be nearly complete, but with the exception of the tree and some garland on the entry gates, there really are no xmas decorations on the FW side of the park. I guess minus the LOW it would seem that way even more. Magic Kingdom and DHS looked tremendous though!

 

[v_misses_epcot]

I have three to share These were taken during a CM preview to Illuminations. They will be missed!

 

[Marlton Mom]

I'm still missing the lights of Mickey's arm on the Epcot ball!!

Since we are leaving for the World in mid December I have started my Xmas decorating inside the house and out.....

That gives me an idea! Why don't all the folks going to the world during Xmas bring a string of hopelessly tangled mini lights to Epcot. You know you have at least a jillionty dozen in your garage!

We would then find a place to plug them in with a little note attached that says "In Memory of the Lights of Winter" and maybe sign it "Clark Griswold" or something.

I'm sure the people at Disney will appreciate our (feeble) attempts at "Plusing" Epcot, especially in light of these difficult economic times!

Now I wonder if I can get tangled mini-lights past homeland security at the airport.....



Marlton Mom

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

You know you have at least a jillionty dozen in your garage!


Marlton Mom

LOL @ jillionty! And isn't there a store out there that is giving $3 off LED lights when you trade in any old lights, working or not? If we leave our lights with Disney, they can take them, trade them in along with the old LOW and then upgrade to a new LED LOW!

Just sayin'..