Slightly OT - Epcot Lights discontinued

[agnes!]

OT to this forum, but please don't move this post.

The Epcot Lights of Winter are no more, supposedly because the technology is obsolete. For people who don't quite know what the Lights were, it was the walkway of lights between Future World and World Showcase that ran in time to music. The LoW used to be set up for the holiday-season. I'll miss them, they were gorgeous and special and sparkly and cheerful.

Sad, really.

agnes!

 

[disney1990]

RIP

 

[Magic Mom]

They probably have something just as wonderful planned to replace it.

 

[FireDancer]

I will miss them but as I posted on the podcast board I will wait to see how the choir works out before passing judgment. I also want to see if the change is permanent.

To be honest the technology is a bit outdated. The incandescent Christmas lights on a white metal pre-formed mold is a bit 80's. You can do self supported lighting with multicolored neon and LEDs that could blow it away. I am hoping that they are only taking a year off and coming back new and improved. If I'm not mistaken they replaced the bulbs in the Osborne lights with new LED lights so this isn't unprecedented. They also require a lot less energy to power.

 

[agnes!]

The thing that gets me is that the announcement was only just now made. I guess with all the $$ being spent on fairies over at the MK that a new Christmas light set-up just isn't in the (Christmas) cards for Epcot.

Yeah, won't have a choice but to give this new choir a chance, but a replacement LED light set-up for *this* year would have been nice too.

agnes!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I just read about this too,. We will be there 3 weeks from tomm. and I am so sad to hear this, I was so looking forward to it. Its like a tradition we have to go under the arch and hang out, watch people take pictures etc.

 

[FireDancer]

Yeah, won't have a choice but to give this new choir a chance, but a replacement LED light set-up for *this* year would have been nice too.

agnes!

Yeah, if wishes were fishes...

I am hoping it is temporary. If it becomes permanent of the choir idea turns out to be under-themed and slapped together I won't be happy. I just wait to see it before making my final judgment.

 

[agnes!]

I'll reserve judgement, but I am disinclined to acquiesce to being content with change.

agnes!
PS - If I were a betting person, I'd put money on 'slapped-together' and 'cheaply-done' as the design esthetic for all this.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I went last year for the first time ever during the holidays. I got to see this and have pictures to remember.

I also got to ride up front in the monorail, and my daughter was given a Monorail pilot license little card we keep in our scrapbook of the trip. Im happier more than ever we got to take that trip last year.

 

[Angelrose]

Oh I am so sad to hear this. I LOVED the arch. It was so romantic at night. DH and I would just stand there and watch the whole sequence before we left.

FireDancer, could you explain about the choir? What choir and where will they be?

 

[FireDancer]

FireDancer, could you explain about the choir? What choir and where will they be?

I read that there will be a stage set up and a Christmas choir will perform throughout the night in the area of the lights. I believe they will be a bit closer to the fountain though.

I have seen this in a post on the podcast forum so I am no authority. Sadly I won't be there this year so I was not as active in searching out the info as I would had I been going.

 

[bicker]

I'll reserve judgement, but I am disinclined to acquiesce to being content with change.

That seems to be an unvoiced foundation for many concerns that people voice, these days. Few people, though, are willing to admit it like you have.

 

[Darsa]

That was one of our most favorite things the second time we visited WDW; we spent a RIDICULOUS amount of time wandering, watching and listening. Mostly I wanted to but I think that DH and DD were amused by my enchantment and were indulging me They still talk about that tho, both of them, especially this time of the year.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

Wait, are you talking about the lights in the sidewalk? Please tell me your not talking about the lights in the sidewalk!!!!!

 

[agnes!]

I'll reserve judgement, but I am disinclined to acquiesce to being content with change.

agnes!
PS - If I were a betting person, I'd put money on 'slapped-together' and 'cheaply-done' as the design esthetic for all this.

That seems to be an unvoiced foundation for many concerns that people voice, these days. Few people, though, are willing to admit it like you have.

Should have said "I am disinclined to acquiesce to being content with the change" (or "...this change...").

Change in and of itself is not a bad thing, like the sun coming up and having daylight after the darkness of night, but *this*?!?... *sheesh*.

And the excuse that management used? Ridiculous. The "obsolete" comment was badly-worded and to casually tweet it as if the Lights wouldn't matter to people?
Something along the following lines would have been better...
"In Walt's tradition we're always re-inventing the parks and this year have decided to start going in a different direction for the Plaza. The Lights were originally a re-installation from another park and were not holding up well to continued use and re-use year after year. We hope our Guests will enjoy some of the new surprises we have in store for that area... for this year and the years to come, including for the 2009 Holidays a new-to-WDW Gospel Choir."

agnes!

 

[wendy46001]

Have to admit they look very dated

i just hope they put up something new
and not just make it into another disney budget cut

 

[agnes!]

Wait, are you talking about the lights in the sidewalk? Please tell me your not talking about the lights in the sidewalk!!!!!

Oh NO, not them! The Lights of Winter were...

and

And this is them in action...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44F6uRm0C9g

agnes!

 

[snapppyd]

I loved them. We are going December 11th and I was looking forward to taking pictures under them. Oh well, onward and downward.

 

[FireDancer]

That seems to be an unvoiced foundation for many concerns that people voice, these days. Few people, though, are willing to admit it like you have.

Just look at the panic that ensues when Facebook or Yahoo change their homepage. I work in I.T. and you'd think a simple change in process or software was like asking everyone to cease using their lungs and learn to breath through gills.

The way some people react to new things (not refering to anyone on this thread, just in real life) I'm surprised we aren't still cowing in the corner of caves scared of fire.

 

[hoosll]

Last year it was the Xmas tree display at Epcot, this year it's the arch ... sad, sad, sad.

WDW is the last place we care about outmoded ... Next year will they say the Osborn lights are outmoded .... nostalgia is why we go back to WDW if they keep chipping away at our memories they are just chipping away at my desire to return ...