So Sad...Couldn't see Osborne Lights

[GeneralTso]

If you will be truly bummed by missing them, brave the bus. They accommodate scooters. Yes it may be a hassle but at least you'll get in.

 

[gometros]

I think the galactic spectacular, that happens at park closing, is going to heavily affect this.

What's that?

 

[hiroMYhero]

What's that?

The SW fireworks. Nightly beginning on the 18th. Lights are scheduled to close at 10:00, fireworks at 11:00.

 

[LATJLP]

We planned on seeing them on the 9th. Park closed at 6pm and no Osborne. We planned on going this evening. Headed to HS at 3pm and turned away. Parking lot FULL!! Can't go tomorrow because we have dinner ressies at 6:45. Leaving Sunday. CM suggested taking bus from resort but we use 2 scooters. You all know what a hassle that can be. So sad....

This won't help OP unfortunately, but wanted to report that I am here now, and use a scooter....the parking lot at DHS is expected to close for capacity as long as the Osborne Lights are going on....it has been happening for about a week now....by 2 or 3 o'clock it's either closed or getting there. They are directing people to EPCOT to park and then having them take a bus (they have put extras in service to DHS) or go through EPCOT to International Gateway and then either boat or walk to DHS.

The lines for the boats are horribly long, as you can imagine.....and having a scooter/wheelchair/stroller the wait is even longer because they can only fit a few vehicles per boat. But....we have done this walk/ride twice......it takes about 20-25 minutes to get there.....and that is faster than the boat! We saw the line, knew that the scooter would delay us even more and started walking just as the boat was pulling out......my two companions were walking so it wasn't my scooter doing 5mph.....I had to slow down for them.....it was a "walk with only a slight purpose" speedwise...lol.....and yet we beat that same boat that was leaving at the same time, because THEY had to make 3 stops along the way. It is a beautiful walk, well lit (for your return to EPCOT and your car), and the weather is beautiful!

The lights are well worth the extra effort....but bring along your patience because it is shoulder to shoulder crowded...and the scooter and I inched along...but I was ok with that because it gave me time to look around as everyone shuffled through. Because it was very difficult to turn around, I highly suggest that you pick an end to start with (the first night I started at the tree for the lighting ceremony and because it was tough to turn around I ended missing half of the lights). So, start at one end and inch along seeing it all, and enjoy this wonderful event that will cease to exist after January.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks - when did they announce that? I'm here today and MDE is still showing 10pm tonight.

FWIW I've been at a Disney park when nothing was announced, but I just noticed that nothing was actually closing. Finally asked a CM about it and they said that the closing time was later.

 

[AllyBri]

We went last night had dinner at the YC and took the boat over fairly long line for Friendship we waited finally got on the third or fourth Friendship but it went quickly. We walked back to the YC.
Now the lines for the buses going back to Epcot (from the Studio) had to be at least an 1 1/2 hour wait.

 

[Skywise]

How bad is it?

This was about 10 minutes before the lights were turned on - I wasn't even trying to see that, I was trying to get to scifi diner (and this was the wrong way to do it!)


Tried to get to Epcot around 7:40 and the boat line was all the way to the Christmas tree. They had taken on extra boats and the boat operators packed everyone on like sardines so I made it onto the 2nd boat but I still didn't get to Epcot until almost 9

 

[plutolovr]

How bad is it?

This was about 10 minutes before the lights were turned on - I wasn't even trying to see that, I was trying to get to scifi diner (and this was the wrong way to do it!)
View attachment 139731

Tried to get to Epcot around 7:40 and the boat line was all the way to the Christmas tree. They had taken on extra boats and the boat operators packed everyone on like sardines so I made it onto the 2nd boat but I still didn't get to Epcot until almost 9

You should have just walked. It's much faster than waiting for all those boats.

 

[subtchr]

Tried to get to Epcot around 7:40 and the boat line was all the way to the Christmas tree. They had taken on extra boats and the boat operators packed everyone on like sardines so I made it onto the 2nd boat but I still didn't get to Epcot until almost 9

You know you could have walked and been there by 8:10, right?

 

[Dan Murphy]

You should have just walked. It's much faster than waiting for all those boats.

You know you could have walked and been there by 8:10, right?

Some people, especially after a day in the parks, can not physically walk that distance.

 

[lds0191]

If you have seen the Osborne Lights before DO NOT plan on going again. We went last night and it was a total nightmare. I have never seen so many people in such a small place. Most everyone there spent the time trying to keep up with the people they were with and avoiding being run over by a scooter. I really would have preferred remembering it from last year's visit. I was very thankful to escape with only a blow to the shoulder and nearly being kicked in the head by a child on a parents shoulder. It was a shame to end an otherwise pleasant day on such a chaotic note. And then there are the idiots who stop to take selfies in the middle of a gazillion people. You know who you are.

 

[Isildur's Bane]

i had a great time last night but it didn't clear up any until late even after 10 then it was pretty nice

 

[goofy4wdw2]

We are planning to see the lights on Tuesday...I'm hoping it won't be as bad since it's a weekday but now I'm not so sure! What time do the lights go on? At dark or a set time? Thanks!

 

[Magpie]

Some people, especially after a day in the parks, can not physically walk that distance.

I'd think it would be much easier on your feet to walk slowly (or even hobble) that distance than to be standing in line for an extended period of time... It's just over a mile, and for comparison it's pretty much the exact same distance as walking all the way around the World Showcase in Epcot.

 

[dredick]

The SW fireworks. Nightly beginning on the 18th. Lights are scheduled to close at 10:00, fireworks at 11:00.

So, when we are there on the 27th, the lights should turn off at 10pm for the Star Wars fireworks? My plan was lights at 6, fantasmic at 8:30, SW fireworks. Would you change any of this?

 

[dISNEYlOveer]

I was there last night, didn't go over to the lights till after 9:30 (Fantasmic at 8 and then ToT standby) and then walked over to the lights and it was busy, but not too bad. Much more manageable than going at 7:30 ish. Parking wasn't bad because we pulled in around 9am and then toured some resort decorations then came back to HS for the afternoon so we had a parking spot. Worked great.

 

[hiroMYhero]

So, when we are there on the 27th, the lights should turn off at 10pm for the Star Wars fireworks? My plan was lights at 6, fantasmic at 8:30, SW fireworks. Would you change any of this?

No one will know until the 18th as to how they "end" the lights at 10:00. Your plan looks good because you won't have to worry about getting to the Lights after Fantasmic. You can enjoy less crowded areas of the park and then find a spot for the fireworks.

 

[dredick]

No one will know until the 18th as to how they "end" the fireworks at 10:00. Your plan looks good because you won't have to worry about getting to the Lights after Fantasmic. You can enjoy less crowded areas of the park and then find a spot for the fireworks.

Great! Thanks! Now, if I could only get my hands on a dated Osborne ornament and pin!!

 

[Skywise]

You should have just walked. It's much faster than waiting for all those boats.

We were debating walking based on the line but just as we were about to commit the line moved ahead quite a chunk and a second boat (which we made) was already queued up to load - I wasn't sure the walk was going to be shorter/same amount of time/longer either (not having done it before)

 

[Skywise]

And then there are the idiots who stop to take selfies in the middle of a gazillion people. You know who you are.

No no... It was a picture of the crowd! (I didn't stop to take that shot either - I was just trying to get across the street!)