Why is MGM only open till 7 the week before Xmas???

[IloveWINNIEthePOOH]

I would have figured it would at least be open until about 9 or 10. Aren't the crowds pretty hectic by then? Christmas is on Monday- and we are planning on going to MGM the Thursday before. Maybe (and hopefully) I'm wrong about crowds being outrageous already? Correct me if I am!!

 

[Bob P]

If you look here you'll see that the Studios closed at 8 every night from December 10-24 in 2005.

http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/calendar/historical/historicalhours2005.asp

My guess is that they will change the closing time between now and December. Just a guess though.

 

[MomofCKJ]

I thought the same thing. We are going Dec 15-22 and I was suprised to see the early 7pm closing. I thought it would be later. I hope they do extend it like it seems they did last year. I was hoping to see the Osbourne Lights after we see Fantasmic.

Allyson

 

[Robo]

I was hoping to see the Osbourne Lights after we see Fantasmic.

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.

 

[ToontownPrincess]

Although last year I did enjoy the osbourne lights on New York Street, I really miss them on residential street. I just used to love walking down that road and seeing all the lights on actual houses!!!!!! (well not actual houses but actual house fronts)