Osborne Lights ending for good (or not) due to Star Wars expansion?

[SirLink]

Every square inch of WDW is prime real estate. Parks with seasonal offerings need a flex area in which to put them. SoA fits that bill nicely.

You could easily build and erect a SoA in the parking lot and have guests use their admission to get in to view the lights if they so desire. The park needs attractions that are open 365 stat.

 

[Master Yoda]

You could easily build and erect a SoA in the parking lot and have guests use their admission to get in to view the lights if they so desire. The park needs attractions that are open 365 stat.

I agree, but I am still back to my main point, expansion not replacement.

 

[CDavid]

DCA 2.0 didn't involve tearing down much of anything, save for the hubcap fountain to put in the Carthay, and taking out the golden gate bridge thingy. Disney doesn't really do mass demolitions.

Please tell that to Horizons.

And
Contemporary North Garden Wings
20,000 Leagues
Vacation Villas, Fairway Villas, and Club Lake Villas (and Treehouses, but those were rebuilt)
Portions of Pleasure Island

... and so on.

 

[FlaMel]

How about this for the truth? The Osborne lights WILL end for good........someday. In my opinion, not anytime soon.

 

[SirLink]

I agree, but I am still back to my main point, expansion not replacement.

If they want to remove the working studios portion they have to - but they can do both they choose to not though

 

[surfsupdon]

The seasonal lights are much better than many year round attractions. Those lights are quality!

It was an adjustment when the Lights left Residential Street, took a one year hiatus, and came back in the City...but at least they were never lost. Hopefully the Lights can remain, even if in a different location. MGM would not have a Christmas headliner if the Lights were removed.

 

[AndyMagic]

Maybe I'm just old school but the real charm of Christmas lights has always been walking around my hometown with my family and enjoying the lights on real homes (not facades) and marveling at some of the more complex lighting designs that people in the neighborhood spent weeks putting together themselves. Can someone explain to me the appeal of staring at a corporate installation of string-lights on the backlot of a theme park?

 

[danlb_2000]

Maybe I'm just old school but the real charm of Christmas lights has always been walking around my hometown with my family and enjoying the lights on real homes (not facades) and marveling at some of the more complex lighting designs that people in the neighborhood spent weeks putting together themselves. Can someone explain to me the appeal of staring at a corporate installation of string-lights on the backlot of a theme park?

When I go to see Christmas lights I go to see the final product, who put them up and how much effort was involved doesn't matter as much to me as the final product. The lights, combined with the music and the snow make for a really nice holiday atmosphere in that part of the park. If you have a problem with something being to "corporate" then Disney might not be the best place for you.

I enjoy driving around my town looking at light, but there are also lots of places do professional light shows, Hershey park for example, that are also worth seeing.

 

[bubbles1812]

Maybe I'm just old school but the real charm of Christmas lights has always been walking around my hometown with my family and enjoying the lights on real homes (not facades) and marveling at some of the more complex lighting designs that people in the neighborhood spent weeks putting together themselves. Can someone explain to me the appeal of staring at a corporate installation of string-lights on the backlot of a theme park?

Dude, Im not a supporter of corporations, but can you really get no enjoyment out of seeing thousands of lights coordinated to music in a very fun place? Home community Christmas lights can be lovely to be sure (though in my city a least, less and less people are choosing to participate... And seriously, how many people spend "weeks" putting up Christmas lights? 2?) , but it isn't like you can't like both.

My home town does a huge holiday lights display in the water works park area. It has corporate sponsors. But it's still a community event that thousands go see... And is something that workers really did spend weeks on.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

Honestly? Kill The Lights. They've run their course (as have the Osbournes) IMO.

 

[DizFiz]

I love to see the star wars expansion happen but then again I really would hate to see the Osborne Lights leave. I highly doubt Disney will end the lights as it is a major crowd drawer during the holidays for the park... wall to wall traffic down streets of America every-time I've been there. Disney can take away the legendary Residental Street but please don't take away the Osborne Lights... maybe incorporate the lights into the new land.

 

[Lord_Vader]

We travel 1000 miles each year to see the lights and WDW. The Osborne lights have been around as long as my children have been alive (20 and 16) and used to be able to walk up the street to see them. They, while a bit over the top, are a symbol of Jennings Osborne's phylanthropy and his drive to always do it bigger and brighter. When neighbors complained, lawsuits and all, we supported them even though the traffic was an absolute nightmare over the Thansgiving & Christmas holidays.

Over the past few years Disney as consistantly cut back on the holiday decorations, merchendise, etc. and have simply watered it down to the point of it being nearly a waste of time. The decorations are stale and should be refreshed, not removed and the Osborne lights are one of the few areas Disney has refreshed each year and made just a little better each time we visit. The kids always search for the black cat, the Osborne's stockings, and point out Little Rock on the globe.

Simply put, they are a major reason we visit WDW each and every Christmas instead of other times of the year. As so many other posters have stated, this has become a tradition to many families, if they are moved I would hope they are treated accordingly and given another new life as Disney did when they moved most of Jennings lights to Orlando.

 

[bgraham34]

This is tradition for many families to make a trip to see the lights. My friend is already planning a trip next year with his family just to see the lights. If they don't have the lights up I know for sure he would not go. Disney would be foolish to remove the lights. They might move them but I am sure it would be a huge uproar if it were removed completely. Scaled back maybe, but don't removed them.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

I as well as many people will be MAD! if this happens

 

[Lisalyn]

Kill the lights?? NEVER!

The first time my sappy self experienced Osborne Lights you would have thought I was a 5 year old experiencing the holidays for the first time. It was and is awe inspiring, overwhelming....beautiful, fantastic and MAGICAL! The music, the snow...the dancing and merriment by everyone experiencing the lights is in itself utterly amazing.

I will be sad if they leave DHS however....moving them over to Epcot as is rumored I think would be just as fantastic! Can you imagine touring the "World" and experiencing the lights in the round? Holy cow the options are numerous!!

 

[wdwmagic]

Kinda doubt LMA is going anywhere,

You wanna bet?

 

[NoChesterHester]

You wanna bet?

How about a Mickey Ice Cream Bar?

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

So far I have only seen the Osborne Lights once on the SoA but I really enjoyed them and would hate to see them go. Wish I could have seen the Lights of Winter in Epcot before they were retired.

 

[danlb_2000]

You wanna bet?

Didn't LMA used to run more then two shows a day?

 

[luv]

Geez, people getting ed about some lights going away, what would you guys rather have, twinkling lights two months a year or a MUCH needed park expansion?

Twinkling lights. Not joking.