Holiday Illuminations or Osborne Lights?? which one!

[EPCOTGAL1]

Hi Everyone: I'ma "newbie"...but not to Disney. I've never been to WDW during Holiday season but many times during spring and summer. We are staying at GF (first time - woohoo) but we are leaving GF on the 11/29 so we really only have one night...what would you do...Illuminations with special Holiday ending or the Osborne Lights? You should know that I ALWAYS get teary during Illuminations and Wishes for that matter, just because....I love them so.. Any suggestions would be most helpful! Thanks!

P.S. My friends call me a "disney freak" and remind me there are OTHER places to go in the US and World!! I just ignore them and defend my decision each and every time.

 

[WDW Monorail]

Hi Everyone: I'ma "newbie"...but not to Disney. I've never been to WDW during Holiday season but many times during spring and summer. We are staying at GF (first time - woohoo) but we are leaving GF on the 11/29 so we really only have one night...what would you do...Illuminations with special Holiday ending or the Osborne Lights? You should know that I ALWAYS get teary during Illuminations and Wishes for that matter, just because....I love them so.. Any suggestions would be most helpful! Thanks!

P.S. My friends call me a "disney freak" and remind me there are OTHER places to go in the US and World!! I just ignore them and defend my decision each and every time.

Reflections of Earth with Peace on Earth tag.

 

[kristalovesWDW]

sorry this doesn't answer your question, but i laughed at your PS. my mom is the exact same way. she said she'd love to go to hawaii or other parts of florida (universal/sea world) or mount rushmore. the last 4 vacations she's been on have been disneyworld. hahaha. but i don't care. DW is worth going to.

we're planning on going there again but during the Christmas holiday time (first or second week of December, maybe). that'll be fun. i'd love to hear the responses you get to the question though; it may help out with my future planning.

 

[FigmentRocks]

I hear ya. We go every other year and only during the Christmas Holidays 'cause it's soooooo cooool with all the Christmas decorations. :xmas: But people ask me the same thing all the time. Now, really, how can anyone really get tired of going?

 

[FigmentRocks]

By the way, I would would much prefer Illuminations to Osborne.

 

[wdwfan100]

Hi Everyone: I'ma "newbie"...but not to Disney. I've never been to WDW during Holiday season but many times during spring and summer. We are staying at GF (first time - woohoo) but we are leaving GF on the 11/29 so we really only have one night...what would you do...Illuminations with special Holiday ending or the Osborne Lights? You should know that I ALWAYS get teary during Illuminations and Wishes for that matter, just because....I love them so.. Any suggestions would be most helpful! Thanks!

P.S. My friends call me a "disney freak" and remind me there are OTHER places to go in the US and World!! I just ignore them and defend my decision each and every time.

I sure have been there. I have even been accused of secretly working for Disney (I wish) or getting kick backs for suggesting people book a trip there.

 

[Figment82]

*In theory* if you're quick and efficient with your time, you could do both. I believe the Osborne lights come on at 6pm, and Holiday IllumiNations are at 9:30. You could easily watch the Dancing Lights for a half hour or even up to an hour, then either walk, bus, or boat over to Epcot to watch the ROE tag. I've done it many times and as long as you don't stop to go on attractions, shop, or take a long dinner, you should have no problem.

 

[tdonald]

*In theory* if you're quick and efficient with your time, you could do both. I believe the Osborne lights come on at 6pm, and Holiday IllumiNations are at 9:30. You could easily watch the Dancing Lights for a half hour or even up to an hour, then either walk, bus, or boat over to Epcot to watch the ROE tag. I've done it many times and as long as you don't stop to go on attractions, shop, or take a long dinner, you should have no problem.

I'm 99% sure you're right, and, IMO, it would be worth it to get a park-hopper just for that. The Holiday tag is great, but I like the OFSoDL better. But they're both great and worth seeing, so if you can, see both. I'd suggest going to DHS all day, then walking or taking a boat over to Epcot for the fireworks. That's my advice. :wave:

 

[EPCOTGAL1]

Thanks! Great advice on the timing of both. That would have been my next question as far as when the lights go on at DHS. We are VERY efficient with getting around the parks and since they are close in proximity...you're right we could do both ESPECIALLY since they delay ROE until 9:30. Yeah! You'll find me near the "cantina" singing and with a "beverage" of some sort in hand.....! (not too loud though to embarass my 21 and 16 year old)

 

[goodolgm]

It IS possible to do both...I had my family visiting me on my College Program last December...I made sure we were there for the switch-on at 6:00pm and we walked around a little bit...then we actually made it back in time to Epcot for the final Candlelight Processional of the evening, then saw RoE w/ the PoE tag. It can be done, you just gotta be a little ambitious/efficient.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

Welcome to the boards ~ lots of great people & info here. :wave:

I have been to WDW for holiday time once, in 2006. My personal favorite thing was the Osbourne festival of lights. I was overwhelmed by them, and I loved how it "snowed" during them. All of the holiday festivities were great though, and I agree that you would have time to do both of the things you want to do.

If you decide to ONLY do Osbourne, I'd wait about an hour into it. A CM gave me that tip. People line up before it starts, and mob in as soon as it opens. If you want an hour, the crowd disperses a lot. It doesn't take a whole lot of time to see the Osbourne lights, IMO, so you definitely should try to do both. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[maryt01]

osbourne lights, no doubt. we go to wdw every dec. my favorite time to go

 

[Bug715]

Hi Everyone: I'ma "newbie"...but not to Disney. I've never been to WDW during Holiday season but many times during spring and summer. We are staying at GF (first time - woohoo) but we are leaving GF on the 11/29 so we really only have one night...what would you do...Illuminations with special Holiday ending or the Osborne Lights? You should know that I ALWAYS get teary during Illuminations and Wishes for that matter, just because....I love them so.. Any suggestions would be most helpful! Thanks!

P.S. My friends call me a "disney freak" and remind me there are OTHER places to go in the US and World!! I just ignore them and defend my decision each and every time.

Why don't you do both? You can walk or take a boat from park to park. When my parents visited me we did both one night cause I loved the Osborne lights so much and wanted to see the Illuminations Holiday ending. I don't remember what time the lights were turned on but we were there for that and looked around for a bit then walked over to EPCOT for the fireworks.

If you have to choose just one I would say... Heck I can't choose!! Maybe Osborne.. No Illuminations. Ok I'm no help on choosing! I LOVE them both!!

 

[krankenstein]

I would do both b/c it is possible. I've done it.

If you park hopping is not an option Illuminations: ROE with Peace on Earth tag beats OFODL 10 times over to me. I am huge ROE fan, when they add the tag a Christmas ROE is perfect.

 

[Rob562]

So I'm assuming we're talking about the evening of the 28th here?
If so, that night is also scheduled to have Evening EMH at Epcot, so after Reflections of Earth you'll be able to stay and get in a couple more attractions.

-Rob

 

[fizzle75]

If your itinerary prohibits you from doing both I personally would say do not miss the Osborne Lights. We try to go every December, we will be there from Nov. 28th-Dec. 9th this year, and while I love Illuminations with the Holiday tag it just doesn't scratch my itch for holiday cheer like the Osborne lights do. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is a much more immersive experience than Illuminations IMHO. You are surrounded by gorgeous lights that "dance" to the brilliant song selections(I especially love it when they play Trans Siberian Orchestra) while snow is blown from the roof tops overhead...it's just an amazing experience that fills me with holiday cheer. I'm an absolute Christmas freak, I live for the holiday season, and nobody does Christmas better than Disney.

If at all possible I say try to do both as other posters have said but if you
must choose I strongly recommend the Osborne lights. Have a great trip and welcome to the boards!:wave::xmas:

 

[kcw]

I'm gonna agree with Fizzle- if you can do both, great, but if not, definitely shoot for Osbourne! (granted, this is coming from somebody who doesn't really care for Illuminations in the first place )

 

[LoriMistress]

Personally, I enjoy them both for different reasons. The "snow" is always nice, with the tons of Christmas Lights, but for the last night, Epcot may be teh better choice.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Firstly - Welcome aboard :wave:

Secondly - if you must choose between Osborne or Illuminations I'd choose Illuminations (but then again I've never seen the Osborne Lights).

As others have posted - Park Hop and see them both

 

[TheDisneyMagic]

If I had to pick between one or the other I would definately watch Illuminations with the holiday tag, it is superb. Although the Osbourne lights are something very different, if you have seen illuminations before the addition although is great is not that much different to the rest of the show. Where as the lights over at the Studios are very different to other night time events.