Osborne Lights - anything new?

[Figment1986]

I just saw something posted on twitter about a new addition to the Osborne Lights. They have digital windows showing snow falling in the Chevrolet building. Here is a link to the twitpic.

http://twitpic.com/3561ef

I got some video, they Only turn on when the snow is going... otherwise they are off... it's only in that building and only those windows, I would guess it's a field test for the tech (I previously saw this tech used in Bill and Ted at HHN orlando)

http://www.twitvid.com/S4PYL

 

[yoda_5729]

That's not new. Those were free in previous years and last year they were selling them. There's no significant effect, looks a bit like a dizzying mess when you put them on.

The glasses aren't new, and there have actually been a few different versions. Basically if you look at an individual light, you should see small things circling it. One year it was angels with horns, another year I think it was snowflakes. The trick is to try to look at one individual light bulb, the smaller and more concentrated the better. Looking at a street light will basically just give off a halo like view. If looking at the whole walls of lights though the effect does become pretty blurry.

I just actually tried the glasses I got last year and basically they just reproduced the image of the light, so that you saw more and more lights, but in earlier years they had actual images that could be seen surrounding the lights.

 

[rct247]

I just saw something posted on twitter about a new addition to the Osborne Lights. They have digital windows showing snow falling in the Chevrolet building. Here is a link to the twitpic.

http://twitpic.com/3561ef

Very interesting. Those were not in use for the preview on Friday night. I did however point to those windows before the preview. I had noticed they looked different than the others as if it had extra lights in them. Now it all makes sense.

 

[Amused to Death]

(I previously saw this tech used in Bill and Ted at HHN orlando)

Check out Deck the Halls (2006), starring Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick. The fully animated LED display makes the Osborne Lights look tame in comparison.

A short clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfdEDzxzmyA

Color Kinetics' press release on the technology used in the film:

http://www.colorkinetics.com/corp/news/pr/releases/2006-11-13_deck.html

I haven't seen this year's show, yet, but Trans-Siberian Orchestra used multiple see-thru LED video screens and LED video backdrop curtains during their 2009 concert tour.

 

[Figment1986]

Check out Deck the Halls (2006), starring Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick. The fully animated LED display makes the Osborne Lights look tame in comparison.

A short clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfdEDzxzmyA

Color Kinetics' press release on the technology used in the film:

http://www.colorkinetics.com/corp/news/pr/releases/2006-11-13_deck.html

I haven't seen this year's show, yet, but Trans-Siberian Orchestra used multiple see-thru LED video screens and LED video backdrop curtains during their 2009 concert tour.

I would assume since that movie the tech has gotten more affordable... I've never seen it used by theme parks before this year, and now it's the 2nd "test" this time by Disney... I guess if they like it they will expand it's use since it doesn't have any programing other than when snow is falling right now.

 

[Amused to Death]

I would assume since that movie the tech has gotten more affordable...

Very. You can pick up a 100mm dot pitch video curtain for under $250 a square meter. They're quite common at clubs and in use by many a traveling DJ and band these days.

Here's a clip showing a (more expensive) 25mm dot pitch ShowVision LED curtain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOXlviAWUGE

Back to Disney...

Last summer's Rock 'n' Glow Dance Party with Mulch, Sweat and Shears at Disney's Hollywood Studios featured LED video panels:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhdOzQJUHQ8

 

[Mammymouse]

I'm a little confused why this window effect is showing snow falling inside the building? Must be the way I'm looking at it. I sometimes interpret things differently than others!

 

[Amused to Death]

I'm a little confused why this window effect is showing snow falling inside the building? Must be the way I'm looking at it. I sometimes interpret things differently than others!

I thought the exact same thing when I saw it. A rather stupid use for a LED video screen... especially considering that there is "real" snow falling for most of the night. If you want to fake the snow, it would make more sense to use projections on the sides of the buildings.

 

[Figment1986]

I thought the exact same thing when I saw it. A rather stupid use for a LED video screen... especially considering that there is "real" snow falling for most of the night. If you want to fake the snow, it would make more sense to use projections on the sides of the buildings.

It was probably a last minute test for a concept for the future... they may want to see how these hold up, I didn't notice them being turned on any other time except when the Foam machines were turned on but maybe they didn't finish the programing for them yet :shrug:

 

[Figment1986]

Finally got a good video up showing them turning on, you can sort of hear the foam machines turning on at the same time.
[youtube]yOC5MVeXyD0[/youtube]

 

[rct247]

Here is an example of the Phineas and Ferb interuption.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO_XyXbcUwc

 

[Amused to Death]

they may want to see how these hold up

LED video curtains/screens are good for 100,000 plus hours, with individual ailing LEDs easily replaced, so I'm not sure why you'd need to test them for any sort of durability. Nor would it matter what was being projected on them while you were performing the test.

Kevin McCallister did a better job of "projecting" indoor activity in Home Alone (1990), and he didn't have the benefit of LED screens.

Here is an example of the Phineas and Ferb interuption.

Does anyone else think the Phineas and Ferb segment lasts way too long? Their explanation as to how they are going to repair the lights needs to be reduced by a factor of four. With all of the ambient crowd noise, and the sound echoing as it bounces off of the buildings, it's difficult to hear what they're saying. For the most part, you're left with guests standing around wondering why the lights are out. It may have sounded like a clever idea in development, but in practice, not so much.

I thought the Doofenshmirtz segment was better, time wise, but I'll be darned if I could understand half of what was being said. I told myself that I needed to borrow someone's eight-year-old in order to figure out what was going on.

While, it is nice to see Phineas and Ferb stuff being incorporated into the park, I didn't think the "radio spots" really did much for the event. It was kind of a story clash. Here I am mesmerized by millions of lights and I had to try to focus on what they were saying to figure out what was going on. So, I didn't care much for them...

Agreed. The Phineas and Ferb segments stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[Mammymouse]

LED video curtains/screens are good for 100,000 plus hours, with individual ailing LEDs easily replaced, so I'm not sure why you'd need to test them for any sort of durability. Nor would it matter what was being projected on them while you were performing the test.

Kevin McCallister did a better job of "projecting" indoor activity in Home Alone (1990), and he didn't have the benefit of LED screens.


Does anyone else think the Phineas and Ferb segment lasts way too long? Their explanation as to how they are going to repair the lights needs to be reduced by a factor of four. With all of the ambient crowd noise, and the sound echoing as it bounces off of the buildings, it's difficult to hear what they're saying. For the most part, you're left with guests standing around wondering why the lights are out. It may have sounded like a clever idea in development, but in practice, not so much.

I thought the Doofenshmirtz segment was better, time wise, but I'll be darned if I could understand half of what was being said. I told myself that I needed to borrow someone's eight-year-old in order to figure out what was going on.


Agreed. The Phineas and Ferb segments stick out like a sore thumb.

I agree! I have a 6 year old granddaughter and she doesn't watch Phineas and Ferb so I don't know much about them, although I do know who they are and what they look like. It seems like a shameless ad and to put them in the Christmas program just doesn't seem right to me, and I rarely criticize Disney.

 

[Figment1986]

LED video curtains/screens are good for 100,000 plus hours, with individual ailing LEDs easily replaced, so I'm not sure why you'd need to test them for any sort of durability. Nor would it matter what was being projected on them while you were performing the test.

Kevin McCallister did a better job of "projecting" indoor activity in Home Alone (1990), and he didn't have the benefit of LED screens.

my guess, they are just seeing how it can work for a wide spread use next year :shrug: see how it holds up to Florida's polar opposite weather patterns during the season :shrug: that and they had access to them and decided to throw them in last min to see how it looks for widespread expansion in future seasons, hence their limited programing :shrug:

I agree! I have a 6 year old granddaughter and she doesn't watch Phineas and Ferb so I don't know much about them, although I do know who they are and what they look like. It seems like a shameless ad and to put them in the Christmas program just doesn't seem right to me, and I rarely criticize Disney.

they have enough popularity that they sort of work... at least they changed out one song this year, even if you don't know who Phineas and ferb are it is a nice change.

 

[docandsix]

Doof was the highlight of the evening for my family!

We happened to be at DHS on opening night for this year's Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights and for us, the interruption by Dr. Doofenschmirtz was an unexpected bonus that capped off our trip with smiles and laughter from the whole crew. It was liked being transported instantly into the Tri-State Area--the kind of magical moment that Disney seems to lack too often these days.

(Trip report, perhaps, in coming days.)

 

[Amused to Death]

my guess ... see how it holds up to Florida's polar opposite weather patterns during the season

LED screens made for outdoor use would have no trouble with conditions in Florida or Ohio or Maine. Have you watched an outdoor sporting event lately?

decided to throw them in last min to see how it looks for widespread expansion in future seasons, hence their limited programing

LED screens can display anything you throw at them from a connected PC (AVI, MOV, MPG, VOB, etc.), so it wouldn't take much effort to display something other than snow flakes. In less than 10 seconds, you could be broadcasting your favorite YouTube videos.

at least they changed out one song this year, even if you don't know who Phineas and ferb are it is a nice change.

They didn't change out one song, they added one, so now there are six dancing lights selections instead of five. The new song is Christmas is Starting by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

 

[Mammymouse]

Is the overall design and placement of the display basically the same as last year? If I remember right the side street (San Francisco?) area was a new design last year. I won't ask where the Cat is hidden this year because we plan to look for it when we go.

 

[Amused to Death]

Is the overall design and placement of the display basically the same as last year? If I remember right the side street (San Francisco?) area was a new design last year.

It's mostly the same. The Bar-B-Q grill is a different style and in a different location. No sign of the Flying Spaghetti Monster this year.

I won't ask where the Cat is hidden this year because we plan to look for it when we go.

The cat is pretty easy to find this year.

 

[Master Yoda]

It's mostly the same. The Bar-B-Q grill is a different style and in a different location. No sign of the Flying Spaghetti Monster this year.


The cat is pretty easy to find this year.

 

[sarajo]

The addition of Phineas and Ferb was not last minute. I heard about it through the grapevine several months ago, so it's been in the works for a while.

If you LOVE the lights, let your voices be heard to cast members. They NEED to know how much this attraction is liked/LOVED by the paying public!!