Osborne Lights Officially Returning for 2015 for 20th and Final Season

[Baltar]

I loved the Osbourne Lights. I'm making an unscheduled trip to go see them one last time. however, all evidence points to major things coming to DHS. The streets are dead 10 months a year. While the lights will be missed, what is coming will be better. I understand why they can't be saved.

It's okay to miss them but hopefully we'll get further Christmas decor elsewhere to make up for it!

 

[Debbie]

I haven't been here in a while and sign on to read this I was upset the Lights of Winter were discontinued and now this. I really hope Disney comes out with a plan for these lights somewhere on the property.

 

[danlb_2000]

I haven't been here in a while and sign on to read this I was upset the Lights of Winter were discontinued and now this. I really hope Disney comes out with a plan for these lights somewhere on the property.

They have been pretty clear that they are going away for good.

 

[yoda_5729]

I understand it's unlikely that we will ever be seeing the Osborne lights show. As much as that stings though, maybe Disney can come up with a way to have another light show, as it was unquestionably popular.

I do understand the problems with putting the lights on store fronts or resorts, as those buildings need to be in use for other purposes, whereas the facades on Streets of America did not. With all the land Walt Disney World has, I think they could build new facades elsewhere and easily display them. Since their just storefronts, they wouldn't cost much. I know for Star Wars Weekends, and ESPN Weekends in the past (I have never been when those are going on), there are backstage areas of the park opened up for use for those events. Just do that here. If Hollywood studios is too crowded, try Blizzard Beach, or an area of Disney Springs that can be a laid back park region for 10 months of the year and the light display other times. The concept of Star Wars going there I'm not going to argue with, but facades can go almost anywhere, and they don't cost that much. Should they be near the dead center of a park you are trying to rejuvenate, no, but could they be on the fringes or even backstage, sure. I vaguely remember the Millennium Village tent is still there, and used for Conventions or private matters. Most don't even know it's there, so it's effect on the park is zero. If they opened that up 4 months out of the year, then closed it again, what really is the problem.

I think if they were going to do this again, or attempt it even, they should separate one part, a part that is either backstage, or is not even used right now. Designate that the area for the lights, but then keep it closed off from the park. Any effect installation would cause, would be meaningless, as it's not even a part of the park/attraction except the two or three months the lights run. During those months, open it up, and other then that close it off. This might seem like a lot of space to devote for a 3 month light show, but when you figure Wonders of Life, Odyssey Center, etc. It'd be away more beneficial use of space then those are now.

 

[JohnD]

I understand it's unlikely that we will ever be seeing the Osborne lights show. As much as that stings though, maybe Disney can come up with a way to have another light show, as it was unquestionably popular.

I do understand the problems with putting the lights on store fronts or resorts, as those buildings need to be in use for other purposes, whereas the facades on Streets of America did not. With all the land Walt Disney World has, I think they could build new facades elsewhere and easily display them. Since their just storefronts, they wouldn't cost much. I know for Star Wars Weekends, and ESPN Weekends in the past (I have never been when those are going on), there are backstage areas of the park opened up for use for those events. Just do that here. If Hollywood studios is too crowded, try Blizzard Beach, or an area of Disney Springs that can be a laid back park region for 10 months of the year and the light display other times. The concept of Star Wars going there I'm not going to argue with, but facades can go almost anywhere, and they don't cost that much. Should they be near the dead center of a park you are trying to rejuvenate, no, but could they be on the fringes or even backstage, sure. I vaguely remember the Millennium Village tent is still there, and used for Conventions or private matters. Most don't even know it's there, so it's effect on the park is zero. If they opened that up 4 months out of the year, then closed it again, what really is the problem.

I think if they were going to do this again, or attempt it even, they should separate one part, a part that is either backstage, or is not even used right now. Designate that the area for the lights, but then keep it closed off from the park. Any effect installation would cause, would be meaningless, as it's not even a part of the park/attraction except the two or three months the lights run. During those months, open it up, and other then that close it off. This might seem like a lot of space to devote for a 3 month light show, but when you figure Wonders of Life, Odyssey Center, etc. It'd be away more beneficial use of space then those are now.

I think decorating Toy Story Land for the holidays would be really cool. Maybe not to the same extent as the Osborne Lights but you're in Andy's neighborhood not a fictional galaxy far, far away.

 

[dstrawn9889]

I think decorating Toy Story Land for the holidays would be really cool. Maybe not to the same extent as the Osborne Lights but you're in Andy's neighborhood not a fictional galaxy far, far away.

who said it was fictional?

 

[note2001]

who said it was fictional?

Next they'll be saying Darth Vader was the voice of James Earl Jones but a white dude took his place at the unmasking.

 

[alissafalco]

Not to start a debate, and I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned, but UNI should take this idea and do it. They have streets/area perfect for this.

 

[Dwarful]

Well, we were at a family wedding this past weekend. My brother surprised us all asking if we would all be willing to do a Disney Christmas one last time. So, here comes 14 people who weren't planning on going....on our way for a week long trip in Dec. yikes. The stress of last minute planning...but seeing the lights one last time will be worth it....

 

[ToTBellHop]

Well, we were at a family wedding this past weekend. My brother surprised us all asking if we would all be willing to do a Disney Christmas one last time. So, here comes 14 people who weren't planning on going....on our way for a week long trip in Dec. yikes. The stress of last minute planning...but seeing the lights one last time will be worth it....

You poor thing having to plan a trip to Disney World

 

[Baltar]

You poor thing having to plan a trip to Disney World

The struggle!

 

[Dwarful]

Oh I am sure I can deal. lol I'm just used to a little more notice.

 

[ToTBellHop]

The struggle!

...is real.

 

[bjm72385]

While I understand the lights need to go to make room for expansions at DHS which is desperately needed, I can't understand why they wouldn't try to relocate it bc of its popularity. My thoughts are why not move them to Downtown Disney/Disney Springs. Construction there would be finished by Christmas 2016 right? That would alleviate over-crowding any of the parks more than they already are, plus you're attracting a huge crowd into the brand new shopping district that is full of shops so people will spend more $$$. Seems like a win win to me if the new Disney Springs can handle the extra crowds, but with the two huge new parking garages and new shopping and dining areas, I can't see why they couldn't make it work.

 

[JohnD]

While I understand the lights need to go to make room for expansions at DHS which is desperately needed, I can't understand why they wouldn't try to relocate it bc of its popularity. My thoughts are why not move them to Downtown Disney/Disney Springs. Construction there would be finished by Christmas 2016 right? That would alleviate over-crowding any of the parks more than they already are, plus you're attracting a huge crowd into the brand new shopping district that is full of shops so people will spend more $$$. Seems like a win win to me if the new Disney Springs can handle the extra crowds, but with the two huge new parking garages and new shopping and dining areas, I can't see why they couldn't make it work.

The best explanation I had read is that there is no other area that has the infrastructure in place that would allow it. The Osborne Lights are essentially on a movie lot. The facades look like buildings but scaffolding behind it. Putting the lights up anywhere else would inconvenience the areas that are well-trafficked. I will miss the lights too but I get why they have to come down to make way for SW and Toy Story lands.

 

[note2001]

The best explanation I had read is that there is no other area that has the infrastructure in place that would allow it. The Osborne Lights are essentially on a movie lot. The facades look like buildings but scaffolding behind it. Putting the lights up anywhere else would inconvenience the areas that are well-trafficked. I will miss the lights too but I get why they have to come down to make way for SW and Toy Story lands.

Perhaps Disney will continue the lights but under a different name, and obviously a different location (remember, Disney owns parks around the globe). Didn't I read that their agreement with the family was up this year?

 

[danlb_2000]

While I understand the lights need to go to make room for expansions at DHS which is desperately needed, I can't understand why they wouldn't try to relocate it bc of its popularity. My thoughts are why not move them to Downtown Disney/Disney Springs. Construction there would be finished by Christmas 2016 right? That would alleviate over-crowding any of the parks more than they already are, plus you're attracting a huge crowd into the brand new shopping district that is full of shops so people will spend more $$$. Seems like a win win to me if the new Disney Springs can handle the extra crowds, but with the two huge new parking garages and new shopping and dining areas, I can't see why they couldn't make it work.

One of the big problems with moving them somewhere else is that they take 3 to 4 months to put up and I would assume another month or two to take down. This isn't a problem for the Streets of America since they aren't really used for anything else, but could you imaging that much disruption in a place like Disney Springs? Look how much people hate seeing the crane behind the castle for a few months.

 

[roj2323]

One of the big problems with moving them somewhere else is that they take 3 to 4 months to put up and I would assume another month or two to take down. This isn't a problem for the Streets of America since they aren't really used for anything else, but could you imaging that much disruption in a place like Disney Springs? Look how much people hate seeing the crane behind the castle for a few months.

There isn't much disruption on SOA during setup and take down. The worst of it is the far end of san francisco st. being closed off for assembly of the earth and other large objects. Honestly it's not that much space and for that matter we don't need the earth and other large objects to keep the Osbourne lights. This is why I have said repeatedly that the Osbourne lights would be great for Disney springs new town center area. The lights get put up at night while no one is around. For that matter they could do away with the lights all together and do projections of color onto the buildings (like wishes) without the need for any light stringing.

 

[bjm72385]

One of the big problems with moving them somewhere else is that they take 3 to 4 months to put up and I would assume another month or two to take down. This isn't a problem for the Streets of America since they aren't really used for anything else, but could you imaging that much disruption in a place like Disney Springs? Look how much people hate seeing the crane behind the castle for a few months.

Didn't think about that part. And speaking of castle lights, I have noticed how much people complain about that crane. I don't guess Disney ever thought of bringing in a second or maybe third crane each night to set up in front to try to expedite the process? Probably isn't very cost effective and perhaps too far of a reach too.

 

[bjm72385]

There isn't much disruption on SOA during setup and take down. The worst of it is the far end of san francisco st. being closed off for assembly of the earth and other large objects. Honestly it's not that much space and for that matter we don't need the earth and other large objects to keep the Osbourne lights. This is why I have said repeatedly that the Osbourne lights would be great for Disney springs new town center area. The lights get put up at night while no one is around. For that matter they could do away with the lights all together and do projections of color onto the buildings (like wishes) without the need for any light stringing.

The new town center area is exactly what I had in mind when I first posted. That section is still in the fairly early stages of construction if I'm not mistaken, so I would think they still have enough time to make possible modifications to accommodate the lights, as well as make modifications to the lights and show itself and maybe have a smaller display but still preserving at least some of the Osborne lights. Like you said they could be put up at night, and since these are actual buildings, I'd think it might would be easier to start on the roof and hang them over to install maybe? I'm a huge fan of them, and it's not going to be the same at Disney for Christmas without them. Plus since they already have projections on the castle and I'm sure one day down Main Street too like DL, I would hope they wouldn't replace the lights with more projections. I'm afraid all of this is just wishful thinking, just glad I'm going to see them one last time this December!