Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights to Close After This Year

[MW1218]

Confirmed by Disney on the Parks Blog.

"As you plan ahead, we also wanted you to know that this holiday season will mark the finale for The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. The display of lights has enjoyed a successful run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, going all the way back to when it first appeared on Residential Street.
In order to prepare for some incredible experiences coming to the park, including the recently announced Toy Story Land and a Star Wars-themed land, we will not be able to present The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights in the future. Our heartfelt thanks go out to the family of Jennings Osborne for letting us share their family tradition year after year. And thank you to all of you for being part of the spectacle with us. Here’s to making more memories in this, the 20th and final year."

Also:

Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights – Celebrate A Holiday Tradition One More Time


With the holidays right around the corner, there are two more options for seasonal fun coming to the Walt Disney World® Resort. This year at Disney's Hollywood Studios®, guests can enjoy two special experiences as they are surrounded by The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights – the Merry & Bright Dessert Party (Nov. 6-Dec. 30, 2015) and the Merry & Bright Dinner Reception (Jan. 1-3, 2016).

The dessert party includes holiday-themed desserts, while the dinner reception features a selection of small bites, including beef, shrimp, and turkey, as well as wine, beer, and specialty beverages. Reservations for both the Merry & Bright Dessert Party and Dinner Reception will be available beginning Sept. 16, 2015.

Please note that this season marks the finale for The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, as the park prepares for incredible new experiences, including the recently announced Toy Story Land and a Star Wars-themed land.

[Cass&KenziesMom]

I'm so glad we got to see it this past Christmas!

[cuteduck223]

this is always one of our favorite nights over christmas vacation. i was really sad to hear its going away. :(

[Katzateer]

One of my and Grandma's favorite Christmas time traditions. I will miss it.

Glad I will get to see it this December!!:thumbsup:

[EeyoresBestFriend]

The end of a great tradition. Hope that this year is better than ever as a final hurrah.

I'm glad that we will get to see it :thumbsup:

[laprana]

Oh, this makes me sad. :cry: I knew there have been rumors about it closing, but still...what a bummer that it's now official. I'm glad I'll get to see it one last time in November!

[Jeff]

Very sad news. Seeing these lights has become a Christmas tradition for my family!

[forever a child]

So sad! I am so glad I will get to see them one last time! :sad:

[SurferStitch]

So sad. But... I am thankful we will get to see it this December. I'll have to carve out some extra time to see it a few times.

[KronkHere]

We will miss it! It was a family highlight, favorite tradition during our Thanksgiving week visits. So sad to to see it go.

:sadwave:

[Stu29573]

I'm glad my grandkids will see them this December!

[DisneyDadfromPittsburgh]

Another sad vote here, so glad I and the family got to experience it

[DNS]

I love these lights. Worth a trip just to see them. :(

[PopPhan]

I guess that really puts the nail in the proverbial coffin for the Streets of America. Not that there was much going on in that area other than OSL, but will still be sad to see it go.

[DisneyEpcotDad]

:mickey: Since the first time seeing it in person it has been a must see when visiting Disney in November/December. I'm hoping Disney will relocate it somewhere else on the vast property holdings of Disney World. I'm sure it would do well still attendance wise as an attraction of it's own with a separate entry fee to see it.
:waycool:

[Pally]

Very sad to see it go. Very happy we are visiting this Christmas. Love the lights.:mickey:

[John]

Seems to me they could have moved this elsewhere... and kept the tradition going. Sad this is coming to an end.

[Jeff]

Seems to me they could have moved this elsewhere... and kept the tradition going. Sad this is coming to an end.

Agreed. Move it to the Boardwalk Area!

[Ed]

I see that an online petition has been started asking Disney to keep this.

I agree with Jeff that the Boardwalk area would seem to be a perfect location to relocate the display, but knowing Disney, if they relocate it anywhere it will be an area that has an admi$$ion charge.

[brad192]

Even if Disney doesn't want to keep it or relocate it, it's such a grand spectacle that it should be displayed somewhere! They could sell (or donate) it to another park or organization that would lovingly preserve the magic and tradition of it for years to come. I'd still rather they hang onto it though.

[Stu29573]

They should donate it to Marceline Mo! Walt would approve!

[Terra]

I'm going to have to take my kiddos to see it this year. I've been through it several times, but my sons haven't.
I'm glad they ending it to make progress, but I too hate to see it go completely.
I think it would be awesome in World Showcase. Would love to see all the Countries lit up at night, with "snow" falling. That would be pretty magical!

[big blue and hairy]

I hope this decision changes once the park is finished. I understand during construction it wouldn't work, but the idea of all those lights in Toy Story Land is kinda cool.

:sulley:

[Tearin_it_up]

The end of a great tradition. Hope that this year is better than ever as a final hurrah.

I'm glad that we will get to see it :thumbsup:

Taking attractions away seems to be Disney's newest growing tradition

[RedSoxFan]

Very sad to see this go and look forward to seeing it one last time this December.

[2Epcot]

Have never seen it! Many trips to WDW, but have never been there during the Christmas holiday season.

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

One of my favorite holiday experiences at WDW, second only to the Candlelight Processional. Disappointed, we were going to go last Nov/Dec but ended up having to go in Jan/Feb because of scheduling, so we missed the holiday celebrations and going a 2nd time in 2015 not even remotely in our budget. Fortunately we've seen it many times, and I think somewhere I have part of it recorded, so will always have the memories.

You'd think as popular as this is, that Disney Imagineers would find some way/place to repurpose this display. Frankly, EPCOT's holiday traditions have really gone down hill, I still miss the lighted archways that used to be up and lead to the Christmas tree. Would be nice if they could somehow incorporate it into World Showcase or something.

I guess DHS must truly die before it can rise again.

[NewDVCowner]

I'm holding out hope that they'll re-name it and introduce it somewhere else. I remember very clearly when The Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland was going away 'forever.' There was a huge media campaign going on and on about how you'll never see it again.

Then a couple of years later the parade came back at California Adventure with a new name - same parade.

Kind of like how they put in all the advertising about how such and such a movie is going into the vault and never will be back, - only about five years later it's re-released as a 'gold edition.' This is just my speculation, but I've seen Disney do stuff like this before - going on and on about how you need to go see it now because it's going away forever, and then re-introducing it with a slightly different name.

[Daisy'sMom]

We always went to see the lights the day after Thanksgiving. This is a huge disappointment and I'm getting very discouraged with the changes Disney has made in the past few years. I've been going to Disney since opening day in 1971 and now that I'm older, I guess I just don't like change. there was a period in the early 90s that had us rethinking our passes and then things improved. I'm hoping this is like then. Seems Iger and Staggs have lost Walt's vision and are just, as my DH says, greedy ^*%#_\|}.

[Speedy1998]

Agreed. Move it to the Boardwalk Area!

I was thinking Disney Springs, but the Boardwalk would work too.

Bonus, it would get people to leave the parks, in the evening, during one of the busiest times of the year.

[PlutoToo]

I'm hoping for a couple of evenings at the lights this fall as this is our favorite reason to go to DHS. When this goes away, I'll have 2 maybe 3 rides to go to this park for. I sure wish they woyld repurpose the lights and keep them.

[acts]

So, I can't believe it but I have never actually seen these lights. I am definitely going to have to go this year. What suggestions do you have for me? Best times to go? Highlights? Any special things to see or do? Do you just walk around and look at them? Thanks!

[baldburke]

So, I can't believe it but I have never actually seen these lights. I am definitely going to have to go this year. What suggestions do you have for me? Best times to go? Highlights? Any special things to see or do? Do you just walk around and look at them? Thanks!

My recommendation would be some where between 11/8 and 11/21 or 11/29 and 12/19. None of the holiday weeks for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's.

Crowds will be through the roof on those weeks. Typically it's less busy in early December because kids are wrapping up school and it's just hard to take time out before the holidays. I know the one time we went it felt like there was no holiday season because there was maybe one full weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas. So you'll need to be on your game if you like to shop and decorate at home, but hey...who doesn't like WDW souvenirs as Christmas gifts?

On the flip side, I was probably one of the best trips we took to be able to see ALL of WDW decorated for the holidays. All Disney trips are great and lots of great stuff before and after, but it's kind of like going to WDW for the first time all over again because almost everywhere you go is decorated. Even just seeing how the different resorts decorate is fun.

With that said and with the announcement pending, it will be interesting to see if there is a push for last call on the Osbourne Lights in early December. It may draw more people that usual, but over all the parks in general are less crowded.

When we went there was a nightly lighting, but there is a short nightly kickoff with narration and music. I can't recall if they did it multiple times per night, but DHS closes by 8pm with EMH so there isn't much time between 5pm and 8pm for multiple shows. However the lights are on through closing. The show is crowded as you would expect, but it's easier to go back and wander through after.

It's an awesome sight to see for sure! Good luck if you go!

[brownie]

Bummer. And we're just going to miss being able to see it since we fly in on January 4.

[nicholsbears]

:santa3:

This is such incredibly SAD and disappointing news. The Obborne lights were indeed a spectacle. They inspired awe in the child in us all. Surely there is enough land in WDW to keep the light show. Disney World will no longer draw me at Christmas.
:sad: : (

[CynBeth]

So, I can't believe it but I have never actually seen these lights. I am definitely going to have to go this year. What suggestions do you have for me? Best times to go? Highlights? Any special things to see or do? Do you just walk around and look at them? Thanks!

Try to get there a little before the lights will be turned on. There is a lot of detail to take in throughout the whole area. There is also the cat and Hidden Mickey's to look for. Every 10 minutes or something like that the lights dance to music. There are also food and drink vendors and snow falls. Last time we were there a few years ago there was an area to take pics with Santa Goofy. We usually spend an hour and a half to two hours.

[Crow]

I did finally get to see it. this yr we were going to go somewhere else, (disneyland,hollywood) but the last yr of the lights announcement sorta made us decide to go back to WDW. she has never seen the lights or decor for Christmas. so going the first wk of November

[Patricia]

Bummer. And we're just going to miss being able to see it since we fly in on January 4.

Looks like you'll get a chance to see this! Osborne Lights extended. (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?211332-**Osborne-Family-Spectacle-of-Dancing-Lights-Extended-Till-The-6th!**&p=2476163#post2476163)