Bummed That Lights of Winter at Gone at Epcot

[Syndrome]

I saw that it was officially confirmed on Twitter so I did a quick article about it:

http://bit.ly/4zq9yq

That lighted archway added such a festival feeling to Epcot. I can't believe they discontinued it.

[kurtisnelson]

I've received word from the back-channels that the LoW basically broke on install or moving and they then declared it obsolete.

[Syndrome]

I wouldn't be at all surprised. I told Mr. Sydrome that the lights weren't going to be there this year, and he shrugged and said, "Oh well, they were showing their age anyway." He's a big fan of the Osborne lights so he's happy as long as they stay. The Obsborne crowd is a big cluster f to me; I liked the archway because it wasn't such a madhouse.

[Sidhe]

Aw. That stinks. I really liked the archway. It added some real color and liveliness to the area.

The DHS spectacle is just that, a huge spectacle of lights with no real meaning or purpose.

I'll miss the archway, like so many other things at WDW. :(

[turkeyham]

Where are the Osborne lights at? My friends go to the parks around Christmas. Are the lights at the Studios?

[Shorty82]

Where are the Osborne lights at? My friends go to the parks around Christmas. Are the lights at the Studios?

Yep. The Osborne Spectacle of Lights is at Disney Hollywood Studios. They're the lights that were up on all the buildings along the Streets of America when you visited.

[Syndrome]

One thing I hate about the Osborne lights is that they seem to be considered by smokers as a free ticket to smoke wherever they please. Disney is generally much less smoky than Universal because more people seem to respect the fact that they need to go to designated areas. But for some reason the smokers feel they can light up everywhere by the Osborne display. Still haven't figured that one out, and my sinuses hate it.

[darph nader]

I thought Ozzy and Sharon were busy doing a WWE segment. :D:

[Syndrome]

I would pay a lot to see a cage match with Ozzy and Sharon Orborne fighting Jennings and Mitzi Osborne.

[Rex]

Is there a chance that Disney will 'update' it's systems and bring back lights another year?

I think it's kinda sad that they would take away a Disney tradition and not do something to replace it, unless there's something I'm missing? :confused:

[Goofyernmost]

One thing I hate about the Osborne lights is that they seem to be considered by smokers as a free ticket to smoke wherever they please. Disney is generally much less smoky than Universal because more people seem to respect the fact that they need to go to designated areas. But for some reason the smokers feel they can light up everywhere by the Osborne display. Still haven't figured that one out, and my sinuses hate it.

You can probably blame that on the fact that Disney makes everything seem so realistic. The city scape built by Disney appears so real to the brain that the smokers just consider it an outdoor downtown street and they can smoke there. Logical? No! But I will bet that it is part of the reason.

[Puget Peach]

I really miss the Osborn Family lights like they were displayed the first year - it was like walking down a really fantastic suburban neighborhood. It's so over the top now that, for me, I lose some of the history and magic of how that display came to be. I hear more references to Ozzie and Sharon than the family who built the display over years. I celebrated New Years Eve at MGM in 2001 and I'm so appreciative that I got to see it that way.

[Syndrome]

Yeah, I remember the original Osborne lights and I miss 'em too. Remember the year they had the "angel glasses"?

[kurtisnelson]

Yeah, I remember the original Osborne lights and I miss 'em too. Remember the year they had the "angel glasses"?
Yes! That was my first year at them ever, and I have never been impressed since.

[cjbnc]

Yeah, I remember the original Osborne lights and I miss 'em too.

Part of the magic of the "old" show was that you didn't spend the entire day up close to the houses, so the lights seemed more magical. Now-a-days you go by in the afternoon and the street facade is compromised by all the wires everywhere, and at night, you already know what's there, they're just lit now.

[turkeyham]

When is the best time to go to WDW in Dec? I was wondering when all the Christimas decorations are up? I have been to WDW 2 mid January and some places had decorations.

[cjbnc]

When is the best time to go to WDW in Dec? I was wondering when all the Christimas decorations are up? I have been to WDW 2 mid January and some places had decorations.

The lights are up all month, I believe. Anytime between the two holidays is great. We'll be down in 3 weeks ourselves. :bouncemic

[Shorty82]

When is the best time to go to WDW in Dec? I was wondering when all the Christimas decorations are up? I have been to WDW 2 mid January and some places had decorations.

Christmas decorations started going up this year on November 3 or 4 and were pretty much all up in 2 or 3 days. About the only thing missing in the MK is the Christmas Tree which should go up in early December if I'm not mistaken.

[Rob562]

Christmas decorations started going up this year on November 3 or 4 and were pretty much all up in 2 or 3 days. About the only thing missing in the MK is the Christmas Tree which should go up in early December if I'm not mistaken.

The MK Christmas Tree always seems to be handled differently each year... The one thing that's definite is that it *won't* be in Town Square until after the Christmas Parade is taped the first weekend of December. (You cam blame Regis & Kelly for wanting their stage smack in the middle of Town Square on that one... For years they were fine filming from a smaller reviewing stand off to the side of the route...)

But what they do sometimes is install the tree in the grassy area near the rose garden off to the side of the Hub until it's ready to get moved to the front end of Main Street.

-Rob

[Cranbiz]

When is the best time to go to WDW in Dec? I was wondering when all the Christmas decorations are up? I have been to WDW 2 mid January and some places had decorations.

Crowd wise, the best time to be at WDW is that first week of December. Everything is up and small lines. Go to a party, get the xmas fireworks and parade, complete with FL snow.

[Mayonnaise]

If my trip last year was any indication, Cranbiz is totally right. I had a great time, there were hardly any long lines, and pretty much everything was done up for Christmas, except that tree... Damn Reggis and Kelly.

I also got really lucky in that the only ride down for refurb at the time was Hall of Presidents... which..... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

8^P

[Shorty82]

I also got really lucky in that the only ride down for refurb at the time was Hall of Presidents... which..... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

8^P

Hall of Presidents isn't so much of a sleep inducer now. They did a good job redoing the show to make it more interesting.

[lady ulrike]

Hall of Presidents isn't so much of a sleep inducer now. They did a good job redoing the show to make it more interesting.

Maybe I'm just a nerd, but I've always liked the Hall of Presidents.

[Mystic]

But what they do sometimes is install the tree in the grassy area near the rose garden off to the side of the Hub until it's ready to get moved to the front end of Main Street.

-Rob

Last year they didn't put the tree up at all until AFTER the parade taping had taken place. They didn't even put it up in the Castle Rose Garden like they did in years past. We usually go over the two weeks that encompass the weekend of the parade taping and there was no tree at all in MK before the parade taping weekend, not even in the rose garden. By the time we got back to MK on the Tuesday after the parade taping, the tree had appeared in the Train Station Hub.

[TomMorrow]

Crowd wise, the best time to be at WDW is that first week of December. Everything is up and small lines. Go to a party, get the xmas fireworks and parade, complete with FL snow.

This is my favorite time of the year to be in WDW. The crowds are minimal, the Christmas decorations are in place, and the temps are cooler.

I'll be arriving the Sunday after Thanksgiving and staying for a week. Can't wait!!!!!!!!!

[sarbah77]

Maybe I'm just a nerd, but I've always liked the Hall of Presidents.

The incorrect history - or not "whole story" - annoys me. My friend had to bribe me, when we were there in September, because she'd never seen it before.

[turkeyham]

Does the Grand Floridian still have the ginger bread houses in the main lobby?

[Rob562]

Last year they didn't put the tree up at all until AFTER the parade taping had taken place. They didn't even put it up in the Castle Rose Garden like they did in years past. We usually go over the two weeks that encompass the weekend of the parade taping and there was no tree at all in MK before the parade taping weekend, not even in the rose garden. By the time we got back to MK on the Tuesday after the parade taping, the tree had appeared in the Train Station Hub.


While it's definitely an odd placement for it, the tree by the Rose Garden *did* give you a couple nice photo ops...

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/steerr/Nov604102.jpg

I have a few shots of Wishes with the tree to the side of the frame, but most came out pretty crappy because I didn't have a tripod to steady the camera.

-Rob

[Mystic]

While it's definitely an odd placement for it, the tree by the Rose Garden *did* give you a couple nice photo ops...

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/steerr/Nov604102.jpg

I have a few shots of Wishes with the tree to the side of the frame, but most came out pretty crappy because I didn't have a tripod to steady the camera.

-Rob

I actually really liked it in the rose garden. We always had our picture taken in front of the tree when it was in the Rose Garden. One of our favourite photo spots is the bridge to Tomorrowland and to have the Castle and the Tree in the background was always nice.

[Honda Enoch]

Awww, kinda going to miss the lights at Epcot, but glad the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights are still there.

[Whazzup]

Does the Grand Floridian still have the ginger bread houses in the main lobby?

Yes, we were there Nov 12-19th and the big gingerbread house was up. There is some construction going on in the open lobby area (new tile floors, etc.), but it may be finished by now.

When we went on the Disney cruise (Nov 19-22), they were working on a gingerbread house just off one of the main passageways, and whenever you got near the area you could smell the wonderful, warm, homey smell of gingerbread. It was delicious! Every time we walked by they were working on it, doing all the detail trim work by hand, and by the end of the cruise it was all decorated with lights and greenery - very festive and beautifully done.

[turkeyham]

I remember seeing this on the food channel. They had the area roped off so SG would not temps to eat the house. By the end of the Christmas season, it would taste quite gross.

:rolleyes:

[turkeyham]

Also, seeing how much sugar goes into the frosting etc. Who ever wants to eat a chunk off a ginger bread house, probably would need some rollaids for life. :eek:

[Experiment 626]

2 years ago, as we were having our photo taken in front of the GF Gingerbread house, the PhotoPass guy suddenly stopped, and ran past us where a 9 or 10 year old kid had crossed the rope line and was breaking off a piece of the house, and then began to chew on it. The little shit headed back to one of the couches where his parents were, and the PhotoPass guy followed, and explained very nicely - but firmly - what happened and why the kid shouldn't do that. The mother looked up from her conversation and told the kid to put it back, at which point the kid walked over and tossed the chunk of gingerbread back over the rope and toward the house - with a really nasty look on his face. The mother went right back to her conversation like nothing had happened.

The PhotoPass guy laughed about one thing - he said that the kid was in for a shock, because as the holiday season progresses, parts of the house to fall off, and he says that they re-attach them with glue, rather than frosting, so the kid most likely got a mouthful of glue.

[felinefan]

A few days ago, I saw a news item on MSNBC about this one town in Sweden I think, every year they make a gingerbread village for public display, and this year, some kids smashed it up. Didn't eat it, just smashed up the houses. I mean, this is art, and these kids--who I understand have yet to be caught--trashed it. It was the pride of the town, people came to see it for miles, and these juvenile delinquents destroyed it. At press time the bakers who worked on the village were mixing and baking new houses to replace those destroyed. It's really sick how things like that happen--how is that supposed to be funny, daring or whatever excuse these kids think up? Why can't people just leave things alone?

[turkeyham]

I was getting grossed out hearing out the glue part. I was thinking next year they can make a miniature ginger bread house and stick the house into an empty store. There the guests could not get in and try to sneak pieces of the house. :twisted:

The Target near us sells ginger bread house kits. Instructions for to make the bread, comes with frosting and you have to supply the candy. I do remember making those in home ec class and we did toss they after a week. Stale and gross. :eek:

[darph nader]

I was getting grossed out hearing out the glue part. I was thinking next year they can make a miniature ginger bread house and stick the house into an empty store. There the guests could not get in and try to sneak pieces of the house. :twisted:

The Target near us sells ginger bread house kits. Instructions for to make the bread, comes with frosting and you have to supply the candy. I do remember making those in home ec class and we did toss they after a week. Stale and gross. :eek:

Just use a hardener in the batter,and it would be a really bitchin bird-house. :rolleyes:

[turkeyham]

Cement and stucco could be some fun. Rubber cement looking candies etc. Bite into that and your teeth will fall out and the SG kids are going to have a bad stomach ache. :D:

[Zazu]

2 years ago, as we were having our photo taken in front of the GF Gingerbread house, the PhotoPass guy suddenly stopped, and ran past us where a 9 or 10 year old kid had crossed the rope line and was breaking off a piece of the house, and then began to chew on it. The little shit headed back to one of the couches where his parents were, and the PhotoPass guy followed, and explained very nicely - but firmly - what happened and why the kid shouldn't do that.
I've been saying for years that the gingerbread formula should include a powerful emetic or laxative. Wouldn't keep the houses from being eaten, but every time we saw a piece missing we could have a good laugh.

[Lasolimu]

I've been saying for years that the gingerbread formula should include a powerful emetic or laxative. Wouldn't keep the houses from being eaten, but every time we saw a piece missing we could have a good laugh.

It's a bit subtle for my usual M.O. but I like it.:twisted:

[felinefan]

Or make it out of colored concrete, and pipe in gingerbread smells, enough to fool people into thinking it's gingerbread. Take a bite off that, and you'll be paying for your dentist's kids' college education. Or a new piece of equipment, your dentist's student loans (if it's his first practice), etc..