Osborne Lights

[Husker Mouse]

We have never experienced the Osborne Lights so I really don't know how it runs. I know they turn them on around 6 but, from what I have read, this is when it is busiest and it's not important to be there for that moment. Do you agree? Also, do they play the music with dancing lights at set times? Will they still play the music for awhile after the park closes? Thanks! I am trying to fit two visits to DHS just to see the lights.

[vicki_c]

We have not seen the lights turn on for the first time in the evening (I think they have a character flip a big switch), and it didn't seem to be any big deal to me. On some kind of schedule (it's frequent), they play the music and have all the lights go in sync to the music so as long as you are there in the evening, you shouldn't have any chance of missing it. I understand that it continues for a while after park closing. It was crazy crowded when we were there but it was Christmas week. Even the crowds aren't a big deal, because everyone is just sort of shuffling along slowly and looking up at all the lights.

[Husker Mouse]

Thanks Vicki! We are staying at WH and I am thinking on arrival night (Sat. Nov. 12th) we might run over there around 6 and do GMR and Muppets before heading off to see the Lights. Park closes that night (2010) at 8 so I am hoping for low crowds ( no F!) AND it would be AWESOME if TSM had a short standby! Wishful thinking!!!! Do you think the Lights are worth 2 visits? We will be at WDW for 8 nights.

[MichaelColey]

We were there mid-December, and we just went over when it was convenient to us. It seems like it was pretty close to park closing when we went, and it wasn't crowded at all. There is tons of space and it's all UP, so crowds shouldn't matter much. If I remember right, they told us that the lights continue to run for an hour after the park closes.

[jillyb]

We saw them last November. We were there when they first cut them on and it was jam packed. We had a late dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby and went back after dinner to see the lights. There was nobody there. Well...there were a few people but you could actually move without bumping in to someone and you could get pictures without a million other people in them. The park was closed (closed at 8:00) and we were there when they shut the lights down for the night (at 9:00). It was awesome! There was also no F! this night.

Here's one of our Photo Pass pictures during that time:

[Husker Mouse]

OMG I love your pics! I am sooo excited! Makes housecleaning while listening to D-Cot sooooo much more exciting!

[Brandie]

Great pictures! We didn't see the flipping ceremony. I don't think it would be worth the crowds. Various areas were more crowded than others.

[Husker Mouse]

LOL Brandie! I had to read your comments twice because flipping in my area of the country is used as an adjective for a different word!

[blyday]

We went in 2008 about an hour before park closing. It wasn't empty by any means but there was enough room for my niece and I to hook arms and sing and dance to Sleigh Ride down the middle of the street!! If I remember correctly, the dancing lights happen every 15 minutes (but it might be 10) so you will be able to see the dancing lights no matter when you go!!! As far as seeing twice.....I'd go the first night and then if you have time and want to go back the second night....you'll have the option to do it!!!

[jillyb]

Here's the video I took of the girls and DH dancing down the street for the last "dance" of the night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXCQDFgaZ1o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y929hQ7A4Do

It's kind of dark on my computer so hopefully ya'll can see it better.

[Husker Mouse]

Loved the videos!!! Thanks!

[USAgooner]

I agree that being there at the turning on is no flippin (For our Neb friends) deal. You have plenty of time to see the lights but it gets way to crowded in that area when the lights turn on. And who has time for that! The the flippin attraction schedules overlapping I couldn't fit it in anyway.

[Brandie]

LOL Brandie! I had to read your comments twice because flipping in my area of the country is used as an adjective for a different word!

Yes. Same here, but like USA pointed out there's "flipping" and "flippin'". I was posting from a mobile device and I didn't have the patience to delete and come up with something different. I'm sure there's an official title for the turning on of the Osborne lights. Anyone?

[JW73]

It's the Osbornes...it is probably officially the Flipping Ceremony.

[MichaelColey]

It's the Osbornes...it is probably officially the Flipping Ceremony.

It's probably a different Osborne family than the one you're thinking of. Jennings and Mitzi Osborne from Arkansas started the lights at their house in 1986 for their daughter and by 1993 it had grown to 3 million lights. Two years later it was moved to Disney's Hollywood Studios. I don't believe they're any relation to Ozzy Osbourne (different spelling of the last name, too).

[JW73]

Well, there ya go, then. We've never been to WDW at the holidays, so I've never done my reading about such things. Thanks for setting me straight. (Seriously! I love knowing things I didn't before.)