I love finding hidden facts, little gems, and knowing the history behind the parks. The story of the osborne lights goes back to jennings osborne and his family, who lived in little rock, arkansas. The walt disney company announced that the 2015 holiday season would be the final run of the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights at disney s hollywood studios. He collected knives, bullwhips and ventriloquist dolls. The osborne family spectacle of dancing lights has become a holiday tradition to rival any experience at walt disney world. Mickey mouse heard about the legal battle and collected all of the lights so guests from all over the world could see them, right here at disney world. Osborne spectacle of dancing lights a tribute to the original lights as they appeared in little rock, ak located in the osborne electric co. This attractions final day of operation was january 6, 2016. Well, i dont know if this is a huge surprise with all of the upcoming construction at disneys hollywood studios to make way for toy story and star wars lands, but it is with some melancholy that we learned that it is indeed official.
Apr 19, 2016 disney s osborne lights may make a return, but in a new location and with a new name posted by ken storey on tue, apr 19, 2016 at 8. Walt disneys renaissance man by walt disney company, whos afraid of the song of the south. A look back at the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights. This year, his legacy of christmas lights, showcased at disneys hollywood studios for two decades, will also pass away to make room for new expansion at the park. Not everyone was a fan of the massive christmas display. Over time they also expanded the display from three million lights to five million lights. A look at the osborne lights at disneys hollywood studios. That year, jennings osborne strung a modest 1,000 red lights as a holiday gift to his 6yearold daughter, breezy. The spectacle of dancing lights has been a major tourist draw for 20 years at disney s hollywood studios and has become one of the most beloved holiday traditions at walt disney. He went on to provide light displays for disney world and graceland. How the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights made. Secret history of the osborne family spectacle of dancing. Celebrate the final year of the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights at disney s hollywood studios with this commemorative pin.
Disneys osborne lights may make a return, but in a new. Disney mgm studios osborne lights backlot 2002 front view. Dessert and dinner events announced for the final year. The seasonal osborne lights were one of the premier events each year at hollywood studios and its closure could negatively affect attendance in the park prior to the opening of the new pixar and star wars themed areas. The osborne family spectacle of lights was born at the osborne home in little rock, ark. Youve probably heard about the disneys hollywood studios annual osborne family spectacle of dancing lights display its a massive. The patriarch of the family, jennings osborne, was asked by his six year old daughter breezy in 1986, if he would put up christmas lights and so he did. Last visit ever to osborne lights at disneys hollywood. The display was the vision and passion of jennings. Initially constructed by an arkansas businessman as a gift for his sixyearold daughter, the display became one of the most popular attractions during the parks. In just 20 short days, on november 24th, 1995, the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights lit up disney mgm studios for the first time. My favorite way of viewing the osborne lights, barbara davidson, of matthews, north carolina who, with her husband bob, described herself as a longtime disney visitor, tells people, is. The reaction from park guests was overwhelmingly positive, and disney knew they had a hit on their hands.
Disney employees worked 24 hours a day to get the display up for the first time in late november. The light show, featuring millions of glittering lights flawlessly synchronized to holiday music, has become an american tradition, and it all started with a christmas wish. What follows is historical info about the osborne lights from previous years as a. Osborne lights at disney world disney tourist blog. It is made up of more than 10 miles of lights and 30 miles of extension cords. Friday, may 15, 2020 i am taking a deep dive into the history of walts trips to ireland in 1946, 1949, and 1959, and in the process i stumbled upon this photo that i had never seen before. Nov 27, 2016 walt disney world fans were heartbroken last year when the resort announced that the beloved osborne family spectacle of dancing lights would not be returning to disney s hollywood studios following t. From what i was told by a cm, they move the cat every 2 days, so where i found it may not be where you find it. The osborne family spectacle of dancing lights was a display of christmas lights and decorations at disneys hollywood studios at the walt disney world resort near orlando, florida. Jun 12, 2017 this lost video was recently found and dates back to 12415 when i witnessed the greatest light show ever.
Its your last chance to see the osborne dancing lights at. Their light show grew larger every year starting with lights and growing to over three million lights. Rip the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights. I love star wars and toy story, for that matter, but that just shows you. Disneys hollywood studios just isnt the same at christmastime. The spectacle of dancing lights at walt disney world. Initially constructed by an arkansas businessman as a gift for his sixyearold daughter, the display became one of the most popular attractions during the parks holiday season. In 1986, his daughter, breezy, asked for some christmas lights. The osborne family spectacle of dancing lights was a display of christmas lights and decorations at disney s hollywood studios at the walt disney world resort near orlando, florida. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. This lost video was recently found and dates back to 12415 when i witnessed the greatest light show ever.
He increased the number of lights each year, eventually. Dec 22, 2014 my favorite way of viewing the osborne lights, barbara davidson, of matthews, north carolina who, with her husband bob, described herself as a longtime disney visitor, tells people, is. Immense light displays coupled with music that makes the lights dance along to the music have made the osborne lights one of the premier christmas displays at walt disney world. The osborne family spectacle of dancing lights at disneys hollywood studios is one of the most resplendent holiday sights you can see on walt disney world property this time of year and starting tonight, its about to get brighter. Farewell osborne lights, plus 5 reasons why the lights. And given the overwhelmingly positive reaction that the osborne lights got from wdw guests during the 1995 holiday season, disney mgm quickly made plans to make this display a perennial. Today, we salute the history of disneys most iconic holiday display. The story behind the osborne family spectacle of dancing. William jennings osborne died in july 2011 at the age of 67 after complications of heart surgery. Both disney springs or the wide world of sports were rumored as possible. The osborne family spectacle of lights dazzled guests to disneys. Sep 11, 2015 disney has announced the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights will have its final year this year. If you were as disappointed as we were that 2014 was the final year for the osborne festival of lights at disneys hollywood studios, we have great news. The story of the light displays court case brought national attention, including offers from several cities to host the display.
Jennings osborne of arkansas created elaborate christmas light displays on his property throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. The osborne family spectacle of dancing lights wikipedia. If you havent seen the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights at disney s hollywood studios, you are in for a treat. Nov 17, 2015 its your last chance to see the osborne dancing lights at walt disney world november 17, 2015, 8. Nov 02, 2015 its the 20th anniversary of the show called osborne family spectacle of dancing lights that happens in the backlot area of disneys hollywood studios. The story behind the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights at.
In early november 1995 four moving semi trucks were loaded up with the display and were on the way from arkansas to florida. Disney new 2015 osborne family spectacle of dancing lights. Secret history of the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights. The osborne family spectacle of dancing lights was a display of christmas lights and decorations at disneys hollywood studios at the walt. Nov 10, 2016 no idea if it actually is osborne lights or not, and i cant find any solid leads online. Osborne family spectacle of dancing lights disney parks. Disney mgm studios osborne lights backlot 2002 left view. Osborne family spectacle of dancing lights disneys hollywood. The experience will be leaving to make way for construction of toy story land and the star wars. Dec 22, 2014 25 magical shots of disneys osborne family spectacle of dancing lights theres kind of a cool story behind the display that makes it a little more interesting than most holiday light shows, though. She had asked her father to make their house sparkle with holiday lights.
Having delighted guests at hollywood studios since 1995, the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights is on its last season. Apr 18, 2018 i know they did away with the osborne lights but they had talked about moving it to another park. A look at the osborne lights at disneys hollywood studios september 15, 2015 april, 2020 michele 8 views 1 comment christmas at disney, osborne lights, osborne lights hollywood studios as we told you last week, this year will be the final year for the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights at disneys hollywood studios. Osborne family spectacle of lights five million dancing lights with. Nov 20, 2015 the osborne family lights each holiday season millions of people flock to disneys hollywood studios to see the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights. Its your last chance to see the osborne dancing lights at walt disney world november 17, 2015, 8. Osborne family spectacle of lights holiday happenings disneys. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us. The osborne family lights are regularly on display over the christmas holiday period in the disney mgm studios over the christmas holidays, being lit at about 18. Disneys osborne lights may make a return, but in a new location and with a new name posted by ken storey on tue, apr 19, 2016 at 8. Check out the osborne lights replacement at disneys. Are the osborne lights moving to branson, missouri.
This has caused lots of rumours as to whether they might appear somewhere else on property, including disney springs, but this was ruled out once the new starbright. The osborne lights, on the other hand, have been marketed heavily by disney, and people do make annual visits just for these. Jan 06, 2016 for this vlog, we decided to check out the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights at disney s hollywood studios one last time before they are taken down forever. But i have to say if it isnt a straight up move of osborne it is certainly inspired by it. Disney has announced the very popular attraction will return from november 6, 2015 through january 3, 2016. Secret history of the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights by jim korkis take. Each collectors edition book is loaded with pure disney magic, with tons of photos and features that. While we have waxed lyrical about the osborne family spectacle of lights, due to the star wars land expansion, they can no longer be seen at hollywood studios this holiday season.
Keep the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights at disney. Window osborne spectacle of dancing lights hidden characters have become very popular over the 20 years of the lights here is a hidden kermit. In 1986, the osborne family started decorating their home in little rock, arkansas. Osborne family spectacle of lights at walt disney world. An ode to the magic of disney worlds osborne family spectacle. Osborne was also over 5 million lights, so an addition of 1. Jennings osborne obituary jennings osborne funeral. Disney has announced the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights will have its final year this year.
The osborne family spectacle of lights has an interesting history. Literal miles of lights were strung around the streets of america section of hollywood studios from 1995 allllll the way to 2016. Interesting discoveries about disney history, vintage disneyana, disney artwork, the walts people book series, and new books about disney. How the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights made its. The osborne family spectacle of dancing lights are an annual display that appear at disneys hollywood studios. The parks are super busy for most of this time of year so we always opted for lighter crowd months. A what a cute story, im glad that the parks change, its certainly great for business, but they do need things like the osborne lights, its the disney difference reactions. Osborne lights disney mgm studios will return the osborne family. Walt disney worlds osborne family spectacle has 5 million lights. Lighting up the streets of america for the holiday season, this show truly is a spectacle that brings together families and friends. The origins of the osborne family spectacle of dancing lights. The history of the osborne family lights christys cozy corners. Undaunted, osborne strung his lights in little rocks downtown river market district and in dozens of other arkansas cities.
Aug 04, 2012 the osborne home was covered with lights and every year after that, more and more lights were added. And with each new edition of the osborne lights, disney s techs kept just what jennings did. May 26, 2012 and he got exactly that and in return we get disneys osborne christmas lights. Every year, it is hidden so park guests can hunt for it. Hong art lighted canvas prints with 9 led lights disney resort photo castle picture wall art for home decor12x16 inch ha17cp052 by hong art in stock. We had never seen them since we didnt ever visit disney during the holiday season.
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