|
November 10, 2009 through January 4, 2010
Open from Dusk until Park Closing
 Disney's Hollywood Studios is again hosting the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. As introduced last year, the lights "dance" to music. Every 15 minutes all of the displays will glow and dim to holiday tunes. As always, "Florida snow" is in the forecast, making this the perfect Christmas setting.
Be sure to look in the windows. See if you spot the infamous mannequin leg lamp from "A Christmas Story". Check out what show is on the TV. There are all sorts of easy-to-overlook details that will leave you smiling.
History of the Osborne Lights
 As
the story goes, Arkansas resident Jennings Osborne and
his family were very big on the Holidays. In 1986, Jennings
asked his youngest daughter Breezy what her Christmas wish was. She replied that she would like to see their whole house
covered in lights. They had quite a large house but Jennings
was determined to make his daughter's Christmas dream
come true. That first year the Osborne family covered their home with a modest 1000 red lights. With each passing year, the family wanted to do more. The Osbornes eventually purchased property adjacent to their own in order to expand on their newfound hobby.
The display grew to millions of lights. There were flashing
lights, multi-colored lights, custom-made light sculptures
and a 75 foot
Christmas tree adorned by lights. This
drew onlookers from all over Arkansas. Displeased by the resulting traffic jams, the local residents asked that the Osborne family stop
the annual display.
Legal intervention was sought, and it appeared that the Osborne's beloved tradition was about to come to an end. When Mickey Mouse got word of
this, he offered a venue where the Osborne lights could be shared with visitors from around the globe. In 1995, Residential Street at the Disney's Hollywood
Studios became the home of this dazzling light show. Approximately 80% of the lights that are on
display come from the original Osborne collection.
In 2003, Residential Street began undergoing a major renovation in preparation of the new stunt show scheduled to open in 2005. For the first time in 8 years, the Osborne lights were not displayed.
Fortunately, a new home was found for this magical attraction. The Streets of America (formerly New York Street) is now hosting the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.
As in years past, once evening descends, this amazing display springs to life. Formerly drab buildings become twinkling light sculptures, while a host of angels fly overhead. Visitors are welcome to
stroll through at their own pace. With
over 4 Million Christmas lights, this is not to be missed. To enhance the experience, Florida "snow" flutters down while Christmas tunes fill the air.
Admission to the display is free with admission to the
park, and it's a MUST SEE if you're visiting Walt Disney World
over the holidays.
|
