A fond look back at Epcot's Lights of Winter
By Kathy Werling
It's that time of year where a decision that Walt Disney World made still baffles me. Yes, I am talking about the retired Lights of Winter in Epcot. You can call me the Mayor of Bitter Town on this issue. 99% of the time I agree with the decisions that Walt Disney World makes but not where the Lights of Winter are concerned.
The Lights of Winter started for the Christmas season back in 1994 and the last display was in 2008. The lights were on the walkway between Future World and World Showcase. This was a very popular addition to Epcot along with the nightly tree lighting ceremony. It was true Disney magic to me. To stroll under the arches of lights while holiday music played was magical. I can't even tell you the number of nights where we just went over to enjoy them.
The tree lighting ceremony never failed to bring a tear to my eye. To see the crowd of people from around the world singing songs and learning about the holiday traditions from the Cast members was something to see. It seemed for just a few moments that the world had come together in peace, something the world needs more of today. I am sure I am not the only person that enjoyed how Epcot celebrated the holidays.
They made the announcement in 2009 that the Lights would no longer be installed for the holidays. Thomas Smith of the official Disney blog tweeted: Yes... the Lights of Winter canopy has been enjoyed for years. But the technology to operate the lights is obsolete, prompting us to retire the lights and find a new experience.
I still find that excuse hard to take. If Walt Disney World truly wanted to keep this experience they would have been able to find a company that could have duplicated the lights. If you have ever been to the Osborne Lights since they went to an all LED display you know it can be done. This technology may have been obsolete but they could have used the technology being used at the Osborne Lights.
Epcot truly had a unique holiday experience and they chose to discontinue the lights with a lame excuse. It still bothers me years later. It isn't that they got rid of the lights as much as the excuse they used. They did add other holiday entertainment like the Gospel choir which I enjoy. We have been visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios more since it truly does feel like the holidays with the Osborne Lights. How did you feel about the Lights of Winter?
If you would like to take a walk down memory lane, there is a great website dedicated to the Lights of Winter.
See you in the parks!
More photos from the Lights of Winter and the nightly tree lighting ceremony:
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