Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights: The End of an Era
Sad news from Orlando, Florida: the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights has entered its last year at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios. The company announced on September 11th that, after many years at Disney World, the 2015 holiday season would be the light show’s last.
The Spectacle of Lights, an attraction that has stood for twenty years, gained national attention in 1995 as the Osborne family of Little Rock, Arkansas entered a state supreme court case to decide the fate of their holiday light display. At its height, the family’s display had over three million lights, and—according to some sources—contributed to a major traffic problem on the streets of Little Rock. Following their inability to reach an agreement with the State Supreme Court, the Osborne family decided to accept the Disney Company’s offer to purchase the display, and host it at their Orlando Hollywood Studios.
From the Osborne family’s display grew the popular and widely-renowned Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights, which received its current name in 2006 when the lights were combined with musical accompaniment. This season, the display is made up of over ten miles of rope lighting, connected with another thirty miles of extension cords, all connected to 1500 dimmer packs which are used to coordinate the performance.
Though the Spectacle of Dancing Lights has been a fixture for Disney World’s winter-time attractions for two decades, the park is closing it down to make way for their upcoming Toy Story and Star Wars Lands, which will occupy the space currently held by the Disney World Hollywood Studios. Opinions on the decision are split, with many commenting that the Disney World Magic Kingdom—also undergoing renovation—has more than enough space to accommodate the Spectacle.
Despite Disney’s decision to close the show with the end of 2015, it promises to be another spectacular display of holiday cheer. Breezy Osborne-Wingfield, the daughter of original owner Mr. Jennings Osborne, commented in this Orlando Sentinel article, “My family and I are more than grateful for the opportunity and experiences that Disney World has given to us, and most of all, given to millions and millions of people around the world.” Her husband, Tristan Wingfield, added “we will also be at the lights again this holiday season.”
If you’re interested in taking this last chance to visit the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights, consider booking a stay at one of DVC Land’s many fantastic resorts. It’s not too late to experience the last Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing lights—visit our website today!
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is scheduled to take place until January 3rd, 2016.
