This week, we had several announcements on The Disney Parks Blog and unveiled a pretty unique holiday television spot. If you missed it, our new video featured children from around the world coming together for a magical journey to experience the best of Disney Parks. Here it is:
Also, we introduced a few new authors from Disneyland and Walt Disney World photographer Gene Duncan shared an image he captured backstage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Here’s the list:
A Mother’s Love Witnessed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom — Gene Duncan captured a tender moment between mother and baby backstage.
Disney’s Handheld Device Adds Audio Description — Did you know the Disneyland Resort has several services available for guests with visual and hearing disabilities?
Disney – Shanghai Theme Park Project Update — The Walt Disney Company released information concerning the Shanghai theme park project.
Exclusive Bay Lake Tower Rooftop Deck Offers Amazing View of ‘Wishes’ Fireworks — Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort becomes a special place to celebrate during fireworks.
Festival of the Masters Art at Downtown Disney — A behind-the-scenes look at the Festival featuring art from more than 100 of the country’s top artists.
Top 5 Disney Gift Ideas for the Holidays — A sneak peek at this season’s top 5 Disney Gift ideas.
It’s Turkey Time! The National Thanksgiving Turkey Visits Disneyland Resort — A fun look back at all of our feathery friends.
Walt Disney Company Investing $7M in Projects to Protect World’s Forests — Disney makes a major investment in projects to protect forests in the Amazon, the Congo, the Lower Mississippi River valley and Northern California.
Comments
What’s going on with Epcots “Lights of Winter”?
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 But the technology to operate the lights is obsolete, prompting us to retire the lights and find a new experience.
It looks like Gary beat me to it.
Yes, it’s been a great week…Shanghai, That awesome IASW commercial…but I wake to news that Lights of Winter has been cut from EPCOT!? That’s highly, highly disappointing seeing that it’s a classic part of “Holidays Around the World” and is considered the centerpiece of the event. In fact, it was my original motivation to head to WDW this December instead of next Summer. I certainly hope that this is just a lapse in news and the Lights do return. After all, don;t we have the Dreamlights and the Osborne spectacle up? This should be no problem! 😀
They are highly anticipated by myself, and others in the fan base. Hope to see them…
Yeah, I too would like to know what’s going on. I look forward to spending some quality time soaking up the magic underneath those beautiful arches listening to holiday tunes as the lights twinkle in the darkness. It’s what makes Epcot feel like it’s the holiday season at night. It sets the tone for the park at night.
I was disappointed that the Tree Lighting Ceremony was cut last year. But, the Lights of Winter still made Epcot feel festive at night. I just can’t imagine Epcot without them at night during the holidays. We chose to skip doing the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package this year, due to the cost and the lack of a celebrity narrator that we felt was worth the time, money, and/or effort. I would have loved to have seen Marlee Matlin again this year, but that’s another story.
Basically, while I am sure that we will overall have a magical vacation, but Epcot after dark is going to be sorely missing magic.
Will there still by Lights of Winter at Epcot this year?? I was really looking forward to seeing it and will be so disappointed if they’re not there.
I too am asking what’s the plan for Lights of Winter. A very popular fan web site has raised the question, generating quite a bit of discussion and disappointment if the rumor of ‘not happening’ is true. We’re on our way for the days following Thanksgiving, and seeing Lights of Winter was to be a ‘must experience’ for us this year. Is Epcot abandoning this iconic holiday treat?
Gary
Although I won’t be in the parks this year at Christmas, I have been there multiple times in the past. I love the Lights of Winter, and would be very disappointed if they are to be removed. It was sad enough when the tree lighting disappeared, now the Lights of Winter? Say it isn’t so.
I am not happy about the Lights of Winter either, I’d heard a few days back that it wasn’t on the calendar for this year. This is one of the biggest reasons to go to Epcot for Christmas!
I too will ask the same question. The Lights of Winter is a big part of our Christmas vacation every year, I can’t even imagine going to EPCOT without them there. Since it’s not in any press release or promo material I’m assuming it won’t be up this year, if that is the case please reconsider. I will make sure to voice my opinion at Guest Relations if need be.
I, too, am concerned about the Lights of Winter. First the Country Bear Christmas was cut for no apparent reason besides cost-savings, and now this? I will be really disappointed, and re-think my holiday spending at WDW if there are no Lights of Winter. Please reassure us that this is not the case.
I, too, am concerned about the Lights of Winter. First the Country Bear Christmas was cut for no apparent reason, and now this? I will be really disappointed. Please reassure us that this is not the case.
I’m shocked to hear about the Lights of Winter being cancelled. Is this really true, or just an internet rumor? I may have to rethink our December trip.
Please bring Lights of Winter back to Epcot this year. We need more Christmas decor, not less.
I really hope this is just a rumor about no Lights of Winter this year. The display turns the walkway into a magical place at Epcot and can put anyone in a festive holiday mood. We will be there in three weeks and hope to see them. After losing some other Christmas events over past years, this would be another unfortunate removal if true-hopefully an “official” can put this rumor to rest and assure us the lights will be going up soon!
Just wondering about the Lights of Winter at Epcot, is it true that they won’t be on display this year? I hope they will be. We just love walking through the arches and enjoying the lights, the music, and the fountain — a special part of Christmastime at Walt Disney World.
What can I say? I hope that this is just a rumor and that the Lights of Winter will be back at Epcot this year. They have always been a highlight for our family. First the Epcot tree lighting disappears and now this? Please don’t take away the Lights of Winter as well.
I cannot even conceive the fact of EPCOT not having the Lights of Winter. If this is the case this will be my message to the Disney Corporate Execs that I will not be attending Disney this Christmas. I have seen over the last few years the cutting back on the “magic” at Disney for the Christmas season.
I can only hope that this is a vicious and ugly rumor that is not spreading.
I first voiced my opinion at the loss of the Country Bears Jamboree, then it was the Mickey’s Christmas Carol, then it was the Tree lighting Ceremony and now you want to take away the Lights of Winter. I currently have a vacation scheduled to come to Florida with family for the first time to see Disney in all of the holiday glory Disney usually rolls out. I need to know if I need to reschedule my trip to another area that will have the magic my family is looking for.
Could we please get an official word on the Lights of Winter from a Disney Executive? I would like to know the reason if Disney decides not to have the Lights of Winter why they aren’t having it
I cannot begin to imagine EPCOT without hte lights of Winter.
It will be a serious serious lack of magic in Epcot that I will not be attending this year.
Yes the current information about Lights of Winter is very disturbing. Christmas time has long been
our favorite at WDW and we’ve watched for years now as holiday decorations have been reduced. Taking Lights of Winter out of Epcot is a HUGE mistake and will severely harm the sense
of Christmas magic in Epcot.
Is there any official word yet on the status of Lights of Winter?
I truly hope that this is a rumor and not the truth. EPCOT will truly be missing something great this year if it is true.
We will be bringing family to the Epcot for the first time during Christmas and will be very disappointed if the Lights of Winter(LOW) are not in place. After watch illuminations, it really brings it all together going from the LOW, to the fountain, to Spaceship Earth. I hope that they are there next month.
Would like to verify that Lights of Winter will be on this year.
I made special arrangements to be at WDW during the Holiday Season and was expecting the full experience that I have heard such wonderful things about from other guests in year’s past.
I sure didn’t see our ticket prices decrease with all the Disney park cutbacks going on this year.
What’s this about the Lights of Winter not being run this year? Please tell me that isn’t so! We all look forward so much to the Lights of Winter display, and it’s so integral to the Epcot Christmas experience, that I can’t believe Disney would choose not to erect them.
I also will be incredibly disappointed if Lights of Winter does not appear this year … standing in front of the fountain, watching the Lights of Winter to David Foster’s arrangement of Carol of the Bells is my favorite Christmas experience at Disney World … the number of posts on this topic makes it clear that this will be a hugely unpopular decision that will leave a lot of guests unhappy.
As this is my first year to WDW for the holidays, and only at a weekend at that, I have carefully planned to fit all of the holiday magic into a special memory of WDW. One of the things I was looking forward to was the Lights of Winter display, which I have heard such wonderful things about.
Thomas, thank you SO much for sharing such an absolutely beautiful video with us! I have teared up every time I have viewed it, it is just so moving! From the angelic voices of the children singing, to the visuals of the dream ship and the lights around the world, to seeing the wonderful Christmas displays at both DL and WDW… to the ending with the beautiful sentiment… I can’t help it, I just get choked up! Thank you (again) to you, and especially all the CMs who created that piece! It is a small world, and the folks at Disney have definitely filled it with joy! 8(:-D
I too am chiming in about Lights of Winter. Visiting Epcot is a large part of our Christmas tradition. The Lights of Winter are amazing and a highlight of our trip. I was very sad to hear about the demise of the Tree Lighting Ceremony. We weren’t able to visit last year but really enjoyed the show in years past and will miss it this year.
Please reconsider the Lights of Winter display.
Please do not eliminate the Lights of Winter. While a rather small addition during the holiday season, they are a great tradition and make Epcot a great place to visit during this time of year. We have a December trip planned, primarily to see the holiday offerings. While we will still have a great time, something would sorely be lacking without the Lights of Winter!
At dinner tonight I told my family this news that Lights of Winter may not be shown this year. Both sons’ jaws dropped. Its the first time I ever heard my wife mention complaining at guest relations about anything over 30 trips to WDW. I’m terribly disappointed. How about it Thomas? Post something here to let us know.
Gary
I’m hoping the Lights of Winter will be up. It will be horrible if Disney gets rid of them. Disney has been making some pretty bad decisions lately! 🙁
No Lights of Winter?? Boooooo Disney! 🙁
I too am hoping the Lights of Winter situation is a rumor. The LOW is really the key piece of Epcot’s holiday display. I hope this is not a quick way to save a buck when prices are going nowhere but up. As more features get cut, the appeal of our annual holiday trip diminishes.
🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 Lights og Winter
I heard a terrible rumor that the Lights of Wonder will not be up in Epcot this year. I truly hope this is just a rumor and not fact. We are returning this year for our 10th anniversary, we honeymooned in Dec. 1999 at Walt Disney World, and I will truly be heartbroken if they are in there. This is one of my favorite things Walt Disney does during the holiday season. Please, please rethink this!!
Given that this website is moderated, why has NO ONE at Disney responded??????
This had better be a rumor and nothing else.
It will be our first time back at Christmas time in nine years and will be EXTREMELY disappointed if Lights of Winter is not there.
If Disney keeps taking Christmas stuff away, then it could very well be our last time there (especially at Christmas) for a very long time.
Enough with the cutbacks.
We have been annual passholders for fifteen years and we recently became DVC members as well. I am dismayed to hear that the Lights of Winter may be missing from Epcot this year. I hope that this is simply a vicious rumor, as the Lights of Winter is something that we look forward to seeing each year. Please reconsider this decision.
I hope that I will be able to enjoy the Lights of Winter for my first Christmas visit to Walt Disney World.
Loved the commercial–brought tears to my eyes. Even my husband was touched!
No Lights of Winter? Please say it isn’t so!! This will be our first trip to WDW during the holidays, and we were so looking forward to it…
I would also like to voice my strong disappointment about the Lights of Winter archways at Epcot being MIA this year. Even if the reason was to refurbish them with LED lights, you had 10 months to do that and still get them up in time! Epcot is going to seem pretty dull this trip…
What’s this about the Lights of Wonder may not be showing this year at Epcot? The only reason we are going in December is to see the Christmas lights. I am not a big fan of Disney Studios, so plan on seeing the Osbourne Lights only once. However, we’ll be at Epcot for at least 4-5 nights of our trip and were really looking forward the Lights of Wonder. They are one of the main reason we are going. It’s too late to cancel our flights for this year, but if they are not showing, you better believe we won’t be back next year in Dec. Disney is just making too many cuts. People go to WDW in Dec to see the Christmas lights. Why bother going if they are going to cut out the main ones at Epcot. We will definitely be at guest services complaining about them not being there. This just breaks my heart. That lovely arch of lights is what makes Epcot special during the Christmas season. How could WDW not put them up?
Adding my comment … bring back Lights of Winter – please!
I have been to Disney in December the last 7 years, this will be our 8th trip in December. If Epcot removes their Lights of Wonder of display, I will be sadly disappointed in the folks who are now running Disney. It would appear that anything that can not be charged for in addition to regular park admission is being removed & whomever is thinking this way at Disney needs to be fired. The Lights of Wonder at Epcot ARE the holiday decorations. Last year the tree lighting ceremony at Epcot was removed with all the Disney characters singing & couting down, please don’t tell me that this is being eliminated as well.
I make it a point every year to just sit on a bench & enjoy the sights/sounds of the Lights of Wonder with a hot cup of coffee & discussing our trip with my son, please don’t ruin this wonderful tradition that so many of us faithful Disney vacationeers have come to cherish!
Epcot will surely be missing a very big part of the holiday tradition at WDW without the Lights of Winter. This will be terrible news indeed. I just don’ think Epcot will be as magical without the Arch. Please reassure us it will be up this year! Heading to WDW December 12th and it’s our favorite part of a Disney Christmas!
The Orlando Sentinal is reporting a Character Tree Lighting Ceremony and a ‘lights display’ for this year 2009. Have our prayers been answered?
A lot of people on a lot of fan websites are talking about the Lights of Winter. Many are using this as an excuse to go off on another diatribe about what they perceive as declining Disney park quality. I’m not jumping on that bandwagon, as I have trips to both DL and WDW scheduled for the next few months. But I do have to say that I will be very disappointed if the Lights of Winter are cut from Epcot. They can’t possibly cost much to run, or to install or take down. And they add immeasurably to the holiday atmosphere, both in Futureworld and all around the World Showcase. I’ve spent quite a bit of time underneath the arches, just soaking up the vibe of the music and the lights and the fountain. I can’t imagine a Christmas season without them.
I just returned from a 10 day trip at the world, and was already starting to plan a quick trip in December to enjoy the Christmas activities. I read that there is a good chance the Lights of Winter will not be returning. WHAT? It’s one of the most magical holiday displays on property. First the Country Bear overlay is gone, then the tree lighting ceremony last year, and now this? These cuts have to stop. Pretty soon it’s going to be just another park without the magic. For that I can go to Universal. Walt Disney World Management, PLEASE bring back these holiday/Christmas activities and stop these cuts. We’re getting less and less and paying more and more. It’s time to think about the guest’s experience AND the bottom line. There has to be a balance.
I really hope that the Lights of Winter will be there. As a Passholder, I am starting to question my investment as more things are cut/removed given the annual increase that I seem to pay each year. Lights of Winter and all the other extra special touches during the year are what make Disney much more magical than other parks and extra special to my family. As we lose more of this magic, part of the draw to Disney properties is going to decrease.
I am really concerned that the Lights of Winter may not be displayed this year. As an annual pass holder the Epcot Christmas events and decorations are my absolute favorite. The lights of winter are an essential part of that and truly have become a tradition every year. They are beautiful and make the transition between future world and world showcase something magical. I cannot believe that disney would remove such a prominent display due to budget cuts. I am hopeful that we are all worried for no reason and they will appear as they always do.
Bring back the Lights of Winter!
Please tell me another Disney guest experience hasn’t been cut. Disney is supposed to be the one place expect the magical. How can you keep cutting the magic out of the show?
I am local to Disney, and I won’t be spending as much time at Epcot if the Lights of Winter are not there. Disney has cut a lot over the years from the Christmas holidays, but there have also been additions like the Christmas Castle Lighting (with is beautiful). I do miss the Christmas tree being near the castle, the Country Bear Christmas, the complimentary photo being given during the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the discounts and pin/lanyard given with dining packages for the Candlelight Processional, and the annual passholder days for the Osborne Lights. So much has disappeared over the years.
I tend to spend a lot of time at Epcot during the holidays due in part to the Lights of Winter, I’ll have to find a non-Disney local alternative for the time I won’t be at Epcot.
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