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
So what’s the new experience?
Notice how they don’t list any such replacement they found – but they certainly had the time to install a new technology identically-named “Lights of Winter” in Tokyo.
I guess it’s official. Just saw the tweet “Note:The Lights of Winter at Epcot has been enjoyed for years. But tech to operate the lights is obsolete, prompting us to retire the lights”.
So sad.
Add me to the list of people very disappointed about the cut of Lights of Winter this year. I am not going to get all melodramatic and say I am canceling all of my trips over this. However, this latest cut back really has me wondering if Parks Management even cares that they are risking losing a lot of life long fans who visit on a regular basis.
As some one said above, first time visitors might not notice, but the people who have been visiting for decades will. These are the people who have been religiously pouring their hard earned money into Disney vacations for years. First time visitors are just that…people who are going for the first time. They might come back. They might not. Now is the chance to spend less time gambling on getting new people to return and pay more attention to the people who have always been there. We are the ones you can count on to return day after day, month after month, and year after year. Ignore our existence much longer and you may soon find out we have begun to disappear.
I come to WDW twice a year, one of those times at Christmas. I so look forward to seeing all the shows, trees, decorations and lights. I am very disappointed at the removal of The Lights Of Winter from Epcot, in addition to Mickey’s Twas The Night before Christmas from the Magic Kingdom. We loved having our picture taken using photopass at this spot and found the Lights of Winter to be enchanting and for us had sentimental emotions and nostalgia.
Other than the Castle lights, Lights of Winter was our favorite of all the holiday decorations at WDW. We are horribly disappointed to hear it is gone. Between that and the Mickey’s Twas the Night Before Christmas show, there is going to be a huge loss from what we experienced on our trip last year. We were at WDW during the Christmas season 1999-2000 and it was absolutely magical. Last year was our first Christmas season trip since then,and we noticed that there was much missing in terms of decorations etc., but it was still nice. Now Epcot, is not really going to be any different than it is the rest of the year. This is so disappointing.
While the country is in recession and some cuts may be necesary, please don’t cut the Lights of Winter. We have saved and saved to pay for this trip and really want to see the LOW. There have been so many cuts. We have visited other years in the beginning of December. If the cuts continue, then we will not be visiting anymore. We can only go on vacation at the this time of year and we choose Disney because of the beautiful lights and amazing holiday atmosphere. Mickey’s Christmas party has become so expensive, so many things have been cut from this, and so crowded that we aren’t even doing that this year. While we didn’t mind paying for this in years past, lately your prices keep increasing and you get less and less for the admission price. Finally I have to say something about the change in the Once Upon a Christmas show. You really should take a poll of your visitors. Very few of us really like Stitch, as a matter of fact most people I know are annoyed by him. Taking out a Mickey show in favor of Stitich is not going to make too many visitors happy. Of the cuts I would be favor of, it would be cutting Stitch some. Why is he everywhere? Why can’t we continue to have Mickey and Minnie and the other classic characters?
Please, please, please have the Lights of Winter and please cut back on Stitich.
I can not tell you how upset I am about this. This will be our 4th year coming to Disney World at Christmas. This year my sister in law and family are coming also. They have never been there at Christmas and have saved up for a long time to go. We have been looking on you tube at different things to get excited to come and the lighting of the Christmas Tree at Epcot with the Lights of Winter was on there. I told them how beautiful they where and how much I know there where going to like it. I told them how you could take your picture with them and everything. Now to read that they are not going to be there, I am angry!!! Our two trips alone are over 10,000 and that is not even at deluxe hotels. Disney can not be hurting that much!? Please reconcider Disney and get them up ASAP!
It’s such a shame to hear that the Lights of Winter will no longer be at Epcot. That was definitely one of the best holiday offerings at any Disney park.
I also would be very disappointed to see the Lights of Winter disappear from EPCOT’s walkway. It truly lights up that area and is one of the sights I look forward to seeing year after year.
My family and I make our annual trip to Disney at this time of year because we love the decorations and traditions, but over the years we’ve seen so many of those slowly disappear and I hope this won’t join a long list like the Country Bear Christmas, the Jolly Holidays Dinner Show, little touches like the santa hat on the Earful Tower and the red and green Christmas lights on the Contemporary Resort. The more of these things that get taken away, the more it becomes like any other time of year for us.
Very dissapointed to hear the Epcot Lights of Winter may be cancelled this year. We have been going to Disneyworld for over 15 years now (travelling from the UK), when we visit as Christmas we have always enjoyed the lights. This year we have more of the family joining us with children who have seen the lights on videos and no doubt looking forward to seeing them for real.
I really do hope Disney think long and hard about this, it will certainly discourage us from coming at Christmas in the future. We are staying in an Epcot resort this year and was really looking forward to enjoying the festive atmosphere in Epcot which certainly won’t be the same without the Lights.
There is still time and I really hope they prepare the lights and install them to bring a smile to everyone’s faces.
I am very sad to hear the Lights of Winter are not going to be displayed. Seems like things are being cut more and more, makes me rethink our trip for next December.
The lights are so cool, how they dance to the music when you are inside them. I almost prefer them to the Osborne lights. We have some priceless family pictures taken with them. Sounds like a bad call to me!
We are watching Disney.
How many more rose colored glasses will come off with the loss of Lights of Winter.
We are your loyal fans – we see what you are doing.
I agree that with the losses of the Country Bear Xmas Special, Mickey’s Tree-Lighting Treat, Lights of Winter, etc., the holiday season has become a lot less jolly at WDW.
And the fact that WDW has yet to offer Haunted Mansion Holiday and It’s a Small World Holiday (both of which they should at least try at WDW to see how the guests react, IMO) does add some further salt to that wound.
I sure hope that the afforementioned Xmas offering cutbacks are only temporary as results of our sagging economy and that they’ll all eventually return in the coming years.
“Your comment is awaiting moderation” means they can decide not to post it if they don’t like what you say. So far they have not posted my previous two comments, although if you read through these comments there are almost no positive ones so I will give the moderators credit for allowing some negative voices to speak.
If they only allowed positive comments this would be a lonely blog!
We just were moved to Florida after living as far west as Oklahoma; still we tried to visit WDW for Christmas. One of my VERY favorite things has been the “Lights of Winter”. My family would be dragging me out because I would want to stay and watch them. When we moved to Florida I told them that “Now I can go by myself as many times as I want to watch the lights”. PLEASE Disney … reconsider this!
I love the new commercial! You really hit it out of the ballpark with that one.
However, I have to add my 2 cents about Epcot’s Lights of Winter. Please tell me it hasn’t been canceled! It is such a wonderful, beautiful display that really highlights the spirit of the holiday season. I will be so disappointed if it is not there.
Please, don’t cancel this wonderful tradition! Please?!?
I’ll add my call to respond….your customer base is waiting. Is this rumor or fact? Come on Disney, man up.
I forgot to say we also are annual passholders.
Please Disney, remember the magic
what does it mean that my comment is awaiting moderation
Disappointed to hear Epcot’s Lights of Winter will not be shown this year. We saw it for the first time last year and it was magical. Please reconsider this decision. We love Disney and hope you keep focused on the Magic!
To say I am disappointed in Disney right now would be an understatement. We are Annual Passholders and make at least 2 trips per year. We have been coming to WDW for 14 years to celebrate the holidays. Our children grew up having Santa visit them in the Disney resorts. We bring our Christmas tree and stockings and he always manages to find us there. Part of the holiday celebration for us has always been the spectacular shows and displays that still manage to bring tears to my eyes.
Our children are now grown and still come to join us at WDW for Christmas. We spend 90% of our time in one park during our Christmas trips. Epcot is where we choose to be. First “Cast in Bronze” was eliminated, then the tree-lighting ceremony. And now the substantial rumor is that Lights of Winter will not be installed.
These are the reasons we return. This is what makes WDW our choice of location for celebrating The Season. We might as well go to a house at the beach. We could choose New York City, or Boston or Arizona and receive more holiday spirit than you are leaving us.
I believe things need to evolve. But this is more than that. This is the elimination of what makes the celebration of The Season at WDW so unique and spectacular. Is Christmas and all its trappings no longer an acceptable holiday to celebrate? Are the enormous displays that Disney is known for no longer politically correct?
This is not Good Show.
My wife and I are DVC members and have been for 7 years.We are also annual pass holders and come to the world every year for 10 days to 2 weeks.This year will be our first full 2 week trip,Nov.22 to Dec.6th.
We have been talking amongst ourselves lately about what we have seen disappear over the last few years only to be replaced with shows that don’t last because they weren’t any good,empty spots where at one time there was something and a increase in prices across the boards for just about everything.
We decided this year to go during the holidays to get that magical feeling we always get when we are at the world during this time of the year.We still decided to go this year during dec. even after the tree lighting at epcot was cancelled,one of our favorites things to do.Now we here the lights of wonder are gone.When will it end?The lights brought such wonderment in the faces of children and adults alike.Our favorite time at the world during the holidays is waiting for all the people to leave the park and sit under the lights just enjoying the beauty.
We don’t do the christmas party because the prices are out of hand.Same for the procession at epcot.Why take something as beautiful and has so much meaning for so many people away?
We have already said that next year we will be only doing one week at disneyworld and we will go skiing another with some long weekends at other places. We don’t like doing this because we love the world,that is why we bought in but things are changing and we must do what is best for us and our family. Please rethink some of the past decisions and the present ones also on what makes a great vacation.
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.
Lights of Winter was one of the things I was looking forward to most on my first WDW Christmas trip. As others have said, it’s not so much the loss of this one highlight but the loss of many over the years. Not to knock the gospel choir that will be performing, which I am actually looking forward to seeing, but there is no way it’s a replacement for the light display.
Here’s hoping the lights (or something better!) will make their way back to our Epcot someday.
I am hoping that the Lights of Winter haven’t been cut from the Epcot holiday celebration this year. We are visiting in early December and are bringing a first time visitor with us. She has seen pictures of how awesome Walt Disney World looks during the holiday season. To hear that one of best features at Epcot will not be there this year is disappointing.
Lights of Winter is one of my favorite attractions at Epcot each Christmas. Please continue the tradition! It would truly be a disappointment if it is not displayed this year.
I sincerely hope that the Lights of Winter aren’t cut from Epcot this year. It is a yearly highlight of my family to come over for photos and the tree lighting. It would definitely move Epcot down on the list of parks to visit if this what people are saying is true. PLEASE put them up, its such a time honored tradition for that park.
First – Loved the video!!
Second – Lights of Wonders may not be presented in Epcot??? That is a definite hit to the Christmas decorations. I understand no longer having “Mickey’s Twas The Night Before Christmas” since the Galaxy Stage is no longer in existence, but why take this beloved exhibit out?
Your raised the rates for entrance to the parks AND raised the rates on parking during one of the worst recessions this country has seen in a long time…………..if Disney is concerned about going green, can’t the extra income be put to use in order to resolve this issue for the holidays?
I just heard the sad news about the Lights of Winter not being at WDW this year and I am very disheartened. We love going to WDW at Christmastime but it seeems every year, some of our favorites disappear. First it was the Country Bears Christmas, then the Christmas Tree Lighting. This year it was the Lights Of Wonder and Mickey’s Night Before Christmas. Unfortunately pretty soon there won’t be any reason to go at Christmas time. We always enjoyed getting our picture taken at various spots under the lights with many different color combinations. We loved standing there for a long time listening to the music and watching the lights twinkle. We probably won’t even bother with a photopass at EPCOT this year. We have already decided not to go to MVMCP this year due to the fact that the pins get sold out at the earlier parties (we had this happen to us at MNSSHP this year) and the disapearance of Mickey’s Night Before Christmas. We haven’t missed a Christmas Party in the last 5 or 6 years but a large reason to going was the opportunity to purchase the pins. This year our trip is not until 12/17 so the pins will be sold out by then. This will be our adult children’s first trip to WDW and we have been getting them all excited about the Lights of Winter. Now we will have to disappoint them by telling them they are not there.
This is so disappointing–Lights of Winter is by far my favorite display at Epcot–Christmas at Disney World will not be the same without them–some things are not meant to be changed or deleted and this is one of them.
Please add this passholder to the list of folks that would like to see Lights of Winter remain at Epcot. It is always a nice touch to the parks.
What… No Lights of Winter? How sad. It will definately be missed.
I’ve heard the decision to cut the Lights of Winter is now official. As an AP holder, DVC member, and former CM, I have to say I am extremely disappointed in this move that appears to ignore both the first-time and repeat visitors.
I had the opportunity to experience the holidays in WDW in 2006, but this is going to be our daughter’s first chance. There are somewhat limited experiences in the World for a 17-month old (that grab her attention), but the Lights of Winter would have been a highlight for her. To be able to run under thousands of lights in one of the most beautiful theme parks in the world would have been priceless for her, my wife, and myself.
Our daughter won’t notice the difference, but we will, and that’s what makes this decision so sad. It’s time to listen to your guests and keep the simple extras that make the Disney Parks so special, especially during the holidays. We have never been disappointed in our many trips, so here’s hoping this one will be no different!
I would also like to voice my extreme dismay over the possibility of Lights of winter not being presented this year. Epcot without them will be lose! Me and my family(DVC members since 1999)are becoming tired of the constant removal, and cheapening of the parks. We used to look forward Country bears! Lights of winter joining them? Looks like we will be skipping Epcot this Holiday season!
When I first visited Walt Disney World in 1996 for the 25th Anniversary, it was in mid December and we spent much of our time in both the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT at night specifically for Country Bear Christmas, Mickey’s Twas the Night before Christmas, and Lights of Winter. We even videotaped these and took pictures because these were SPECIAL and UNIQUE ANUAL ACTIVITIES that could ONLY be found at a Disney park during the Holiday Season.
I have no plans to even go to Walt Disney World in December this year due to the lack of Christmas related events, let alone the reduction of Christmas decorations in all four parks over the years.
I can’t even express how disappointed I am right now. It’s not just the Lights of Winter’s apparent demise, but that certainly is a big part of it. When my kids were young, we saved up throughout the year to bring them to Disney World for a week of family fun and entertainment. It was expensive to us then, but we felt it was worth the sacrifices we made because there was just no place like it – anywhere!
Now, the prices are nearly doubled, and every year it seems that something is taken away or dumbed down at least. My husband and I were so looking forward to our first Christmas trip this year, especially to see our beloved Epcot in all its holiday spendor that we had read so much about. Now we learn there is no tree lighting, no Lights of Winter, just a bunch of singers around the Fountain. Big whoop – we have some pretty good singers here too.
It’s too late now to change our plans, but at least we know now not to plan to ever return. The only “green” that Disney is interested in is found inside our wallets, so we’ll be sure to find a better place next Christmas to spend it. Thank you to whoever makes these decisions down there! Merry Christmas to all!
Have a trip planned for December, staying at the Beach Club specifically for the purpose of being able to walk to Epcot daily to enjoy its Christmas atmosphere. I am very disappointed to hear about the LoW cutback. Maybe I’ll cutback and stay off-site.
Funny how Parks Management seem to be alienating the very groups that have supported them over the years. True, the first time visitor will not miss the Lights of Winter. But those of us with DVC memberships and Annual passes who visit often and spend our hard earned money there will be the disappointed ones.
This is going to be our first trip to WDW at Christmastime. I am definitely disappointed that we will not be experiencing this special treat at Epcot.
I’m heartened to see so many others commenting about LoW. It seems like even the rumor of this cut has been a “last straw” for many people who have suffered through years and years of cutbacks accompanied by price increases. In fact, I’m kind of surprised at the scope of the unhappiness online. Maybe after years of tiny, barely noticeable cuts, they finally added up so much that they’ve hit bone? The sad thing is, EPCOT deserves something even cooler than LoW and it could be done with modern LED technology, but instead it seems we’re regressing…
I’m so disappointed to read online that the Lights of Winter won’t be performed. They add grace and elegance to Epcot, and unlike many displays, is timeless in it’s beauty and charm. Epcot is now losing any appeal for the holidays. The Candlelight Processional has largely become an expensive dinner show, and with the loss of the Tree Lighting last year, and now the Lights of Winter, there isn’t anything to go for. Prices are being hiked up everywhere, and we the guests are thanked by cutting simple pleasures like the Lights of Winter. It’s a very sad situation.
I’d like to add my voice to the chorus lamenting the apparent loss of the Lights of Winter display. We have planned and dreamed for 5 years of taking a trip to Disney World to experience the holiday magic, and what a disappointment it is to find that magic being eroded as our trip is FINALLY in sight. First the loss of the classic Twas the Night Before Christmas and now the elimination showpiece of the Epcot holiday decor. I know that it is unlikely, but I continue to hope that those in charge of making these decisions will reconsider!
What an incredible disappointment. One hopes that Disney will listen to the concerns of its most loyal fans and customer base and restore this and other features of prominent Christmas displays at Epcot and elsewhere in Walt Disney World lost during recent years. We hope our numerous visits over the decades mean something to the people making these decisions.
We visit Epcot multiple times throughout the Christmas holiday and some of those are specifically to watch the Lights of Winter go through their show. This is truly upsetting, as it has become a tradition to watch. Everyone I talk to about it says they can not understand why Disney would remove this.
The Lights of Winter have been a favorite of mine for years. We had seasonal passes that were expiring, and upgraded them to Annual Passes so we could visit Epcot closer to Christmas, in order to enjoy this beautiful spectacle more. We are not going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year (after attending the last 6 years), mainly because the extra money is not worth the few extras you now get. The entertainment that Disney has provided over the years is what sets Disney apart from “the other guys”. The Lights of Winter is a classic example of Disney Parks entertainment. I, too, will be extremely disappointed if they are not at Epcot this year.
This is the first year I’ll be visiting Disney World during the holidays and I was really looking forward to seeing the Lights of Winter. I’m very disappointed.
I am an annual passholder. I’ve been to Disney twice in the last 2 months, stayed on Disney property and spent a lot of money each time. If Disney follows other major corporations and takes “Christmas” out of the holiday season then Disney and my family will have to part ways. Epcot without the Lights of Winter is unacceptable not to mention the cuts made to MVMCP. I understand that Disney is a business and must make money but the “corner cutting” is old and an excuse I will no longer accept. I’ve always been so proud of Disney for not shying away from Christmas as so many others have. Christmas is my reason for the season.
Please tell me that the Lights if Winter are not done. It is the highlight of many trips and a favorite of mine. It would really be a loss to EPCOT and the WDW holiday experience.
I have a trip coming up in less than a month, and am really looking forward to it.
However, this news about Lights of Winter is very disheartening.
This is the first time in 7 years that I can be at WDW during the holiday season, and Lights of Winter was indeed one of the things I was looking forward to seeing again.
I do understand about the economy as it is now, but everyone is pretty much on the same boat.
Yet we are still making our trips somehow to experience the Disney magic.
It is very discouraging to see all the cutbacks on things that make Disney so special – while the prices of things keep going up.
I will not let this prevent me from enjoying my trip, but I do have to say I am very disappointed.
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