Walt Disney World Announces 2015 As The Final Year For The Osborne Lights At Disney’s Hollywood Studios

For years and years, there have been rumors that the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World were coming to an end. Each year, those rumors would prove to not be true, but unfortunately, now they are. Disney has announced that this, the 20th year, would be the final year of the Christmas dancing lights.

On Friday, the Disney Parks Blog announced that there would be a couple of new dining event options for holiday fun this Christmas. Unfortunately, it was also when they announced that this would be the 20th and final year for the Osborne Lights.

“…we also wanted you to know that this holiday season will mark the finale for The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. The display of lights has enjoyed a successful run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, going all the way back to when it first appeared on Residential Street.

In order to prepare for some incredible experiences coming to the park, including the recently announced Toy Story Land and a Star Wars-themed land, we will not be able to present The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights in the future. Our heartfelt thanks go out to the family of Jennings Osborne for letting us share their family tradition year after year. And thank you to all of you for being part of the spectacle with us. Here’s to making more memories in this, the 20th and final year.”

Just last month at the D23 Expo in California, Disney made a couple of huge announcements that included the future of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which includes Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land. This will be part of a major overhaul to the park which many say is long overdue.

The new additions and expansions will include new attractions, dining areas, and more. In preparation for the changes to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, different attractions have been closing its doors over the course of the last year.

The Osborne Lights have been rumored to be in their last year at Walt Disney World for the past five or six years. Every year, those rumors would prove to be just that and never amount to more. There was even a rumor a couple years ago that the lights would be moved to the World Showcase countries of Epcot.

Obviously, those rumors never came to be. The lights don’t really have a place at Magic Kingdom since Disney already does the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party there for every holiday season, and they wouldn’t work at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

With Disney officially thanking the Osborne Family for their Christmas lights, it appears as if their time is finally up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and all of Walt Disney World. This is sure to upset many guests, but things do have to change in order for progress to be made, and that’s what Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land will be.

[Image via Danny Cox]