Comments on: Disney officially retires the Lights of Winter holiday archway at Epcot

By: Connie

Connie — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:57:37 +0000

I am heading to WDW shortly. I will let you know what I think when I return. Happy Thanksgiving all.

By: tinkintx

tinkintx — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:06:43 +0000

I think it is a shame that the Lights of Winter are being pulled. It is very difficult to decorate EPCOT for the holidays. When you look out over World Showcase – it is very difficult to tell the park is decorated – it is so huge that the park just swallows the decorations. The Lights of Winter (along with the tree) were the only two visual elements that actually let you know from a distance that it was holiday time at EPCOT, especially at night. Now there will just be the tree which will look lost.

I can understand wanting to do something different and I can understand wanting a “waiting period” before introducing a new show or attraction, to reduce the comparison factor, BUT, I do think that a new temporary holiday show/attraction could have been introduced somewhere else in the park to bridge the gap.

While I know that the “account-tineers” have taken over Disney as a rule, they need to realize that if it is so transparent to the public that eventually this will hurt the bottom line – oh wait – Disney bean counters are only interested in the here and now not the long term – WHAT WAS I THINKING??

By: WDWLocal

WDWLocal — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:55:49 +0000

DVC.Owner, you are wrong, wrong, WRONG and way too overly-negative!

End of story.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:32:27 +0000

So the lights were meant to draw in the people which they figured wasn’t working and not worth the up keep? So they take them away? So what’s to draw the people in now? There’s no real logic in taking away the lights. The Lights of Winter was one of those added touches that Disney put in Epcot to make visiting that park a little more “special” at Christmas time. I remember just sitting on a bench with my wife and son listening to the music and watching the lights thinking now this is what Disney is all about but now it’s gone. At least they could have thought of replacing it with something else instead of nothing. How sad.

By: Haley

Haley — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:19:01 +0000

Get a grip people! Its lights!There are lots more lights to see.
The Castle is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!

By: DVC.Owner

DVC.Owner — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:55:14 +0000

I for one think as nice as WDW is, castmember19 has great points. Not easy to hear. I was one of the first owners in DVC. I would NOT, NOT, NOT buy, nor return to parks if had it to do over, with last few years of significant decline (prior to blaming economy, Hurricane Katrina, or whatever). Disney has lost its magic. It reminds me of a bank. The branches aren’t there to ’serve’ you, but to ’sell you on more services’. Ditto Disney. May it go down gracefully as Connie would have it, just go more (paying more for seeing less), or wake up and improve, NOT go until the product improves as others would. And no WDWLocal, Eisner wasn’t reponsible for killing 2d features, and was moved out by Roy Disney and other shareholders. 2D features and studio changes were also hit from union battle versus cost. Same reason lights down. And from what I hear, many more cuts are coming. But…..more stores planned!!

By: Connie L

Connie L — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:51:58 +0000

Responding to WDWLocal, I only can recall the good Eisner did in the 1990’s & did not recall about the 2D animated. I was recently enlightened by someone who advised me of the downfall of Mr. Eisner (very sad). Anyway, I guess I just miss the WDW of the 1990’s. I still love it & hope any changes are good. Yes the company & parks MUST be profitable, or there will be no Disney World which we all seem to love. As Disney fans all we can do is continue to visit as much as we can to support it & it will go on. I for 1, plan many more trips in my future to my 2nd home. How many of you on this site get a wonderul peaceful feeling when you step on Main Street & see the castle & hear all the wonderful sights, sounds & smells of the Magic Kingdom. Respond if you do. Love the place!

By: WDWLocal

WDWLocal — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:45:06 +0000

And anyone who thinks that Eisner should be brought back is clearly not thinking and is forgetting that he nearly RUINED the company during the second half of his tenure (killing 2D animated features, anyone?).

By: WDWLocal

WDWLocal — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:43:29 +0000

I agree with Stoich91 that Castmember19 needs to button his lip and stop being so overly-nihilistic.

While it is depressing when things get cut, the company is not as greedy as some like to believe and should be glad that at least we have a far better CEO than Eisner right now.

By: castmember19

castmember19 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:35:12 +0000

Stoich91, you’re clearly one of the dimmest bulbs of the “retired epcot Lights of Winter”. Theres a lot of castmembers who post on here, but hence, no names.

Worth pointing out again, I WANT good for Disney. They’re on a rapid downward spiral. If you told me the parks won’t be around in 10 years, I’d believe it. 4th Q looked great for Disney, poor for WDW. And no money is getting pumped into it from CA. Quite opposite. But…buy some of those t-shirts, and get ready for the expanded MK Fantasyland meet and great areas with Mickey (which when opens in MK will be for a FEE!). So much potential. So different than 1, 2 years ago, much less 9.