Hello, my name is Erin, and I have a problem…but at least I can admit it! I love Disney – the parks, the characters, the rides, the mouse-shaped ice creams, the t-shirts, the pins, the lunchboxes. Yup, pretty much everything that comes out of the Disney franchise is going to be something I want or more likely, something I’m fairly certain I need. In my life, I’ve been to the Disney World parks in Orlando well into the hundreds of times, and I love it just as much today as I did when I was little. There’s just something about going there that gets to me.
The first time my parents brought me to Walt Disney World, the Magic Kingdom wasn’t even open. There was nothing but a trailer with a model that you could look at. I was ridiculously little, but maybe that’s when I caught the Disney bug. I think part of it is genetic, because my parents still go to Disney as often as they can, with us, or without us. We’ve been annual pass holders for the past several years, and I’m confident that we have saved thousands of dollars in what the actual costs for my family of four would have been without them. I’ve become so familiar with the parks, that friends who are visiting Disney with their families have emailed me asking me to create lists of must-dos while they’re at the parks. And yes, I LOVE doing it for them. I can visualize all aspects of the parks, and do complete tours, right down to the restaurants and where bathrooms and first-aid centers are located!
On my most recent trip up to visit my favorite mouse, we were lucky enough to catch the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney-MGM Studios). This unbelievable light show takes up entire city blocks, has the most ridiculous synchronized light show you could possibly imagine every ten minutes, includes over 40 hidden Mickey’s to find within the lights, and comes complete with snow!
Every year that we see these lights, I’m always in awe. The Osborne family, from Arkansas, had the beginnings of this light show at their house every year, and in 1995, the show packed up and moved to Disney World. Personally, I think it’s one of the best places to put you in the holiday mood in Florida because the light show is amazing, plus, you can see it all in your t-shirt and shorts! It runs every year from early November to early January, but the dates vary, so if it’s something you might want to see, make sure to check the dates. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas is another special event that you can take part in at the Magic Kingdom. This is an extra cost, but allows only a limited number of people to stay in the park after it closes. Taking part in the Very Merry Christmas allows you access to select rides, a special holiday parade and fireworks show, snow falling on Main Street, live entertainment, extra meet-and-greet opportunities with the characters, and complimentary cookies and cocoa. This is a fairly expensive add-on, with a price tag of over $50 for children 3 – 9, and over $57 for the 10+ crowd. Comparatively, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights is included in your admission ticket, and they have cocoa available to purchase if the mood strikes you. You can find out more on this event and other Walt Disney World Events by visiting their website
~Erin
1 comment
I havent been to MGM to see those lights yet. Last time I went to MGM was when I was really little.