I Just Wanna See The Osborne Lights Gleam! Update 4/3

[xoSamma]

I Just Wanna See The Osborne Lights Gleam!

Can you hear it? Can you feel it?
I'd say there's something magical in the air, wouldn't you?
Why it's the spirit of the season, a season that sparkles with its own magic and memories.

Surprise! I’m headed back to my magical home to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. And what’s better than a spontaneous trip to see the Osborne lights one last time before they shut off for good.

Now you can travel near or far, look high or low, and you'll always find there's no place like home for the holidays, cause after all home is where the heart is.

A year ago I didn’t appreciate the world enough for christmas time during my DCP because I was to angsty about not being home for Christmas and also knowing that my time there was ending right after the holidays. So this trip was a second chance for Disney at christmas, the osborne lights and MVMCP.

Sam

Hi I’m Samantha, Sam, whatever you want to call me. I’m pretty much obsessed with Disney, for fun I like to book spontaneous trips to wdw, I enjoy the little details and hidden gems throughout the parks, I constantly listen to park music, and I’m dreaming of the day I love into Golden Oaks (dream big kids)

Erin

Erin has been to the world 5 times and although she may not be the obsessive Disney fan like me, she does appreciate the magic. This trip was all her idea and I couldn’t be more happy to spend this trip with her.


When: December 14-16
Where: Pop Century
Why: Osborne lights and MVMCP


It’s the spirit of the season, you can feel it in the air.
It’s so wonderful to share it all with you
May all our Christmas wishes come true​

 

[xoSamma]

Table of Contents
trip video

December 14
It's A Disney Day!
The Closest I'll Get To Star Wars Weekend
I'm The Rebel Spy!
I Know What We're Going To Do Today
Lights Lights Lights And More Lights
The Perfection Of The Fort

December 15
Going Home To Disney Springs
Exploring Disney Quest One Last Time
Perfection Called Wilderness Lodge
That Dreaded Blue Mickey
Jingle Bell Rock Is One Of Our More Boulder Attractions
Once Upon A Christmastime At Christmas
Its The Spirit Of The Season
Let's Have A Joyous Celebration
Stalling On Main Street

December 16
Last Moments In Disney​

 

[DebnPaul]

Great video! Looking forward to your trip report.

 

[xoSamma]

It's A Disney Day!

One thing I believe I’m super good at is booking trips to Disney with not even a month in advance. I also am really good at planning and thinking about going on a trip when someone mentions going to the point where I need to just book it. So there is a 99.9% chance I would go on a Disney trip with anyone who asks.
That’s how this trip all started, just a little less then a month before Erin texted me one night with southwest prices and “Wanna go see the Osborne lights”. Just thinking it was some cruel joke that would never happen, the more I thought about it the more I needed to go. So 2 days later I booked our vacation and I was literally bouncing off the walls at home.

Fast Forward a month

December 14th 4:15am
Rise and Shine! ITS A DISNEY DAY!
At 4:50 Erin was on her way to my home and we were off to the airport. She was definitely in for a crazy time and if I didn’t want to kill me by the end of this trip we were golden!
It was the usual trip to the airport, check bags, go through security, get some which wich breakfast sandwiches and hangout at the gate. Our flight wasn’t full so we lived luxuriously as Erin spread out on 2 seats

I pretty much slept the whole way because I just love my sleep. But once we landed in Orlando I was ready to let the memories begin!
The thing about this trip was that only our parents knew we were going. So once we landed at MCO let snapchat revealed our little secret

The magical express was a whole new thing to Erin and I just found that so bizarre. I think I have finally become one of those Disney snobs and it clearly showed throughout this entire trip. She wasn’t all that impressed with the ME, but I wouldn't either if I never saw the old video.
3…2….1….WE HAVE ARRIVED! WELCOME HOME!
(it was quite an overcast day but I couldn’t really care)

Lucky for us I received a text message with our room number right before we got to the resort so that was super nice and convenient. When we arrived at Pop we went straight to our 60s room.

I was not upset one bit that the carousel of progress was added to the poster in the room. A lot of people hate on that show but it is one of my favorites.
I had a lot I wanted to squeeze in for the next 2 days and hanging around the resort was not one of them. After a bit of Erin being sad that she had no cute disney christmas attire and multiple texts from everyone back home saying “You’re in disney?!” it was time to head off on our way

The first motor coach ride of the vacation is always exciting. And this motor coach was traveling directly to…the twilight zone, or the park that houses the famous hollywood tower hotel.
Even before getting through bag check we were already stopping to take pictures. But how could you pass up the studios christmas tree? You really can’t.This then began the whole laying down on the ground while taking pictures because these christmas trees are gigantic.

The main attraction that will probably consume my whole night ahead

Ready or not here we come!

I feel like I have been waiting forever to see this view, it definitely didn’t disappoint at all.

Before we did anything first Erin wanted to get a christmas shirt to wear for the day. We both purchased the thats a wrap shirt because it was better to be safe and have them, instead of getting them later and them not having our sizes. For the other Christmas attire, I feel like it was lacking this year. We went to every clothing store at the front of park and came out with the maroon long sleeve shirt. They did actually have a lot of nice long sleeve, sweaters but when its in the mid 80s your not really looking for a long sleeve to walk around in.
I’ve been to Disney quite a bit in my lifetime so I’m normally the person who will just do whatever the other people in the party want to do. Also I’m really bad at making decisions. However anytime I asked Erin what she wanted to do she said I was in charge of this trip.
So first up was rocking roller coaster because out of that and ToT, RnR is the only one Erin will ride.

We had a 30 minute wait in front of us which was that bad at all. Once we came up to the marble doors I made sure to have Erin look behind them to look at all the disgusting dead skin caught in-between the marbles, this made her think twice about playing with the door.
Once we made it through the video, we hit the wall. No limos were being launched for a good 10-15 minutes. This was the good time to teach Erin all the CM codes, we are currently 101.
Shortly after we were back to 102 and ready to make it to the concert

Continue to next post​

 

[figment52]

Yeah, another report from Sam! Thank for linking from the last report. I might have missed it.

 

[xoSamma]

Yeah, another report from Sam! Thank for linking from the last report. I might have missed it.

Yay! Thanks for joining in again!

 

[xoSamma]

The Closest I'll Get To Star Wars Weekend

After RnR I had about 20 minutes until I could use our FPs for ToT. That was just enough time to check out the new Club Disney that is located right next to RnR.

With hollywood studios losing attractions left and right, this character dance party was a nice little addition. It’s a great way to get out of the hot florida sun, dance with characters, coloring on smart boards, or just sit and watch everyone else boogies down while you sing a long to the music.

When we saw a coloring wall open up we headed straight for it. It’s a lot harder then it looks.
While I was struggling to stay in the lines, Bye Bye Bye came on and said something along the lines of “Yes, this is my jam!” because a near by CM looked at me and said “you can thank me because I requested it” Then out of no where we started dueting, which the lead to busting out our dance moves, Erin gave me the look of “Why are you singing and dancing with this random guy?”

The characters ending up leaving, leaving the dance floor open for all the kids to show off there sweet moves.

Another nice touch they add is having video clips play while the DJ spins some tunes.

With the party dying down it was time for me to head off to ToT. I tried talking Erin into doing it but failed so it was time to be solo for a bit.

Amidst the glitz and the glitter of a bustling young movie talent at the height of its golden age, the Hollywood Tower Hotel was a star in its own right. A beacon for the show business elite. Now, something is about to happen that will change all that

We invite you, if you dare, to step aboard because in tonight's episode you are the star. And this elevator travels directly to . . . The Twilight Zone

Straight up to the tip top club

The saddest part was when they asked for one poor solo traveling alone and I raised my hand. But to make it better I bypassed the long line and got front row. So I would call that a win. The poor kid in my row started freaking out with we were boarding into the elevator but his dad told him to suck it up because he was already on it during their trip.

Stay classy!

I found Erin outside of the gift shop waiting. We were in desperate need of some food and we decided to go to fairfax because they had chicken nuggets and you can’t go wrong with a chicken nugget child’s meal.

We talked over lunch about what to do next. Erin asked me what I had planned next and I had no idea. We had fast passes for the frozen sing along not too far away but I know she also wanted to see voyage of the little mermaid. So we decided we would just head over that way after we were done eating. Also during this time Alicia texted me asking if I was staying in studios all night because her friend Justin would be in Fantasmic that night. I knew though that I wouldn't be going to that tonight because I needed to spend as much time surrounded by the osborne lights as I could.

After we finished our meal we headed over to animation courtyard where we had about a half hour till the next voyage show. So while we waited I suggested the launch bay because that was brand new to me.

Stormtroopers were walking around the courtyard sassy every guest asking to get a picture with them. Out of they way peasants.

I am not really a star wars fan but I have seen them all back when I was a child thanks to my lovely sister who was obsessed with it.

We got in a 10 minute line to get into the building itself. This line led us to the launch bay theater that showed a video of all the artists and creators of star wars tv shows, comics, movies and what the movie and phenomenon has meant to them.

After the video we were then moved into the old animation building that now stores some memorabilia from the movies and some new meet and greats. I knew Chewy was around and thats all I wanted out of life. I was very surprised to see only a 15 minute wait to meet him.

The wait went by quickly, the huge sliding door opened and we were welcomed in and taken down this short hallway and to a small room where Chewbacca was waiting for us.

It’s true love! (Actually I was a little terrified because he towered over me)

As we were leaving the building we saw Jawas roaming around so clearly we needed to stalk one so we could get a picture. This jawa definitely took interest in Erin’s phone, but I mean of course he did he’s a scavenger who likes technology (look at me knowing my star wars)

continue to next post​

 

[lovegrumpy]

I'm in. When they announced the end if the lights I was so happy we already had a trip planned.

 

[mjhitz421]

Another Report, but of course . I hope you can update this before your next weekly viewing of the bachelor.

 

[xoSamma]

I'm in. When they announced the end if the lights I was so happy we already had a trip planned.

Welcome! When they announced it I knew I needed to plan a trip.

Another Report, but of course . I hope you can update this before your next weekly viewing of the bachelor.

But of course. Just wait till my cruise report.
Way to come at my love for the bachelor. Just remember I now know your secret love for it too.

 

[xoSamma]

I'm The Rebel Spy!


After all the new that the launch bay brought, we ran to voyage to get to the show that was just about to start. We made it with time to spare. I made Erin hold back while all the crazy guests stormed through the doors right away. Silly them, now they had to move all the way down while I will be closer to the middle of the row.

betcha on land they’d understand, bet they don’t reprimand their daughters

The rough life of prince eric

You’re the one, it was you all the time

After Voyage we had to book it to Frozen in order to make it to the next show. But before we went there we made a quick stop to get water. This should have been a quick simple transaction but the CM took forever trying to be funny. “With my discount that will be $3000, but let me try your discount. Good news with yours its $2.75! And because I like our relationship heres 25 cents” I would have appreciated this a little more if I wasn’t pressured for time.
Also why I even cared about getting to Frozen on time? I have no clue. It was new to Erin so it was a must do. Plus kristoff.
We cut it real close and ended up getting front row all the way to the left. Bring on the frozen sing a long!

After singing most of the frozen soundtrack Elsa decides to come out of hiding and makes everyone sing Let It Go one last time because thats all she knows how to sing.

But first some sister love

I’m assuming the cold never bothered her anyways

At the end of the show I ended up ruining my christmas gift from Brittany because I got a text saying not to buy the osborne light shirt, but I already did and she said she would just have to return it. Clearly I’m a bad friend because first off she didn’t know I was going to Disney and then I ended up buying my christmas present for myself.
After the sing a long we needed some more star wars in our lives so we headed off to star tours.

The standby line was quicker than the fastpass line and I kept hoping to be the chosen one to be the rebel spy. But I wasn’t the chosen one.

Instead I showed Erin how I just go limp during the ride and pray that the seatbelt doesn’t randomly come undone. Also I was pretty excited to see the new characters added. Hey BB8!
After star tours we walked the streets of america, mostly because Erin had recently just become obsessed with Once Upon A Time so I had to show her Mr Gold’s Pawn shop

Only a few more hours until these lights turn on!

While walking around the streets on america we found ourselves outside of honey I shrunk the kids playground. When Erin told me she never went in there and played before I knew at that moment we were going in. It’s going to be gone soon so we enjoyed running around the playground one last time.

All throughout the hot day Erin kept saying “I wish there was a water ride here” but her mood changed when we walked into the unmarked splashing zone. At first we both thought people were controlling water things but then we noticed the big super soakers above us and new they were just on a timer.

The area was pretty mobbed so we didn’t last very long and decided to head over to the muppets.
Again if something is new to you I will make you do it. When we walked in I asked Erin if she ever found the key. I told her to go read the sign and the CM looked at us like we were crazy. But hey she found the key to the whole Muppet vision so jokes on you

continue to next post​

 

[mjhitz421]

Welcome! When they announced it I knew I needed to plan a trip.


But of course. Just wait till my cruise report.
Way to come at my love for the bachelor. Just remember I now know your secret love for it too.

Looking forward to the cruise report, I should join you on that trip , and I have no love for the bachelor like you

 

[xoSamma]

Looking forward to the cruise report, I should join you on that trip , and I have no love for the bachelor like you

You're planning on cruising way to far out and I can't wait that long. I guess you could join me and Amelia for her birthday trip

 

[xoSamma]

I Know What We’re Going To Do Today

Exiting the muppets, we pretty much completed everything we needed to at studios before we spent the rest of the night surrounded by the dancing lights. We still had about a half hour before we needed to start heading towards the streets of america and since Phineas and Ferb were out we decided to hop in line.
This was a new character experience for me, Phineas and I became instant BFFs creating a secret handshake

Before we went to claim a spot for the osborne lights I was on a mission to find the gingerbread cupcake. I’m a HUGE fan of the carrot cake cupcake during the Fall and I love gingerbread flavored things so I needed to see if this would become my top disney cupcake.
Trying to find the cupcake was a difficult mission, but it actually really shouldn’t have if I just stopped and thought about it. But I made Erin run around the whole park. My first thought was they must have it at starring rolls, but when we got there it was closed. So then we checked sweet spells, no luck, but Erin got herself a cookie.

Failing twice I thought they must have it at Write Shop, 3 strikes and I’m out.
I stopped to really think about it and realized I get the carrot cake at the quick services and what do you know I found the gingerbread at ABC Commissary.

This was worth the hunt! Besides the whole cream cheese icing that I scraped off because I’m not a fan of that, it was delicious! We found a curb opening to sit and wait for them to turn on the lights.
As we waited I received a text from a former guest show coworker asking if I was at Studios all night because we was going to be there as well.
And then it was time!!!! Turn on those lights!!!!

Everyone stood in awe as the lights turned on, then danced for the first time for the night.

Since AP holders were the only cool ones to get the snowflake glasses I was able to find some back home for $1 each. I got snowflakes and Erin had Candy canes, they were pretty much the coolest things every.

The mobs of people is outrageous and the closer to the middle you go the more trapped you become. Somehow we were lucky enough to get out of the pool of people and have room to move around.

We ended up leaving the lights for a bit because we had fastpasses for toy story. On our way over there I ended up meeting up with Brandon to say hi. Since we had fastpasses I told him that we would meet up with him later on in the night.
Toy Story Mania was closed for quite a bit earlier so the fastpass line was out of control. It was backed up to the pixar sign thats how bad it was. Erin asked if she had time to get an ice cream bar and from the looks of it she did. Turns out the line moved fast but I heard a CM say that we would be on in 20 minutes. I called Erin because she was gone for a long time, turns out she went all the way in front of the Great Movie Ride and she was in a line. There was no time for that, so she made her way back. I called her again when I got close to the scanners, I got out of line because the line was just in constant motion, turns out she was in the FP line all the way at the end. So I waited in line for nothing. That bum.

But I couldn’t be mad because we made it on and this was Erin’s first time ever. So that was pretty exciting! Although I knew it was her first time I couldn’t go easy on her.

After dominating, I knew I wanted to meet Santa Goofy so we made our way to the old Back lot tour queue where Goofys hangout was located.

Earlier in the day we spotted out places in the back of the park that were selling the Thats a Wrap shirt. They had stands on Streets of America but those were crowded and hard to get to. So afterwards we passed the merchandise store across from the studio catering company right next to backlot and they were all out. We were really glad at that point that we decided to buy our shirts at the beginning of the day. However we were in a pickle because we were suppose to buy some shirts for people back home.
So back into the lights we went, made our way through the crowds and got in line to get more shirts.

Continue to Next Post​

 

[lovegrumpy]

Yea we bought thats a wrap shirt earlier during the day when we went to see the lights. Wanted to make sure we got them.

 

[xoSamma]

Yea we bought thats a wrap shirt earlier during the day when we went to see the lights. Wanted to make sure we got them.

I'm glad we got them right when we got into the park because I was so afraid that they were going to run out because that always happens at MNSSHP and MVMCP.

 

[xoSamma]

Lights Lights Lights And More Lights

Waiting in line to get shirts pretty much took forever. Then to make it better trying to talk on the phone to find someone in the crowd is even more exciting. How many times can someone shout in your ear 10:9? What’s your 20?
Merchandise was purchased and Brandon was found. The rest of the next hour and a half was dedicated to how many pictures of the lights I could take.

Once guest show, always guest show. The two peas in a pod were back together, but this time we were't spotted doing each others trash runs around DTD

Our mission of the night was to find as many of the hidden characters/logos/ect that were hidden throughout the streets of america.

I got really click happy when it came to taking pictures. I was pretty much a maniac.But you can't have enough pictures of these lights let be real.

One of my favorite things to do is ask people if they want pictures taken because who doesn’t want a group photo of everyone you’re on vacation with? But then they are always guilted into taking a group photo for you.

We headed on our way to the next photo op with of course more lights

I’m singing in the rain. Just singing in the rain. What a glorious feelin’ I'm happy again

I'm laughing at clouds so dark up above. The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love

By this time of the night I was obsessed with trying to find the purple cat. But clearly I was having no luck

Then when you find yourself trapped in the very center with no where to go you’re then forced to try to take photos of you and the snoap.

There was finally moving room and I suggested that we go get in line to take a photo by the light switch and the big light tree. Now I thought they agreed and were making their way behind me. But once I got close and turned around I realized I was all by myself and they were no where in sight. So while I waited for them to either find me or call me I took the time to take more photos because thats just the type of person I am.

Erins side of the story always makes me laugh. She likes to say I just walked away, she was to busy taking pictures and when she looked I was gone. She was stuck with some strange kid she didn’t know and all he kept saying was “wow I guess Samantha really wanted to find that cat”

We ended up calling each other and meeting up at the place I told them I was going.

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[xoSamma]

The Perfection Of The Fort

We ended up just sitting on the curb near the entrance way to muppets and just watched the lights dance.

Brandon kept me up to date with everything at DTD (or what is now Disney Springs) Then we reminisced on how we would all hang out at the waterside stage or join in on the zumba over on the west side.
Feliz Navidad came on so of course I had to go join the CM doing the cupid shuffle to it. The other 2 were bums stayed on the curb and played on their phones. But once the song ended I made Erin take more pictures

Before the lights turned off for the night Erin decided to conduct the lights, our video was photobombed by a CM who was judging her real hard. But we both got mickey stickers afterwards so that made up for it a bit.
At 9, an hour after park closing, the lights shut off for good for the night and the last time I would ever see them in person (or maybe not?)
9 o'clock seemed like a pretty early time while being on vacation in Disney. So I planned on us heading over to my favorite resort to look at more christmas lights and decorations. Walking out of Studios I kept asking Erin if she still wanted to go since we have been up since 4am. She was up for it, so we headed over to Fort Wilderness.
Once we arrived to the fort I got really nervous because I was afraid she was going to hate it and question why I ever took her there.
We hopped on the first bus that arrived at the front and got off at the first stop. We just so happen to get lucky and stop at my favorite site that I saw last year. I was so excited because I knew this was definitely worth the trip.

Then I saw the Nutcracker in the back and got super excited. Of course I had to take a nice little selfie with it and send it to Alish because we did that a year ago with each other.

A year a go

verses now

After walking around the crazy winter wonderland I warned Erin that that would probably be the best site be saw and nothing was going to top it. So we walked around that loop and saw some more of the RV sites and their decorations they brought.

We decided to walk to the settlement and if we saw anymore decorations or lights that would be cool and if not well that would be ok as well.
Turns out I was worried for nothing because taking the 10 minute walk being “lost” through the resort made Erin fall in love with it. The magic of the fort is real. But in all seriousness I probably have the best heart to heart conversations just walking around there and I love it.
By the end of our walk to the settlement we already planned our next trip to disney, we’re going to stay at a cabin, rent a golf cart, eat at hoop dee doo, go to the campfire sing a long and just enjoy everything fort wilderness has to offer. Thats probably my dream trip.
When we made it to the settlement a horse drawn carriage passed us and that set Erin over the edge of the perfection fort wilderness is. But cute engagement idea would be a carriage ride through fort wilderness, but thats probably just me.

It was really good that we got to the settlement after 10 because the trading post was closed and I couldn’t spend the money I don’t have on more fort merchandise.

As we made our way to the beach/boat dock I full on sprinted because Wishes was just ending.

Erin enjoyed playing in the sand and I envied her because I was wearing sneakers.
Before we left I had to take a picture with the sign because no trip of mine is complete without a trip to the fort and a photo with the sign.

We headed to catch the boat back to MK. Erin added another activity that needs to happen when we stay here, the speed boats and also to check out River Country.
On our way over to the kingdom Erin was asking questions none stop about River Country and Discovery Island. She thought it was so weird that I went to river country and was so fascinated by it. To make it even better when we passed it, she saw that they still light it up and she freaked out. I found the whole thing hilarious.
As we got closer to MK we passed the Electrical water pageant, Erin told me a story how she got to see that “backstage” when her marching band perform in MK. But of course I knocked her down saying you can see it from the monorail and then felt really bad because she really excited about it.

So close yet so far

but we will see you tomorrow night!

The bus line was a nightmare, YAY FOR TOUR GROUPS! They ended up getting their own Disney bus to themselves. I just wanted to get back to Pop before they closed the food court because my last real meal was chicken nuggets at noon.
We got back to pop at 11:15, 45 minutes till food was no longer served. So I headed straight there and what do I see a sea of the same color shirts and backpacks. Just give me my mac and cheese and let me leave. I was stranded in the middle of shirts and was mistaken to be a part of them from a CM, she felt silly taking in Spanish to me.
I got my mac and cheese, Erin got her bag of mickey pretzels and we headed back to the room to call it a night.
Kids meals for life!

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[Grumpy's Wife]

What an awesome day. I wish I could have gotten to see the Osborn Lights one more time. Pictures are wonderful but seeing them in person is unbelievable. So glad you got to go back for a quick trip. I'm still hoping that they'll just move them to another park.

 

[xoSamma]

What an awesome day. I wish I could have gotten to see the Osborn Lights one more time. Pictures are wonderful but seeing them in person is unbelievable. So glad you got to go back for a quick trip. I'm still hoping that they'll just move them to another park.

I agree they are just so much more magical in person. I wish there was a new home where they could put them