I can’t stop thinking about Christmas in Monstropolis. Okay, call me crazy, but I think Disney has a pretty obvious opportunity to bring back a mini-version of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And the more I think about it, the more I think it could be one of those ideas that feels so perfectly connected to the story of the land that Disney would be crazy not to consider it.
When Monstropolis eventually opens at Hollywood Studios, Disney will have something right in front of them that they shouldn’t miss. We already know the premise of the new land is H.U.M.A.N. Day, when monsters welcome humans into Monstropolis for the first time. Within the Monsters, Inc. universe, we also know that human screams and laughter are used to generate electricity. So, if you can see where I’m going with this, why not build a holiday experience around that exact concept?
Imagine that shortly after sunset during the holiday season, Monstropolis transforms into a mini holiday lights spectacular. A monster (Mike, Sully, or even a park’s original character) could take the stage and explain that the city needs power, leading into a countdown. Then guests throughout the land are encouraged to scream, laugh, cheer and make as much noise as possible. When the countdown reaches zero, the entire area comes alive with Christmas lights, music and decorations, powered by the collective energy of the guests.
And this doesn’t have to be a full replacement for the Osborne Lights. I’m not suggesting Disney needs to cover every building in Hollywood Studios with millions of lights or recreate the exact experience that existed on the Streets of America. Instead, this could be a smaller, highly themed version that is unique to Monstropolis. The land itself becomes the canvas, and the story gives Disney an actual reason for the lights to turn on. You could even have different monsters interact with the crowd throughout the experience, encouraging louder screams or bigger laughs to keep the city powered.
The best part is that this would actually make sense within the world Disney is creating. It wouldn’t feel like Disney simply putting Christmas decorations in another land because it’s December. The holiday overlay could be built directly into the story of Monstropolis and H.U.M.A.N. Day, turning the guests themselves into part of the experience. Disney has an opportunity to take something fans already loved about the Osborne Lights and reimagine it in a way that feels completely natural to the new land. I know Disney probably has plenty of plans for Monstropolis, but I really hope somebody is sitting in a room right now thinking about Christmas lights powered by human screams and laughter, because I think they might be onto something.
The post Disney Should Bring Back the Osborne Lights in Monstropolis first appeared on The DIS.
