CONFIRMED: Kodak Leaving Imagination

[ProjectXBlog]

I'll put a link to my blog post about this, but long story short, I spoke over the phone with the Corporate Communications Director at Kodak and he confirmed that Kodak's sponsorship ended at the end of June, with no plans to renew. I don't know what this means for the pavilion or the Resort, but the times are a-changin'!

http://projectx-anonymouse.blogspot.com/2010/09/confirmed-kodak-leaving-imagination.html

Also, I managed NOT to swear in this piece, so this blog post is SFW. That may be a first!

 

[TubaGeek]

I know it's probably a bad thing overall, and there was a fair chance of it happening anyway, but...
THANK GOD THE HISTA PRESHOW IS GONE FOR EVER!!!

 

[NiarrNDisney]

I hope we won't be seeing Imagination going the way of WoL, that would crush me!

 

[BrerFrog]

I hope we won't be seeing Imagination going the way of WoL, that would crush me!

TDO or WDI, or whoever would have to make that call would be out of their minds to do so. The Imagination pavillion was one of the most popular rides on property a while ago, and with an overhaul it can become the beast that it once was. Or so I hope.

 

[Dayma]

I don't think they could close this attraction down. It could use an over-haul though.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Figment is far too much of a money maker for the company to shut down the Imagination pavilion. I have a feeling that whether we like it or not the ride is going to be around in its current form for a good amount of time.

 

[Pete C]

Does an attraction really need a sponsor? Most rides at WDW don't have sponsors anyway. Or, perhaps they do and I just never notice it. I only see this prominent at Epcot for some reason.

 

[Richterbon23]

While I really don't want to get yelled at on these boards for believing everything I hear, I was at WDW from 8/19-8/29 and talked to CM (not an everyday CM in costume etc) but a manager standing outside of Imagination one night after it had closed. I just started chatting with him and expressed my frustration with the state of Figment and the lack of Dreamfinder etc. He responded that, "there have been rumblings in the company and from Imaginears that this could be on a redo and the return of Dreamfinder could be on the horizon. He said that cast memebers complain about it too. He also told me at the same time that they had ended the deal with Kodak. Take it for what it is, but I for some reason do have a good feeling about the pavilion over the next 2 or 3 years. I think they realize that is such wasted space in that corner of Future World!

 

[jt04]

While I really don't want to get yelled at on these boards for believing everything I hear, I was at WDW from 8/19-8/29 and talked to CM (not an everyday CM in costume etc) but a manager standing outside of Imagination one night after it had closed. I just started chatting with him and expressed my frustration with the state of Figment and the lack of Dreamfinder etc. He responded that, "there have been rumblings in the company and from Imaginears that this could be on a redo and the return of Dreamfinder could be on the horizon. He said that cast memebers complain about it too. He also told me at the same time that they had ended the deal with Kodak. Take it for what it is, but I for some reason do have a good feeling about the pavilion over the next 2 or 3 years. I think they realize that is such wasted space in that corner of Future World!

I think it was probably Kodak that ended the deal.

 

[Richterbon23]

I think it was probably Kodak that ended the deal.

Thats what I meant... I just meant to report that I was told Kodak was out.

 

[MarkTwain]

While I really don't want to get yelled at on these boards for believing everything I hear, I was at WDW from 8/19-8/29 and talked to CM (not an everyday CM in costume etc) but a manager standing outside of Imagination one night after it had closed. I just started chatting with him and expressed my frustration with the state of Figment and the lack of Dreamfinder etc. He responded that, "there have been rumblings in the company and from Imaginears that this could be on a redo and the return of Dreamfinder could be on the horizon. He said that cast memebers complain about it too. He also told me at the same time that they had ended the deal with Kodak. Take it for what it is, but I for some reason do have a good feeling about the pavilion over the next 2 or 3 years. I think they realize that is such wasted space in that corner of Future World!

Unlike what one often hears from talking to CMs about future attractions, I can't help thinking there's a lot of truth in there somewhere. Hoepfully, Kodak's leaving Imagination will spark a new era for the pavilion.

 

[jt04]

Thats what I meant... I just meant to report that I was told Kodak was out.

I know I was just clarifying.

Now if I was Disney I would court Boeing or another aerospace company and repurpose the pavilion to meteorology and aerospace. Connect the building to Soarin and have that be the E-ticket. I suggested this earlier and then went and looked at satellite pics of the area. Soarin is actually closer to Imagination than Land!

 

[montyz81]

Couple things/questions here. First, I suspect that due to the specific location of the pavilion, it could never be put into a situation like WOL. WOL is sort of "down the beaten path" if you will, whereas Imagination is sort of out there in the open and kind of on your way to World Showcase. It needs attention badly for this reason alone. Second, what happens to things like the cement painted red. Doesn't Kodak own the rights to that? I remember reading that they were the ones that decided on that red color of the cement walkways because it made for better pictures and it absorbed the heat better.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

I love the fact that my thread is mentioned in this article!

 

[jmuboy]

This could be good news if a new sponsor wanting to spend money comes in.

Maybe APPLE can recreate the place as the iMagination Pavilion!

Apple has money, lots of imagination and a relationship with Disney via Steve Jobs.

 

[wdwfan22]

I still don't see anything happening with the pavilion for at least a couple of years.

 

[SleepingMonk]

I still don't see anything happening with the pavilion for at least a couple of years.

Neither do I.

Whenever people start to mention these huge elaborate plans for refurbs I always remember the "lower your expectations" line from the Disney CEO conference.

Don't get your hopes up for....well....anything......major from Disney.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Couple things/questions here. First, I suspect that due to the specific location of the pavilion, it could never be put into a situation like WOL. WOL is sort of "down the beaten path" if you will, whereas Imagination is sort of out there in the open and kind of on your way to World Showcase. It needs attention badly for this reason alone. Second, what happens to things like the cement painted red. Doesn't Kodak own the rights to that? I remember reading that they were the ones that decided on that red color of the cement walkways because it made for better pictures and it absorbed the heat better.

Kodak is ONLY dropping sponsorship of the Imagination pavilion from what we know. They still sponsor Muppetvision and are clearly advertising on all the park maps still. I am also pretty certain that there are safeguards in place in case Disney does end ties completely when it comes to things like the sidewalk colors.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

Kodak is ONLY dropping sponsorship of the Imagination pavilion from what we know. They still sponsor Muppetvision and are clearly advertising on all the park maps still. I am also pretty certain that there are safeguards in place in case Disney does end ties completely when it comes to things like the sidewalk colors.

They also sponsor Philharmagic at MK. So now they don't have a sponsorship presence at AK or Epcot besides the park maps.

 

[Tigger1988]

They also sponsor Philharmagic at MK. So now they don't have a sponsorship presence at AK or Epcot besides the park maps.

Don't they have the Kodak Photo Spots in those parks too?