EPCOT Figment, well, to be replaced by Figment

[DoleWhipDrea]

I’ve been thinking a lot about how the Dreamfinder’s fan appeal is similar in some ways to the Disneyland fan appeal of the Hatbox Ghost. Hattie didn’t last long in the Haunted Mansion due to the effect not looking convincing enough in the attraction, but he became this larger than life figure in the fan community with his lore. Most had never seen him in person, but they had heard about him and clamored to put him back into the ride. It took WDI a long time to figure out a solution to update the effect (going so far as to make a joke about it at a D23 in the Imagineering section of the show floor), but they finally figured it out and brought him back in a new way and the fans rejoiced.

Obviously Dreamfinder was around EPCOT Center a lot longer than a few weeks, was an unofficial mascot of the park with Figment and had a walk-around character, so his appeal is significantly larger for Walt Disney World fans. For someone like me who never got to experience the original JII, he’s still a juggernaut of a character, and diving into EPCOT’s history has made me love the park even more...and I know I’m not alone in this. I think the fact that WDW is getting Disneyland leadership very soon (Josh D’Amaro) is a really good thing, and it gives me hope that TDO will be more in touch with what fans of EPCOT want. If the Hatbox Ghost’s story is any indicator, a fan favorite can always come back

 

[RoysCabin]

Obviously October 1 has come and gone, but I have to think the model in Odyssey doesn't mean anything is "imminent", as the twitter account said; if they intend to leave it in there for awhile, they'll likely want to space out the announcements, so perhaps there'll be word about things at next year's D23 or something and it'll lead to changes in the EPCOT experience room.

 

[mergatroid]

As somebody who has experienced all the Journey rides and loved the original, I can't see Disney rebuilding the original attraction as it was. Not because it wasn't great at the time, but because it would appear rather dated.

Put it this way, if the original had never existed and was created now exactly as it was then I imagine (no pun intended) loads on here would hate it. "Why isn't it trackless", "For that price I expected better", "Universal make exciting attractions, this is boring" or "Lot's of cut outs and lights, what are we 1980's".

I appreciate many would enjoy it but I fear our memories perhaps remember it a little better than it actually was. A ride the size it was would be brilliant, perhaps recreating some of the original scenes with some added new ones would work. However to make it completely identical to the original would be a bit disappointing in my humble opinion.

 

[Hollywood 1939]

As somebody who has experienced all the Journey rides and loved the original, I can't see Disney rebuilding the original attraction as it was. Not because it wasn't great at the time, but because it would appear rather dated.

Put it this way, if the original had never existed and was created now exactly as it was then I imagine (no pun intended) loads on here would hate it. "Why isn't it trackless", "For that price I expected better", "Universal make exciting attractions, this is boring" or "Lot's of cut outs and lights, what are we 1980's".

I appreciate many would enjoy it but I fear our memories perhaps remember it a little better than it actually was. A ride the size it was would be brilliant, perhaps recreating some of the original scenes with some added new ones would work. However to make it completely identical to the original would be a bit disappointing in my humble opinion.

I agree, there are several aspects that would need to be revamped. A trackless ride system would be a no-brainer. Lighting and projection effects could be updated. In my opinion, the final room would have to definitely be redone; the puppet videos would look awful. Maybe even replace the 2D cartoon monsters in the Literature section with computer graphics. There are ways to plus it while keeping the original layout. But some things are untouchable to me; mainly the original score and voice acting.

 

[DoleWhipDrea]

As somebody who has experienced all the Journey rides and loved the original, I can't see Disney rebuilding the original attraction as it was. Not because it wasn't great at the time, but because it would appear rather dated.

Put it this way, if the original had never existed and was created now exactly as it was then I imagine (no pun intended) loads on here would hate it. "Why isn't it trackless", "For that price I expected better", "Universal make exciting attractions, this is boring" or "Lot's of cut outs and lights, what are we 1980's".

I appreciate many would enjoy it but I fear our memories perhaps remember it a little better than it actually was. A ride the size it was would be brilliant, perhaps recreating some of the original scenes with some added new ones would work. However to make it completely identical to the original would be a bit disappointing in my humble opinion.

I don’t think anyone here is hoping for a carbon copy of the original version...it’s about getting an updated version in the spirit of the original. Something whimsical, fun, creative, and not done on the cheap. I agree, some of the original effects would look rather outdated now. I would love to see WDI take a truly innovative approach to the design, primarily in special effects. The imagination is about not being constrained.

I agree, there are several aspects that would need to be revamped. A trackless ride system would be a no-brainer. Lighting and projection effects could be updated. In my opinion, the final room would have to definitely be redone; the puppet videos would look awful. Maybe even replace the 2D cartoon monsters in the Literature section with computer graphics. There are ways to plus it while keeping the original layout. But some things are untouchable to me; mainly the original score and voice acting.

Trackless vehicles could be fun, though I worry that by the time RAT & RotR opens, having a 3rd version of this in WDW might feel repetitive. I’m curious to see how well the system holds up in day to day operations. IMHO, it should be a high-capacity system.

Lighting effects in rides have come a long way since JII opened, so a section based on paint/color could be really fantastic now. Just thinking about what WDI could do now with the iconic imagery of Figment with a rainbow gets me really excited to see it in action.

I will be honest... I haven’t been a fan of most of the CGI to make its way into Disney attractions. It dates itself so quickly and they don’t update it. I would rather see something akin to the animation of Ariel in her ride at MK, bridging the gap between the original film and the physical sets in the attraction.

This last point is the key. The score and voice acting play a huge part on the guests’ emotional response and was carefully selected for the ride. The warmth of Dreamfinder, the childlike innocence of Figment, and the heartwarming score are key to the heart of the original.

 

[Homemade Imagineering]

If Disney decides to bring imagination back, then they will most certainly not bring it back just like the original. The turntable is never going to ever come back in any shape or form, so that’s gone for sure, and Disney will not want to bring it back just like the original. They will create an all new ride in a gutted open space to work with, starring dreamfinder and figment, with one little spark as the theme song. That’s it. They will create a whole new story most likely, new dialogue, voice actors, new technology, and maybe even a new look for dreamfinder, Akin to his comic book look. While I can’t really be sure dreamfinder will be in this new attraction, I am at least reassured that figment will most likely stay, due to his amount of merch right now, and because he is basically EPCOT’S unofficial mascot. For example, all of the proposals involve the theme of imagination, and figment can be integrated into that theme in any way shape or form in my opinion. For example, if Disney does decide they want an inside out attraction, then they can easily integrate figment into the ride or a section of the ride, like imagination land from the movie. I wouldn’t necessarily want this, but if it brings more guests to the pavilion and includes groundbreaking animatronics, then I wouldn’t really have a problem with it IF they at least include figment. Obviously Though I want dreamfinder and figment to come back for an all new original ride, that’s not based on an IP.

 

[pdude81]

It could certainly have the same layout as the original if they wanted it to, and the turntable wouldn't be so technologically impossible these days. There is no way they'd try to recreate the original ride because even if they succeeded it would be a little disappointing these days. They could easily use some of oldride for inspiration and put a new spin on it. This is what everyone truly wants, even if some haters like to say they'd be fine with an inside-out mashup or that it's inevitable that we get some other IP in there. Don't let anybody off the hook before they have dared to even announce a plan

 

[peter11435]

If Disney decides to bring imagination back, then they will most certainly not bring it back just like the original. The turntable is never going to ever come back in any shape or form, so that’s gone for sure, and Disney will not want to bring it back just like the original. They will create an all new ride in a gutted open space to work with, starring dreamfinder and figment, with one little spark as the theme song. That’s it. They will create a whole new story most likely, new dialogue, voice actors, new technology, and maybe even a new look for dreamfinder, Akin to his comic book look. While I can’t really be sure dreamfinder will be in this new attraction, I am at least reassured that figment will most likely stay, due to his amount of merch right now, and because he is basically EPCOT’S unofficial mascot. For example, all of the proposals involve the theme of imagination, and figment can be integrated into that theme in any way shape or form in my opinion. For example, if Disney does decide they want an inside out attraction, then they can easily integrate figment into the ride or a section of the ride, like imagination land from the movie. I wouldn’t necessarily want this, but if it brings more guests to the pavilion and includes groundbreaking animatronics, then I wouldn’t really have a problem with it IF they at least include figment. Obviously Though I want dreamfinder and figment to come back for an all new original ride, that’s not based on an IP.

They're not going to.. but if they wanted they absolutely could bring it back exactly as the original complete with turntable.

 

[trainplane3]

Figment is escaping Imagination via chopper:

 

[Homemade Imagineering]

Figment is escaping Imagination via chopper:

Poor figment wants to escape the pure torture Nigel has put him through for the past 17 years...

 

[DoleWhipDrea]

Dreamfinder has gone undercover to take back the pavilion

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Figment is escaping Imagination via chopper:

I have to assume this has more to do with the Fireworks show that premiered yesterday than any update to the Imagination Pavilion . . . though I’d love to be wrong.

 

[Homemade Imagineering]

I have to assume this has more to do with the Fireworks show that premiered yesterday than any update to the Imagination Pavilion . . . though I’d love to be wrong.

Probably not an update, just something that has to do with EPCOT forever debuting, I don’t know. Maybe someone has info on this?!

 

[pdude81]

Figment is escaping Imagination via chopper:

 

[Homemade Imagineering]

Now If they create V4 with this new tech right here, they could really create something special, and allow guests to interact with their environment around them. I guess one could say, that these vehicles allow one to use their imagination...

 

[itsy bitsy spider]

What is everyone's obsession with Figment? His attraction stinks and he isn't a big enough IP in today's day and age.

 

[Crazydisneyfanluke]

What is everyone's obsession with Figment? His attraction stinks and he isn't a big enough IP in today's day and age.

Please back up your statement with facts.

The Imagination Pavilion used to be top notch. This version is bad, but I recommend watching one of Martins videos for V1 or V2.

How is Figment not a big enough IP? I don't think they would have made him host of Festival of the Arts, place him on generic park merchandise, create a AP magnet, etc if he wasn't.

 

[brb1006]

What is everyone's obsession with Figment? His attraction stinks and he isn't a big enough IP in today's day and age.

First of all, are you even familar with the original version of the attraction? Better you, have you seen any of Martin's tribute videos to the attractions with Dreamfinder?

 

[Homemade Imagineering]

What is everyone's obsession with Figment? His attraction stinks and he isn't a big enough IP in today's day and age.

Before saying such things, go ahead and watch a ride-through of the original version of journey into imagination (V1). Figment used to have a childlike personality, as in a child learning his way through the world. Now he is just an annoyance in V3... his personality isn’t even close to what it used to be.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Having just been back, I seriously long for an updated version. I just think of what JII (original) could be with today's technologies.