EPCOT Figment, well, to be replaced by Figment

[EagleScout610]

When you think about how many better attractions V3 Figment has outlived, its a little crazy. Like who couldve guessed itd outlive Dinosaur, Rivers, MuppetVision, Splash...

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

No movie = Figment...so not IP....Figments days are numbered as a ride

The trouble is, they ‘did’ put a movie IP into Journey Into Imagination in ‘99. Specifically the Honey I Shrunk IP and some of the Medfield College connected films like Flubber & Computer Who Wore Tennis Shoes for further references in show scenes.
‘That’ is what ruined it.. and slapping Figment into ‘that’ in ‘02-since doesn’t fix anything, he should be in his ‘own’ originated concept of a ride (like it was originally), but Disney refuses to acknowledge or accept that. It also doesn’t help they gave this baffling IP retheme the most mixed-up, deceiving name. “Journey Into Imagination With Figment” and have a descriptive sign outside that describes it as the original “Journey into whimsical realms of imagination” experience, when it isn’t that at all anymore. Shady AF. Think they’re so slick.. but they’re not. They deserve to be put on blast/called out for that by ‘alot’ more people. That their nonsensical Film IP tie in garbage they put in is what destroyed this attraction. And I hope & pray they do, on a massive scale, at some point soon. It deserves to be exposed for what it truly is, the entire story. I never want something like this happening again.

(Again, guys, look! Figment’s got a mixed-up/wrong “inventor”, the chairman straight out of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, that can’t decide whether Figment’s an invention of his or a discovery as opposed to Dreamfinder who created him w little sparks of inspiration in front of our eyes!)

(There’s Weebo from Flubber & the Shrinking Machine helmet from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids)

(Both top & bottom scenes, referencing The Computer Who Wore Tennis Shows)

“For final focal factors, figures, and formulations, find Phil Brainard (Robin Williams’ character in the ‘97 ‘Absent Minded Professor’ remake, Flubber)”

>>>>>

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[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

The trouble is, they ‘did’ put a movie IP into Journey Into Imagination in ‘99. Specifically the Honey I Shrunk IP and some of the Medfield College connected films like Flubber & Computer Who Wore Tennis Shoes for instance as further cameos.
‘That’ is what ruined it.. and slapping Figment into ‘that’ in ‘02-since doesn’t fix anything, he should be in his ‘own’ originated concept of a ride (like it was originally), but Disney refuses to acknowledge or accept that. It also doesn’t help they gave this baffling IP retheme the most mixed-up, deceiving name. “Journey Into Imagination With Figment” and have a descriptive sign outside that describes it as the original “Journey into whimsical realms of imagination” experience, when it isn’t that at all anymore. Shady AF. Think they’re so slick.. but they’re not. They deserve to be put on blast/called out for that by ‘alot’ more people. That their nonsensical Film IP tie in garbage they put in is what destroyed this attraction. And I hope & pray they do, on a massive scale, at some point soon. I never want something like this happening again.

View attachment 906568View attachment 906569
View attachment 906572
(Again, guys, look! Figment’s got a mixed-up/wrong “inventor”, the chairman straight out of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, that can’t decide whether Figment’s an invention of his or a discovery as opposed to Dreamfinder who created him w little sparks of inspiration in front of our eyes!)

See, there! So incase someone at the company ever tries to argue the current “Journey Into Imagination With Figment” isn’t Infact a slickly transformed Film IP ride w a mixed-up title & sign description that isn’t what it purports to be. (See definition for Sham, Just as Tony Baxter described it). The evidence above doesn’t lie. It 100% is . There’s no denying it. And if anyone does, they’re willingly ignorant of facts & evidence, and that’s truly & utterly despicable. And that doesn’t even get into the fact it’s been complained about for 20+ years now. For being exactly that, a sham & unneccesary downgrade (infact it was done under shady circumstances, which I also evidenced in prior posts).

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

I guess we’ll see who’s going to be his new VA! Will Goelz be returning or will it go to AJ LoCascio?

I’d prefer Corey Burton myself if he can still do it. He did a spot on Billy Barty impression for the cameos he did of Figment in 99-01’s Journey Into ^Your Imagination. ‘But’ if Dave Goelz can pull off a good performance of the original Billy Barty voice of Figment upon actually given the chance to do it (remember folks, according to the 2021 D23 Inside Disney interview with him, he was told he didn’t have to sound like Barty but to come up with his own voice for the 02-current ride, hence why he sounds off in it (@36:13): He should be given the chance to do it right if he’s able to. He surely has the right natural range to my ears, just, again, was never given the permission to actually do it the way Billy did it, unaltered. Through script/direction and (again) his own performance.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Otherwise, the best solution would be to use archival audio of Billy Barty’s Figment. In Corey’s performance, it’s him combined w archival audio of Billy. You can hear the differences if you listen carefully. Barely noticeable but it’s there

 

[trainplane3]

I'm sure it's been brought up but the area loop is gone...again. The current exterior loop is one of the celebration loops, the restroom is playing the regular Imagination loop, and the 80s Imagination loop is MIA.

Can we get the 80s loop back into the restrooms again?

 

[HMF]

I'm sure it's been brought up but the area loop is gone...again. The current exterior loop is one of the celebration loops, the restroom is playing the regular Imagination loop, and the 80s Imagination loop is MIA.

Can we get the 80s loop back into the restrooms again?

The 80s loop disappeared a few years ago, I think.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

I'm sure it's been brought up but the area loop is gone...again. The current exterior loop is one of the celebration loops, the restroom is playing the regular Imagination loop, and the 80s Imagination loop is MIA.

Can we get the 80s loop back into the restrooms again?

Very sad, yes, please have the OG glass atrium loop play in the restrooms again. Best part of the current Imagination pavilion besides the Figment AAs and the little bits left of the original building layout that were retained/you can make out.

Truth be told though, considering The Land pavilion still plays its original 82 loop outdoors to this day (as far as I’m aware atleast) I don’t see why they shouldn’t maybe start playing the ‘82 pavilion area loop outdoors over there again also. Brings so much of the warmth and classic charm we love back to that area. Would be nice to have those beautiful arrangements of “One Little Spark” & “Makin’ Memories” playing there again like they used to. And again, maybe we could get the rotating Figment topiary back in the little fountain area near the Magic Eye Theater again too? Currently I think it’s just a basic bush or shrub. Pretty boring IMO, when it was so much better before. I mean.. Figment himself atleast is still ‘in’ the ride technically, so, it certainly wouldn’t be out of place or a bad thing to add for the time being, would be a great classic photo opportunity too for guests that want to see something extra special while in the area. :

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

And on that note.. I wonder if there’d be any possibility of them possibly bringing back/playing the Makin’ Memories preshow & Magic Journeys film again at the Magic Eye Theatre? Whether it be as a limited run or a rotating film brought back permanently. As it stands atm, they’re just playing Disney & Pixar shorts we can find on Disney + atm. But Magic Journeys, that was a unique film (the very first of its kind, as far as I’m aware) created for & that fit the theme of this pavilion that we haven’t been able to see as-intended, in its best quality, in years. That’d be a great, classic thing that I think would be neat to see there again for many of us.

Maybe bring back this sign too? The “Follow Figment To” whatever film is playing in the theater. Can be an alternating digitial one like the current France pavilion theater is. Just an idea:

 

[HMF]

And on that note.. I wonder if there’d be any possibility of them possibly bringing back/playing the Makin’ Memories preshow & Magic Journeys film again at the Magic Eye Theatre? Whether it be as a limited run or a rotating film brought back permanently. As it stands atm, they’re just playing Disney & Pixar shorts we can find on Disney + atm. But Magic Journeys, that was a unique film (the very first of its kind, as far as I’m aware) created for & that fit the theme of this pavilion that we haven’t been able to see as-intended, in its best quality, in years. That’d be a great, classic thing that I think would be neat to see there again for many of us.

Maybe bring back this sign too? The “Follow Figment To” whatever film is playing in the theater. Can be an alternating digitial one like the current France pavilion theater is. Just an idea:
View attachment 907000

I understand where you are coming from but how is that any different than bringing back EO for its nostalgia value was?

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

I understand where you are coming from but how is that any different than bringing back EO for its nostalgia value was?

Well, I figure this. It’s a cheap way to add additional entertainment worth seeing there without spending the heavy investment in making an entirely new film to put there, that you couldn’t view as intended anywhere else, and it’d technically be something new to most guests, I’d argue. That and it’s worth adding as an additional classic experience that’d come with a return of the pavilion area music, classic style signage, and Figment topiary in the garden area. Disney can use all the good PR moves it can atm, and that’s a pretty cheap thing to do atm, all things considered, compared to anything else.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

The other thing that’d be a great investment for the time being, could possibly be, bringing back the classic upstairs ImageWorks and its activities back for guests to experience again, while moving (and possibly updating) the “Create/Compose Your Own Figment) activity in the current downstairs ImageWorks to where the former Makin’ Faces activity was in the upstairs one.
And if they plan on that, restore the main outdoor sign back to what it was w some enhancements (instead of the Presented by Kodak) logo. Have a photo of Dreamfinder & Figment together there and you could repaint the pavilion building colors back to light blue & purple as it once was.
The DVC lounge seatings, etc. could always be moved to where the former Kodak VIP lounge was if they still want that. Infact, that’d be far more desirable to DVC members, as it’d give them a view & experience in EPCOT that ‘never’ was accessible to most park guests for years, while giving Park guests a beloved experience without having them feel excluded again.

And where you see the current (I think still) VISA card holder Character Meet & Greet experience, you could sell the merchandise in there, like it used to be additionally sold back in the day as the Kodak Film & Camera Shop (again, you could call it something like Dreamfinder & Figment’s Gift Port, now) or whatever . (You’ve got some figures to use for theming from the current blast finale if you wanted some) and If you wanted to close the lousy mixed up 02-current Honey I Shrunk “Imagination (that actually isn’t) With Figment”. You could close that shopping/downstairs ImageWorks area and the ride portion off til they’re able to get the funds and approval to restore & enhance the ride back to what it should be. But in the meantime, could put all the merch in the former Kodak Film & Camera shop, have the classic ImageWorks experience & VIP Lounge open to guests & DVC members in the meantime ‘and’ maybe you could even bring Dreamfinder & Figment back around & in the pavilion again for meet n greets. Atleast then guests have something to genuinely enjoy featuring the characters & theme, while they’re still waiting for the ride itself to get the right investment in order to get back up & ready, the way it should be.
That’s how it was back in the 80s when it opened and it was a success. So yeah. I mean, you can’t go wrong with that. And with Iger on his way out very soon, I can’t see why that wouldn’t be approved for the time being. If all that stuff is received well enough (which I have no doubt it would), there’d be no one wanting to stop it from happening. I truly believe Iger himself was/is the one that was mainly preventing any restoration & tasteful enhancement/tech & spfx upgrade work from happening. So, with Iger gone, should be the obvious choice/next step to make.:

 

[trainplane3]

The 80s loop disappeared a few years ago, I think.

It did not. It's been in the Imagination bathrooms with the exception of a few days/weeks out of the year. Typically someone will realize and correct it.

Tagging @marni1971 in case he wants to bug a friend.

 

[Figments Friend]

I noticed when I was there last year in September that the bathroom loop was missing.
Assumed it was gone for good.

-

 

[FigmentFan82]

Hey Josh, I know you’re reading this. Let’s get cracking on the amazing new update for Imagination, bringing back everything from the original upstairs and down with all of today’s modern advances, please and thank you!

 

[aladdin2007]

Hey Josh, I know you’re reading this. Let’s get cracking on the amazing new update for Imagination, bringing back everything from the original upstairs and down with all of today’s modern advances, please and thank you!

I think a different individual is the problem and not so much Josh,,,,,,yet also think they are holding out for the 50th. Got a few years yet unfortunately.

 

[Movielover]

Hey Josh, I know you’re reading this. Let’s get cracking on the amazing new update for Imagination, bringing back everything from the original upstairs and down with all of today’s modern advances, please and thank you!

 

[Theme Park Nerdo]

Hey Josh, I know you’re reading this. Let’s get cracking on the amazing new update for Imagination, bringing back everything from the original upstairs and down with all of today’s modern advances, please and thank you!

Josh has the opportunity to do the best thing ever this D23, an easy announcement to win back the fans, give the Imagineers free rein and a virtually-unlimited budget, gut the entire first floor of the pavilion minus upstairs ImageWorks and Magic Eye Theater, and do a completely new experience from the ground up using 1.0 as the reference point.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

a completely new experience from the ground up using 1.0 as the reference point.

but.. why? Why can’t we just have 1.0 w upgraded tech & spfx? It was perfect the way it was. Why do we need yet another reimagining, let alone why would we want it when we’ve seen how they’ve reimagined everything else? The results haven’t been very good. Better to bring back the original as it was, enhance it, and maybe the folks currently there can learn a thing or two about how an attraction should be designed/what genuinely makes a classic.

It’s upsetting to me how something 20 years older like Small World, Pirates or, Haunted can remain classic w enhancements here & there, be celebrated as being the classics they are in many ways, but not the original Journey Into Imagination. I’d love to know what the reason for that is. It was the second most popular attraction in the park before they ruined it w the unneccesary Honey I Shrunk (along with Flubber & Computer Who Wore Tennis Shoes cameos) IP retheme garbage and made it an imagination ride that apparently ‘isn’t’ imagination (it’s a ride about testing your senses rather than creativity. Yeah, where have you ever heard of using your creativity in an eye & ear exam rather rather than in art & literature? Let alone how those are “whimsical realms of imagination”, according to the sign outside the door (I kid you not). It’s ludicrous what happened to this pavilion and I feel nothing would be truly right for it except for what I just suggested. ‘Especially’ when you realize how and why it got closed & changed & mixed-up the terrible way it was.:

 

[DisneyDodo]

I think there’s a good chance we get a vague announcement at D23 that they are re-imagining () the ride and bringing back Dreamfinder, to raucous applause.

But then they ultimately just rework some of the show scenes and leave the track exactly as it is today, with ImageWorks still taking up a big chunk of the first floor, and the DVC lounge remaining on the upper level.