Rumor Figment, well, to be replaced by Figment

WorldExplorer

WorldExplorer

Well-Known Member
Nautilus said:
Well.... blah. Just broken, deactivated, sad things that may or may not count as it being the longest running unchanged attraction at Epcot. I suppose we should be glad that it doesn't rely on projections? I mean, at least Figment's face is never a blue screen. Though a 404 in place of the Nigel moon would be...something..
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Current Figment is fascinating as a compare and contrast. It's interesting and kind of sad just how much physical stuff a low budget ride got in the 90s.

It's not even like they made solely what they needed to get across the point. It's got stuff in there just to be cutesy, like the reference to "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes".

If the exact same scenario that led to this thing had happened two decades later, yeah, it would probably be projection central.
 
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Mickeynerd17

Mickeynerd17

Well-Known Member
EPCOT-O.G. said:
I go back and forth on whether they should just close it or keep it going. It's pretty painful to see its current iteration, but worry if they close it altogether that makes it less likely it's going to get the refurb it needs, and would instead be bulldozed for whatever the latest flavor-of-the-day IP gets shoehorned in there.
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As much as it probably shouldn't, I'd stress keeping the current ride running until WDO and WDI are willing to give figment the proper ride he deserves with Dreamfinder.

If we lose figment again, the likelihood of him returning is slim, especially if a movie IP takes over. Also, just shuttering the pavilion is an open invitation to complete removal in the future like Primeval Whirl or Horizons.
 
Mickeynerd17

Mickeynerd17

Well-Known Member
Dragonman said:
Maybe if Kodak wasn’t in financial trouble during the late 90’s/early 2000’s we could’ve got a much better update that stayed true to the original version.
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Nope.

If Kodak wasn't in financial trouble, we would've gotten more of a weird hybrid of the current ride and the 83 edition. Martin's tribute to JIYI talks about it a bit I think. They still would've cut the track and moved the image works downstairs, but the ride might've had much more substance than it did.
 
Inspired Figment

Inspired Figment

Well-Known Member
Mickeynerd17 said:
Nope.

If Kodak wasn't in financial trouble, we would've gotten more of a weird hybrid of the current ride and the 83 edition. Martin's tribute to JIYI talks about it a bit I think. They still would've cut the track and moved the image works downstairs, but the ride might've had much more substance than it did.
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And that’s the saddest part about all of this.. the fact they even ‘considered’ retheming it that way is absolutely ludicrous. Who on earth thought that a sterile tour through, essentially a warehouse, doing experiments on you via cheap carnival style illusions hosted by some actor that really only adults would appreciate from works that I’d argue aren’t the most family friendly, was “a huge improvement” over a whimsical, colorful ride a ride that showcased & promoted, perfectly, the very quality & realms of creativity/Imagination that Disney was founded upon & excelled in hosted by a lovable Santa-like professor & his exuberant purple dragon full of childlike innocence & curiosity (something nearly all come to Disney with.. hence why he connected with all of us on the Journey) & a catchy, distinctly Disney theme song. The thing that was selling the most merchandise in the park, making unforgettable meet n greet experiences, and an entire family pleaser in the park. You can’t get anymore short-sighted than that. The most idiotic decision made in Disney theme park history, by far.
 
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Inspired Figment

Inspired Figment

Well-Known Member
They really thought some “hit of the year/summer” kitchsy science based gimmick (in this case, being shrunk) flick theme was more relevant & timeless than the concept of creativity done in the most timeless, distinctly Disney way you can think of.
Mind boggling is a huge understatement.
 
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Dragonman

Dragonman

Well-Known Member
Inspired Figment said:
And that’s the saddest part about all of this.. the fact they even ‘considered’ retheming it that way is absolutely ludicrous. Who on earth thought that a sterile tour through, essentially a warehouse, doing experiments on you via cheap carnival style illusions hosted by some actor that really only adults would appreciate from works that I’d argue aren’t the most family friendly, was “a huge improvement” over a whimsical, colorful ride a ride that showcased & promoted, perfectly, the very quality & realms of creativity/Imagination that Disney was founded upon & excelled in hosted by a lovable Santa-like professor & his exuberant purple dragon full of childlike innocence & curiosity (something nearly all come to Disney with.. hence why he connected with all of us on the Journey) a catchy, distinctly Disney theme song. The thing that was selling the most merchandise in the park and was a sure, entire family pleaser in the park. You can’t get anymore short-sighted than that. The most idiotic decision made in Disney theme park history, by far.
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Honestly I consider the original Journey Into Imagination a timeless classic up there with Haunted Mansion and Pirates. It’s a shame Disney/Kodak didn’t see that.

Really the only things that needed updates were the lighting and screen/projection technology throughout the ride and Imageworks.
 
Inspired Figment

Inspired Figment

Well-Known Member
Dragonman said:
Honestly I consider the original Journey Into Imagination a timeless classic up there with Haunted Mansion and Pirates. It’s a shame Disney/Kodak didn’t see that.

Really the only things that needed updates were the lighting and screen/projection technology throughout the ride and Imageworks.
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Agreed 100%! Also, possibly the range of movement on some of the AA figures ala American Adventure updates/enhancements over the years.
 
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Bocabear

Bocabear

Well-Known Member
Dragonman said:
Honestly I consider the original Journey Into Imagination a timeless classic up there with Haunted Mansion and Pirates. It’s a shame Disney/Kodak didn’t see that.

Really the only things that needed updates were the lighting and screen/projection technology throughout the ride and Imageworks.
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This was also the key to making The Great Movie Ride more relevant...Imagine projection mapping the sets for a more cinematic look and feel... Changing out a couple scenes like Alien...it could have been even more fantastic.
The original Imagination ride was an easy fix and update relatively... It should not have been completely re-thought...
And what happened to al the AA figs from World Of Motion, Horizons, Imagination, etc?
Maybe they could reconstruct some of the Home Of Future Living in Space Mountain's exit again using the Horizon's sets...and put the damn speedramp back in!
 
Mickeynerd17

Mickeynerd17

Well-Known Member
HauntedMansionFLA said:
Figment really should have his own twenty minute movie to replace the Pixar movie shorts. It would be nice to have something fun fof tge 40th anniversary on October 1st. Just think of the merchandise that could be sold. People are nuts enough to stand in line for a popcorn bucket.
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If WDW's 50th was the way it was, don't think EPCOT's 40th will be anything special.
 
Dragonman

Dragonman

Well-Known Member
Bocabear said:
And what happened to al the AA figs from World Of Motion, Horizons, Imagination, etc?
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No Dreamfinder AAs have ever turned up meaning he was most likely scrapped for parts. Numerous Figments are in storage/archives and are often brought out for events or showcases:
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Others exist in private collections such as the original puppets used for the video screens of Figment doing various activities at the end of the original ride.
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As for the WOM and Horizons AAs some were kept but most were scrapped. The sea monster was in California Adventure for a number of years and several WOM figures were repurposed in Disneyland’s POTC until they were removed for the movie additions.

Multiple Horizons non AA props have been repurposed in the various parks. Several AAs were used for parts for Carousel of Progress and several heads exist in storage. You can find quite a number of photos if you look around.
 
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DoleWhipDrea

DoleWhipDrea

Well-Known Member
Inspired Figment said:
And that’s the saddest part about all of this.. the fact they even ‘considered’ retheming it that way is absolutely ludicrous. Who on earth thought that a sterile tour through, essentially a warehouse, doing experiments on you via cheap carnival style illusions hosted by some actor that really only adults would appreciate from works that I’d argue aren’t the most family friendly, was “a huge improvement” over a whimsical, colorful ride a ride that showcased & promoted, perfectly, the very quality & realms of creativity/Imagination that Disney was founded upon & excelled in hosted by a lovable Santa-like professor & his exuberant purple dragon full of childlike innocence & curiosity (something nearly all come to Disney with.. hence why he connected with all of us on the Journey) & a catchy, distinctly Disney theme song. The thing that was selling the most merchandise in the park, making unforgettable meet n greet experiences, and an entire family pleaser in the park. You can’t get anymore short-sighted than that. The most idiotic decision made in Disney theme park history, by far.
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Designers' and producers' hubris. At least one Imagineer for JIYI had the decency to apologize to Tony Baxter for their involvement in their butchering of a classic attraction.

Trying to embrace the EPCOT that currently exists when you know what it used to be gets more and more difficult for me. The people that don't get it, saying things like, "Oh you just don't like change" - no, no that's not it at all. Quality is tangible. When it doesn't exist, the thing feels cheap and empty. EPCOT Center was special because it wasn't the Magic Kingdom - it strived to be something greater. Yes, more adult! And the smart kids can understand and appreciate it if they're led by smart adults. Having 4 parks gives an opportunity to make truly unique experiences. Walt understood that to be an innovator, you needed to have a sense of what the public wants before they've experienced something new. If you care enough about your audience and are a strong storyteller, this is generally something you can do. I'm not certain WDI has anyone like this leading the charge anymore, and the pencil pushers only care about data that they will purposefully skew to make themselves look good. They won't take risks. But storytellers have to take risks. If they don't, everything eventually becomes bland.

The Imagination Pavilion deserves attractions that actually celebrate the marvel that is creativity. It's so important! Without original ideas, nothing new or miraculous will be made in this world. We need creators to be bold.
 

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