EPCOT Figment, well, to be replaced by Figment

[Haymarket2008]

I see no good scenario where they wouldn’t completely gut the old showbuilding, expanding upon it like Cosmic Rewind did to Energy, or demoing and reusing it like GMR to Mickey. If they did it to the GMR, they’re doing it to Figment.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be trackless due to the abundance of them now in Orlando (how times have changed), but something on the scale and quality of Mystic Manor would do the original justice and is absolutely what Figment and Dreamfinder deserve.

The Pyramids are incredible to look at (my personal favorite architecturally in FW), so I hope they stay with whatever they do. I don’t know what would need to be kept structurally to allow them to remain, however.

Totally. If it means we get a stellar attraction….gut the building. Lose the pyramids? No thanks. Im certainly not beholden to the current track by any means.

I don’t see them spending the money on demolishing the building, so I think it will remain. Thankfully.

 

[cranbiz]

I don’t see them spending the money on demolishing the building, so I think it will remain. Thankfully.

Innoventions West would like to have a word with you.

 

[aladdin2007]

I know a lot of people like to blue sky ideas about what a true re-imagining of the Imagination Pavilion would look like.
I'm curious what some might think a genuinely realistic approach would look like. We know what most people want, what do we think we might actually get?

nothing? They cant even do the SE refurb.

 

[Mickeynerd17]

nothing? They cant even do the SE refurb.

The most realistic of all the choices right here.

 

[ppete1975]

Sadly I think when they finally get to the imagination pavillion we will wish they hadnt.

 

[SailorMercury]

Sadly I think when they finally get to the imagination pavillion we will wish they hadnt.

I think Disney knows they have to tread lightly with Figment fans given what happened when they initially got rid of him, as well as him already having a massive fan base that makes it easy to sell toys of.

 

[UNCgolf]

Sadly I think when they finally get to the imagination pavillion we will wish they hadnt.

It would be hard to build something worse than what's currently there.

 

[UNCgolf]

I agree. I think the incarnation we have is legitimately the worst ride (as in C-ticket+) presently at any Disney park in the world.

Speaks to the volume of how great a character Figment is.

Nemo is pretty awful too, although that's exacerbated by the fact they blocked views into the aquarium for it. It's rough that both rides are in the same park.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

I still say the most realistic approach would be to go back to the original 83-98 attraction. Original track layout and all. But enhance each scene with new spfx & upgraded technology. Remastered original audio, and perhaps some of the things originally planned but not executed when it opened in ‘83 like the fully animated ending sequence in the film finale, and the rotoscoped animation of Figment dancing with the ballerina in the Performing Arts scene (to name a couple things for example.)
why reinvent something that was never broken in the first place. It’s like trying to reinvent the Haunted Mansion if it had the same fate as Journey Into Imagination in ‘98/99. There’s just no need for that.

 

[FigmentFan82]

I still say the most realistic approach would be to go back to the original 83-98 attraction. Original track layout and all. But enhance each scene with new spfx & upgraded technology. Remastered original audio, and perhaps some of the things originally planned but not executed when it opened in ‘83 like the fully animated ending sequence in the film finale, and the rotoscoped animation of Figment dancing with the ballerina in the Performing Arts scene (to name a couple things for example.)
why reinvent something that was never broken in the first place. It’s like trying to reinvent the Haunted Mansion if it had the same fate as Journey Into Imagination in ‘98/99. There’s just no need for that.

My question was obv hypothetical so no wrong answers, it's just always fun to hear what ideas people have rattling up in their heads. Also helps keep the thread alive, and we never know who's lurking!

 

[Epcot82Guy]

The great irony for me is that the original Imagination actually relied on a number of screen-based scenes already. The Dreamport and Carousel rooms need to be fully realized. But, Science, Theater, Finale, etc. could all very easily use projection mapping and today's screen technology to be significantly better than they were originally.

Ignoring the turntable, it really is the original Epcot Center attractions that would have been best served by the HM treatment vs. the rip and replace/overlay treatment.

 

[ppete1975]

It would be hard to build something worse than what's currently there.

I think the loss of the pyramids or figment entirely would be worse to me.
As bad as the ride is hes at least still there.

I dont need marvel, inside out, or the newest hot thing destroying this building and relegating Figment to fandom and merchandising for whatever festival is next.

 

[ppete1975]

I agree. I think the incarnation we have is legitimately the worst ride (as in C-ticket+) presently at any Disney park in the world.

Speaks to the volume of how great a character Figment is.

dino land and flying carpets would like to speak to you

 

[FigmentFan82]

I think trackless gets a bit of a bad rap around here, but only because it's only been used in certain ways up till now with varying degrees of success. I think one big complaint is when scenes are in a big open room and the vehicles move about on their own.

I think trackless could really shine if you aim to avoid the big room scenario and try to make it more in line with something that actually is on tracks. Then break apart the train into different hallways, not a big empty room. I think Rise mostly has this kind of idea down but I would be inclined to keep it more like a connected train in many parts then instantly breaking away.

Maybe I'm rambling. Need more coffee.

Need good Figment ride.

 

[Haymarket2008]

Could be just me, but given the nature and presence of Figment in the “new EPCOT” and the cold, hard fact that he brings in money and crowds (the popcorn bucket and tons and tons of merch)…..I think the major Figment overhaul is inevitable. He ain’t getting scrapped for the newest film du jour.

 

[UNCgolf]

I think the loss of the pyramids or figment entirely would be worse to me.
As bad as the ride is hes at least still there.

I dont need marvel, inside out, or the newest hot thing destroying this building and relegating Figment to fandom and merchandising for whatever festival is next.

The loss of the pyramids would be terrible, but I don't really care about keeping Figment for the existing attraction. He's barely even the same character as the one from the original anyways.

 

[Touchdown]

Why do people think the pyramids wouldn’t come back? This time with an ADA ramp to the second floor, enough room on the ground floor for a shop, queue and ride. As long as it’s replaced with a similar design I would have no problem with replacing the building.

 

[Rodj]

I believe Disney might utilize the "glasses-free" AR patent that was filed last year, especially considering one of the examples used the JII ride vehicles:

 

[ppete1975]

Why do people think the pyramids wouldn’t come back? This time with an ADA ramp to the second floor, enough room on the ground floor for a shop, queue and ride. As long as it’s replaced with a similar design I would have no problem with replacing the building.

Because this is the company that thinks big boxes are sufficient. The design of what was future world is a thing of the past when it comes to disney. If architecture works with the IP (star wars land, pandora) they will spend the money. Outside of that you will not be seeing Imagination, space ship earth, horizons, wom, the land, the odyssey or the wonders of life of architecture just for architecture again. That was what awed me when I originally went to Epcot, besides the water, and landscaping was the buildings were all works of art and transported you somewhere else.

 

[fgmnt]

Keep in mind that this company is in year 4 in EPCOT of replacing a building they tore down, and they are replacing half of it with a substantially similar building and the other half as an outdoor water garden.