EPCOT Figment, well, to be replaced by Figment

[Gran Fiesta]

YES!!!!!!! Look for them on Youtube. The Horizons video is especially good.... and sad... These attractions were so beautifully researched and developed and Martin seems to be the only one doing a chronicle of what it once was. Bravo Martin!
I think he should create a box DVD set and make some money off of these videos. I would pay for it!

I second that statement

 

[marni1971]

Does @marni1971 have any videos like this about Horizons, World of Motion, Universe of Energy or any of the other original Epcot attractions?

He certainly does. Pretty much one for each of the original attractions.

 

[Bocabear]

He certainly does. Pretty much one for each of the original attractions.

and thanks God for that! The only available chronicle of the original vision for the park... Thank you Martin!

 

[Brer Oswald]

It was a rope that purposely killed off the Original Attraction masterpiece.

A change was made to the entrance flow to the Pavillon by Ops to direct Guests to the new 'HiSTA' film presentation FIRST and everything else was a afterthought.
Purposely done to show the new film was now 'more popular' with Guests, and falsify ride count numbers.
Not the first time this has been done to force a closure.
A absolute crime.

The Original 'Journey' had been the #2 in Guest attendence right under SSE since it opened.
Guests LOVED it, and that never stopped.

But things happened within the Company, and costs became a major issue after Disneyland Paris opened.
The Original was costly to operate and changing attitudes within the Company shifted focus at targeting expensive-to-operate Attractions.

The mid to late 1990s were not a good time for Disney or theme park fans...we lost three major and much missed Masterpieces of Attractions in a short time frame, and all three were closed through clever trickery - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Horizons, and the Original 'Journey Into Imagination'.
None of these were closed due to low ridership or loss of Guests' interest.
All those said numbers were purposely manipulated to imply this, to satisfy certain parties within the Company and to provide the 'proof' needed to gut them all.

I have talked about this in the past...there is probably already several posts here from me telling the full story.
It is sickening how blatantly this wonderful Attraction was closed under highly dubious means.

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This company will stoop to all lows to close any of their classic attractions not tied to a recent film. That’s why I can’t see this ride getting the proper revival it needs. At least not anytime soon.

 

[Figments Friend]

Saw an old friend today!View attachment 727389View attachment 727390View attachment 727391

Tony just recently visited this figure at the auction house.
A nice little ‘family reunion’ for the two of them!

This is one of the five animatronic figures used as a part of Dreamfinder’s airship in the ‘turntable’ show scene within the Original Attraction.

Love ya, Tony!

-

 

[Homemade Imagineering]

Up close look!

 

[Rodj]

Interestingly, their listing of it states that it was a prototype model and not the final ones used in the attraction. Here is the page listing it and other JII items:

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Interestingly, their listing of it states that it was a prototype model and not the final ones used in the attraction. Here is the page listing it and other JII items:
View attachment 729598

They’ve gotten some things wrong before in the past. Once while I was at D23 Expo they had some props on display and listed the head molds from World of Motion as being from Journey Into Imagination. Ultimately I ended up correcting them by telling a staff member and they said they’d correct it. Seems they did. Lol! But yeah, that’s not a prototype. That’s very clearly one of the final ones used in the ride. The original “prototype” sculpt actually had differences. Mainly in his (your) left/(his) right hand. Originally it faced towards the audience rather than towards himself.

 

[Dragonman]

They’ve gotten some things wrong before in the past. Once while I was at D23 Expo they had some props on display and listed the head molds from World of Motion as being from Journey Into Imagination. Ultimately I ended up correcting them by telling a staff member and they said they’d correct it. Seems they did. Lol! But yeah, that’s not a prototype. That’s very clearly one of the final ones used in the ride. The original “prototype” sculpt actually had differences. Mainly in his (your) left/(his) right hand. Originally it faced towards the audience rather than towards himself.

Yep, and recently they got another thing wrong, listing an original Disneyland Haunted Mansion tombstone as being from “Tokyo Disneyland 1969, with faux aging”. The aging and wear is original and is why the tombstones were eventually removed from the berm outside because they were looking sad and neglected.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

This company will stoop to all lows to close any of their classic attractions not tied to a recent film. That’s why I can’t see this ride getting the proper revival it needs. At least not anytime soon.

Well, there is a Figment movie in the works (unless it's been cancelled), so maybe sooner rather than later (and by later I mean "never.")

 

[FigmentFan82]

Well, there is a Figment movie in the works (unless it's been cancelled), so maybe sooner rather than later (and by later I mean "never.")

Seth Rogen (love him or hate him) seems to actually get his projects made, as opposed to some other producers out there (cough jj abrams cough)
I hope he does actually make it!

 

[FigmentFan82]

Figgy looking good on this medal

 

[Rodj]

Wish they would actually release the full clip art of this and others(I.E. Epcot 40th, 2014 art, etc) digitally... I dislike seeing the same select few 1980's art pieces online that don't look right.

 

[FigmentJedi]

Yep, and recently they got another thing wrong, listing an original Disneyland Haunted Mansion tombstone as being from “Tokyo Disneyland 1969, with faux aging”. The aging and wear is original and is why the tombstones were eventually removed from the berm outside because they were looking sad and neglected.

Also because a Haunted Mansion Wiki assumed that "Mister West" was a Tokyo exclusive variant of Gracey and not just something copied from that old Disneyland tombstone.

 

[ElectricCenter82]

Recently I was watching an old Imagineering documentary (Circa 2002) and found what looked like a rare behind the scenes look at the designing process of the 2002 version of Journey into Imagination. As bad as the current and 99 versions are, I’m beyond fascinated with finding more about how they were designed and built. There’s absolutely nothing regarding any kind of backstage look at how they made these two versions (and the only ones I could find are either on old sketchy websites or home movies from the late 90s)

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Recently I was watching an old Imagineering documentary (Circa 2002) and found what looked like a rare behind the scenes look at the designing process of the 2002 version of Journey into Imagination. As bad as the current and 99 versions are, I’m beyond fascinated with finding more about how they were designed and built. There’s absolutely nothing regarding any kind of backstage look at how they made these two versions (and the only ones I could find are either on old sketchy websites or home movies from the late 90s)View attachment 731473

Ah yes, Kathy Mangum… not a fan of her at all. (Nor of that iteration of the ride for that matter) ‘but’ I would definitley be interested to hear/find out more stories about the creation of that travesty and why/how it ultimately ended up the way it did regardless. I feel like I pretty much know, but it would be interesting to hear more details specifically to see how it matches up with what I’ve discovered/figured out over the years. Truthfully they should just go back to the original one w tasteful enhancements & spfx added, period.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Ah yes, Kathy Mangum… not a fan of her at all. (Nor of that iteration of the ride for that matter) ‘but’ I would definitley be interested to hear/find out more stories about the creation of that travesty and why/how it ultimately ended up the way it did regardless. I feel like I pretty much know, but it would be interesting to hear more details specifically to see how it matches up with what I’ve discovered/figured out over the years. Truthfully they should just go back to the original one w tasteful enhancements & spfx added, period.

Google the world "relevance" in corporate culture from that time, and you'll have your answer. That was the killer of traditional Disney theme park design then in a similar way to how the IP mandate and DVC creep are today. (Though I'll give them there is a more definable audience for today's version vs what companies tried to create back then to be in sync with the kids.)

 

[ElectricCenter82]

Ah yes, Kathy Mangum… not a fan of her at all. (Nor of that iteration of the ride for that matter) ‘but’ I would definitley be interested to hear/find out more stories about the creation of that travesty and why/how it ultimately ended up the way it did regardless. I feel like I pretty much know, but it would be interesting to hear more details specifically to see how it matches up with what I’ve discovered/figured out over the years. Truthfully they should just go back to the original one w tasteful enhancements & spfx added, period.

I feel that if Disney really wanted to give the pavilion and ride an overhaul, I can definitely see them making it something truly special. What I think they should do is do a remake of the original, but also using modern technology to really make it cutting edge and timeless. They can easily make the flight into Imagination be a preshow (much like the rotating one from Rise of The Resistance) and utilize the rest of the space for the main ride.


They also need to get rid of the Imagination Institute theme ASAP. It only worked back then because it tied the 4D show to the rest of the pavilion. Now it’s just a weird dated reminder of two cheap and tacky rethemes.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

I feel that if Disney really wanted to give the pavilion and ride an overhaul, I can definitely see them making it something truly special. What I think they should do is do a remake of the original, but also using modern technology to really make it cutting edge and timeless. They can easily make the flight into Imagination be a preshow (much like the rotating one from Rise of The Resistance) and utilize the rest of the space for the main ride.


They also need to get rid of the Imagination Institute theme ASAP. It only worked back then because it tied the 4D show to the rest of the pavilion. Now it’s just a weird dated reminder of two cheap and tacky rethemes.

I don’t see much point in changing the original format though. Why make it a preshow when they have most of the track there. It wouldn’t even be hard to put back in/repair the old parts of the track. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Enhance the show scenes with new spfx & tech but don’t change the core show scenes, audio.

 

[SaveDinosaur]

Figgy looking good on this medalView attachment 729948

Better than the cartoonish garbage that they have being transforming him into