EPCOT Figment, well, to be replaced by Figment

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Man guys, Van Eaton’s literally got ‘the’ OG Journey Into Imagination motherload this auction.. apparently they’ve even got more audio-animatronic costumes aswell (supposedly including the Artist and a couple others) including the fortune teller Dreamfinder AA Figure’s robe from the scene right before the film finale. The fan within me was of course ‘Totally’ geeking out!
Got to see the puppets upon special request (they’re not out due to condition and some difficulty displaying atm, but WOW, they’re BIG up close and personal.. amazing!! and, hey, while they def need some work. They’re def intact. lol!
But yeah, if you guys are ever out in SoCal, def a place worth going on a visit!

 

[Figments Friend]

I find it funny how everyone love Billy Barty as Figment...But Gwildor from the Masters of the Universe movie...Not so much...

( raises hand )


I LOVE Gwildor.

The ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie rules.
Good journey…!

-

 

[Figments Friend]

While cute and a fun alternate design on merch. Why not they give the new Little Golden Book design a try? It’s simple & mimics the designs of the original Toshi Muto murals from the ride. (PS: if the merchandise folks are looking for ‘any’ design inspiration. That book is ‘the’ reference to use. Whether it be who the 2 character are, what happens in the ride, etc., besides classic ride POVs and classic era art & merch of course ): View attachment 893793
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Otherwise known as ‘the book that made Tony Baxter cry’.

Yes, the first time he saw it he cried.
Not out of sadness….but out of joy seeing what a wonderful tribute to the Original Attraction this was.
A moving moment.


-

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

A couple merch design ideas that might be cooler to see would be something more along these lines. These are from some old coloring books. The top is from 1982 and the bottom 2019.
Again, if they were to use a gear design, it’d be best to directly reference iconography from the ride. Something along these lines:
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But maybe use this Figment rendering in front of it:
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with the words: “The Imaginometer: Where Dreams & Ideas Are Stored” and the original Journey Into Imagination sign text & spiral logo placed on the bottom of it

Another one that’d be really cute would be this, with Figment popping out of the hatch, his two tiny wings flapping (with the arrow pointing up to Full, the Full being brightened on the photo, with iridescent sparkles surrounding & on him, just like the OG introductory scene where this happens. Featuring the words “Figment - ‘Full of Childlish Delight!’ at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT” below it, also with the original Journey Into Imagination ride sign text & spiral logo on the bottom right hand corner :
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Things like that Totally something I (and I’m sure many others, even here) would purchase. Right?!

So in regards to merch.. I forgot that these pins had been released in 2011. Sadly a LE, but boy are they fantastic. Anyone else think they should be rereleased again in a larger amount? But yeah, these right here are ‘exactly’ the kind of merch/merch designs us fans are wanting/looking to purchase!

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Gotta love this in the new Imagineer That video. Josh mentions at 0:34 how the research and development teams “find sparks of imagination that begin turning into reality”. I see what you did there Josh & I applaud you for it.. but cmon, when are we gonna see that be displayed at the Parks once again? There’s no better ride that illustrated this very concept more than the original Journey Into Imagination once did. Cause an invisible train in a room of nothing, eye charts, skunk farts from a slot machine, and upside down neon furniture on the ceiling just aren’t doing it for me.. and haven’t been I’d argue for the majority of us since ‘02. Please come through and fix this WDI Bring back the Real “whimsical ride into the realms of imagination” that stuck with, encouraged & inspired us to use our creative abilities in positive ways for all these years. It could & should be able to do that still today.:

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Gotta love this in the new Imagineer That video. Josh mentions at 0:34 how the research and development teams “find sparks of imagination that begin turning into reality”. I see what you did there Josh & I applaud you for it.. but cmon, when are we gonna see that be displayed at the Parks once again? There’s no better ride that illustrated this very concept more than the original Journey Into Imagination once did. Cause an invisible train in a room of nothing, eye charts, skunk farts from a slot machine, and upside down neon furniture on the ceiling just aren’t doing it for me.. and haven’t been I’d argue for the majority of us since ‘02. Please come through and fix this WDI Bring back the Real “whimsical ride into the realms of imagination” that stuck with, encouraged & inspired us to use our creative abilities in positive ways for all these years. It could & should be able to do that still today.:

On that note btw, that Olaf AA is one of the best AAs I’ve ever seen. Likeness & animation is spot-on
But to get back on topic... even ‘Josh Gad’ has publicly called Disney out on the shameless Sham/Fraud Honey, I Shrunk-ified version of the attraction running since 02, and has reportedly even stated that the Original Journey Into Imagination was his ‘favorite’ ride.. you even have folks like Jodi Benson (Ariel), Noel MacNeal (Bear in the Big Blue House), and John Stamos agreeing and calling you out here basically. Pete Docter stopped you from changing it to an unrelated IP yet again (to an Inside Out ride rather than a Honey I Shrunk one), even putting in cameos in various films & commissioning a park guest survey to ensure this didn’t happen basically. All proving themselves to be BIG fans in different ways. Like, BRO, if I had folks of this caliber, ‘all’ equally weighing in with the ‘same’ conclusion regarding this kind of thing.. I’d be embarrassed to even head into the company office the following day. How Iger isn’t completely and utterly ashamed & embarrassed by this despite all this is beyond me. The audacity. How that didn’t get him to correct this then & there... (PS: @Shishagumi , make sure you include these posts and examples in your documentary about the redos of this pavilion whenever you get to it, please)

 

[jah4955]

So in regards to merch.. I forgot that these pins had been released in 2011. Sadly a LE, but boy are they fantastic. Anyone else think they should be rereleased again in a larger amount? But yeah, these right here are ‘exactly’ the kind of merch/merch designs us fans are wanting/looking to purchase!
View attachment 894091View attachment 894092View attachment 894093View attachment 894094View attachment 894096View attachment 894097View attachment 894098View attachment 894095View attachment 894099View attachment 894100

THIS is what's consistently bothered me for the last umpteen years...pins...shirts...popcorn buckets....OVERFLOWING demand of all this merch all these years....all SCREAMING for "1.0's" return but never has there ever been a whiff of a hint for its restoration...

My point is..... imagine (can't resist!) how MUCH MORE merch they'd sell if they create a new generation of 1.0 fans thru either recreating the original (with 2025 upgrades) or making a very-dern-similar attraction.

(and lets face it, the #'s of those who experienced the original will keep getting smaller and smaller as time goes by)

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

THIS is what's consistently bothered me for the last umpteen years...pins...shirts...popcorn buckets....OVERFLOWING demand of all this merch all these years....all SCREAMING for "1.0's" return but never has there ever been a whiff of a hint for its restoration...

My point is..... imagine (can't resist!) how MUCH MORE merch they'd sell if they create a new generation of 1.0 fans thru either recreating the original (with 2025 upgrades) or making a very-dern-similar attraction.

(and lets face it, the #'s of those who experienced the original will keep getting smaller and smaller as time goes by)

Recreating the original with 2025 upgrades is preferable, if not ‘the’ answer considering what happened to it. As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Not only would it be better business wise (everything’s already formed and created to just put back in and add to) but their track record in brand new attractions hasn’t been the best of late. Of course also, the idea of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” has been proven twice now with the last 2 redos of this pavilion. This attraction should’ve remained a perennial classic for decades more. It had ‘way’ too short of a life span for what it was and the impact it had on folks. All thanks to completely shady/fraudulent means as I’ve very clearly evidenced in prior posts regarding the signage, monorail spiels, and queue rope changes making Honey, I Shrunk the Audience out to be the main or only attraction in the pavilion rather than the ride, alongside ImageWorks and the Magic Eye Theater as it’d been prior. And if that alongside merch sales doesn’t prove this to be the very blatant issue it is, the guest pushback certainly is (which, PS: is quite literally considered ‘THE’ most controversial attraction change in ‘history’. Never have they gotten more complaints than they have for this retheme (more like de-theme) continuing on to ‘this’ day. Baffling is an understatement here. To claim otherwise is being more than obtuse, truth be told.

 

[jah4955]

Recreating the original with 2025 upgrades is preferable. As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Not only would it be better business wise (everything’s already formed and created to just put back in and add to) but their track record hasn’t been the best of late. Of course also, the idea of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” has also been also proven twice now with the last 2 redos of this pavilion. This attraction should’ve remained a perennial classic for decades more. It had ‘way’ too short of a life span for what it was and the impact it had on folks. All thanks to completely shady/fraudulent means as I’ve very clearly evidenced in prior posts regarding the signage, monorail spiels, and queue rope changes making Honey, I Shrunk the Audience out to be the main or only attraction in the pavilion rather than the ride, alongside ImageWorks and the Magic Eye Theater as it’d been prior. And if that alongside merch sales doesn’t prove this to be the very blatant issue it is, the guest pushback certainly is (which, PS: is quite literally considered ‘THE’ most controversial attraction change in ‘history’. Never have they gotten more complaints than they have for this retheme (more like de-theme) continuing on to ‘this’ day. Baffling is an understatement here. To claim otherwise is being more than obtuse, truth be told.

oh noooo....please don't get me wrong....I ONLY want a return of 1.0....I still think it could have lasted in perpetuity...same level of Small World or Haunted Mansion

Who knows? If it never closed it may have been getting "holiday overlays" like in DL's SW & HM by now.

At least more than a Christmas sweater.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

oh noooo....please don't get me wrong....I ONLY want a return of 1.0....I still think it could have lasted in perpetuity...same level of Small World or Haunted Mansion

Who knows? If it never closed it may have been getting "holiday overlays" like in DL's SW & HM by now.

At least more than a Christmas sweater.

Ab.so.lutely! No question

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Which again, begs the question, ‘why’ did they make the baffling creative decisions they specifically made with these last 2 redos. What was the thought process behind them? Cause, honestly, they don’t make any logical sense looking at them from the angle of “we’re here to improve this, let alone “fix the mistake we made the first time we redid it”, please fans, or restore the original spirit back in”. And no, please don’t blame the budget. Just look at the classic Fantasyland rides for proof of this, even the WDW & DL Winnie the Pooh darkrides at the time had better creative decisions & integrity. Let alone the “Blast” finale of the current ride that only lasts aprox ‘15 seconds’ compared to everything else for the past 6 minutes or so of ride time. That’s what I’d like to figure out.. perhaps we’ll learn something more regarding that.. I’m certainly looking forward to that day when it comes.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

and the thing that’s incredibly funny too, look at all the merch released at that time. In particular 2002-06, when the “fix” was still fairly new at the time. Practically every piece of merch. The “blast” scene that lasts ‘15 seconds’… like wow.. they genuinely couldn’t think up anything better, let alone anything from ‘that’ scene to put into every other room? When (keep in mind) all those ‘very same’ rooms were chock full of whimsical details & props initially, split into the Dreamport to start off (after our intro scene), and then realms of ‘Art, Literature, Theatre, Science & Technology, and Film’. So Like.. huh?? And Dreamfinder on a ‘door’ that isn’t even his actual name “Dean Finder” (haha.. so funny) and a nearly entirely missable cameo on a ‘song sheet’ via the classic shilouette in the original opening scene, in the blast finale)

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

and again, despite Jim Hill’s false claim (which I honestly don’t blame him for, as he’s typically right on everything else and is proven trustworthy on most other facts & stories he shares.. but this ride redo in particular weirdly has a.. *clears throat* “conflicting” history) that they’re all original attraction figures reused, further evidence (besides the photos I shared of all the original ride figures compared to the ones seen in the upside down house & blast scenes of the 02-current one) they were infact not. Check out Dale Walton’s comment. Hmmm. (PS: Wonder why someone would’ve told Jim Hill that lie about those figures??)
:

 

[Brer Panther]

even ‘Josh Gad’ has publicly called Disney out on the shameless Sham/Fraud Honey, I Shrunk-ified version of the attraction running since 02, and has reportedly even stated that the Original Journey Into Imagination was his ‘favorite’ ride.

I recall Josh Gad also said before Frozen Ever After opened that, even though he knew the ride would be great, he was still upset that they closed Maelstrom.

Incidentally, didn't Frozen Ever After steal the budget for a fourth Journey Into Imagination?

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

I recall Josh Gad also said before Frozen Ever After opened that, even though he knew the ride would be great, he was still upset that they closed Maelstrom.

Incidentally, didn't Frozen Ever After steal the budget for a fourth Journey Into Imagination?

Yep, it did.. baffling isn’t it? Maelstrom was still a fairly popular ride.. but the Honey, I Shrunk-ified Imagination ride w the most deceiving name & description (Lol nope). But also, he did say about Frozen “he knew the ride would be great”. This (“Journey Into Imagination With Figment”), though, practically ‘unanimously’ agreed a huge downgrade and that the original was a favorite and that they should bring it back.

And yet, Iger digs in his heels.. all these years later. Which begs the question, has ‘he’ ridden this for himself? If he has, it’s even more shameful this has lasted this way, as long as it has. But if not, I’m just waiting.. for the day he finally rides this to see the “valiant effort to bring Figment back”, he claimed he’s so happy about, on a public stage, despite everyone’s complaints, including the pavilion & character’s own creator… at ‘his’ Legend Award Event.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

That he claimed, yet again, that folks asked what “‘he’” had done with him. Like bro, is the blatant narcissism showing yet? Taking total credit for something he didn’t even greenlight, before his time as CEO? And yet, was more than happy to say he was proud of ‘THAT ride’, that Tony had zero involvement with. At Tony’s Legend Award, despite the nearly unanimous conclusion the majority’s reached about this blatant sham/fraud of a “return” (including Tony himself)
(PS: @Shishagumi , might wanna include that in your documentary too, Iger’s comments at Tony’s Legend Award ceremony)

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I recall Josh Gad also said before Frozen Ever After opened that, even though he knew the ride would be great, he was still upset that they closed Maelstrom.

Incidentally, didn't Frozen Ever After steal the budget for a fourth Journey Into Imagination?

He was also trying to make another Honey I shrunk The Kids movie that never got off the ground...

 

[jah4955]

He was also trying to make another Honey I shrunk The Kids movie that never got off the ground...

1 was plenty. 2 was kinda awkward. 3...terrible imo

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

1 was plenty. 2 was kinda awkward. 3...terrible imo

Interesting thing, according to Jim Hill, and something that makes total sense. The reason why Honey, I Shrunk the Kids was as financially successful as it was at the time, was not due to the film but due to the Roger Rabbit short placed before it, “Tummy Trouble”. Infact, this was such a high selling reason for the movie that the VHS release took the time to include the short and advertise it on the VHS cover. :


Granted, I can say, I think a lot of us can say we had a bit of a soft spot for these kitchsey sci-fi flicks on their own.. but I doubt anyone can say with a straight face, that they genuinely think retheming the Journey Into Imagination ride to be dedicated to these was a great idea.

It, again, is like the equivalent of saying Haunted Mansion should be rethemed to a High School Musical attraction where they’re having a Halloween celebration, or Pirates of the Caribbean should be rethemed to a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse where they have a treasure hunting adventure (not as pirates, I might add. They’re just pretending to be treasure seekers in their backyard pool, it’s your job as the guest to pretend ‘you’ are a pirate or an extra special clubhouse treasure hunter too, using your mousketools through the ride to find your own special pretend treasure.) But still retaining the ride names pretty much, and shoehorning in the Ghosts & Pirates back into it a couple years later to save face in a way you would ‘never’ expect upon anyone thinking of those classic rides & characters otherwise. They just show up in every scene in baffling ways now to show how their way is the right way compared to the ride operating (still in the context of High School Musical celebrating Halloween with simple costumes & decorations spread throughout, still a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Backyard Pool Adventure featuring floaties and sparse scenes to encourage you to pretend along with them) until the very last scene for aprox 15 seconds. But yeah, no, that’s ‘precisely’ what they did here and It’s really, ‘really’ wild. I don’t think anything else in Disney history has come close to it.

 

[HMF]

On that note btw, that Olaf AA is one of the best AAs I’ve ever seen. Likeness & animation is spot-on
But to get back on topic... even ‘Josh Gad’ has publicly called Disney out on the shameless Sham/Fraud Honey, I Shrunk-ified version of the attraction running since 02, and has reportedly even stated that the Original Journey Into Imagination was his ‘favorite’ ride.. you even have folks like Jodi Benson (Ariel), Noel MacNeal (Bear in the Big Blue House), and John Stamos agreeing and calling you out here basically. Pete Docter stopped you from changing it to an unrelated IP yet again (to an Inside Out ride rather than a Honey I Shrunk one), even putting in cameos in various films & commissioning a park guest survey to ensure this didn’t happen basically. All proving themselves to be BIG fans in different ways. Like, BRO, if I had folks of this caliber, ‘all’ equally weighing in with the ‘same’ conclusion regarding this kind of thing.. I’d be embarrassed to even head into the company office the following day. How Iger isn’t completely and utterly ashamed & embarrassed by this despite all this is beyond me. The audacity. How that didn’t get him to correct this then & there... (PS: @Shishagumi , make sure you include these posts and examples in your documentary about the redos of this pavilion whenever you get to it, please)
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The only way I can see Iger racing to change anything at the park in any way you have to find something offensive with it. I know we are all offended by the existence of the current version, but it doesn't have anything personally or culturally insensitive as far as I know.