EPCOTCenterLover
Well-Known Member
The ride used too much energy? That's just BS from somebody in the Disney Company.
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Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald takes over the creative direction of Epcot
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
CDavid
Well-Known Member
Pardon me for asking, but source please, because in all these years I've never seen anything suggesting energy usage was even a factor in the ill-conceived refurbishment of Journey into Imagination. The turntable was, if I'm not mistaken, a maintenance headache. The current loading platform passes above the old turntable, which I suspect would require complete replacement to function again, but that's hardly impossible.
Not that we should remotely expect a return to the original attraction, of course, but I've heard far worse ideas.
Kman101
Well-Known Member
Disney rarely seems to "go back" (unless it suits them) so I don't want to see folks to get their hopes up for a Figment ride that was exactly like the original (even if I agree they should try and recapture it as much as possible and yes to most it would be a brand new ride). They could surprise us but it's like them rebuilding Horizons. It probably won't ever happen. Unfortunately.
TDO doesn't care about what the fans want (for the most part). It was clear when Toad was ripped out. I don't think that mentality has changed, even if different people are in charge. They appeal to the core fans when it suits them. I'd love this mentality to change though. This is the same company that let a sub lagoon rot for 10 years. And doesn't mind empty show buildings.
It's also been stated many times that TDO didn't want the maintenance costs associated with it, hence them manipulating guests into not visiting the attraction, making it seem like no one was riding. They also did something similar with the subs (there's a great website out there that explains the sub debacle. Using the worst sub at the time to show safety "issues", etc.)
TDO doesn't care about what the fans want (for the most part). It was clear when Toad was ripped out. I don't think that mentality has changed, even if different people are in charge. They appeal to the core fans when it suits them. I'd love this mentality to change though. This is the same company that let a sub lagoon rot for 10 years. And doesn't mind empty show buildings.
It's also been stated many times that TDO didn't want the maintenance costs associated with it, hence them manipulating guests into not visiting the attraction, making it seem like no one was riding. They also did something similar with the subs (there's a great website out there that explains the sub debacle. Using the worst sub at the time to show safety "issues", etc.)
Omnispace
Well-Known Member
With the control system they had available in 1999 they probably could have solved any technical issues with the attraction's ride system. It's just that the mentality at the time was to do something "different".
In a way, Epcot's mission to continually change and be updated is its demise in two categories: when things keep changing it's difficult to develop any sort of nostalgia for the place, good attractions with mass appeal can be lost. On the opposite side of it, when some things don't change, the "current events" topics that were referenced when the show was produced become outdated very quickly. I think that a key to making the park work better to achieve it's mission is to have a foundation of timeless attractions that develop a strong following mixed with different exhibits that can be more up-to-date and changed-out easily. I'm sure that's what they were trying to do with Innoventions but for whatever reason those exhibits are far from inspiring.
They almost need a full-time team dedicated to keeping up on the latest innovations around the world and presenting them in the park. Even something like an Epcot app for phones that focuses on news feeds about innovative technologies would be an awesome offshoot of the mission of the park. Disney is really missing the point on what a huge asset the Epcot brand can be. It doesn't necessarily need to be confined to the park.
danv3
Well-Known Member
Well, Disney is the same company who told us that the Lights of Winter had to be removed due to its "obsolete technology," so I'd say they're pretty adept at spinning BS reasoning for their decisions.
Kman101
Well-Known Member
Exactly, and yet it's been rumored they're supposed to be doing something similar in MK? (though not confimed that I know of). They say what they have to at the time and then do what they want to do anyway.
Their BS reasonings are sometimes quite hilarious and clearly planned PR responses to make it sound legit enough so no one questions it.
Their BS reasonings are sometimes quite hilarious and clearly planned PR responses to make it sound legit enough so no one questions it.
If they remove Impressions de France I will lose it. Seriously, I will flip out.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
Given that there's a laundry list of issues at other parks that require far more attention that Epcot, I think its safe that things wont be happening anytime soon.
Exactly. Content and technology can be updated without gutting rides and changing attraction formats. How many times has Pirates or Haunted Mansion had aa upgrades, sound upgrades, ride control system upgrades? Why is it that EPCOT is the place where "update" means destroying the attraction and totally changing it?
aladdin2007
Well-Known Member
I think Ratoutille would go to the studios instead anyway if they brought it to FL in any form. I cant see them shoehorning that in back there behind/next to France. Oh wait, they shoehorned soarin between land and imagination......okay I see the point lol. But still the new paris ride looks pretty large etc for that area of WS.
EricJ
Active Member
Not to mention that the refurbishment, and the re-refurbishment, left less and less room for the attraction technology. Things were taken out and couldn't be replaced, and it would be impossible to restore the old-school JiI to its original length. At least they tried.
doctornick
Well-Known Member
Whether or not it belongs in the WS is one question, but I'm not sure what you mean about "shoehorning" it -- there's plenty of room behind/next to the France pavilion to add a substantial ride/show building.
doctornick
Well-Known Member
Even without the turntable, they could put in a ride of similar space if they used the full amount of track. The issue is that the now have the Imageworks (or whatever the call it now) taking some of the ride space on the first floor. If they moved that back to the vacant upstairs, then they would have the full first floor for a longer ride.
DreamfinderFigmentFan
Member
What this guy said! He got it spot on! Which is why we need the original back. I'm tired of the BS excuses that I keep hearing how they "can't" bring back the original using modern technology. That's totally BS! They brought back The Enchanted Tiki Room and Captain EO right? So why the heck not Journey Into Imagination?
tl77
Well-Known Member
I think the biggest problems areas in FW are Energy, Imagination, and the Commuincore/Innoventions buildings, these would also be the easiest and cheapest areas in FW to "return to their former glory" if that's what they really want to do...
And as much as I prefer O.G. EPCOT center, the rest of FW really isn't in need of any major overhaul, TT, M:S, Nemo and Soarin' all draw huge crowds, and assuming they did overhaul FW there's no way they'd try a do the whole thing at once like DCA... they could, and most likely would, redo 1 pavilion a year for the next 10 years, or something to that effect, there's no way they would have more than 1 FW pavilion down at a time
And as much as I prefer O.G. EPCOT center, the rest of FW really isn't in need of any major overhaul, TT, M:S, Nemo and Soarin' all draw huge crowds, and assuming they did overhaul FW there's no way they'd try a do the whole thing at once like DCA... they could, and most likely would, redo 1 pavilion a year for the next 10 years, or something to that effect, there's no way they would have more than 1 FW pavilion down at a time
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
You're saying around the same time they closed an attraction for consuming too much power they also opened Rock 'N Rollercoaster.
To be fair, the project domes are not an entire set being moved. A trackless ride would have the advantage of being able to use multiple rooms instead of moving sets.
CDavid
Well-Known Member
Bringing back a ride is very different than returning a previous film or (mostly) just changing the audio and programming for an AA show. That said, after the debacle of the last butcher job on the attraction, Disney needs to be certain the next attempt will please both fans and the general public. While I know it'll never happen, of course, the original version is already proven; You aren't taking a chance on something new that may or may not live up to expectations.
asianway
Well-Known Member
Tiki is missing the fountain. Eo is missing some original effects...so...
DreamfinderFigmentFan
Member
So what, atleast it's still the original right? So that's why I say, bring back the original with modern technology! That means all new advanced animatronics, new projection systems, a new track system, etc. I'm not saying to go back to the old technology that had issues, I'm saying to use modern technology in it that can eliminate the problems it had originally and to make it a brand new experience for guests. Also they could add some things in the scenes or they could make the ride a bit more interactive. Like maybe the magic bands or the color ear hats can change colors depending on what scene it's in. You know what I'm saying?
Omnispace
Well-Known Member
Don't forget, it was five entire sets being moved and operated simultaneously! You are right that Universal is only rotating an array of projection domes. My point is that the sync-up of ride vehicles with moving turntables is happening now to great effect whereas Disney abandoned it. I suppose one could have trackless vehicles in separate rooms but I'm not sure how that would capture the kinetic quality of soaring alongside Dreamfinder in his flying dream catcher.
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