brb1006
Well-Known Member
HAPPY NEW YEAR
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Rumor Inside Out to Replace Journey into Imagination with Figment?
- Thread starter Just4Pics
- Start date
Inspired Figment
Well-Known Member
Speaking of which.. even if that supposed “evidence” of the attraction not being popular during it’s later years was true. You know, for an attraction that supposedly “wasn’t all that popular” originally. It’s interesting to note just how large of a controversy it caused once it was initially changed to the badly executed “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience”-based version we’ve had since. And that wasn’t just from the hardcore fans. It was from the general park-going public. Another thing to note is if Figment merchandise had been consistently a top seller all throughout the ride’s lifespan, wouldn’t that tell you something about the ride and character’s popularity? I’m just saying...
Figment Newton
Active Member
Just from reading about it and watching videos such as Martin's, it doesn't seem that attendance was the reason Imagination became what it is today (or at least the change in 1999). The turntable used for the beginning Dreamfinder/Figment scene was disliked/hard to maintain and was no longer used in newer versions of the ride. Also, when it was remodeled in 1999, ImageWorks didn't pass new inspections required when it was closed for a certain amount of time.
I, too, get the impression that attendance was not a problem for the original, even when it closed.
I, too, get the impression that attendance was not a problem for the original, even when it closed.
jt04
Well-Known Member
They don't rework attractions that are hitting on all cylinders if you will. Or we would still have IYHW and HISTA etc.
Test Track (the orange version) was still “hitting on all cylinders” when it closed to become the blue version.
If You Had Wings closed because Eastern pulled out.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Are you lying now or in the past when you said you weren’t an insider?
Inspired Figment
Well-Known Member
Sorta off-topic but because this thread is about Journey Into Imagination and Figment. Figured this would be worth sharing.
So, I came across this on eBay. Found it both enlightening and a bit humorous regarding the ride in it’s current state compared to the original.
Read the description carefully.;
“His creator is Dreamfinder and together they create new realities beyond the senses.”
record scratch
Wait, what was that? Repeat that one more time.:
“And together they create new realities beyond the senses.”
Uh oh..
So, I came across this on eBay. Found it both enlightening and a bit humorous regarding the ride in it’s current state compared to the original.
“His creator is Dreamfinder and together they create new realities beyond the senses.”
record scratch
Wait, what was that? Repeat that one more time.:
“And together they create new realities beyond the senses.”
Uh oh..
jt04
Well-Known Member
Should have said Dreamflight but agree keeping a sponsor is critical.
As for Test Track, that is a bit subjective.
Other examples, Tiki replaced by UNM, skyway, AE, original Dumbo spinner, lame Moon/Mars, Galaxy Theater, Symbiosis, Food Rocks, original El Rio etc.
Dreamflight closed because Delta pulled out.
You know why AE really closed. And Dumbo. And Skyway. And Galaxy....
Test Track.... really?
Happy new year!
jt04
Well-Known Member
Dreamflight closed because Delta pulled out.
You know why AE really closed. And Dumbo. And Skyway. And Galaxy....
Test Track.... really?
Yes, they all closed because of not hitting on all cylinders. Though not all for the same exact reason. I am saying this for the benefit of others because I know you know attraction close or are reimagined for a variety of reasons. Sponsors, poor surveys, cost of maintenance, obsolescence etc.
Wow. Just... wow.
jt04
Well-Known Member
Thanks!
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
Note how Tony's very first sentence nails the real reason -
Politics.
Inter-company politics.
The Original Attraction was purposely and deliberately targeted to be closed by certain parties under shortsighted reasoning.
I've covered this previously, elsewhere.
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Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
The Original 'Journey' was always popular with Guests.
It had been Epcot's second highest attended Attraction , next to 'Spaceship Earth' for almost all of it's lifetime.
Kodak was thrilled to be associated with such a successful venture at the time.
The trouble came in the late 1990s when budget cuts were being ordered at the domestic Parks from the top brass in Burbank.
Both Disneyland in CA and Walt Disney World in FL were greatly effected by this dark time.
At WDW, Ops was being heavily pressured to make cuts, and 'complex', expensive to operate Attactions were all purposely targeted for closure ( 20K Subs, Horizons, JII ) under shifty circumstances.
In JII's case, the newly opened and popular 'Honey I Shrunk the Audience' right next door was used as leverage to 'prove' the ride was no longer appealing to Guests.
Steps were taken to purposely decrease the hourly ride count by placing a rope across the entrance queue, thus directing Guests over to the HIsTA show first.
Originally, crowd flow was directed through the Pavillion by experiencing the ride first, then the Image Works upstairs, and then the film show.
This was changed at that time to purposely draw people away from the ride and make it seem the film show was far more popular.
Thus, the ridership counts plummeted during the short time the 'rope trick" was being implemented, and certain parties could now present their case and 'justify' why the Original ride should be closed.
Based on the hourly numbers, Guests seemingly preferred the 3D film show when compared to the hourly numbers for the ride portion.
The Uppers fell for it, as 'numbers don't lie'.
Shyeah......right.
They do when they are purposely manipulated!
It was a dirty trick....all for political and money savings reasons.
This is just one of several things that caused the closure, but Tony is absolutely correct when he states it was politics that led to it's removal.
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WDWTank
Well-Known Member
Why did AE really close? Was it a combination of “too scary”, Jeffrey Jones, WDW vacation refund scam? Or was it really just maintainance. Also, in AE, was there an effect where a silhouette of the alien appears? Someone told me about it but I don’t know if that part is true.Dreamflight closed because Delta pulled out.
You know why AE really closed. And Dumbo. And Skyway. And Galaxy....
Test Track.... really?
Well, according to the expert above, it wasn’t “hitting on all cylinders”. Just like Dumbo wasn’t.
(Too scary was the real reason, but I could be mistaken)
A minority of guests who complained their kids were scared.
Its so nice you’re back and we can have these funny little jokes again. The place wasn’t quite the same when you weren’t here.
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britain
Well-Known Member
Too scary for a minority would have been overlooked if the majority raved about the attraction. But they didn’t.
The vocal minority always wins at GR.
Like most things in life things are only said when there’s a problem.
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