So why exactly did Disney ruin Journey Into Imagination?

[brb1006]

As a kid from the 80's with vivid memories of the original, I always like to ask, without referring to the original, what is so terrible about the current version? My girls enjoy it, understand the message, and particularly enjoy the upside down rooms. I have to admit, I found the original literature scene terrifying as a child. With so much other dysfunction at Epcot, why is the current version such a disappointment?

They made Figment very annoying and isn't as likeable or charming as he was in the original version.

 

[marni1971]

I do not find it that bad for the the current state of Future World.

Exactly. That's how bad Epcot has gotten.

 

[brb1006]

As a stand-alone ride, the current Imagination ride isn't bad. It has its moments.

But if you know what came before, it just invokes anger and frustration. That, and secondly, the rest of the pavilion. The upstairs is now an airport lounge, the Imageworks a joke. Underneath you everywhere you walk used to be track of the longer ride while above you used to be the awesome Imageworks.

There were great murals there, sculptures, fountains that have simply been stripped and removed one by one over the years.

Imagine Pirates being stripped to just an encounter with a skeleton pirate, followed by a drop, and then Johnny Depp's 'wives I've beaten' trophy room. Everything in between gone. Outside is just an open air vending booth giftshop, Caribbean Plaza having been razed for pavement. Still a fun two minute ride with little drop and everything, you meet a pirate too, the kids are sure to like it.

And meeting Dreamfinder and Figment after you leave the attraction. They used to be found inside or outside the Pavilion.

 

[brb1006]

What angers me is the waste that make up several scenes. For example, during the scene with the eye chart, the big "reveal", the big effect of the scene, is simply a video of Figment bouncing around. Really? That's the best that the Imagineers could come up with? I always get off of that ride angry - angry about the missed opportunities that Imagineering had to impress.

Meanwhile the original finale was Figment singing Imagination surrounded by screens of himself in various costumes.

 

[brb1006]

I agree the biggest loss is the Image Works. However, my girls do not know the original, so I do not spoil the attraction for them. Overall, looking at what it is, not what it was, or could be, I do not find it that bad for the the current state of Future World.

It may not be that bad to you, but for alot of people who grew up during Epcot at it's prime. The original attraction along with the Dreamfinder and Figment left a great impact on them.

As seen in D23 years ago, it really shows how much they miss Dreamfinder and Figment as a duo besides Figment himself.

 

[danyoung56]

Meanwhile the original finale was Figment singing Imagination surrounded by screens of himself in various costumes.

Yeah, I had a hard time with that too. It seemed that they ran out of budget about 2/3 of the way through the original. It really ended with a whimper.

 

[Figments Friend]

Of the entire EPCOTalypse, the destruction of Imagination must rank as the most frustrating act. An attraction replaced by the dumb, inferior version of itself. An act of idiocy. Nobody, nobody was satisfied with it. Mediocre management in a tango with mediocre designers - both thinking themselves of the same or even better level as the Gods before them - destroying one of the all-time great rides for...for...yes for what really? Maybe not even for anything, but out of something, out of plain daftness, petty politics and penny-pinching (That's a lot of p's, to signify their p-ing all over EPCOT)

The Original was purposely targeted by certain individuals to be closed and removed entirely to 'make a statement' purely for inter-Company political reasons.
That is the underlining fact that makes it all the more frustrating, angering, and a outrage.

Those responsible should be ashamed of themselves.
They purposely destroyed something that inspired thousands and if not for their shallow, soulesss mindsets would still be there today in a slightly enhanced form...doing that still - Inspiring people.

That is the greatest pain..losing that wonderful aspect of the Attraction, and entire Pavilion for that matter.
It once truly motivated Guests to 'get creative' and think outside of the box.
It filled you with a awareness that anything can be accomplished if you put your mind to it.
You left that Pavilion feeling like you could do anything...and that lasted long after leaving the Park.

What kind of feeling does today's Guest feel when visiting today's version of the Attraction and Pavilion..?


-

 

[HauntedPirate]

Definitely easy to see what made this ride so ambitious and troublesome back in the early 80s. The advancements in computer tech by the mid 90s would probably have alleviated the ride system problems had they only given it a proper refurb instead of trashing the original ride.

Fast forward to today, most of the remaining costly effects you listed could have easily been replaced by better looking ones that actually cost far less to run and maintain. LED lighting tech has exploded in the past 5 years, prices have plummeted and the tech has advanced to the point where they can even mimic antique incandescent bulbs to an astonishingly effective degree (not to mention the crazy light choreography they can be programmed to do).

Digital projection tech has also gotten very advanced, and the light sources have also improved in efficiency and life expectancy. Disney has pulled off some super impressive digital mapping techniques in recent rides, so it's easy to see how they could have plussed the original JII with similar effects.

Between current LED lighting technology and the new digital projector partnership between Disney and Panasonic... Maybe now is the time for TDO/TWDC/WDI to be thinking of JII v4.0, where some of the ride's beloved history is brought back and updated and merged with today's technology to produce the JII of tomorrow?

 

[HauntedPirate]

The Original was purposely targeted by certain individuals to be closed and removed entirely to 'make a statement' purely for inter-Company political reasons.
That is the underlining fact that makes it all the more frustrating, angering, and a outrage.

Those responsible should be ashamed of themselves.
They purposely destroyed something that inspired thousands and if not for their shallow, soulesss mindsets would still be there today in a slightly enhanced form...doing that still - Inspiring people.

That is the greatest pain..losing that wonderful aspect of the Attraction, and entire Pavilion for that matter.
It once truly motivated Guests to 'get creative' and think outside of the box.
It filled you with a awareness that anything can be accomplished if you put your mind to it.
You left that Pavilion feeling like you could do anything...and that lasted long after leaving the Park.

What kind of feeling does today's Guest feel when visiting today's version of the Attraction and Pavilion..?


-

This is brilliant! Quoted for posterity.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Short, dumbed down, some find new Figment obnoxious, lack of visuals, scale, drama, awe, passion, story, tech, charm, wow factor...

The best representation of what it use to be in this century...Is Lord Henry Mystic & Albert...And how JII Should go to

 

[Figments Friend]

Between current LED lighting technology and the new digital projector partnership between Disney and Panasonic... Maybe now is the time for TDO/TWDC/WDI to be thinking of JII v4.0, where some of the ride's beloved history is brought back and updated and merged with today's technology to produce the JII of tomorrow?

Yes!
That is indeed what should happen, and it should have happened with the Original.

Simply switch out the projectors and older lighting sources for updated tech where needed.
There was no real reason to gut the entire lower level of the building and remove all of those clever effects and fun Show scenes.


Today's tech could have also possibly helped solved the issues that were inherently present in the 'turntable' sequence.
The ride vehicles could 'think' back then to keep themselves separated or together, and with today's programming updates that could have continued and been more reliable.

But no....the decision was made to 'clean house' ( in more ways then one, they had hoped...).

The Orignal Attraction was and still is timeless.
All that was needed was the planned Show additions / enhancements, the standard Show / ride control system upgrade, projector and light package upgrade, and likely a sound system upgrade.
No drastic remodels, no total gutting of scenes, no destruction of the Original's charm, characters, or 'message'.

-

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Yes!
That is indeed what should have happened with the Original.

Simply switch out the projectors and older lighting sources for updated tech where needed.
There was no real reason to gut the entire lower level of the building and remove all of those clever effects and fun Show scenes.


Today's tech could have also possibly helped solved the issues that were inherently present in the 'turntable' sequence.
The ride vehicles could 'think' back then to keep themselves separated or together, and with today's programming updates that could have continued and been more reliable.

But no....the decision was made to 'clean house' ( in more ways then one, they had hoped...).

The Orignal Attraction was and still is timeless.
All that was needed was the planned Show additions / enhancements, the standard Show / ride control system upgrade, projector and light package upgrade, and likely a sound system upgrade.
No drastic remodels, no total gutting of scenes, no destruction of the Original's charm, characters, or 'message'.

-

Some have stated that if they were to gut the interior of the ride the entire pavilion would have to be leveled to get a better layout of the ride but, wouldn't a trackless ride be a better way to go? The ideas of Mystic Manor would be amazing to have do a 360 rotation around the static Dreamship for the show to start as we "Float among the clouds" and land into the Dreamport where Figment would then release it ala same way as Albert.

 

[NelsonRD]

Considering that Test track does not make sense taking you from the virtual world, instantly transporting you to the physical world, Spaceship earth's descent lacks visuals, Soarin' in no way represents hang gliding, Ellens Energy pavilion embarrassingly shows age. Innovations is gutted, Wonders of Life is still a shell, all makes Journey look a little better.

While I agree with the comments that the bar is set so low now, that we are complacent with average attractions, I think there more urgent issues that should be addressed.

What is probably the saddest realization of this thread is the possibility that 25 years from now, my girls may be discussing how much better the version they grew up riding was with their kids.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

.
What is probably the saddest realization of this thread is the possibility that 25 years from now, my girls may be discussing how much better the version they grew up riding was with their kids.

 

[Red Sox]

What kind of feeling does today's Guest feel when visiting today's version of the Attraction and Pavilion..?


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Gassy. Definitely a gassy feeling.

 

[brb1006]

Considering that Test track does not make sense taking you from the virtual world, instantly transporting you to the physical world, Spaceship earth's descent lacks visuals, Soarin' in no way represents hang gliding, Ellens Energy pavilion embarrassingly shows age. Innovations is gutted, Wonders of Life is still a shell, all makes Journey look a little better.

While I agree with the comments that the bar is set so low now, that we are complacent with average attractions, I think there more urgent issues that should be addressed.

What is probably the saddest realization of this thread is the possibility that 25 years from now, my girls may be discussing how much better the version they grew up riding was with their kids.

And by the time the girls are adults we will be middle age WDW fans who remember the glory days of Epcot.

 

[NelsonRD]

And by the time the girls are adults we will be middle age WDW fans who remember the glory days of Epcot.

I am there now.

 

[George]

It was all part of the long term rebranding plan. We're 8 years away from the "permanent food court with evenly distributed shopping areas" dream being realized and the rebranding to "Disney Springs Extension".

 

[Nemo14]

It was all part of the long term rebranding plan. We're 8 years away from the "permanent food court with evenly distributed shopping areas" dream being realized and the rebranding to "Disney Springs Extension".

for a slightly higher fee...

 

[brb1006]

And next year will mark 20 years since the closing of the original attraction.