So why exactly did Disney ruin Journey Into Imagination?

[TestTrack99]

A good few years ago I was doing some..... research. Stomping on the floor between the Imageworks and the store where I knew the track used to be. Sure enough solid. Hollow. Solid. Hollow. Viewed at the right angle you can see the outline of the pit. I've some photos somewhere. So anyway the CMs come and ask what I was doing. I was like a teacher speaking to his class.

The rest of the Imageworks gives plenty of clues. The changes in floor height. The shapes in the ceiling. The original effects projectors access hatch in the roof that's still there today. All this and more I've covered in my forthcoming trilogy video series

I was at EPCOT last weekend and I stomped on the floor where the unload track is. Sure enough it made a hollow sound when I stomped on it. It also sounded like something rattled when I put my foot down on it. I sure wish I was Wreck-It-Ralph so I could break through the floor to see if the track was still there!

 

[TestTrack99]

Also, the same day I was stomping around in the Image Works, I noticed that several of the ride vehicles had paint chipping off, exposing some of the original blue color.

 

[englanddg]

I was at EPCOT last weekend and I stomped on the floor where the unload track is. Sure enough it made a hollow sound when I stomped on it. It also sounded like something rattled when I put my foot down on it. I sure wish I was Wreck-It-Ralph so I could break through the floor to see if the track was still there!

I would love to be a fly on the wall in the employee (cast member) breakroom...

Oh, crap. There's another stomper out there...must be from wdwmagic....

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

I'm happy to say there's far FAR better versions of those videos coming next fall

What we do know about the closure of JII;

Futureworld was undergoing its first overhaul
JII was expensive to maintain
Kodak wanted to go "hip" (see Food Rocks)
The ride system and in particular the rotating Flight to Imagination interlock never fully functioned as designed. The latter was still a constant issue. It was ahead of its time in 1982 and was never revisited (today it would be simple)
A smaller overall floorspace would be easier and cost less to maintain.

When you say far better versions you mean your videos or the ride is getting a better version?

 

[SuperStretccch]

Watching videos of the original ride, it makes me sad that I was never able to experience it in person. Just the shoddy current version that's all-around cheap and without any of that classic Disney magic. Figment is a great character too, who needs to be utilized better in the park. Even with all the changes happening to Epcot, I hope they keep Figment and give him better treatment, considering how iconic of a figure he's been from the very beginning of the park. Bring back Dreamfinder, too.

 

[eliza61nyc]

lol, one thing I do like about disney is that there are so many things to cater to different people.
I really don't have a horse in this race because I hate figment with the heat of 12 burning suns.

 

[Princess Leia]

I had to take a sick day, so I’m spending my afternoon watching Disney videos. Currently watching one of JII, and with a little -dare I say- Imagination, this ride could be updated into the 21st century. I don’t think most people would even notice if the Imagination pavilion was under renovation for a couple years to bring Dreamfinder back.

 

[TestTrack99]

MAJOR, MAJOR FIND. Video of Image Works that was uploaded TODAY:

 

[999th Happy Haunt]

Your kidding me right? He was the most hated Hanna-Barbera character ever created...Heck the late Don Messick the original voice said he wasn't even a fan of him.....

Ok I know this is old but I just saw this and all I can think about is Figment as Scrappy and everyone else is the new Epcot IPs.

 

[po1998]

MAJOR, MAJOR FIND. Video of Image Works that was uploaded TODAY:

Did not know that the rainbow tunnel had been demolished.

 

[TestTrack99]

Did not know that the rainbow tunnel had been demolished.

There was a earlier video that showed it was gone, as well as a tweet. But yes, this particular video quickly gained traction.

 

[TestTrack99]

Here's the other video that was uploaded in March 2017. Skip to 8:56 for Image Works.

 

[Inspired Figment]

I think the thing that truly boggles the mind is just *how* Ill-conceived and poorly written the last two updates are. It’s *so* nonsensical and inchorent and has an IP so irrelevant and stale that hardly anyone actually grasps what the *real* problem with it is. It’s far beyond the fact that it’s missing Dreamfinder and that Figment acts differently (due to the in-joke “payback” story on Dr. Channing for his wrongful thinking they’re trying to convey, that flies over most newcoming guests’ heads without any prior knowledge of the past 2 versions.) It’s the fact that’s it *really* a glorified Honey, I Shrunk the Audience based ride with Figment simply shoehorned in to “fix it”. The name is an entire lie. It’s no “Journey Into Imagination with Figment” at all. It’s anything but. Going through a bunch of cold, bare, sterile science labs that are supposed to test your senses has absolutely *nothing* to do with creativity or the creative process. It’s a mess.. The *only* thing going for it is Figment’s half-hasted-shoehorned inclusion. It’s *the* only reason that ride has stayed, aswell as pushing merchandise sales. So why they haven’t gotten the bright idea that the Honey, I shrunk the Audience inclusion is the problem, and that they should go full-blown Figment (aka: bring back the original idea and concept with Dreamfinder, Figment, the creative process, and the things that inspire your imagination) is beyond me. The original concept was timeless and clearly still works. It’s “Honey” and Dr. Channing that are the real problem.

There’s absolutely *no* need for popular film IP for this attraction

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

. It’s “Honey” and Dr. Channing that are the real problem.

There’s absolutely *no* need for popular film IP for this attraction

Well HISTA has been nixed for sometime...It's time to get the Doctor out for good. Even one of his Monty Python Characters said it best..

 

[Inspired Figment]

Well HISTA has been nixed for sometime...It's time to get the Doctor out for good. Even one of his Monty Python Characters said it best..

Exactly!

 

[TestTrack99]

Well, it appears the guy who made the Image Works video has taken down that video, and all his other videos. But by then, the damage was done. It had about 2,000 views last time I saw it.

 

[Dragonman]

All this talk of Inside Out and JII made me think of an Easter egg in the movie

But then again it's just an Easter egg. I wouldn't want Inside out invading this beloved attraction. It's nice to know most of the significant pieces in imageworks have Do Not Destroy tags. I honestly hope for an all new ultimate version of the original version of the ride with updated technology and the return of Dreamfinder. I guess all we can do at this point is keep on wishing sadly :/


And yes that Idle moon still gives me vivid nightmares lol

 

[TestTrack99]

All this talk of Inside Out and JII made me think of an Easter egg in the movie
View attachment 327156

But then again it's just an Easter egg. I wouldn't want Inside out invading this beloved attraction. It's nice to know most of the significant pieces in imageworks have Do Not Destroy tags. I honestly hope for an all new ultimate version of the original version of the ride with updated technology and the return of Dreamfinder. I guess all we can do at this point is keep on wishing sadly :/


And yes that Idle moon still gives me vivid nightmares lol

I never noticed that.

 

[ChrisFL]

I know people like to complain about the current state of the changes coming to the parks, but late 90's early 2000's was a really bad time for quality, between this, Dinorama, the original California Adventure, Disney Studios Parks...things were VERY cheaply done, and Disney paid for it for a while