the state of JII

[CaptainWinter]

Hi all -- I'm new here and I'm enjoying reading these discussions and soaking up the information. Thanks!

A question about JII. I was at Epcot recently with my wife & daughter (3) -- neither had been before, and I myself had not been since, who knows, 8 years or so ago. Anyhow, I had not ridden either of the JII replacements and I was very unpleasantly surprised with the quality of the current ride. I had heard it was bad, but even so I was astonished at how dreadfully bad it really was. It was very disappointing, to say the least.

Anyhow, it struck me that the current ride is a lot shorter than the original. So, here's the question: how much of the old stuff is still there? Is the old track still in place? Did they destroy all the old AAs and props?

Just wondering. Thanks again.

 

[Oddysey]

To answer one of your questions...

The track was reduced by about 50%. When walking around Imageworks You can actually feel hollow spots in the flooring where the original ride track was.

 

[DisneyLuver91]

Gah! Someone answered first. I just made an account because I was compelled to answer. :ROFLOL:

But to continue from the last poster, the track was decreased by 50% and the Image Works upstairs is closed. When you are walking in the new one, you are actually walking on the original track! Watch some Martin's Vids. They will bring back the nostalgia.

 

[CaptainWinter]

Gah! Someone answered first. I just made an account because I was compelled to answer. :ROFLOL:

But to continue from the last poster, the track was decreased by 50% and the Image Works upstairs is closed. When you are walking in the new one, you are actually walking on the original track! Watch some Martin's Vids. They will bring back the nostalgia.

Wow. That makes sense, in retrospect, as JIIwF & IW are now on the same level. It's also a horrible shame! I will watch Martin's video & am expecting to be depressed.

Some follow-up questions. This is digging a little deep, but:

- How much was Kodak's annual commitment to maintain the old JII? How much money per year, that is?

- How much money did (or does) Kodak spend on advertising per year in all forms?

The answers to those questions would put the dollar amounts in context. I would expect that the maintenance of an Epcot attraction is tiny in comparison to the ad budget of a major corporation.

 

[marni1971]

To answer one of your questions...

The track was reduced by about 50%. When walking around Imageworks You can actually feel hollow spots in the flooring where the original ride track was.

30% not 50%.

To the OP, if you try a search you`ll find a wealth of info, diagrams and pictures of the current ride vs previous versions, what is left and what used to be where :wave:

 

[CaptainWinter]

30% not 50%.

To the OP, if you try a search you`ll find a wealth of info, diagrams and pictures of the current ride vs previous versions, what is left and what used to be where :wave:

Hi Martin -- I watched your Ultimate Tribute to the last two Js last night -- thanks, it was *extremely* informative. I love the maps in your videos -- I always think "aha!" when I see them.

Would I be the only one to think JIYI might actually have been a better attraction than JIIwF? I despise the current one. (Whoever it is in WDI that keeps deciding it's good entertainment to blast your audience with foul smells needs to be fired immediately.) They're both so much worse than the original it's practically a pointless question.

 

[the-reason14]

I think that the second version, the figmentless one, was better than whats there now. It was still bad compared to the first version, but the new one seems to trim most of the sets by having you face one way 90% of the ride. From what I remembered, the second version had more stuff to look at all around you. The ending was horrible though and completely random, but its still like that today.

 

[Evil Genius]

I think that the second version, the figmentless one, was better than whats there now. It was still bad compared to the first version, but the new one seems to trim most of the sets by having you face one way 90% of the ride. From what I remembered, the second version had more stuff to look at all around you. The ending was horrible though and completely random, but its still like that today.

My issue with the second incarnation was that the attraction was far too sterile. It simply had no heart whatsoever!

I think the majority of folks would be happy if neither new attraction ever existed and the original still was up and running. There was NOTHING wrong it! It wasn't dated...it didn't look bad...there was just no good reason for it!

 

[JWG]

30% not 50%.

To the OP, if you try a search you`ll find a wealth of info, diagrams and pictures of the current ride vs previous versions, what is left and what used to be where :wave:

I was going to say, it's time for the monthly link to the overlay map that just depresses all of us.

 

[DisneyLuver91]

30% not 50%.

Whoops! My bad. :zipit: I'm losing it! Haha.

 

[rodserling27]

My issue with the second incarnation was that the attraction was far too sterile. It simply had no heart whatsoever!

I think the majority of folks would be happy if neither new attraction ever existed and the original still was up and running. There was NOTHING wrong it! It wasn't dated...it didn't look bad...there was just no good reason for it!

I agree with you. but there was no way on earth they were going to be able to fix the problem of the cars latching into place in the "Flight to imagination" rotating area, among other movement and stoppage issues.

 

[TheDisneyMagic]

I agree with you. but there was no way on earth they were going to be able to fix the problem of the cars latching into place in the "Flight to imagination" rotating area, among other movement and stoppage issues.

They have had enough years to develop another system to overcome that issue. ALA Tokyo's Pooh.

 

[FigmentJedi]

I don't mind the current version as much as other people, mostly from how it works on a meta-level of basically being Figment's Counterattack against the crap that went down in 1999 and another case of Imagineering taking subtle potshots at management.
Still want Version 4 sometime in the near future. Especially if it becomes a variant of the original with decades of technological advances applied to it.

 

[wbc]

Especially if it becomes a variant of the original with decades of technological advances applied to it.

Could you imagine how awesome Dreamfinder would be if he had the type of audio-anamatronic unit that Johnny Depp has in Pirates of Carribean.

Seriously..... the potential of the character of Dreamfinder is like no other in WDW history...

 

[DDPGambit]

I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that we see the Dreamfinder again someday. But I'm also willing to bet it won't be for a loooong time. And no, t-shirts don't count!

 

[DisneyLuver91]

Could you imagine how awesome Dreamfinder would be if he had the type of audio-anamatronic unit that Johnny Depp has in Pirates of Carribean.

Seriously..... the potential of the character of Dreamfinder is like no other in WDW history...

That. Would. Be. Awesome.

 

[FigmentJedi]

I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that we see the Dreamfinder again someday. But I'm also willing to bet it won't be for a loooong time. And no, t-shirts don't count!

It'd be great if there was some director out there that's enough of an Epcot nut to make an Imagination movie as part of some crazy idea to get classical elements brought back like how del Toro's Haunted Mansion is going to be THE thing that will bring back the Hatbox Ghost.

 

[marni1971]

I agree with you. but there was no way on earth they were going to be able to fix the problem of the cars latching into place in the "Flight to imagination" rotating area, among other movement and stoppage issues.

Not back with 1979 technology, but today it`s so possible. What they did in 1998 was the easy, cheap fix.

 

[Ziffell]

Not back with 1979 technology, but today it`s so possible. What they did in 1998 was the easy, cheap fix.

Its sad, especially for an attraction that is supposed to inspire imagination of all things.