Explore the history of the Epcot’s Original Journey Into Imagination, in Part 2 of a collaboration between Defunctland and Yesterworld! Check out Part 1 here: ua-cam.com/video/DPeea5khpx4/v-deo.html
Surprised you didn't mention figment. Getting two marvel comics under the Disney Kingdoms. Imprint. The first volume was dreamfinder's backstory and vol 2 was about an evil force attacking the imagination Institute. It was the only comics in that series to be about a Epcot ride the rest are magic kingdom rides.
@Jeffrey Piatt I shot some BROLL of the comic and thought about including it, but ultimately decided to try not to go too far down a bunny trail and focus specifically on the ride elements.
Being born in 2000, I never understood why Figment merchandise was so prominent in Epcot. Only knowing the character from the newer rides, I honestly hated Figment. Seeing the original ride in videos gave me both understanding and sadness. For, while I now understand the joy Figment brought to people, I feel cheated never having experienced the character and his creator in their purest forms.
Luke O'Connell now I’m like “Figment, sweetie, I’m so sorry they did that to you.” (Though in the Disney Kingdoms comics, Figment seems less irritating and more like his classic version)
I was born in 1982 and attended WDW multiple times in the late 80’s and early 90’s. I’m still a Figment fan, and Epcot is still my favorite park :-) the original ride was amazing. Ahead of it’s time in the 80’s for sure!
Y'know, it seems to me they could've, maybe not _fixed_ JIYI, but at least made it less insulting, with one simple tweak. Rather than framing the ride as spurring imagination in its guests, pose it as Imagination Industries seeking folks with a lot of imagination to help with their experiments/tech/w/e. The appearing butterfly, the constellations being mapped, etc. would all be framed as the riders' imagination finishing these incomplete/mundane ideas into something creative.
British humour. Non literal satirical implication contrary to expectation. A similar joke was in the Simpsons movie when they showed Bart's dick, mocking the effort the previous animations made to maintain modesty, then cultural value "fear of the nipple". The ride implies that imagination doesnt come from nothing and an open mind is means to wisdom.
My parents and I just so happened to be the last guests to ride the original journey into the imagination in October of ‘98, and we rode it with the creator mentioned in the video. They took a picture of us and gave us a huge figment plush doll and shirts, I was 17 then and still have the doll, picture and shirt.
Wow. I can't claim something like that, but I can say I experienced this ride in July 1998 during its last few months. We rode this, Horizons, Bodyworks, the Norway ride. It's tied with a London trip in 2009 as the greatest trip I've ever had. I came back to Disney World in March 2017. Maybe it came from being an adult, but I could feel the effects of Eisner's "cost cutting." Like it said in one of the other Defunctland videos, Eisner believed in doing things that gave a lot of bang for cheap but that only works so well. That's alright for, say, a Six Flags, but NOT for the greatest theme park in the world. I'd also argue he tried to expand too quickly and stretched the company too thin.
Personally I want Disney to bring back the original journey into imagination with better animatronics and effects and I mean right now Disney has the money to do it so I’m crossing my fingers on that one
Same. If they can't go back to the original ride, they can still bring Dreamfinder back. A few years ago, they came out with a comic with Dreamfinder's origin story that was well received. It had several reprintings and spawned a sequel. (Figment & Figment 2 respectively) There were some great ideas in the comics, including new companions to journey alongside Dreamfinder and figment.
It seems like they might with all the attention they give it. I even saw that they posted a picture of Dreamfinder with Figment on the Disney parks twitter page.
I recently took a tour at Epcot based in Future World back in October of 2017. Apparently, Dreamfinder was under Kodak for a long time, and Disney recently acquired the rights to his character (as is evident with the Marvel comics Figment story). I'm really hoping that they're going to bring him back and do an amazing technological update to this ride. It would seem like an utter waste of two characters that really have transcended time for all of us commenting here.
I've always found it hilarious* that they replaced a creative ride about imagination with a bland science-based version that truly emphasizes the lack of imagination Disney/Kodak had about reviving the ride. Then, they replaced that ride with a new version making fun of the prior ride's science-based take that also lacked imagination, instead making imagination look like something that's annoying and distruptive rather than something that contributes to society. *And by "hilarious", I mean I mourn Epcot's loss at least once daily.
Actually, Nigel Channing initially thinks that imagination is something that can be controlled but Figment helps him realize that it's not thing to be controlled.
Rarietty really shows the priority imagination takes in our modern age. We already get Disney Classics ruined by Disney itself because they want to earn more money without having to put effort into it
As a teacher who works in a system that thrives on squashing the imaginations of children, I share in your mourning. The original had so much purpose and heart 😭 Our standardized test supporters need to experience the original...
I rode the original when I was 5. When we went back when I was 10 and it was that horrific replacement, I was so mad. 😂 I got off the ride and I said to my Mom “what the crap was that”.
Considering the entire ride is about imagination, they could just do whatever they want with a movie, and I really hope something like that could be enough to reignite that little spark.
God, after watching these I feel so cheated in my childhood. I always thought the ride was just bland and outdated, even when I first rid it in like 6 years ago or something. I absolutely love the Dreamfinder! He seemed like such a, well, creative character! And I never got the whole Figment thing because my only experience with the ride was the shitty new version and I just thought he was kinda the worst. They really should just bring back the old ride with newer tech. I honestly think that would be the best for this ride. Anyway, Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Nicomoru I have literally never gotten on the classic Journey into Imagination, yet when I watch POVs, it feels like Dreamfinder and Figment are old friends of mine. (Side note- the Marvel Figment comic series is fabulous.)
3 year old me riding Journey into Imagination: “This is the best thing in the entire world.” 11 year old me after riding Journey into YOUR Imagination: “WTF WAS THAT SH*T?”
Maybe it’s just because I’m hyperempathetic, but I legit almost cried when I saw Eric Idle’s character shove Figment aside. Dreamfinder and Figment were such wonderful and lovable characters, they didn’t deserve this :(
The first time my family and I went on "Journey Into YOUR Imagination", my mom got off the ride vehicle and walked up to the ride operator and simply asked "What happened!?" While it was a dramatic reaction, it was warranted nonetheless.
In 2000 I knew it was over when I saw the warehouse-looking room with the furniture nailed to the ceiling. I walked off the ride and directly to guest services, where the cast member gave me the same look of disbelief and disgust and said something like, "I know, right!!!???.
If Eisner had been "bugging Kodak for years" to meet their financial obligations and they had not or could not, then that means he had years to see that this deal was not working out the way it should have, and that means he should have been better prepared to save the attraction. He was always so cheap though, and never wanted to spend any money. Seeing that a film company was having trouble because film was becoming old tech, he should have started searching not just for a different sponsor, but a different KIND of sponsor. It had nothing to do with cameras and film, with MAYBE the exception of the "movie magic" blue screen thing. It honestly never made sense to me to use Kodak for a pavilion about imagination. Why not something like Crayola? Everything about ImageWorks was about color, music, and creativity. Imagine what kind of opportunities Disney could have opened up for themselves by getting Crayola on board, and selling packs of Crayola crayons, markers, or colored pencils with DISNEY COLORING BOOKS in the gift shop! Disney character autograph books could have been made with "color it yourself" covers so kids could express their creativity. And it's not like that company is going to go away any time soon...
8:04 = I never got to experience Journey into Imagination, but after watching what the ride and its associated parts were like, this one brief shot breaks my heart.
Something I've never understood on stories like this is why it was decided to even make a change. Isn't that economically a BAD idea? If the ride is already built ( and already popular ) why not leave it alone? So what if the sponsor backs out? They're paying for basic repairs and upkeep, right? Wouldn't that cost less than completely redesigning a new attraction? Isn't routine maintenance "thousands" rather than "millions"? I just don't get how redesigning a whole new ride is in any way a viable economic response to losing a sponsor.
IKR? Those scumbags are in dire need of knowing that the attraction in its original form was so near and dear to so many people that it should've kept running PERMANENTLY!
I imagine part of it is to hook past visitors back into the parks with new attractions. A lot of Disney's story based rides, since they're not thrill rides, don't generate much incentive for repeat visits and they can only physically expand so much, so old rides need to give way to new ones. The problem is, like in this case, corporate executives can be terrible at judging which rides are timeless classics that should be preserved for future generations and which rides people won't be that sad to see go. Another big problem was Michael Eisner who often completely failed to grasp Disney as a brand and wanted to make it hip, modern and cool at the cost of stripping it of the magic people loved about it in the first place.
Christopher Blair Honestly if you want a little more insight into the rides closure, go watch the defunctland podcast with Tony Baxter. He goes into a bit of why Figment and Dreamfinder were removed during the refurbishment.
With how popular dreamfinder and figment are right now, I believe it would be wise for Disney to base an attraction off of them. While I do not like the idea of using Inside Out, it would be cool if they had dreamfinder and figment exploring an imagination inside a child's head, rather than how the original discovered creativity through different subjects. That would provide a perfect way to display child-like charm that figment is supposed to have.
Never got to ride the original Journey into Imagination, the 3rd incarnation is all I've ever known. But after watching these videos, really wish I could have been on it
Matt Torres Same here. Dreamfinder and classic Figment are like old friends though I haven’t experienced the original ride in person. (POVs kinda help fill the void, but not really, Y’know?)
The loss of the original Journey Into Imagination and ImageWorks is honestly one of the worst decisions Disney has ever made in the parks. A tragedy really :( Hopefully it gets some attention for the anniversary of WDW
Iger hasn't ruined any rides. He's just changed them. There isn't one ride he's changed that I thought the new version was sub par or not equivalent to the original.
Yishai Thau Iger has been making nothing but I.P. attractions in 2006, and he’s replaced a lot of classics. My least favorite replacement was last year when he replaced the Great Movie Ride.
I know this video is over 2 years old at this point, but I do want to make something of a correction to part of it. At around 7 minutes 45 seconds there is a shot of an article talking about the reason behind why they closed the 2nd floor Image Works portion of the attraction. The article says: "Whenever a Disney facility closes for a period of more than six months OSHA dictates that the structure must be brought up to current building codes. The part of this code that concerns Image Works is one of wheelchair accessibility. For an exhibit of its size & occupancy, a single use elevator is not appropriate for the needs of 21st century structures. The transition between the original & second versions far exceeded time limits & the cost to make major improvements to the existing space was cost prohibitive. 11" That 11 at the end is the number for the footnote which says: "It’s important to note that such modifications would have probably consumed over 50% of any conversion budget. As such, any permanent use of the exhibit would require a massive amount of structural change." This caught my eye because I am more than casually familiar with business regulations due to a project I work on & there was nothing I could think of that would lead OSHA to be connected to any sort of regulation of the type described here. After digging into this a bit more I'm certain that the only thing the author could possibly be referring to is either the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements on public accessibility or potentially local building codes [in relation to the ADA requirements, but nonetheless set at a local level.] Now, I am not familiar with nor do I feel like digging into local Florida building codes for amusement/theme parks back in the late 1990s... so I'm going to ignore that aspect of it, especially since the requirement [if there was something there like this,] would have the same sort of exceptions & parameters as the ADA laws which I'm going to go into. Now, before going into ADA requirements let me just say that whatever led the author of that article to believe that the above explanation is why this attraction closed is absolutely wrong. I also searched around a fair bit to try & find the actual reason, but only ended up finding a few forums with some people reiterating a less detailed explanation matching the one in this article. There are a number of things wrong with what this article says. For one thing there is no stipulation requiring facilities who close down portions of their property for longer than [x] time they are required to carry out building renovations in order to bring it into compliance with whatever regulations may have been changed/added if the building is not already in compliance with them. However, there is an ADA stipulation regarding non-compliant buildings built prior to the passing of the ADA & the creation of ADA Title III standards that requires businesses to retrofit existing facilities to meet said standards *only when they are "altering existing facilities in a way that affects usability" & they only have to ensure the altered parts are in compliance with the standards.* From what I can gather [so this is not a certain fact, but an educated guess based on the tidbits of information I can gather about what all was being altered & what way in the renovation,] it seems like Image Works would likely have fallen under this provision. However, even under this provision there are 2 exemptions to this requirement. The 1st is the existing structural conditions cannot be modified in a way to be compliant in which case they only have to do so insofar as the realities of the space allow them to do so. The 2nd is in regards to the cost it requires to become compliant. Again without being all that familiar with the design of the attraction, the layout, etc... it is hard to be all that certain on this part, but this attraction was in the glass pyramid things right? I would be willing to bet money that there were definitely structural limitations that would have exempted them under exemption #1. As for exemption #2 the cost limit to meeting compliance would be at 20% of the total value of the renovation being made which prompted the ADA-compliance requirement. If the cost exceeded 20% then they would be required to spend the 20% on whatever compliance items would be able to be met with whatever amount of money that would be. There was a priority list on the order of things the 20% had to be spent on achieving. But, you don't have to go beyond that 20%. While the 50% quoted in the article is obviously just a guess I'm unsure how much of an educated guess it is or if it is just complete speculation so I can't judge whether or not exemption #2 would come into play or not, but just know that it could not have been more than 20% of whatever money was going to be spent. So, my guess is that this rumor of the 2nd floor being closed due to the ADA-compliant regulations was just a lie to pass on the blame elsewhere for them [Disney & Kodak,] either not having an idea to match the 2nd floor to the theme of the renovation and/or not wanting to spend money to renovate the 2nd floor as well. Whatever it was though, it wasn't ADA building standards & sure as sh-t wasn't anything to do with OSHA.
I still don't understand why Disney didn't use Kodak's funds (even if it was just a fraction) to maintain the original JII. It was popular with guests, they wouldn't even mind if it stayed the same. A whole new (inferior) attraction must have cost far more with 10% of the satisfaction...
The video doesn't do a good job of explaining it, but Kodak themselves wanted to upgrade things there as well. Around the turn of the millenium though, Kodak was suffering badly moneywise (it was the start of the slide that would eventually bankrupt them in 2012) and thus Eisner had all the leverage on his side. This resulted in the bastardized "Your Imagination" revamp instead. The current version suffered from the same lack of resources as "Your Imagination" and was only supposed to be an "interim" fix, but as the video mentioned Eisner scuttled most of "Project Gemini" that would've had the more permanent solution. Right now, all anyone can do is cross fingers that the coming Epcot overhaul puts in a WORTHY successor to the original JII (even if it is based of Inside Out, as is rumored).
You know, that's one aspect of this whole story I couldn't wrap my head around. I had the who, the when, and the why...but not the other sort of "Why!?" when it would have been sooooo much cheaper to just refresh the original. Was connecting to Honey I Shrunk The Audience really that big of a deal? Did Kodak say it had to be a completely new idea to connect to their other sponsored attraction? I really believe other factors were at play, and maybe there's some insider who can give the exclusive scoop.
Gordon Tyler: Erm...did you actually watch the video all the way? I literally go into practically everything you mentioned and used most of the same words you used.
I belive Eisner used it as an excuse to remove Figment. He just hated that character. In a defunclant interview the guy who played dreamfinder sayed his friend was in a blue meeting (I believe thats what they called it) Eisner sayed "F*ck Dreamfinder and that Purple little Dragon" the imagineer also sayed they had an awesome idea but with budgets and stuff they took bits and pieces to get that trash...
Joseph Parodi If that's true, than it's even sadder than that I imagined! This wasn't just corporate incompetence, this was plain malicious! Oh my god haha
Having been to the original, proper attraction at least twice, seeing the Idle version in 2000 was not only painful as young adult, but downright unimaginable that ImageWorks was not open. No mix of words can capture the feeling I had as a kid heading down that rainbow corridor into that awesome room
The first time I visited Epcot was 1984. The Journey to Imagination ride was absolutely a brilliant work of art and creativity. I would get off of the ride and right back in line. Figment, Dream Finder, and the music moved me so much. I had the thrill of visiting again in 1995 and going on the ride again numerous times. After the changes, I was so disappointed. I could not believe they ruined the ride. Then came the refresh. Figment is nothing at all like he was and the ride lacks any soul or creativity anymore. I know it's wishful thinking but I would love to see the ride restored back to its original form. WED said if you can dream it, you can do it. Someone high up at WDW needs to dream this then. My children missed out on seeing the original ride and that actually bothers me. It was the best ride at Epcot.
Journey Into Imagination was my favorite ride as a kid. I was 8 when Journey Into Your Imagination opened. I remember crying after riding it because they had ruined it so badly.
I remember going on this ride in middle school right before it closed. I was happy to see Figment back but it still felt like something was missing. When I went back to EPCOT a few years later in high school, I was dismayed to not being able to find the Imagination ride and being told that it no longer existed. Now as an adult, I’ve become a collector of Figment merchandise. It’s a shame that such a fun character could meet such a demise.
Eric Idle is one of the greatest geniuses in the history of comedy and this STILL manages to be the most underwhelming ride in EPCOT, maybe even all of Walt Disney World
Just horrible. I miss the original so much. Whimsy, wonder, and its two lovable hosts. The most recent one is cold, sterile, Figment is reduced to being a pest, and Eric Idle (famous for his comedic talent in Monty Python's Flying Circus") plays the straight man in the whole act?! Unbelievable! They need to bring the classic Journey Into Imagination back, perhaps with enhanced animatronics (which they certainly can do lately) and effects.
Even more sad is that this crappy ride has outlived the original! That just screams laziness on Disney's part. And yes they could bring back the original with updated technology but they won't. Disney isn't the same company anymore and they're too focused on their IP's now.
Eric Idle doesn’t even remember being in Journey Into Imagination with Figment a couple of years ago on Twitter someone asked him if he remembered Figment and he thought Figment was the two headed dragon from Quest from Camelot that animated Rankin Bass movie! So sad
Matterhorn Matt IKR? Generational jealousy can be highly beneficial upon noticing the Internet being relied on as a nostalgia soapbox, especially with how the details in this particular video have been described!
The original Journey Into Imagination ride was my favorite Epcot ride and I have so many sweet memories of it. I even still remember the smell in one of the rooms, the white room, the "what about science" room, the entire ride with Figment was so magical. I was very upset when they changed it to its horrible second version. The recent version with Figment back is a little better... but just a tiny bit. I really hope they bring the original ride back someday!!!
I went on that last version of the Figment ride, and I was thoroughly disgusted. I couldn't believe that something so inspiring and wonder inducing had transformed into something that would have made Walt so furious he would have fired everyone who worked on it if he were still alive. The original journey into imagination was something you just KNOW Walt would have loved, but the 2 iterations that followed.... I mean, seriously, they shouldn't have even bothered to try if they couldn't at least MATCH the imagination of the original. They really should be ashamed and hopefully, eventually, a new and PROPER Figment imagination adventure worthy of being a follow up to the original ride will be introduced.
I personally think that the BARE MINIMUM they could do is at least a) bring the technology in the attraction out of the early 2000s and b) replace Figment's voice. The CG in the attraction was clearly created in the dawn of CG's popularity, back when you had shows like Jimmy Neutron, for example, that were so fake-feeling and just all around odd that it's kind of painful to look back on it now. But things like Jimmy Neutron hold up in a sense that the design, although a bit creepy, is endearing, This Figment? Not so much. To me, he just looks quite scary. Although it'd never happen due to Disney's apparent hate of 2D animation, I think these sections would look a LOT better in a sort of Roger Rabbit-type implementation, where Figment looks more like Figment than a demented rubber bath toy. Even if they do just some better CG, SOMETHING about it needs to change. And then with the voice... no, just no. There are plenty of people out there who are talented at impersonations of any character you can think of. I'm sure that there's SOMEONE out there who can do a better Figment than whatever the current voice is. While the original Figment sounded whimsical and fun and toony, this one just sounds... irritating in comparison. If they insist on staying with the current storyline, I'm actually kind of ok with Figment being seen as a bit of a pest since he's kind of reminiscent of an annoying little brother in the third iteration of the ride. Dreamfinder understands Figment in a much different way than an outsider would. He's able to get on Figment's level and communicate with him effectively. But Dr. Channing, being a bit of a fuddy-duddy who sees imagination more scientifically, isn't able to have that same bond with Figment, making him a bit of a pest, like a little brother who won't stop bugging you to do things HIS way. But my ultimate dream (aside from restoration of the original ride, which is HIGHLY unlikely) would be to see them reimagine the ride based on the Disney Kingdoms Figment comics. Those comics introduced a lot of incredible characters, and I'd love to see them work with those new characters to complete an entirely new experience! And, of course, it'd mean the reintroduction of the Dreamfinder, which I think everyone can agree would be a great idea.
In the inbetween version, figment was voiced by Tory Burton (I believe?) Who sounds exactly like Billy barty, the original voice actor for figment. I don't understand why they ever casted Dave goelz (the current guy) to voice figgy, I agree, annoying as hell
As a lot of people have posted, the consistent rumor is that Imagination is going to turn into something related to Inside Out. It fits because Figment is an easter egg in Inside Out already. There's a portrait of Figment in the rubble of the being removed segments of Imagination Land in Riley's head that you first see when the Train of Thought arrives. That portrait is then promptly shoved into the chasm to be forgotten, which I was really hoping was not an allusion to the future. I've always thought that Imagination should be the showcase of WDI storytelling and design. As such, a new attraction legitimately following the spirit of the original attraction illuminating the power of creativity and imagination in science, technology, music, literature, and performance utilizing the new storyline and design of Dreamfinder and Figment created by the Disney Kingdoms Figment and Figment 2 comic lines. The second series was set in modern Academy Scientifica Lucidus, which just happens to be glass pyramids in Florida. There would also be an opportunity to introduce Capri, a young female inventor with distant relation to Dreamfinder, and the enemies of Imagination being fear and doubt, possibly with the Doubtfinder character. I've considered the new attraction utilizing the trackless dark ride technology that has improved over the years, because what's better than an attraction about Imagination for a ride system that doesn't have to move in the same line every time, and for the attraction to use the current show building plus the Magic Eye Theater space. Altogether, it's a way to keep it's original spirit while also extending Imagination and Figment's IP possibilities. It feels like a long shot, but it's a nice shot to take.
That does sound very interesting, but an Inside Out attraction could be more of a Cranium Command-esque thing. This could be a stretch, but maybe the Image Works Lab upstairs (not the dark ride) could be reimagined and the Dreamfinder and Figment could say they found someone with such a massive imagination and superb inventions that they let her use the lab anytime she's in town. Who by chance? Princess Shuri from Black Panther (that is unless BP is around Marvel Super-Hero Island).
1: HOLY DISNEY I CANT BELIEVE THE TWO BEST THEME PARK HISTORY CHANNELS FINALLY WORKED TOGETHER ON SOMETHING AMAZING 2: The only thing that SHOULD replace “Journey into Imagination with Figment” should be the original “Journey into Imagination”, either with the same or a slightly different title
As an aspiring Imagineer there is nothing I want more than bring Epcot into a new era of technology and culture, and seeing the conversion of great rides with powerful messages (energy pavilion, imagination, maelstrom, etc.) Be turned into “non-Epcot” style attractions hurts. I love roller coasters, but it’s not for Epcot.
Epcot was always about looking for ways to improve us as people, to plant the seeds of inspiration that would grow into a garden future generations would reap.
@@SobiTheRobot nvm I changed my opinion, I’ve ridden cosmic rewind 45 times and misjudged it. They should replace everything in Epcot with a rollercoaster.
I went to Disney World in 2003 when I was a kid - I can't quite remember the ride itself, but I remember liking Figment so much I begged my dad for anything I could bring home of it. He bought me the smallest plush version of Figment available then. It seems like I didn't get to experience the original magical version of the ride, but regardless, Figment is the best ❤️ Let's give Figment the ride Figment deserves 🙌🏻
This is so sad. I wish I could have experienced that wonderful original ride. Oh yeah, and we went on it no long ago and it was falling apart. I felt so bad, because I remembering it working better as a kid, and it seems like it never got maintenance so it's exactly how it was when I was a kid. I really hope it gets the love it deserves after all
Well... Cheer up Yester, you know what they say! Somethings in life are bad, they can really make you mad... other things just make you swear and curse. When your chewing on life’s gristle! Don’t grumble, give a whistle! And this will help things turn out for the best! Always Look On the Bright side of life! Always Look On the Right Side of life!
I didn't grow up with the original Journey into Imagination, but after seeing this collab between you and Defunctland, I wish I did, the Original seems so much better!
I remember the original ride. It was a favorite of mine when I went back then. It's sad and yet expected to see classics like this ride go and things change. I love many of the newer things Disney has done, especially with the addition of Marvel and Star Wars attractions. I just feel nostalgic for the old days at times.
*shakes fist* EISNERRRRRRRRR!!!!! I don't want them to make any classic (or modern) IPs take over Journey into Imagination (with Figment). I want a really good imagination/Figment ride. Also, if they took the homage to Robin Williams (technically it's his character in Flubber but it looks like a way of honoring him) they'd make me cry, and if they put Inside Out in there they'd take it down...
My ideal update to Journey into imagination is an attraction akin to Mystic Manor in terms of quality/ride system that is in the spirit of the original ride, with updated takes on Figment and Dreamfinder inspired by the Marvel Figment comics from the Disney Kingdoms Series.
Thing I loved about Epcot growing up was that everything there was real or could one day be real, whereas Magic Kingdom and MGM was all straight up fantasy. Journey Into Imagination was my favorite ride, because it created hope more so than anything else in Disney World.
6:14- If I had rode that ride back then, I would’ve felt personally insulted for Eric Idle to imply I had no imagination. I have more imagination in my pinky than the entirety of that updated sham of a ride.
I just watched both parts of this, I have never been to a Disney park but I am now somehow nostalgic for the original Journey into Imagination. Nicely done!
This was really nice. It makes me wish I could see the original show. I also like the respect you pay to performers and artists that brought it to life.
I've had a concept for a fourth version of JiI that, while extremely unlikely, could be closer to the original version in terms of style. First off, it would probably have Bandai-Namco sponsoring the Imagination Pavilion. The actual ride concept would start with Dreamfinder and Figment welcoming the guests and preparing them for their journey through dreams, as that is where imagination is strongest. During the intro, Dreamfinder says that he's gotten a guide to assist them on their journey, and they should be arriving soon. The guide, who would be revealed to be Klonoa, appears and introduces himself. After some more words from the Dreamfinder and Figment, the guests are sent off to the rest of the ride. The different sections would likely take the riders through different dreamlike scenarios, with Dreamfinder, Figment, and Klonoa appearing to comment on the scenes. The final scene would feature the characters singing a rendition of One Little Spark, possibly with a music style reminiscent of the Klonoa OST. The ride ends with the guests returning from their journey, and the characters saying goodbye and telling the guests to keep dreaming. Like I said, it's highly unlikely, and I haven't thought of all the parts. It's just a concept I feel has potential to be successful.
last time i rode this ride, which really wasn’t that long ago, my sister and i (who are both grown adults btw) decided to ride this ride together for the nostalgia. we went in broad daylight in the middle of a summer afternoon. there was no line or anything. nobody was riding it at all, except for me and my sister. it was kinda sad ngl because this ride was my mf CHILDHOOD. it’s sad they changed a perfectly good dark ride into a pretty much neglected random building in the middle of epcot with a ride somewhere within it.
I went to Disneyworld twice as a child. Once in '97, and again in 2000. I still remember the immense disappointment I felt the second time when I saw what they had done to this ride! I'm glad I got to see the original before it was gone!
I think they could replace it with a concept related to the University of Hiro in Big Hero 6- the setting of that movie is a cool amalgam of Tokyo and San Francisco and is very much in line with the theme of imagination, creativity and invention
This did shatter my heart into pieces. I had no idea this ride was gone. It was my entire family's favorite part of Epcot Center and I always thought I might get a chance to see it again. Thank you for all the great footage.
i usually don't write super long comments on videos but journey into imagination is very dear to me and i wanna share what id like to see in the future for this ride ! i've heard a lot of rumours and discussions about an inside out ride replacing the current journey into imagination with figment, but honestly, i really wouldn't like to see this, and i doubt it'll become reality- figment is a huge mascot for epcot, and it'd face too much backlash if it got rid of figgy completely. tbh i have no idea what disney has in store for this ride, but what i'd like to see is an updated version of the original ride. maybe take dreamfinder's ship out of mousegear and rebuild dreamfinder himself, and rebuild the imageworks along with the original segments of the ride, except slightly tweaked here and there. ghh this comment is super unstructured but i just wanted to share!!
We saw the original in 1998, and only revisited Disney World again this last February. With the huge profits Disney makes, and the new things going on in all of the other parks, EPCOT was a huge let down. We knew it had changed for the worse, but we hadn't realised how much.
I first rode journey into your imagination with figment in 2016 upon my fourht6 trip to disney world. My family and I hated it and thought it was so dated and obnoxious and for years since I've wondered why figment is so beloved because of this. Thanks to this video series can grasp why people love the character based on the original iteration of the ride and I can appreciate some of the fandom now.
When my brother and I were kids we absolutely loved journey into imagination the original version and it was our favorite part of visiting all of the Disney parks at that time. We spent quite a while in the playground of the future which was so cool for that time. I didn't get to experience the other versions of the ride. I once had a figment bank as a souvenir
Since Imagination is such a crucial part of Disney, and Figment is such an iconic character to Epcot and a likable character, just make a new Journey into Imagination! IMAGINE ALL THE IDEAS FOR A RIDE ABOUT IMAGINATION!!
A very interesting history. Chuck McCann and Billy Barty did the original vocal tracks on the "One Little Spark" theme. As you know, Chuck McCann died last week at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. He was 83. With Dave Goelz now the official voice of Figment, it's up to Ron Schneider to reprise his classic role and again become the undisputed voice of Dreamfinder.
I always found it troubling that Disney relied on sponsors for the pavilions. I wouldn't dream of visiting Epcot now. Not enough of what I loved remains.
"Using the human senses"? I struggle to think of a more generic, vapid, and patently *unimaginative* premise to exploring the depth of what "Imagination" truly means.
Man this depresses me, because I was only ever able to experience the last version of the ride, with Figment, but I remember hating it. I really wish I could have been around for the first version.
Journey into Imagination was my favourite ride when I first went to Disney World when I was 7. When I went again a few years later, I was really disappointed that the ride I remembered was gone. I actually thought that I dreamt the song up. Then even later I rode the 3rd version, with the song back! I didn’t know that I was “lucky?” Enough to ride all three versions without realising it. Miss the original so much.
I rode the original Journey into Imagination and it was so much fun. Have ridden the current version and not so much. Hope if they do rework the ride, they do bring back Dreamfinder and of course always more Figment. So much they could do with the tech of today.
That is a crying shame. That was one of the neatest rides I have ever been on. That turn table introduction was fascinating because it's like several of the vehicles were inside an enclosed compartment that was somehow in motion but you were synchronized with that whole steampunk contraption that the dreamfinder was riding like a bicycle ...and then out of this steam vent pops a little pink DRAGON!!!
What I actually hate about that version of the ride is that it directly INSULTS the audience telling them that they don't have imagination when entering
For Figment to truly come back, he needs a movie and then they can justify the ride. I rode the original ride back in 1994 and going through old VHS tapes currently trying to find a ride through that I was sure got recorded by my father. I will definitely post it if I can track it down. I bloody love that little dragon.
I'm 32 years old and never in my life have I heard of Journey Into Imagination or Figment. I'd never seen them referenced anywhere, no memorabilia or anything. I'm completely baffled by this. It feels like these videos came from an alternate reality. lol
The ride should’ve been called “Journey into Kodak’s Imagination! Oy vey, so depressing! They definitely did not understand what was the true essence of the original ride! However 5 years later Epcot has brought Figment back and I hear that there is a new version of Journey into Imagination being prepared for Epcot! This video is very great to revisit right now. It’s an important, yet very shameful piece of Disney world history. Fortunately no matter what story you’re telling, you always tell it in a wonderful whimsical way! Great job again Mark!
I rode the most recent version of the ride last week when I went to Epcot, and y’all...it’s so bad, the audio literally cut out twice and we were left sitting in silence while looking at a tableau that was only vaguely interesting. I never rode the original Journey Into Imagination, but I mourn the fact that this is what replaced it.
I went on a recreation of this ride in VR chat last night, and it was amazing. And now One Little Spark is stuck in my head and I am not upset about that.
I rode this when we went to Epcot a few years ago without knowing any of the history, just confusing and crap. The highlight of our day in Epcot was making fun of the British Land bit (we’re from the UK) and getting told of by an Alice walk-around character.
I remember this place from my childhood. I had forgotten it, but now it comes back to me. I loved this place so much. And when I heard the clip from the song it was clear as day. What a loss. I will be taking my kids there this July, and I am sad that they will not get to see it the way that I did.
Wonderful video - thank you! You answered many of my questions about this issue. I saw the original ride on my honeymoon - it was one of the highlights of our trip! When we returned to the park years later we made tracks back to Figment as our very first stop. It was such a disappointment, I ended up apologizing to family members I had dragged on to the ride. They couldn't believe THIS is what we had talked about for years. How could Disney World, of all places on earth, would lose its sense of wonder and imagination? Thanks Michael Eisner!! :P As for what should replace the current nightmare... a full update of the original is the only way. As the video points out, Figment is more popular than ever. So if money is the only thing motivating the House of Mouse, FIGMENT MAKES MONEY. For heaven's sake, fix this!
Wow... this is both interesting and sad to watch. Especially when you get to the end and the boarding up of the old sections of the ride. Also, is it just me, or is anyone else slightly creeped out by abandoned dark rides? Let's hope that rumored Defunctland VR can rebuild the original Journey into Imagination, so a new era of young people can experience it.
The last of good Disney imagineering lives on at Tokyo's DisneySea. I fear the parks in the states are veering towards Universal when it comes to becoming 100% IP based attractions.
The biggest tragedy and travesty at WDW. This ride deserves a complete overhaul which should include Dreamfinder, Figment and updated scenes of the original.
As much as I like the current version, I agree it could be given a redesign. Like, hear me out: Figment reunites with the Dreamfinder who then takes the guests, Figment, and Channing on a REAL journey into a dreamlike universe.
Honestly, as much as I love the current version of the ride, I’m open to the idea of Disney completely redoing it. As long as they still keep figment in the ride and don’t make it IP based, I feel like they can make something on a similar level to the original (and if they can bring back the Dreamfinder that’d be a mega plus)
Having only personally experienced the most recent incarnation of journey into imagination (once when i was 5 and again when i was 10), i do genuinely love the ride as it is now, but i honestly don’t think i’d enjoy it nearly as much if i’d been able to experience the original firsthand. Here’s to hoping disney will use some of their grotesque amount of wealth to restore it to its former glory sometime not too long from now
Kitsune Metal Reloaded IKR? The world would be a much better place if more and more people agreed with you to the point where they should’ve continued catering to your liking, regardless of time’s overall fickle nature!
Sara Houck Wow you really showed him huh? It must get tiring winning internet arguments all the time with such a vast intellect, endowed with such a refined sense of sarcasm.
Explore the history of the Epcot’s Original Journey Into Imagination, in Part 2 of a collaboration between Defunctland and Yesterworld! Check out Part 1 here: ua-cam.com/video/DPeea5khpx4/v-deo.html
Yesterworld Entertainment hey, you’re awesome
Yesterworld Entertainment cool handoff
Yesterworld Entertainment great collaboration between you two! Thank you both!
Surprised you didn't mention figment. Getting two marvel comics under the Disney Kingdoms. Imprint. The first volume was dreamfinder's backstory and vol 2 was about an evil force attacking the imagination Institute. It was the only comics in that series to be about a Epcot ride the rest are magic kingdom rides.
@Jeffrey Piatt I shot some BROLL of the comic and thought about including it, but ultimately decided to try not to go too far down a bunny trail and focus specifically on the ride elements.
Being born in 2000, I never understood why Figment merchandise was so prominent in Epcot. Only knowing the character from the newer rides, I honestly hated Figment. Seeing the original ride in videos gave me both understanding and sadness. For, while I now understand the joy Figment brought to people, I feel cheated never having experienced the character and his creator in their purest forms.
Luke O'Connell now I’m like “Figment, sweetie, I’m so sorry they did that to you.” (Though in the Disney Kingdoms comics, Figment seems less irritating and more like his classic version)
samee i was like "who the fuck is this"
same, i like the current ride but i wish that i could have experienced the original :(
I was born in 1982 and attended WDW multiple times in the late 80’s and early 90’s. I’m still a Figment fan, and Epcot is still my favorite park :-) the original ride was amazing. Ahead of it’s time in the 80’s for sure!
It honestly was amazing and the theme song was so good and catchy. I hate what they did to it.
Tip for anyone trying to improve any customer experience: consider NOT insulting guests and calling them unimaginative as soon as they’re in the door.
Y'know, it seems to me they could've, maybe not _fixed_ JIYI, but at least made it less insulting, with one simple tweak. Rather than framing the ride as spurring imagination in its guests, pose it as Imagination Industries seeking folks with a lot of imagination to help with their experiments/tech/w/e. The appearing butterfly, the constellations being mapped, etc. would all be framed as the riders' imagination finishing these incomplete/mundane ideas into something creative.
@@amphioxusanniversary holy shit this is actually a really good idea
It was them all along that had no imagination not us 😂
British humour.
Non literal satirical implication contrary to expectation.
A similar joke was in the Simpsons movie when they showed Bart's dick, mocking the effort the previous animations made to maintain modesty, then cultural value "fear of the nipple".
The ride implies that imagination doesnt come from nothing and an open mind is means to wisdom.
My parents and I just so happened to be the last guests to ride the original journey into the imagination in October of ‘98, and we rode it with the creator mentioned in the video. They took a picture of us and gave us a huge figment plush doll and shirts, I was 17 then and still have the doll, picture and shirt.
Yay
Your lucky
For real?
Sooo COOL
Wow. I can't claim something like that, but I can say I experienced this ride in July 1998 during its last few months. We rode this, Horizons, Bodyworks, the Norway ride. It's tied with a London trip in 2009 as the greatest trip I've ever had. I came back to Disney World in March 2017. Maybe it came from being an adult, but I could feel the effects of Eisner's "cost cutting." Like it said in one of the other Defunctland videos, Eisner believed in doing things that gave a lot of bang for cheap but that only works so well. That's alright for, say, a Six Flags, but NOT for the greatest theme park in the world. I'd also argue he tried to expand too quickly and stretched the company too thin.
This is a really good example of the saying "if its not broke dont fix it"
Unfortunate that actually being broke is why they had no choice but to fix it.
Personally I want Disney to bring back the original journey into imagination with better animatronics and effects and I mean right now Disney has the money to do it so I’m crossing my fingers on that one
Same. If they can't go back to the original ride, they can still bring Dreamfinder back.
A few years ago, they came out with a comic with Dreamfinder's origin story that was well received. It had several reprintings and spawned a sequel. (Figment & Figment 2 respectively) There were some great ideas in the comics, including new companions to journey alongside Dreamfinder and figment.
If it's not an intellectual property, gaurdians, or star wars then noperoni and cheese says Disney.
It seems like they might with all the attention they give it. I even saw that they posted a picture of Dreamfinder with Figment on the Disney parks twitter page.
I recently took a tour at Epcot based in Future World back in October of 2017. Apparently, Dreamfinder was under Kodak for a long time, and Disney recently acquired the rights to his character (as is evident with the Marvel comics Figment story). I'm really hoping that they're going to bring him back and do an amazing technological update to this ride. It would seem like an utter waste of two characters that really have transcended time for all of us commenting here.
Don't hold your breath. Disney never brings attractions back.
I've always found it hilarious* that they replaced a creative ride about imagination with a bland science-based version that truly emphasizes the lack of imagination Disney/Kodak had about reviving the ride. Then, they replaced that ride with a new version making fun of the prior ride's science-based take that also lacked imagination, instead making imagination look like something that's annoying and distruptive rather than something that contributes to society.
*And by "hilarious", I mean I mourn Epcot's loss at least once daily.
Actually, Nigel Channing initially thinks that imagination is something that can be controlled but Figment helps him realize that it's not thing to be controlled.
Rarietty really shows the priority imagination takes in our modern age. We already get Disney Classics ruined by Disney itself because they want to earn more money without having to put effort into it
As a teacher who works in a system that thrives on squashing the imaginations of children, I share in your mourning. The original had so much purpose and heart 😭 Our standardized test supporters need to experience the original...
I rode the original when I was 5. When we went back when I was 10 and it was that horrific replacement, I was so mad. 😂
I got off the ride and I said to my Mom “what the crap was that”.
@@s.ez.a.7651 My sentiments exactly. I remember the original one and got so pissed off with the new one, I felt ripped off
Tony Baxter said he would like to give the attraction the care and attention it deserves, and has even said he’d love a Figment movie to be made!
Hope it won’t end up as badly-received as The Haunted Mansion and Country Bears movies.
Considering the entire ride is about imagination, they could just do whatever they want with a movie, and I really hope something like that could be enough to reignite that little spark.
It could be called The Imagination Movie: Featuring Figment
I’ll gladly donate my life savings to give it the green light.
God, after watching these I feel so cheated in my childhood. I always thought the ride was just bland and outdated, even when I first rid it in like 6 years ago or something. I absolutely love the Dreamfinder! He seemed like such a, well, creative character! And I never got the whole Figment thing because my only experience with the ride was the shitty new version and I just thought he was kinda the worst. They really should just bring back the old ride with newer tech. I honestly think that would be the best for this ride. Anyway, Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
I'm so sad for you! The original ride was so good. At least this one is better than the second one, that was REALLY shitty!
Nicomoru I have literally never gotten on the classic Journey into Imagination, yet when I watch POVs, it feels like Dreamfinder and Figment are old friends of mine. (Side note- the Marvel Figment comic series is fabulous.)
@@kathygoodman6159 At least this one TRIES to give guests an enjoyable experience rather than insult and bore them.
3 year old me riding Journey into Imagination: “This is the best thing in the entire world.”
11 year old me after riding Journey into YOUR Imagination: “WTF WAS THAT SH*T?”
Maybe it’s just because I’m hyperempathetic, but I legit almost cried when I saw Eric Idle’s character shove Figment aside. Dreamfinder and Figment were such wonderful and lovable characters, they didn’t deserve this :(
The first time my family and I went on "Journey Into YOUR Imagination", my mom got off the ride vehicle and walked up to the ride operator and simply asked "What happened!?"
While it was a dramatic reaction, it was warranted nonetheless.
In 2000 I knew it was over when I saw the warehouse-looking room with the furniture nailed to the ceiling. I walked off the ride and directly to guest services, where the cast member gave me the same look of disbelief and disgust and said something like, "I know, right!!!???.
If Eisner had been "bugging Kodak for years" to meet their financial obligations and they had not or could not, then that means he had years to see that this deal was not working out the way it should have, and that means he should have been better prepared to save the attraction. He was always so cheap though, and never wanted to spend any money.
Seeing that a film company was having trouble because film was becoming old tech, he should have started searching not just for a different sponsor, but a different KIND of sponsor. It had nothing to do with cameras and film, with MAYBE the exception of the "movie magic" blue screen thing.
It honestly never made sense to me to use Kodak for a pavilion about imagination. Why not something like Crayola? Everything about ImageWorks was about color, music, and creativity. Imagine what kind of opportunities Disney could have opened up for themselves by getting
Crayola on board, and selling packs of Crayola crayons, markers, or colored pencils with DISNEY COLORING BOOKS in the gift shop! Disney character autograph books could have been made with "color it yourself" covers so kids could express their creativity. And it's not like that company is going to go away any time soon...
Big brain moment
Big brain moment
8:04 = I never got to experience Journey into Imagination, but after watching what the ride and its associated parts were like, this one brief shot breaks my heart.
RedSalamander the original ride was wonderful. I still remember it 25 years later.
The ride looks truly fabulous. If they had no budget they should have cleaned and repaired the ride instead of breaking it up and selling it for parts
"They took this from you."
It's almost like if the ride itself is suffering from the lack of imagination, like in a magic way.
I would love it if they rebooted Journey Into Imagination and base it off the recent Figment comic books. That would be awesome!
Yup. The setting could be made the setting of the comics' Academy Scientifica Lucidus easily.
YEAH! Two of my good UA-cam Buddies partnering up for a great collaboration on one of the greatest rides! Yeah!!!
Who are you? ;)
Dan!?!?
Deja vu
I’ve seen this comment before
Dan
D-DAN! :D
Something I've never understood on stories like this is why it was decided to even make a change. Isn't that economically a BAD idea? If the ride is already built ( and already popular ) why not leave it alone? So what if the sponsor backs out? They're paying for basic repairs and upkeep, right? Wouldn't that cost less than completely redesigning a new attraction? Isn't routine maintenance "thousands" rather than "millions"? I just don't get how redesigning a whole new ride is in any way a viable economic response to losing a sponsor.
IKR? Those scumbags are in dire need of knowing that the attraction in its original form was so near and dear to so many people that it should've kept running PERMANENTLY!
I imagine part of it is to hook past visitors back into the parks with new attractions. A lot of Disney's story based rides, since they're not thrill rides, don't generate much incentive for repeat visits and they can only physically expand so much, so old rides need to give way to new ones. The problem is, like in this case, corporate executives can be terrible at judging which rides are timeless classics that should be preserved for future generations and which rides people won't be that sad to see go.
Another big problem was Michael Eisner who often completely failed to grasp Disney as a brand and wanted to make it hip, modern and cool at the cost of stripping it of the magic people loved about it in the first place.
Sponsorship the the other term for "have others should your expenses for it". Losing sponsorship is assuming all of those expenses alone.
Ohlourdes Padua , your post makes *ZERO* sense. It's like indiscernible ramblings, typed out. lol.
Christopher Blair Honestly if you want a little more insight into the rides closure, go watch the defunctland podcast with Tony Baxter. He goes into a bit of why Figment and Dreamfinder were removed during the refurbishment.
With how popular dreamfinder and figment are right now, I believe it would be wise for Disney to base an attraction off of them. While I do not like the idea of using Inside Out, it would be cool if they had dreamfinder and figment exploring an imagination inside a child's head, rather than how the original discovered creativity through different subjects. That would provide a perfect way to display child-like charm that figment is supposed to have.
Never got to ride the original Journey into Imagination, the 3rd incarnation is all I've ever known. But after watching these videos, really wish I could have been on it
Matt Torres Same here. Dreamfinder and classic Figment are like old friends though I haven’t experienced the original ride in person. (POVs kinda help fill the void, but not really, Y’know?)
I never even came near this ride when I visited the park, but I would have loved the original ride T-T
The loss of the original Journey Into Imagination and ImageWorks is honestly one of the worst decisions Disney has ever made in the parks. A tragedy really :(
Hopefully it gets some attention for the anniversary of WDW
Eisner why did you have to meddle in such a good attraction
This is FAR from the only victim of his meddling. A lot of what's featured on Defunctland was a victim of Eisner, one way or another.
It’s not like Iger ruins rides too...
Iger hasn't ruined any rides. He's just changed them. There isn't one ride he's changed that I thought the new version was sub par or not equivalent to the original.
Yishai Thau Iger has been making nothing but I.P. attractions in 2006, and he’s replaced a lot of classics. My least favorite replacement was last year when he replaced the Great Movie Ride.
So truth. Eisner wasn’t much of help and brought on The Black Cauldron, which almost ruined Disney if it hadn’t been for that Jeff Fellow.
That thumbnail of Figment makes me want to cry. Just seems fitting for what modern Disney is becoming...
I know this video is over 2 years old at this point, but I do want to make something of a correction to part of it. At around 7 minutes 45 seconds there is a shot of an article talking about the reason behind why they closed the 2nd floor Image Works portion of the attraction. The article says:
"Whenever a Disney facility closes for a period of more than six months OSHA dictates that the structure must be brought up to current building codes. The part of this code that concerns Image Works is one of wheelchair accessibility. For an exhibit of its size & occupancy, a single use elevator is not appropriate for the needs of 21st century structures. The transition between the original & second versions far exceeded time limits & the cost to make major improvements to the existing space was cost prohibitive. 11"
That 11 at the end is the number for the footnote which says:
"It’s important to note that such modifications would have probably consumed over 50% of any conversion budget. As such, any permanent use of the exhibit would require a massive amount of structural change."
This caught my eye because I am more than casually familiar with business regulations due to a project I work on & there was nothing I could think of that would lead OSHA to be connected to any sort of regulation of the type described here. After digging into this a bit more I'm certain that the only thing the author could possibly be referring to is either the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements on public accessibility or potentially local building codes [in relation to the ADA requirements, but nonetheless set at a local level.] Now, I am not familiar with nor do I feel like digging into local Florida building codes for amusement/theme parks back in the late 1990s... so I'm going to ignore that aspect of it, especially since the requirement [if there was something there like this,] would have the same sort of exceptions & parameters as the ADA laws which I'm going to go into.
Now, before going into ADA requirements let me just say that whatever led the author of that article to believe that the above explanation is why this attraction closed is absolutely wrong. I also searched around a fair bit to try & find the actual reason, but only ended up finding a few forums with some people reiterating a less detailed explanation matching the one in this article. There are a number of things wrong with what this article says. For one thing there is no stipulation requiring facilities who close down portions of their property for longer than [x] time they are required to carry out building renovations in order to bring it into compliance with whatever regulations may have been changed/added if the building is not already in compliance with them. However, there is an ADA stipulation regarding non-compliant buildings built prior to the passing of the ADA & the creation of ADA Title III standards that requires businesses to retrofit existing facilities to meet said standards *only when they are "altering existing facilities in a way that affects usability" & they only have to ensure the altered parts are in compliance with the standards.*
From what I can gather [so this is not a certain fact, but an educated guess based on the tidbits of information I can gather about what all was being altered & what way in the renovation,] it seems like Image Works would likely have fallen under this provision. However, even under this provision there are 2 exemptions to this requirement. The 1st is the existing structural conditions cannot be modified in a way to be compliant in which case they only have to do so insofar as the realities of the space allow them to do so. The 2nd is in regards to the cost it requires to become compliant. Again without being all that familiar with the design of the attraction, the layout, etc... it is hard to be all that certain on this part, but this attraction was in the glass pyramid things right? I would be willing to bet money that there were definitely structural limitations that would have exempted them under exemption #1. As for exemption #2 the cost limit to meeting compliance would be at 20% of the total value of the renovation being made which prompted the ADA-compliance requirement. If the cost exceeded 20% then they would be required to spend the 20% on whatever compliance items would be able to be met with whatever amount of money that would be. There was a priority list on the order of things the 20% had to be spent on achieving. But, you don't have to go beyond that 20%. While the 50% quoted in the article is obviously just a guess I'm unsure how much of an educated guess it is or if it is just complete speculation so I can't judge whether or not exemption #2 would come into play or not, but just know that it could not have been more than 20% of whatever money was going to be spent.
So, my guess is that this rumor of the 2nd floor being closed due to the ADA-compliant regulations was just a lie to pass on the blame elsewhere for them [Disney & Kodak,] either not having an idea to match the 2nd floor to the theme of the renovation and/or not wanting to spend money to renovate the 2nd floor as well. Whatever it was though, it wasn't ADA building standards & sure as sh-t wasn't anything to do with OSHA.
I still don't understand why Disney didn't use Kodak's funds (even if it was just a fraction) to maintain the original JII. It was popular with guests, they wouldn't even mind if it stayed the same. A whole new (inferior) attraction must have cost far more with 10% of the satisfaction...
The video doesn't do a good job of explaining it, but Kodak themselves wanted to upgrade things there as well. Around the turn of the millenium though, Kodak was suffering badly moneywise (it was the start of the slide that would eventually bankrupt them in 2012) and thus Eisner had all the leverage on his side. This resulted in the bastardized "Your Imagination" revamp instead.
The current version suffered from the same lack of resources as "Your Imagination" and was only supposed to be an "interim" fix, but as the video mentioned Eisner scuttled most of "Project Gemini" that would've had the more permanent solution. Right now, all anyone can do is cross fingers that the coming Epcot overhaul puts in a WORTHY successor to the original JII (even if it is based of Inside Out, as is rumored).
You know, that's one aspect of this whole story I couldn't wrap my head around. I had the who, the when, and the why...but not the other sort of "Why!?" when it would have been sooooo much cheaper to just refresh the original. Was connecting to Honey I Shrunk The Audience really that big of a deal? Did Kodak say it had to be a completely new idea to connect to their other sponsored attraction? I really believe other factors were at play, and maybe there's some insider who can give the exclusive scoop.
Gordon Tyler: Erm...did you actually watch the video all the way? I literally go into practically everything you mentioned and used most of the same words you used.
I belive Eisner used it as an excuse to remove Figment. He just hated that character. In a defunclant interview the guy who played dreamfinder sayed his friend was in a blue meeting (I believe thats what they called it) Eisner sayed "F*ck Dreamfinder and that Purple little Dragon" the imagineer also sayed they had an awesome idea but with budgets and stuff they took bits and pieces to get that trash...
Joseph Parodi If that's true, than it's even sadder than that I imagined! This wasn't just corporate incompetence, this was plain malicious! Oh my god haha
Having been to the original, proper attraction at least twice, seeing the Idle version in 2000 was not only painful as young adult, but downright unimaginable that ImageWorks was not open.
No mix of words can capture the feeling I had as a kid heading down that rainbow corridor into that awesome room
I felt both depressed and angry after this video
I hate to quote Frozen, but let it go.
Sebastian Daniels they shouldn’t have renovated it before having a proper sponsor so they didn’t had to cheapskate it
Same, and I knew nothing about this coming into it!
Same here. I mean seriously, what the hell!? It's sad that I never got to see the original Dreamfinder version because that looked really fun!
You and me both
The first time I visited Epcot was 1984. The Journey to Imagination ride was absolutely a brilliant work of art and creativity. I would get off of the ride and right back in line. Figment, Dream Finder, and the music moved me so much. I had the thrill of visiting again in 1995 and going on the ride again numerous times. After the changes, I was so disappointed. I could not believe they ruined the ride. Then came the refresh. Figment is nothing at all like he was and the ride lacks any soul or creativity anymore. I know it's wishful thinking but I would love to see the ride restored back to its original form. WED said if you can dream it, you can do it. Someone high up at WDW needs to dream this then. My children missed out on seeing the original ride and that actually bothers me. It was the best ride at Epcot.
Journey Into Imagination was my favorite ride as a kid. I was 8 when Journey Into Your Imagination opened. I remember crying after riding it because they had ruined it so badly.
I love you two working together! The ultimate wombo combo of nostalgia. Thank you both so much!
THAT AIN'T FALCO!
I remember going on this ride in middle school right before it closed. I was happy to see Figment back but it still felt like something was missing. When I went back to EPCOT a few years later in high school, I was dismayed to not being able to find the Imagination ride and being told that it no longer existed. Now as an adult, I’ve become a collector of Figment merchandise. It’s a shame that such a fun character could meet such a demise.
Eric Idle is one of the greatest geniuses in the history of comedy
and this STILL manages to be the most underwhelming ride in EPCOT, maybe even all of Walt Disney World
Just horrible. I miss the original so much. Whimsy, wonder, and its two lovable hosts. The most recent one is cold, sterile, Figment is reduced to being a pest, and Eric Idle (famous for his comedic talent in Monty Python's Flying Circus") plays the straight man in the whole act?! Unbelievable! They need to bring the classic Journey Into Imagination back, perhaps with enhanced animatronics (which they certainly can do lately) and effects.
Not to mention getting insulted by the ride.
Even more sad is that this crappy ride has outlived the original! That just screams laziness on Disney's part.
And yes they could bring back the original with updated technology but they won't. Disney isn't the same company anymore and they're too focused on their IP's now.
@_DJ_Gengar_ That's not saying much though. To be blunt, it's like comparing a puddle of piss to a pile of crap.
Eric Idle: I never wanted to do this attraction; I wanted to be, a lumberjack!
Eric Idle doesn’t even remember being in Journey Into Imagination with Figment a couple of years ago on Twitter someone asked him if he remembered Figment and he thought Figment was the two headed dragon from Quest from Camelot that animated Rankin Bass movie! So sad
I have fond memories of this as a child, visiting around 1990 and 1996. It was magical.
Love this so much!! So sad I never got to experience the original!
Matterhorn Matt IKR? Generational jealousy can be highly beneficial upon noticing the Internet being relied on as a nostalgia soapbox, especially with how the details in this particular video have been described!
Same and I am 12. :(
Disney World was for rich people I never got to go there and I never will :(. Sucks....
Matterhorn Matt same
Oh i am sorry for you! It really was magical!
The original Journey Into Imagination ride was my favorite Epcot ride and I have so many sweet memories of it. I even still remember the smell in one of the rooms, the white room, the "what about science" room, the entire ride with Figment was so magical. I was very upset when they changed it to its horrible second version. The recent version with Figment back is a little better... but just a tiny bit. I really hope they bring the original ride back someday!!!
I went on that last version of the Figment ride, and I was thoroughly disgusted. I couldn't believe that something so inspiring and wonder inducing had transformed into something that would have made Walt so furious he would have fired everyone who worked on it if he were still alive. The original journey into imagination was something you just KNOW Walt would have loved, but the 2 iterations that followed.... I mean, seriously, they shouldn't have even bothered to try if they couldn't at least MATCH the imagination of the original. They really should be ashamed and hopefully, eventually, a new and PROPER Figment imagination adventure worthy of being a follow up to the original ride will be introduced.
I love how Kodak hardly gave any money to reimagine the ride and then got upset at the result.
I personally think that the BARE MINIMUM they could do is at least a) bring the technology in the attraction out of the early 2000s and b) replace Figment's voice.
The CG in the attraction was clearly created in the dawn of CG's popularity, back when you had shows like Jimmy Neutron, for example, that were so fake-feeling and just all around odd that it's kind of painful to look back on it now. But things like Jimmy Neutron hold up in a sense that the design, although a bit creepy, is endearing, This Figment? Not so much. To me, he just looks quite scary. Although it'd never happen due to Disney's apparent hate of 2D animation, I think these sections would look a LOT better in a sort of Roger Rabbit-type implementation, where Figment looks more like Figment than a demented rubber bath toy. Even if they do just some better CG, SOMETHING about it needs to change.
And then with the voice... no, just no. There are plenty of people out there who are talented at impersonations of any character you can think of. I'm sure that there's SOMEONE out there who can do a better Figment than whatever the current voice is. While the original Figment sounded whimsical and fun and toony, this one just sounds... irritating in comparison.
If they insist on staying with the current storyline, I'm actually kind of ok with Figment being seen as a bit of a pest since he's kind of reminiscent of an annoying little brother in the third iteration of the ride. Dreamfinder understands Figment in a much different way than an outsider would. He's able to get on Figment's level and communicate with him effectively. But Dr. Channing, being a bit of a fuddy-duddy who sees imagination more scientifically, isn't able to have that same bond with Figment, making him a bit of a pest, like a little brother who won't stop bugging you to do things HIS way.
But my ultimate dream (aside from restoration of the original ride, which is HIGHLY unlikely) would be to see them reimagine the ride based on the Disney Kingdoms Figment comics. Those comics introduced a lot of incredible characters, and I'd love to see them work with those new characters to complete an entirely new experience! And, of course, it'd mean the reintroduction of the Dreamfinder, which I think everyone can agree would be a great idea.
The current voice of Figment is Dave Goelz, voice and puppeteer of Gonzo on The Muppets.
He also does the voice of Bean Bunny, who is one of my favorite characters, but I agree that his Figment is a little grating.
Actually, Bean Bunny was voices by Steve Whitmire. Sorry for being such a muppet nerd, just had to get that out there
In the inbetween version, figment was voiced by Tory Burton (I believe?) Who sounds exactly like Billy barty, the original voice actor for figment. I don't understand why they ever casted Dave goelz (the current guy) to voice figgy, I agree, annoying as hell
Two of my favourite youtube channels doing a collab, brilliant.
The guy leading the kids to Imaginationland in South Park makes sense to me now. I was wondering where the hell they got that idea.
That Imaginationland, and also their episodes about the BP oil spill and Cthulhu were the best.
As a lot of people have posted, the consistent rumor is that Imagination is going to turn into something related to Inside Out. It fits because Figment is an easter egg in Inside Out already. There's a portrait of Figment in the rubble of the being removed segments of Imagination Land in Riley's head that you first see when the Train of Thought arrives. That portrait is then promptly shoved into the chasm to be forgotten, which I was really hoping was not an allusion to the future.
I've always thought that Imagination should be the showcase of WDI storytelling and design. As such, a new attraction legitimately following the spirit of the original attraction illuminating the power of creativity and imagination in science, technology, music, literature, and performance utilizing the new storyline and design of Dreamfinder and Figment created by the Disney Kingdoms Figment and Figment 2 comic lines. The second series was set in modern Academy Scientifica Lucidus, which just happens to be glass pyramids in Florida. There would also be an opportunity to introduce Capri, a young female inventor with distant relation to Dreamfinder, and the enemies of Imagination being fear and doubt, possibly with the Doubtfinder character. I've considered the new attraction utilizing the trackless dark ride technology that has improved over the years, because what's better than an attraction about Imagination for a ride system that doesn't have to move in the same line every time, and for the attraction to use the current show building plus the Magic Eye Theater space. Altogether, it's a way to keep it's original spirit while also extending Imagination and Figment's IP possibilities. It feels like a long shot, but it's a nice shot to take.
Stuart Newsom I figured Inside Out would be more suited for Wonders of Life, but that’s just me.
That does sound very interesting, but an Inside Out attraction could be more of a Cranium Command-esque thing. This could be a stretch, but maybe the Image Works Lab upstairs (not the dark ride) could be reimagined and the Dreamfinder and Figment could say they found someone with such a massive imagination and superb inventions that they let her use the lab anytime she's in town. Who by chance? Princess Shuri from Black Panther (that is unless BP is around Marvel Super-Hero Island).
1: HOLY DISNEY I CANT BELIEVE THE TWO BEST THEME PARK HISTORY CHANNELS FINALLY WORKED TOGETHER ON SOMETHING AMAZING
2: The only thing that SHOULD replace “Journey into Imagination with Figment” should be the original “Journey into Imagination”, either with the same or a slightly different title
They literally can't bring back the original ride because of the state that the gutted portions fell into.
As an aspiring Imagineer there is nothing I want more than bring Epcot into a new era of technology and culture, and seeing the conversion of great rides with powerful messages (energy pavilion, imagination, maelstrom, etc.) Be turned into “non-Epcot” style attractions hurts. I love roller coasters, but it’s not for Epcot.
Epcot was always about looking for ways to improve us as people, to plant the seeds of inspiration that would grow into a garden future generations would reap.
@@SobiTheRobot nvm I changed my opinion, I’ve ridden cosmic rewind 45 times and misjudged it. They should replace everything in Epcot with a rollercoaster.
@@ian8lisle572 I'll have to look into how that one works. You seemed so adamant before (but that WAS a couple years ago)
I always wanted to ride the original Journey Into Imagination, seeing this change breaks my heart. :(
I went to Disney World in 2003 when I was a kid - I can't quite remember the ride itself, but I remember liking Figment so much I begged my dad for anything I could bring home of it. He bought me the smallest plush version of Figment available then. It seems like I didn't get to experience the original magical version of the ride, but regardless, Figment is the best ❤️ Let's give Figment the ride Figment deserves 🙌🏻
This is so sad. I wish I could have experienced that wonderful original ride. Oh yeah, and we went on it no long ago and it was falling apart. I felt so bad, because I remembering it working better as a kid, and it seems like it never got maintenance so it's exactly how it was when I was a kid. I really hope it gets the love it deserves after all
Well... Cheer up Yester, you know what they say! Somethings in life are bad, they can really make you mad... other things just make you swear and curse. When your chewing on life’s gristle! Don’t grumble, give a whistle! And this will help things turn out for the best!
Always Look On the Bright side of life!
Always Look On the Right Side of life!
I didn't grow up with the original Journey into Imagination, but after seeing this collab between you and Defunctland, I wish I did, the Original seems so much better!
I remember the original ride. It was a favorite of mine when I went back then. It's sad and yet expected to see classics like this ride go and things change. I love many of the newer things Disney has done, especially with the addition of Marvel and Star Wars attractions. I just feel nostalgic for the old days at times.
*shakes fist* EISNERRRRRRRRR!!!!!
I don't want them to make any classic (or modern) IPs take over Journey into Imagination (with Figment). I want a really good imagination/Figment ride.
Also, if they took the homage to Robin Williams (technically it's his character in Flubber but it looks like a way of honoring him) they'd make me cry, and if they put Inside Out in there they'd take it down...
It's not really his fault. Kodak is mostly to blame.
The only history lesson I care about - Cancelled Disney Stuff
Getting rid of the beloved original attraction was a major travesty. It can never be replaced.
My ideal update to Journey into imagination is an attraction akin to Mystic Manor in terms of quality/ride system that is in the spirit of the original ride, with updated takes on Figment and Dreamfinder inspired by the Marvel Figment comics from the Disney Kingdoms Series.
Yasssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Interesting idea. I always think of Mystic Manor as the further adventures of Figment and Dreamfinder.
I like to think that Dreamfinder and Figment would join S.E.A. is given the opportunity.
He's got his own comics?
A-yep. As did Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, The Museum of the Weird and The Tiki Room. (I don't recommend the Tiki Room One, its not very good)
Thing I loved about Epcot growing up was that everything there was real or could one day be real, whereas Magic Kingdom and MGM was all straight up fantasy. Journey Into Imagination was my favorite ride, because it created hope more so than anything else in Disney World.
6:14- If I had rode that ride back then, I would’ve felt personally insulted for Eric Idle to imply I had no imagination. I have more imagination in my pinky than the entirety of that updated sham of a ride.
I just watched both parts of this, I have never been to a Disney park but I am now somehow nostalgic for the original Journey into Imagination. Nicely done!
This was really nice. It makes me wish I could see the original show. I also like the respect you pay to performers and artists that brought it to life.
I've had a concept for a fourth version of JiI that, while extremely unlikely, could be closer to the original version in terms of style.
First off, it would probably have Bandai-Namco sponsoring the Imagination Pavilion. The actual ride concept would start with Dreamfinder and Figment welcoming the guests and preparing them for their journey through dreams, as that is where imagination is strongest. During the intro, Dreamfinder says that he's gotten a guide to assist them on their journey, and they should be arriving soon. The guide, who would be revealed to be Klonoa, appears and introduces himself. After some more words from the Dreamfinder and Figment, the guests are sent off to the rest of the ride. The different sections would likely take the riders through different dreamlike scenarios, with Dreamfinder, Figment, and Klonoa appearing to comment on the scenes. The final scene would feature the characters singing a rendition of One Little Spark, possibly with a music style reminiscent of the Klonoa OST. The ride ends with the guests returning from their journey, and the characters saying goodbye and telling the guests to keep dreaming.
Like I said, it's highly unlikely, and I haven't thought of all the parts. It's just a concept I feel has potential to be successful.
last time i rode this ride, which really wasn’t that long ago, my sister and i (who are both grown adults btw) decided to ride this ride together for the nostalgia. we went in broad daylight in the middle of a summer afternoon. there was no line or anything. nobody was riding it at all, except for me and my sister. it was kinda sad ngl because this ride was my mf CHILDHOOD. it’s sad they changed a perfectly good dark ride into a pretty much neglected random building in the middle of epcot with a ride somewhere within it.
Journey Into Imagination was my favorite part of EPCOT. I’ve still got the little Figment figure my wife bought me on our honeymoon.
I went to Disneyworld twice as a child. Once in '97, and again in 2000. I still remember the immense disappointment I felt the second time when I saw what they had done to this ride! I'm glad I got to see the original before it was gone!
I think they could replace it with a concept related to the University of Hiro in Big Hero 6- the setting of that movie is a cool amalgam of Tokyo and San Francisco and is very much in line with the theme of imagination, creativity and invention
This did shatter my heart into pieces. I had no idea this ride was gone. It was my entire family's favorite part of Epcot Center and I always thought I might get a chance to see it again. Thank you for all the great footage.
Two of the best Disney history channel
i usually don't write super long comments on videos but journey into imagination is very dear to me and i wanna share what id like to see in the future for this ride !
i've heard a lot of rumours and discussions about an inside out ride replacing the current journey into imagination with figment, but honestly, i really wouldn't like to see this, and i doubt it'll become reality- figment is a huge mascot for epcot, and it'd face too much backlash if it got rid of figgy completely. tbh i have no idea what disney has in store for this ride, but what i'd like to see is an updated version of the original ride. maybe take dreamfinder's ship out of mousegear and rebuild dreamfinder himself, and rebuild the imageworks along with the original segments of the ride, except slightly tweaked here and there. ghh this comment is super unstructured but i just wanted to share!!
We saw the original in 1998, and only revisited Disney World again this last February. With the huge profits Disney makes, and the new things going on in all of the other parks, EPCOT was a huge let down. We knew it had changed for the worse, but we hadn't realised how much.
The use of Frodo in this video perfectly conveyed my feelings about the death of a perfectly wonderful ride
I first rode journey into your imagination with figment in 2016 upon my fourht6 trip to disney world. My family and I hated it and thought it was so dated and obnoxious and for years since I've wondered why figment is so beloved because of this. Thanks to this video series can grasp why people love the character based on the original iteration of the ride and I can appreciate some of the fandom now.
When my brother and I were kids we absolutely loved journey into imagination the original version and it was our favorite part of visiting all of the Disney parks at that time. We spent quite a while in the playground of the future which was so cool for that time. I didn't get to experience the other versions of the ride. I once had a figment bank as a souvenir
The new ride is absolute garbage compared to the original :( I wish I could go on the original one more time it was so special to me as a child!
if the imagination scanner at 7:00 worked, It would show the people who approved the re-design in a lot of physical pain
This was a very good video. As a Disney fan, I have been saddened by many of the changes over time at both Disney Land and Disney World
Since Imagination is such a crucial part of Disney, and Figment is such an iconic character to Epcot and a likable character, just make a new Journey into Imagination! IMAGINE ALL THE IDEAS FOR A RIDE ABOUT IMAGINATION!!
A very interesting history. Chuck McCann and Billy Barty did the original vocal tracks on the "One Little Spark" theme. As you know, Chuck McCann died last week at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. He was 83. With Dave Goelz now the official voice of Figment, it's up to Ron Schneider to reprise his classic role and again become the undisputed voice of Dreamfinder.
I always found it troubling that Disney relied on sponsors for the pavilions. I wouldn't dream of visiting Epcot now. Not enough of what I loved remains.
"Using the human senses"? I struggle to think of a more generic, vapid, and patently *unimaginative* premise to exploring the depth of what "Imagination" truly means.
Always one of my favorite things at Epcot. I wish I still had my Figment doll.
Man this depresses me, because I was only ever able to experience the last version of the ride, with Figment, but I remember hating it. I really wish I could have been around for the first version.
Journey into Imagination was my favourite ride when I first went to Disney World when I was 7.
When I went again a few years later, I was really disappointed that the ride I remembered was gone.
I actually thought that I dreamt the song up.
Then even later I rode the 3rd version, with the song back!
I didn’t know that I was “lucky?” Enough to ride all three versions without realising it.
Miss the original so much.
I rode the original Journey into Imagination and it was so much fun. Have ridden the current version and not so much. Hope if they do rework the ride, they do bring back Dreamfinder and of course always more Figment. So much they could do with the tech of today.
That is a crying shame. That was one of the neatest rides I have ever been on. That turn table introduction was fascinating because it's like several of the vehicles were inside an enclosed compartment that was somehow in motion but you were synchronized with that whole steampunk contraption that the dreamfinder was riding like a bicycle ...and then out of this steam vent pops a little pink DRAGON!!!
What I actually hate about that version of the ride is that it directly INSULTS the audience telling them that they don't have imagination when entering
For Figment to truly come back, he needs a movie and then they can justify the ride. I rode the original ride back in 1994 and going through old VHS tapes currently trying to find a ride through that I was sure got recorded by my father. I will definitely post it if I can track it down. I bloody love that little dragon.
I'm 32 years old and never in my life have I heard of Journey Into Imagination or Figment. I'd never seen them referenced anywhere, no memorabilia or anything. I'm completely baffled by this. It feels like these videos came from an alternate reality. lol
The ride should’ve been called “Journey into Kodak’s Imagination! Oy vey, so depressing! They definitely did not understand what was the true essence of the original ride! However 5 years later Epcot has brought Figment back and I hear that there is a new version of Journey into Imagination being prepared for Epcot! This video is very great to revisit right now. It’s an important, yet very shameful piece of Disney world history. Fortunately no matter what story you’re telling, you always tell it in a wonderful whimsical way! Great job again Mark!
I rode the most recent version of the ride last week when I went to Epcot, and y’all...it’s so bad, the audio literally cut out twice and we were left sitting in silence while looking at a tableau that was only vaguely interesting. I never rode the original Journey Into Imagination, but I mourn the fact that this is what replaced it.
I went on a recreation of this ride in VR chat last night, and it was amazing. And now One Little Spark is stuck in my head and I am not upset about that.
I rode this when we went to Epcot a few years ago without knowing any of the history, just confusing and crap.
The highlight of our day in Epcot was making fun of the British Land bit (we’re from the UK) and getting told of by an Alice walk-around character.
I remember this place from my childhood. I had forgotten it, but now it comes back to me. I loved this place so much. And when I heard the clip from the song it was clear as day. What a loss. I will be taking my kids there this July, and I am sad that they will not get to see it the way that I did.
Wonderful video - thank you! You answered many of my questions about this issue. I saw the original ride on my honeymoon - it was one of the highlights of our trip! When we returned to the park years later we made tracks back to Figment as our very first stop. It was such a disappointment, I ended up apologizing to family members I had dragged on to the ride. They couldn't believe THIS is what we had talked about for years. How could Disney World, of all places on earth, would lose its sense of wonder and imagination? Thanks Michael Eisner!! :P As for what should replace the current nightmare... a full update of the original is the only way. As the video points out, Figment is more popular than ever. So if money is the only thing motivating the House of Mouse, FIGMENT MAKES MONEY. For heaven's sake, fix this!
Wow... this is both interesting and sad to watch. Especially when you get to the end and the boarding up of the old sections of the ride.
Also, is it just me, or is anyone else slightly creeped out by abandoned dark rides?
Let's hope that rumored Defunctland VR can rebuild the original Journey into Imagination, so a new era of young people can experience it.
The last of good Disney imagineering lives on at Tokyo's DisneySea. I fear the parks in the states are veering towards Universal when it comes to becoming 100% IP based attractions.
I really wish I could have experienced the original attraction. The newer version was ridiculous, a complete waste of our time.
The biggest tragedy and travesty at WDW. This ride deserves a complete overhaul which should include Dreamfinder, Figment and updated scenes of the original.
Too bad the head of the epcot overhaul hates Tony baxter.
As much as I like the current version, I agree it could be given a redesign. Like, hear me out: Figment reunites with the Dreamfinder who then takes the guests, Figment, and Channing on a REAL journey into a dreamlike universe.
Honestly, as much as I love the current version of the ride, I’m open to the idea of Disney completely redoing it. As long as they still keep figment in the ride and don’t make it IP based, I feel like they can make something on a similar level to the original (and if they can bring back the Dreamfinder that’d be a mega plus)
I was here for the 2000 celebrations and probably is the most memorable child moment I will ever have. The park was epic!
Nothing can replace the original journey!!!!!!! It was Epcot!!!!!!!
Having only personally experienced the most recent incarnation of journey into imagination (once when i was 5 and again when i was 10), i do genuinely love the ride as it is now, but i honestly don’t think i’d enjoy it nearly as much if i’d been able to experience the original firsthand. Here’s to hoping disney will use some of their grotesque amount of wealth to restore it to its former glory sometime not too long from now
I absolutely hated the refurb of Journey into imagination i wish that they kept the orginal ride.
Kitsune Metal Reloaded IKR? The world would be a much better place if more and more people agreed with you to the point where they should’ve continued catering to your liking, regardless of time’s overall fickle nature!
*Kitsune Metal Reloaded* But sponsorship *is* capitalism at its best! What are you, a communist?
Sara Houck Wow you really showed him huh? It must get tiring winning internet arguments all the time with such a vast intellect, endowed with such a refined sense of sarcasm.
Blame Eisner. He like to micromanage and he was good at something but very good at ruining rides and parks.