For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

[kcnole]

There is a wonderful article on allears about it this week. It really made me miss the original ride and Figment.

You can read it here:

http://allearsnet.com/tp/ep/jyi_archive.htm

[AtomicBear]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

From the ink posted...

This 13-minute, multisensory experience was unlike any other in Walt Disney World. An instant "classic dark ride", it was made up of 10 distinct show scenes that told the story of Figment's journey to discovering how to use his (and our) imagination. On a technical level, it was also unique in that the cars were part of long trains that would separate and join at various times throughout the attraction, and even had varying speeds ranging from 1.3 to 3.0 ft./second. The load area was built on a rotating platter, and led to the "preshow", where you were greeted by a picture of Figment welcoming us to the pavilion, as well as a series of mural showing various scenes from the ride. The first scene was called the "Flight to the Imagination." Here, the train separated into 4 individual cars which took a place on a 75 foot diameter revolving disc. Each of these cars watched one of 5 identical scenes, while walls traveling on the turntable isolated the ride vehicles. So that giant Flying machine the Dreamfinder was riding when you met him? Yeah, that was one of 5! The walls then retracted and Guests traveled along with Dreamfinder as he takes Figment (voiced by Billy Barty) to the Dreamport.

Wow, 5 of the same scene. I watched the video, but could not see it happen. It would be cool to see a plan for the ride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nhEEBPnuro

[SweetPeaRules]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

Aww I miss the original Journey Into Imagination.

[Ghostbuster626]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

yea remember when Imagineering actually made good attractions?

[InnerSpace]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

I don't know why they got rid of the DreamFinder, when he's the one that created Figment. And that small period when they were both taken out in Journey Into Your Imagination. I'd always wondered about that giant flying machine scene.

[disneygirl]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

I miss it too. Great family ride. I miss the play area upstairs. That was great fun.

[TheDisneyMagic]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

I do miss Journey into Imagintion dearly, I like the current attraction but it is not a spark on the original.

Who knows, one day we may see some changes here.

[Jerren]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

I honestly think when they decided to change that attraction it was the point that the parks started to go downhill... Nothing they have done since in that space or even the rest of Epcot Center can hold a candle to the original Journey into Imagination... :crybye:

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

Isn't he a figment of Dreamfinder's imagination?

No dreamfinder, no figment of his imagination.

Makes no sense.

[sorceress1986]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

I heard John Lasseter wants to look in reviving the Imagination Pavilion quite a bit. Let's have a little hope, shall we?

[FigmentJedi]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

I've said it before, but haven't really posted it, but Figment is Epcot's Boy Who Lived. Think about it, the tyrannical regime of a dark lord (you all know full well who I'm referring too) leads to the end of numerous original Epcot characters, including Dreamfinder who plays a double role of parent and Dumbledore figure, but Figment was the only one to survive. Even with the craptacular Millennium update, Figment still had a minuscule role in it. And he did manage to outlast that Dark Lord and from the looks of things, there are some characters coming back into Epcot, though mostly movie-based in origin.
What? It's a perfectly good comparison!

[Jerren]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

I've said it before, but haven't really posted it, but Figment is Epcot's Boy Who Lived. Think about it, the tyrannical regime of a dark lord (you all know full well who I'm referring too) leads to the end of numerous original Epcot characters, including Dreamfinder who plays a double role of parent and Dumbledore figure, but Figment was the only one to survive. Even with the craptacular Millennium update, Figment still had a minuscule role in it. And he did manage to outlast that Dark Lord and from the looks of things, there are some characters coming back into Epcot, though mostly movie-based in origin.
What? It's a perfectly good comparison!

Except perhaps the ill-fated version of the ride that had no figment at all... as I recall it only lasted a couple years before they closed it and brought figment back again, I'll have to check my "Figment's Back!" T-Shirt to see if it has the date on it... Unless you want to count that time as a parallel for being locked in the cupboard under the stairs growing up...

[ChrisFL]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

Except perhaps the ill-fated version of the ride that had no figment at all... as I recall it only lasted a couple years before they closed it and brought figment back again, I'll have to check my "Figment's Back!" T-Shirt to see if it has the date on it... Unless you want to count that time as a parallel for being locked in the cupboard under the stairs growing up...

figment was still there, in the preshow iirc

[flynnibus]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

The queue/lobby of the original pavilion is more inspiring then the entire attraction they have today. That video is just depressing to be reminded of what entering that pavilion used to be like compared to the dark tunnels they put you through now and just ignore that entire gem.

[cyberworm]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

I was disappointed when I was there in september of 06. Granted it had been a long time since I had been there as a kid and remembered how great the ride was, and looked forward to taking my son on that same ride. I had expected some upgrades to keep with the times (ahead of the times?) but what it had turned into was disappointing to say the least. An attraction about the imagination seemed to have moved backward instead of forward.

I remember after the ride finding a Figment puppet and a really cool Figment t shirt, which was great and later in another park a cast member noticed my shirt. We stopped and talked for a few moments about the ride and figment and the loss of dreamfinder, and he had mentioned there was talk of a resurrection because of fan disappointment.

I'm planning a trip there in June and was poking around to see if anything had come of that, and sadly it looks as though it hasn't.

Here's to hoping someone can imagine something better than a slot machine blowing funky smells at us.

[aimster]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

The original was probably my all-time favorite WDW attraction. I loved the blues & purples in the lobby/queue area. It was modern/trippy yet classic (and still would be if it was still there). I loved the all white room in the ride and the room where you can see the movies of Figment's fantasies (cowboy, sailor, superhero, etc). The Image Works upstairs was awesome. So sad it's still all up there and mostly intact too. I loved the rainbow tunnel to no end. I could spend hours up there playing.


I would give anything to see an updated refresh of the original and to have the upstairs area reopened.

[Stitchy]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

well, the only version I've seen is the one ther eis now...and I like it. My daughter LOVES Figment. It's her favorite ride in Epcot. And she LOVES the giant camera in the play area....and the sound floor. She could stay there all day if we left her. And I LOVE the song...(imaaagination, imaaagination)....and Dr. Nigel Channing.

[tasman]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

The original was the best dark ride in Orlando. Is there any way to lobby to bring it back?

I've not ridden the current version and from what I've seen in videos, I'm not going to, either. It's just an insult to the memory of the original.

Current Disney mantra: if it ain't broke, break it.

[aimster]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

well, the only version I've seen is the one ther eis now...and I like it. My daughter LOVES Figment. It's her favorite ride in Epcot. And she LOVES the giant camera in the play area....and the sound floor. She could stay there all day if we left her. And I LOVE the song...(imaaagination, imaaagination)....and Dr. Nigel Channing.

The song is from the original ride. It's called "One Little Spark". It was brought back by popular demand.

The original Image Works upstairs had a better sound floor.


Figment was at his best in the original.... curious and fun. Not a Bugs Bunny wannabe.

[flotsam_mike]

Re: For all the Journey into Imagination Fans

Usually I tend to shy away from the "it used to be better" mode of thinking. Unfortunately with Journey into the Imagination its near impossible. The ride that is there now is ok, but doesn't deserve the name.