Journey Into Imagination Refurbishment

[belloq87]

It's probably not realistic to hope that this is any sort of mini trial balloon, but it's still nice to see Figment in a new piece of media (and whichever performer is doing the new voice sounds great):

 

[UniversalRBLX]

It's probably not realistic to hope that this is any sort of mini trial balloon, but it's still nice to see Figment in a new piece of media (and whichever performer is doing the new voice sounds great):

Disney knows how valuable Figment is, but it's a hard sell in today's world to justify a new attraction in the $150M+ range on a non-major blockbuster IP.

Not saying it won't happen (I think it will in the 2nd phase of "turbocharging" the parks) but it's taken so long due to how difficult it is to sell an original concept to corporate leaders nowadays. Disney would have to go through their entire IP catalog to justify choosing Figment over other IPs that could fit into the Imagination pavilion concept (or entirely replace).


I can't imagine what type of debates have to be weathered to prioritize Figment versus something inspired by Inside Out, Incredibles, etc.

 

[MrRoamer]

We just watched this last night and it was absolutely perfect. Figment's real voice, his creation part in the song, the dreamfinder vehicle, Figment's attitude and behavior. Everything that made Figment, Figment is recreated exactly as it should have been.

It made me extremely hopeful that OG Figment is coming back

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I can't imagine what type of debates have to be weathered to prioritize Figment versus something inspired by Inside Out, Incredibles, etc.

If they replace Journey Into Imagination, it will probably be a ride with both Inside Out and Figment. Just because they're more inclined to greenlight fan favorite ideas doesn't mean they're going to ignore one of their billion dollar properties. Just have the emotions in the Dreamfinder role.

Obviously, the better option would be a higher capacity Cranium Command.

 

[tielo]

Imagine you have an original ip that is slapped on a ton of merch as it is highly beloved and recognized and it has an attractions that had so many downgrades that the lines are a walk-on most of the time. And you have an empty pavilion where you can satisfy your urge to shove as much ip as possible into Epcot but is empty. Why can't both be an option, a well rounded pavilion about imagination with Dreamfinder and Figment and Inside Out in their own pavilion.

 

[SkiBum]

Imagine you have an original ip that is slapped on a ton of merch as it is highly beloved and recognized and it has an attractions that had so many downgrades that the lines are a walk-on most of the time. And you have an empty pavilion where you can satisfy your urge to shove as much ip as possible into Epcot but is empty. Why can't both be an option, a well rounded pavilion about imagination with Dreamfinder and Figment and Inside Out in their own pavilion.

This. I'm not the Inside Out fan that many are (don't hold it against me) but they have the Wonders of Life pavilion just sitting there collecting dust. More capacity at Epcot wouldn't be a bad thing and would round out that side of FutureWorld (not going to look up what that area is now called, World Something). Either bring back JII or update it effectively while adding an Inside Out ride and Disney has two wins on their hands.

 

[Legacy]

Imagine you have an original ip that is slapped on a ton of merch as it is highly beloved and recognized and it has an attractions that had so many downgrades that the lines are a walk-on most of the time. And you have an empty pavilion where you can satisfy your urge to shove as much ip as possible into Epcot but is empty. Why can't both be an option, a well rounded pavilion about imagination with Dreamfinder and Figment and Inside Out in their own pavilion.

I think it would be more expensive to essentially rebuild Wonders of Life than retheme a perfectly functional ride system.

Disney is viewing it as one or the other. Not both.

 

[MrRoamer]

I still think Inside Out could fit in pretty decent with the Wonders of Life pavilion. Inside Out has an imagination area but it can just as easily be adapted to mental health and a broader idea. Having that big of a building sitting empty for so long is maddening. Same could be said for roughly half(?) of the imagination pavilion.

I never see anyone up there and can't imagine anyone cares about seeing some decade old shorts or that meet n greet that (was? is?) up there

Sad, I'm diehard Figment but I haven't been on that ride or in that building in at least 2 years

 

[Jake S]

but i’m also not a fan of inside out, so i suppose it’s a moot point.

 

[belloq87]

View attachment 29186

But in all seriousness, did you experience the original Journey into Imagination, or have you seen the videos of it? If your only exposure to the character is the current ride, it's understandable to be underwhelmed and have no attachment to him.

 

[Jake S]

But in all seriousness, did you experience the original Journey into Imagination, or have you seen the videos of it? If your only exposure to the character is the current ride, it's understandable to be underwhelmed and have no attachment to him.

I've seen videos of the original attraction, but my first trip to Epcot wasn't until the early 2010s. I just find the character very, very corny. And don't get me wrong, I like corny from time to time! But Figment is not my cup of tea.

 

[SkiBum]

I've seen videos of the original attraction, but my first trip to Epcot wasn't until the early 2010s. I just find the character very, very corny. And don't get me wrong, I like corny from time to time! But Figment is not my cup of tea.

Honestly, I don't care for the current ride at all. I probably rode it in the early 90's but cannot remember it for anything. It's why I think that a completely new ride featuring Figment would be better than trying to work with what is there. If they keep the same ride system and just redo everything else that would probably work. I really like Eric Idle but just not the material he was given to work with.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I've seen videos of the original attraction, but my first trip to Epcot wasn't until the early 2010s. I just find the character very, very corny. And don't get me wrong, I like corny from time to time! But Figment is not my cup of tea.

the OG concept was more of a guide through imagination and was pretty endeering vs the more late 90s little poop version we have right now. i'd say give him another chance if they do a reimagining based on the OG concept.

 

[Legacy]

the OG concept was more of a guide through imagination and was pretty endeering vs the more late 90s little poop version we have right now. i'd say give him another chance if they do a reimagining based on the OG concept.

This. I remember adoring Figment when I was a kid riding the OG because he was, basically, a kid trying to learn the bounds of his own creativity just like any other kid. He was probably corny back then too, but he was corny like a child showing off their artwork; It’s corny, genuine and endearing at the same time.

When they brought him back, they needed a balance to Channing. I get that. And that’s hard because they’ve already established Channing as a character—he supports imagination and innovation but has a limited view of its utility (we actually see it in Honey I Shrunk…). So, using Figment to educate Channing was the right call. But they reworked Figment as a know-it-all disruptor, ostensibly using him as a Nega-Dreamfinder, when he could have just stayed an inquisitive child. If the dynamic was more “child-parent,” where Figment’s inquisitiveness was the thing that drove Channing to learn, the current attraction would hew closer in tone to the original.

I actually like the Imagination Institute as a piece of world-building. I’d hate to see it go, because I think leveraging a “scientific” setting to explore imagination helps illustrate how logic and creativity inform each other. I don’t even hate the “five senses” structure of the current attraction (though it needs to get plussed). A new Institute Director, getting coaxed along by a genuinely curious dragon would go a long way with relatively low effort.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I actually like the Imagination Institute as a piece of world-building. I’d hate to see it go, because I think leveraging a “scientific” setting to explore imagination helps illustrate how logic and creativity inform each other. I don’t even hate the “five senses” structure of the current attraction (though it needs to get plussed). A new Institute Director, getting coaxed along by a genuinely curious dragon would go a long way with relatively low effort.

If they could modernize the current attraction with improved effects and better propping (not just a bare warehouse theme), the ride would be doing just fine. I don't necessarily think Figment needs an E-ticket level attraction, but it would help provide a good high-quality alternative to the other major additions to Epcot.

I've posted it about it before, but I like the idea of the Imagination Institute becoming (as odd as it sounds) an Imagineering showcase. It's weird, but Imagineering has become an IP of sorts and I think they deserve a showcase somewhere in the parks.

The post show could become a major hub for Imagineering's latest R&D, ride models for future experiences, etc. The cruise ships have them, I think the parks should too.