Does the Epcot Imagination pavillion still have...

[4orm]

I haven't really been in the imagination pavillion since 1997. Last year I took in the horrible new ride which just depressed me, so right after it finished we walked out.
Anyhow, do they have any of the old interacting things?
The rainbow tunnel? The blue screen, where children take part in a show? And my old favorite...the conducting light with your hands! I LOVED that song!

 

[SueM in MN]

I haven't really been in the imagination pavillion since 1997. Last year I took in the horrible new ride which just depressed me, so right after it finished we walked out.
Anyhow, do they have any of the old interacting things?
The rainbow tunnel? The blue screen, where children take part in a show? And my old favorite...the conducting light with your hands! I LOVED that song!

They have some different interactive things, but the rainbow tunnel and the blue screen are gone.
They do still have some "conducting stations" and carpet with lighted pictures where you step and the sound from the picture is played.

 

[Micca]

I supposed they altered that pavilion due to low participation, but it sure has gone down hill.

 

[LoraJ]

Am I the only one who likes the new ride?

My boyfriend and I think it's cute.

 

[Bill_Sykes]

Am I the only one who likes the new ride?

My boyfriend and I think it's cute.

Since they revised it to include figment, it is much better. I like the current version

 

[ericafny]

Huh?!? I'm confused. They CHANGED it??? Forgive me, but I haven't been in a while...but how did they change it and why???

Erica

 

[SCOTTOHIOCPA]

They got rid of the original journey into imagination ride. It was replaced with a ride that did not have Figment or Dreamfinder in it that was terrible. I can't remember much about it because I have tried to block it out of my memory it was so bad. Then about 4 years ago they redid it and put Figment back in for parts.

I would say the new ride is a "c" ticket.

 

[ericafny]

Oh my, thats terrible...That ride brought back happy memories of my childhood. I remember going on that ride when I was a little girl (I am now in my mid-twenties) and loving it. So sad.

Erica

 

[Lizzybee]

We were just there over Spring Break and we walked through a rainbow tunnel and the kids played an VR jumping game then they could do a "dancing" video game in the next section. The tunnel was a small fiber optic type rainbow thing.

 

[Uncle Servo]

I have to agree I wasn't a big fan of the 'interim ride' they had after they yanked Dreamfinder and Figment... but I do like the current incarnation where Figment plays the 'agent of chaos' to turn someone's thinking upside down.

I'll always have fond memories of the original version, but as an update I like this one too.

 

[meeko_33785]

I like the current one too. It's not as elaborate as the original, but it's pretty cute. If you really liked the original, you will probably be disappointed, but I think that if you keep an open mind and enjoy it for what it is, you'll like it.

Just a tip: keep your eyes open for little tributes to many of Disney's science-themed movies such as Flubber, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and the Computer Wore Tennis Shoes that are hidden throughout the queue and ride. Definatly a nice touch for Disney fans. There's also a few homages to the orginal ride as well.

 

[minnie61650]

I miss the original Figment also. At least this one has Figment in it a lot more than the first redo. When Kodak sponsored the original Figment Disney signed a contract that the ride would be redone before the year 2000. For those of you never got to experience the original Figment or if you would like to relive it this is a great website.

http://figmentsimagination.com/

Here is an except from that website that explains why the Original Figment ride was Changed:

"It has been confirmed by a Disney source that the original Journey Into Imagination was closed due to a contract agreement between Kodak and Disney. The contract stated that JII was to be changed by the year 2000. The original JII, due to large amounts of projectors, sets, lighting and animatronics, was VERY expensive to maintain each year. JII was the most advanced attraction of its kind in the US when it opened in 1983. Even when it closed, the technology involved with producing the show was ahead of other theme park attractions. Many Imagineers were not at all happy about making the changes because they had fear that the new attraction would fail. Armed with a budget far less than they had to build the original JII, the replacement opened and the fans were not happy. WDI realized that mistakes were made but at this point, there is no physical way to return the attraction to its original state because of the way the building has been altered and the money that would be needed to do it is not there. The current budget to redo JIYI is still not enough to restore the magic we all miss. But we will be able to see Figment again! "




This excerpt is from this site:

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id37.htm

The chances of Figment making a full return looked bleak. Disney sold part of the ride props on eBay and used one of Dreamfinder's flying machines as a prop in the Mouse Gear store. Then the ride closed in the winter of 2002 for renovation and reopened in June of 2002 as Journey Into Imagination with Figment. While Eric Idle and the Imagination Institute are still featured, Figment has been added to every scene and a new version of One Little Spark is sung. Dreamfinder is still MIA but one of the lab office doors is now labeled as belonging to "Dean Finder".
Linda

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

The rainbow tunnel and many OTHER features are STILL INTACT ..... but UPSTAIRS! If you notice there are a few stairways that are blocked of which would lead you to where most of the old interactive features were! They just sit there, unused! It's a shame!!!!!!!

 

[Maleficent13]

One of the things I really miss about this pavilion is the old picture displays they used to have. I think Kodak sponsored national picture contests, and the winners were displayed at JII. I loved this, and would spend hours just looking at all the pics.