Figment ride's second floor

[makcool]

Why was the second floor of Journey into imagination closed? The entrance to it isn't hidden at all and from videos it seems like there is a lot of space for things to do.

 

[Sandy Fisher]

We've always wondered about that and I don't recall if I've seen any explanation. We hated (literally, and I don't hate much) the revised ride. The Dreamworks -- I think that's what it was called -- upstairs was a big attraction for all ages. Loved the musical floor.
Hope someone comes up with an answer. I saw one other time on here that someone had been upstairs as part of a tour.
Was it changed too? And THEN closed?
I'm sure Robo knows.

 

[kmb584]

I'm not sure anyone knows the real reason. When the Imagination Pavilion was renovated (and not for the better!) in 1998, Image Works was closed. I have fantastic childhood memories of the pin tables, musical floor, light tunnel, basically the 2nd floor in its entirety. I wish they'd revive it as DD would go nuts up there!

 

[kmb584]

We've always wondered about that and I don't recall if I've seen any explanation. We hated (literally, and I don't hate much) the revised ride. The Dreamworks -- I think that's what it was called -- upstairs was a big attraction for all ages. Loved the musical floor.
Hope someone comes up with an answer. I saw one other time on here that someone had been upstairs as part of a tour.
Was it changed too? And THEN closed?
I'm sure Robo knows.

They used to include Image Works on the Undiscovered Future World tour but I haven't heard of a tour group being brought up there in a while.

 

[klitteral2009]

I got curious, as I love abaondoned things/parks etc and searched for 'wdw imageworks' and found this? Seems to be on the current park site?

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/epcot/imageworks/

 

[hakepb]

I got curious, as I love abaondoned things/parks etc and searched for 'wdw imageworks' and found this? Seems to be on the current park site?

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/epcot/imageworks/

That describes the area at the (1st floor) exit of the Figment ride.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Just watched a video from everyone's "favorite" WDW explorer, and was shocked to see how everything up there is still in place. It literally looks like they just decided to close it one day, and never reopened it. Strange.

 

[BayouMickey]

Just watched a video from everyone's "favorite" WDW explorer, and was shocked to see how everything up there is still in place. It literally looks like they just decided to close it one day, and never reopened it. Strange.

Yup EVERYTHING is still up there in place and undisturbed. Official reasoning was accessabilty issues for handicapped.

 

[Mitzicat]

I'm not sure anyone knows the real reason. When the Imagination Pavilion was renovated (and not for the better!) in 1998, Image Works was closed. I have fantastic childhood memories of the pin tables, musical floor, light tunnel, basically the 2nd floor in its entirety. I wish they'd revive it as DD would go nuts up there!

I have these same fond memories. That light tunnel was my favorite. And I also remember camping out on the padded benches under the glass pyramid roof waiting for the afternoon thunderstorm to pass. It was so cool to be able to watch the rain and lightening.

 

[Mitzicat]

Yup EVERYTHING is still up there in place and undisturbed. Official reasoning was accessabilty issues for handicapped.

I remember reading this somewhere as well. But they had an elevator? or are they talking about the "play" areas. Now I was a kid so everything was bigger, but I remember seeing folks in wheelchairs being able to play with all the different things. The light tunnel was wide enough that three of us could walk side by side and still have room. Hmm..maybe they will bring something back if the rumor I read yesterday on DIS was true that they are closing for a year.

 

[BayouMickey]

I remember reading this somewhere as well. But they had an elevator? or are they talking about the "play" areas. Now I was a kid so everything was bigger, but I remember seeing folks in wheelchairs being able to play with all the different things. The light tunnel was wide enough that three of us could walk side by side and still have room. Hmm..maybe they will bring something back if the rumor I read yesterday on DIS was true that they are closing for a year.

I noticed the elevator too.. Only thing I can think of is that it may have caused major congestion?

 

[Mitzicat]

I noticed the elevator too.. Only thing I can think of is that it may have caused major congestion?

You could be right about the congestion. I remember (20 some years ago) that the elevator was near the stairs? While elevator wasn't anywhere near the activities upstairs (more in a common area), I do remember a lot of folks waiting in a group.

Just thought of another thing...back when it was open you didn't see as many (if any) motorized scooters and chairs...maybe the elevator wasn't big enough for them. Wasn't the elevator round? My memory could be failing me

 

[Mitzicat]

duplicate posting

 

[kmb584]

I have these same fond memories. That light tunnel was my favorite. And I also remember camping out on the padded benches under the glass pyramid roof waiting for the afternoon thunderstorm to pass. It was so cool to be able to watch the rain and lightening.

I think I drove my family nuts because I would want to spend literally hours in there. My favorite feature were the coloring kiosks. The pictures were on a screen and the colors on a keyboard-like machine. The Figment coloring stations in the ho-hum IW now don't even compare!

 

[wiigirl]

I think I drove my family nuts because I would want to spend literally hours in there. My favorite feature were the coloring kiosks. The pictures were on a screen and the colors on a keyboard-like machine. The Figment coloring stations in the ho-hum IW now don't even compare!

 

[MaxsDad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitzicat

I remember reading this somewhere as well. But they had an elevator? or are they talking about the "play" areas. Now I was a kid so everything was bigger, but I remember seeing folks in wheelchairs being able to play with all the different things. The light tunnel was wide enough that three of us could walk side by side and still have room. Hmm..maybe they will bring something back if the rumor I read yesterday on DIS was true that they are closing for a year.

I noticed the elevator too.. Only thing I can think of is that it may have caused major congestion?

I would guess it is probably more than just congestion. If there were an emergency you couldn't get all the disabled people out in a timely enough manner.



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[circus4u]

Our family had passes for several years until we moved from Florida in 1996, so we spent a lot of time there since we lived less than an hour away. I don't ever remember there being a back-up waiting for the elevator. Some times, we rode the elevator back down to the main level and we were the only ones on it. Perhaps the elevator story was only the "official reason" provided for closing down the second floor.

 

[pigletto]

Even if it was congestion issues I am sure during a year long rehab they could redesign it to be more efficient or even have an attendant so the elevator was strictly for those who needed it, or add an escalator as well as stairs like they have in the Living with the Land pavilion. There are plenty of options.

Now excuse me while I go throw on my Figment t-shirt from the 80's and make the signs for my sit-in. I'll be the one chanting "Bring it Back!!! Bring it Back!!". Make sure to wave as I am being hauled away

 

[SueM in MN]

I remember reading this somewhere as well. But they had an elevator? or are they talking about the "play" areas. Now I was a kid so everything was bigger, but I remember seeing folks in wheelchairs being able to play with all the different things. The light tunnel was wide enough that three of us could walk side by side and still have room. Hmm..maybe they will bring something back if the rumor I read yesterday on DIS was true that they are closing for a year.

There was an elevator. We went up in it many times with DD in her wheelchair. It was pretty big and was made with glass walls. We sometimes had to wait a bit, but I remember it as better than the elevator in The Land is currently.
There is always a back up for that.

We loved the rainbow tunnel. It also didn't matter if the elevator brought you directly to that area or not; there were always different photo exhibits to walk thru on the way from the elevator to the play area.

The exhibits were also pretty much all accessible - and she was a very small child at the time, so if they were accessible to her, they would have been to everyone using a wheelchair.
Remember, they were made or kids to use - so were at various levels for children of different sizes.

There may be a fire safety issue with having only one way for guests with mobility devices to get out. But, they should be able to figure that out. They could put a ramp that empties out back stage for emergency use only. For all I know, they may have had one, but only for emergencies so we never saw it.

EDITED TO ADD: I thought there was a way to get from the second floor to th lobby of the 3D theater, but I wasn't sure.
Some of the websites I've found confirm there was, so emergency evacuation could have occurred by going out that way.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here are some sites with good information and pictures

http://www.lostepcot.com/imagination.html

http://epcot1982.blogspot.com/2010/06/gather-store-re-combine-history-of.html


http://epcot1982.blogspot.com/2010/10/gather-store-re-combine-history-of.html

That also includes a picture of the stairs and elevator - both delivered guests to the same point upstairs.