Journey into Imagination with Figment closing

[JenSop]

I think it is important to keep education as a part of Epcot. I like rides like Soarin' and Test Track but also think Living With the Land and Ellen's Energy Adventure should stay.

I think that WOL should be refurbished and reopened. The human body is fascinating and should be the focus of a pavilion IMO. There were some good attractions in there back in the day and if they give BodyWars the same treatment they gave StarTours they can make it another must do attraction. With the childhood obesity epidemic only getting worse having a pavilion that talks about health would be a good thing.

I think they really missed the ball on Mission:SPACE. That isn't to say I don't like the attraction, I do. I just think that the ride should have been part of a bigger space-themed pavilion. My favorite pavilion is The Land. It has an educational film, an educational "dark ride" (kind of) and a more thrilling ride (I hesitate to call it a thrill ride). I think doing a space pavilion that included the current Mission:SPACE ride along with a dark ride along the lines of a shortened and updated Horizons and then maybe a film or planetarium-style room would be the way to go.

All that being said I think getting the Imagination Pavilion back closer to the original only updated would be a welcomed change. I would also welcome a new 3D movie. I have no idea what that movie should be.

All of this is merely my opinion.

Totally agree! Education should be in the forefront. I feel they do that a little bit in The Seas and The Land, but should keep expanding on that. I love the idea of a space themed pavilion. (Heck, I watch a lot of the science channel - it's my fave!)

And please, MORE FIGMENT!!!!!!!!!

 

[StitchSpawn]

I just really hope they are not pushing Figment aside to make room for that teddy bear that came to life premise.

No! I hope not either...I like teddy bears, but I think Duffy is slightly re****ed next to Figment who is aweome! Disney has Winnie the Pooh, that should be enough -.-

 

[Robo]

Education should be in the forefront.

I want entertainment to be in the forefront.

People can learn while being entertained.

 

[RumpleMom]

I have always thought these, "CM said..." threads were Disney Marketing research

So the concensus is that we love Figment. Do you hear that Disney?

IMHO he should be the mascot for Epcot. The Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow should be based on Imagination. Figment is your character. He should be all over Epcot. The original music is your theme song.

I have always wondered about the choice of the skunk smell in the redone ride. Really, with all of the choices of scents, they chose skunk! I imagined someone laughing their head off when that choice got approved.

 

[Br'erBriere]

The title of this thread is very misleading.

How many times has a poster said "A CM told me..." not only on this board but others and it has been completely false.

While everyone probably agrees the ride needs updating, unless I see a valid source and confirmation it is simply not true and I am not believing the original post.

Edit: I think the title of this thread needs to be changed.

 

[FireDancer]

I want entertainment to be in the forefront.

People can learn while being entertained.

The two aren't mutually exclusive. What was the original term Disney used for Epcot? Edutainment or something like that?

 

[doconeill]

I want entertainment to be in the forefront.

People can learn while being entertained.

The two aren't mutually exclusive. What was the original term Disney used for Epcot? Edutainment or something like that?

Some of the best forms of education are when you don't know you are being educated...

 

[psac]

I have always wondered about the choice of the skunk smell in the redone ride. Really, with all of the choices of scents, they chose skunk! I imagined someone laughing their head off when that choice got approved.

My wife won't go on the ride anymore because of the skunk smell.

 

[WINTER]

I will have to say that the ride I will never miss is The Gran Fiesta in Mexico. Geez! We did this attraction a few weeks ago. To us . . . what a waste of time!

 

[BDL]

The more I think about this, the more distraught I get. I was at EPCOT in '83 (I think I still have the t-shirt). And there was Figment. The cute new dragon. The 1st independent Disney character I could remember. Wasn't Mickey, Donald or Goofy. You got the feel that this was a place where you could put your own spin on things.

As the years have gone by, the more mainstream Disney characters have been pouring over. No more Rio de Tiempo (now it's Donald's). The expo centers are now stores and character meet n greets.

I know Disney is in the business of business. And spreading the character brand is part of that. But instead of potentially casting aside an icon that I and many others associate with EPCOT, why not expand his role?

SAVE FIGMENT!!!!

 

[Mickeysgirl34]

I just really hope they are not pushing Figment aside to make room for that teddy bear that came to life premise.

Oh please. Don't let this be true.

 

[college_student]

I spoke with a cast member at Epcot yesterday. She mentioned Journey into Imagination with Figment was closing. I asked her what will take its place, she didnt know. anyone hear about this? Maybe a new sponsor?

I rode it one time...never rode it again. It just didn't appeal to me. I would be interested to see what they put in to replace it.

 

[Robo]

Really?

Nine pages (so far) on "the CM said..." info from a first-time poster?

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Really?

Nine pages (so far) on "the CM said..." info from a first-time poster?

I know!

Mods - can we get this moved to the Rumors thread?

Then more people don't have to waste their time reading this like I did b/c of a sensational rumor in the title.

 

[SueM in MN]

At this point I will comment that it would not be very hard to reinstate the original. The turntable and original tracks were not removed. Flooring was put in over the tracks; when that is removed the original tracks will be in place and structurally sound.

Ron, who was the original walk-around Dreamfinder (for about two years) was the one who was at Destination-D in May (and interviewed in the current Orlando Attractions magazine). Steve, who was the primary walk-around Dreamfinder for 15½ years before the original ride closed currently lives in the Orlando area; although he does not currently work for Disney, he would be willing to drop his current job and return. If you remember meeting Dreamfinder, it was probably Steve.

There were so many wonderful things my family loved at Epcot.
Figment with Dreamfinder was one of our favorites. We have some reallyi sweet pictures of our kids with Dreamfinder and Figment.

I know!

Mods - can we get this moved to the Rumors thread?

Then more people don't have to waste their time reading this like I did b/c of a sensational rumor in the title.

good idea.
I think the thread has morphed from the rumor by the first time poster to a remembrance thread with hopeful thinking ( but realizing that the rumor is totally a rumor).

 

[TheAceOfAces]

Really?

Nine pages (so far) on "the CM said..." info from a first-time poster?

To quote the little kid at Pop Century: "Mommy, I love the nine!"

Sorry, it had to be said.

 

[TLinden16]

Since there hasn't been official word on this, I'm going to move this to our rumors board.

 

[ASteelersMidget]

So, I really don't feel like reading this from the beginning. Anyone want to let me know a general gist of the last 10 pages?

Also, So is this actually happening? If Disney Closes JII it will be a very sad day in my house.

 

[Mickeysgirl34]

So, I really don't feel like reading this from the beginning. Anyone want to let me know a general gist of the last 10 pages?

Also, So is this actually happening? If Disney Closes JII it will be a very sad day in my house.

Someone heard from a CM that JIIWF is closing but doesn't know when. I'll believe it when I heard it from Disney but I don't think Figment is going anywhere.

 

[BDL]

Someone heard from a CM that JIIWF is closing but doesn't know when. I'll believe it when I heard it from Disney but I don't think Figment is going anywhere.

Not to sound like a doom bringer or to step on your toes... But I felt the exact same way when I first heard the rumors that they were getting rid of the clubs at Pleasure Island. And then again when I heard the rumors that Mr. Toad and Snow White's Scary Adventures were going away.

Each of them I thought would be a staple that would endure.