Missed only one ride - please tell me it's ok!

[marmermea]

I read the books, I had a perfect touring plan. We followed the plan and visited every park and went on every ride we wanted to. And then, it happened. Gasp! We missed a planned ride! We were running out of time before our ADR and a CM told me that Journey into Imagination... with Figment, one of three rides that we had missed, would be open until 9:00. And after dinner, when we went back, it was closed! I was so disappointed. I have two DD's aged 8 and 9. We were so close!

So, please break the news gently. Did we miss a great one, or is it just ok?

 

[fuji]

This ride is just o.k.. On our first trip to Disney two years ago we all went on it, my kids were 10 and 6. Last year they both chose not to return. So in my opinion, you didn't miss much.

 

[shellybaxter]

I love the figment ride - I think its really cute - but I wouldn't worry about missing it- I'd just use this as a reason to plan your next trip - "but honey we have to go back we haven't ridden figment!!"

 

[cdrn1]

Several years back, I rode Figment for the first time and LOVED it and couldn't believe I had passed it up all those years. Then I rode it again in March, and it was just so-so...I am assuming they changed it at some point? Or is it a case of the "first time" being extra special???

 

[kurt90]

I've actually never gone on this ride, but when I miss a ride it just gives me something to look forward to on the next trip!

 

[autumnbaby9]

Figment was cute and worth seeing once, but it is not something to be upset about not seeing. Just try seeing the next time you go.

 

[rlovew]

Years ago it was great but they have changed it twice since it opened that I know of, it is better now than when it opened for a second time but not nearly as amazing as the original ride was. At this point you missed a cute but forgetable ride and the smell of skunk.

 

[Anastasia]

I rode this one time - in February of 2004, and I was completely unimpressed. It seemed pointless to me, and not up to Disney standards. It's impressive that you only missed one ride!

 

[DisneyDadof3]

Personally - missing a ride or missing a couple characters or a park or whatever just sounds like a good reason to go back.

 

[David R]

The only good thing about Imagination is that it's always a walk on and it's a nice break from the heat whenever you need it. You didn't miss much but now you have another reason to plan another trip

I miss the original one. That was a good ride.

 

[bytheblood]

We find it to be lame.

Besides, now you need to plan another trip.

 

[Zoie]

I took my first trip to Disney at age 11, and FELL IN LOVE with Figment. We HATED Epcot (11, brother 7, sister 5) but LOVED Figment, it was the only thing in the entire park that we considered fun. (Epcot has done a great job in adding more things for children over the years!)

My next trip was when our high school band went to play in Epcot. We LOVED Figment yet again, and a whole group of us went skipping through the parks singing the Imagination song for the rest of the week. <G>

I've been back to Disney but only one day Magic Kingdom trips until last year. I was disappointed in the Figment ride. I don't remember WHAT it used to be like, I only remember I LOVED it then, and it was only so-so now.

For old times sake, however, I AM still in love with Figment himself and can't wait for our Dec trip since I never knew until recently that Figment does character greetings!!! So I plan to put him on a shirt and have my picture made with him. I can't wait! But it WOULD be nice if they'd bring the old ride back, or revamp the new one to make it better...

 

[LadyZolt]

We took our kids to Disney World a few times when they were younger and they loved "Figment." Then, after it changed to the mediocre thing it is now, we went back. While in line for it, my eldest son kept saying how silly this ride was, how it's for "little kids," and how he was only getting on it because we were making him. He was, as you can guess, in his surly teenage years (as I call them -- LOL!). Well, he went on it and was SO disappointed! He kept saying how sad it was that they changed it. I preferred the older version to the current one, but whenever I go on Figment now, I remember how my son showed how much he really did enjoy the one he rode as a little kid. I hope someday Disney brings back that version we all love so much.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I don't think you missed much. I'm glad you got to do everything you pretty much wanted to though. I've been worried that I'm planning to much per day. How many attractions did you get to see per day?

 

[WeirdTigger27]

My husband tells me that the original Figment ride had a character called the "Dreamfinder". This accounts for Zoie not liking it as much. I will point him toward this thread, I never went on the original ride. The new version I can give a solid meh. I would go in the "play room" again that's after the ride. We didn't really do much there since they were ready to close up for the night.

 

[Liz]

We loved the old Figment ride. The new one is just okay. It made my DD cry because there's one point where there's a blast of air in your face and a very loud noise. You didn't miss much.

 

[kimberh]

I don't know Why Disney changed Figment? We just loved that ride and now it is better than the second version, but still not like the first. When my children were younger they were allowed one stuffed animal and my son choose a $29.99 Figment. We still have it. It is good size. Out of the 3 parks ( that's all there was) he wanted Figment after riding the ride. Now I doubt that happens because to the ride.

 

[tripplanner]

I really wouldn't worry about missing it. I always loved the first version of the ride. The newer version is just not that exciting. We usually ride it, but it's nothing special.

 

[marmermea]

Thanks so much for the answers. I was really feeling bad about missing this one when we were so close. Of course, I love the idea of planning another trip, but realistically, it will probably be 2-3 years and my DD's are 8 and 9 now. So the appeal of any kids ride could change once they are 11 and 12.

mickeysgirl,

We hit the parks before opening each day and used the touring plans from the Unofficial Guide. We did skip rides such as teacups, Dumbo,flying carpets and Asto Orbiters at MK, but rode everything else! That included one afternoon and one EMH - 8:00 - 4:45.

At Epcot, we went one evening and did Turtle Talk with Crush and most of the countries. Then we went for opening and stayed all day and did everything else except Figment.

At AK, we arrived for opening and left at 5:00 and did everthing except the flying dinosaurs at Dinoland and the Pocohontas show (which we heard was not that great).

At MGM, we arrived for opening and stayed through Fantasmic and did a little less, because the crowds were much larger. We had just done MGM last trip and left out the little kid rides and some of the shows we had already seen. It's funny but the Unofficial Guide says you can do MGM easily in a day, and both trips, this is the park that we had the hardest time doing in a day. I think it is because the shows are scheduled and every one is packed so you have to line up early.

Anyway, that was our trip. October was extremely hot this past week and much more crowded than our last trip in January. I think we'll go in January next time!

 

[David R]

UPDATE: I'm going to make a new thread with these videos since I'm sure there are other people who would like to see this who may not come into this thread.

For those of you who don't remember the original ride, Journey Into Imagination, here's a video of it:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nhEEBPnuro
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9E4yNg_eFI
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpSpNCg0MV8

It's a little dated so some things are hard to see, but you'll get an idea of what it used to be like. Although it doesn't do it justice, you know how different it is to experience a ride in person vs. watching a video.

There's a single part video out there too but I don't think it shows things as well as this one and the audio is much better in this 3 part video.

Enjoy!