Redo of The Journey into Imagination

[old lady]

https://********************.com/20...d-redo-journey-into-imagination-with-figment/
Is this really possible? Can he really EPCOT and return the magic?

 

[randumb0]

I think they would scrap it first

 

[Krandor]

I think they would scrap it first

You can't scrap figment. He deserves a ride but a better one then he has now.

I'd love to see a redo but likely isn't on the cards for a while given current financial situation. Scrapping it and building something new likely isn't on the cards either.

 

[Mit88]

Scrapping Figment and relegating him to a festival mascot would be devastating. Its not that Figment is unable to have an attraction worthy of being in EPCOT, because he has. Its that they decided to make his attraction too gimmicky. Slapping an IP in there like Inside Out might draw more people into the building, but Figment is a beloved character that would flourish if he just received some love and care from Disney.

 

[Krandor]

Scrapping Figment and relegating him to a festival mascot would be devastating. Its not that Figment is unable to have an attraction worthy of being in EPCOT, because he has. Its that they decided to make his attraction too gimmicky. Slapping an IP in there like Inside Out might draw more people into the building, but Figment is a beloved character that would flourish if he just received some love and care from Disney.

Agreed. Let's not forget that when Epcot opened he was really the only "character" in Epcot and he held down that fort very nicely.

 

[dominickolas]

Of course they could make a good Figment ride. He has the power of imagination. He can use that power to even invoke IP's that Disney owns during the ride. I think the big danger creatively is to not infantilize him. If you don't mind the sidebar, Elmo of Sesame Street has been infantilzed to great marketing success. He became a baby subbrand of Sesame Street.

Figment has childlike wonder and creativity. I like Dream Finder too. It is good to have a team. He serves as a positive reinforcement of the benefits of non linear thinking.

As many jobs get replaced by machines, many encourage stem learning to program them and utilize them. However the arts and creativity have a major role and can be celebrated here. I think most Disney goers appreciate the creativity that led to the parks along with all of the engineering.

 

[ToyStoryManiaMouse]

Oh please I hope they completely redo it. Maybe with the imagination and creativity that has gone into some of the other amazing track less dark rides. Would be so awesome!

 

[jkh36619]

Figment has 2 problems. 1 Epcot is transforming away from a park of imagination and education. 2 Figment is only beloved by Disney Fanatics like ourselves. Not saying the are going to scrap the ride, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

 

[rteetz]

Figment has 2 problems. 1 Epcot is transforming away from a park of imagination and education. 2 Figment is only beloved by Disney Fanatics like ourselves. Not saying the are going to scrap the ride, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

Figment as a character is quite loved/valuable. That’s why he is on much of the merchandise. Figment merch always sells well too.

 

[Krandor]

Figment as a character is quite loved/valuable. That’s why he is on much of the merchandise. Figment merch always sells well too.

it Does. I’m kinda surprised Disney hasn’t tried a figment and dream catcher movie to be honest. Or a figment series on Disney+.

 

[BrianL]

I'm not one of thos who absolutely hates the current version, though I would like to see it redone. It could definitely be improved.

 

[jkh36619]

I just never hear the casual disney world traveler mention figment.

 

[jknezek]

I just never hear the casual disney world traveler mention figment.

That's because the current ride is terrible and hardly worthy of a park icon. Figment really plays to the pre-1999 Disney traveler. The redo created by a soon to be bankrupt Kodak and a cheapskate Disney left nothing for the current casual traveler to fall in love with. Yes, he's still a symbol of EPCOT, but without the modern, functional link to create a real attachment. Disney could and should fix it, but now that EPCOT is finally getting some much overdue love, 2020 has struck in full and I suspect Figment is, well, out of luck. And this time he may just run out of time before the money and will comes around again.

It's really sad for me. He was one of my favorites as a kid. I loved that pavilion in the 80s and early 90s. Between that and the dinosaurs and Spaceship Earth, I could put up with my parents dragging me through World Showcase because I knew what was waiting. We cut a deal before every trip. We started with Spaceship Earth and then we would either go to Universe of Energy and then go clockwise through World Showcase ending with Figment and all the awesome activities in the pavilion, or we would go from Spaceship Earth to Imagination and then go counterclockwise before going back to Universe of Energy. Then we would weave back and forth between Seas, Motion (at the time), Land and Body. Finally we would ride Spaceship Earth again and leave.

The only plush I ever wanted, and it was a birthday present around 7 I think, was a 14" Figment. All 3 of my kids have taken turns sleeping with that now ancient Figment. They love the plush, they love my stories, they hate that ride. I can hardly blame them, but I make them go on it just so I can pretend I'm still in the good version.

 

[kbelle8995]

I just never hear the casual disney world traveler mention figment.

They would if he had an attraction worthy of him. Figment is a unique character. One that you find in Epcot and no where else. Take him out and another charm of Epcot is gone. I saw the original when I was a kid and it left quite the impact. Plus there was more of an interactive area then. I still think about The Rainbow Corridor and how I always managed to drag my parents through it every time I was there.

Tony Baxter is willing to come out of retirement for this. WHY NOT? The man made a magical attraction of this and can do so again with new technology. I love Figment and would feel a loss if they removed him.

 

[rteetz]

WHY NOT?

Money

 

[kbelle8995]

Money

Could be but from interviews that I've heard from him. He sounds less than pleased that ride got Stripped of an imagination what so ever. I mean the second version of this ride sucked and Figment just had a cameo.

 

[BrianL]

At least the current version does feature Figment a lot (unlike the second version). I think the reason that I can't hate it is because of Eric Idle though - I mean, Eric Idle! I also appreciate the references to the "Medfield College" universe. That said, it's certainly time for a redo - they don't have to go back to the original verison, but something new would be good. Just keep Figment, though Dreamfinder is welcome too.

 

[rteetz]

Could be but from interviews that I've heard from him. He sounds less than pleased that ride got Stripped of an imagination what so ever. I mean the second version of this ride sucked and Figment just had a cameo.

Of course but imagineers can be displeased all they want. They don’t approve these decisions. As much as I would love to see imagineers have creative freedoms there are budgets and constraints in place too.

 

[jkh36619]

That's because the current ride is terrible and hardly worthy of a park icon. Figment really plays to the pre-1997 Disney traveler. The redo created by a soon to be bankrupt Kodak and a cheapskate Disney left nothing for the current casual traveler to fall in love with. Yes, he's still a symbol of EPCOT, but without the modern, functional link to create a real attachment. Disney could and should fix it, but now that EPCOT is finally getting some much overdue love, 2020 has struck in full and I suspect Figment is, well, out of luck. And this time he may just run out of time before the money and will comes around again.

It's really sad for me. He was one of my favorites as a kid. I loved that pavilion in the 80s and early 90s. Between that and the dinosaurs and Spaceship Earth, I could put up with my parents dragging me through World Showcase because I knew what was waiting. We cut a deal before every trip. We started with Spaceship Earth and then we would either go to Universe of Energy and then go clockwise through World Showcase ending with Figment and all the awesome activities in the pavilion, or we would go from Spaceship Earth to Imagination and then go counterclockwise before going back to Universe of Energy. Then we would weave back and forth between Seas, Motion (at the time), Land and Body. Finally we would ride Spaceship Earth again and leave.

The only plush I ever wanted, and it was a birthday present around 7 I think, was a 14" Figment. All 3 of my kids have taken turns sleeping with that now ancient Figment. They love the plush, they love my stories, they hate that ride. I can hardly blame them, but I make them go on it just so I can pretend I'm still in the good version.

They would if he had an attraction worthy of him. Figment is a unique character. One that you find in Epcot and no where else. Take him out and another charm of Epcot is gone. I saw the original when I was a kid and it left quite the impact. Plus there was more of an interactive area then. I still think about The Rainbow Corridor and how I always managed to drag my parents through it every time I was there.

Tony Baxter is willing to come out of retirement for this. WHY NOT? The man made a magical attraction of this and can do so again with new technology. I love Figment and would feel a loss if they removed him.

I agree with both of you. Which was my point.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

What they should have done is instead of adding Ratatouille they should have redone Imagination into a trackless dark ride like Mystic Manor in Hong Kong. Where in MM the monkey unleashes a curse to cause havoc, in Imagination it could have been done by Figment unleashing his imagination.
Now that they will soon have Ratatouille I doubt they will add another trackless ride for a long time.