Page 1 of 2

EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Dec Wed 31, 2014 1:18 pm
by sag746
I really wish they would bring back the original Figment and Dreamfinder. That ride was cool. The new version is so boring.

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Mon 05, 2015 11:12 am
by bcgm3
Amen, brother.

I have sooo many fond memories of the original attraction. It's like nostalgia overload.

I can vividly remember being no older than 4 or 5, getting an invisible UV-ink handstamp when leaving the park for a nap or something, then coming back and doing Journey into Imagination. There was black light everywhere in there and I felt like an integral part of it with my glowing hand stamp. The animatronics were so on-point, as articulate and engaging as anything at Magic Kingdom, maybe moreso. It had it all! There were lighthearted funny parts, somber parts, scary parts... Then when you got off the ride, it got even BETTER -- You got to run amok in that incredible glass double-pyramid, everything was hands-on, and so creative. The giant coloring book projected on the wall on second story, the musical lights room... The rainbow tunnel. I could go on and on about this one.

So few people I know got to experience the original, and only know the latest iteration. To them, it's that ride where you have to smell skunk.

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Mon 05, 2015 12:53 pm
by Amy
bcgm3 wrote:Amen, brother.

I have sooo many fond memories of the original attraction. It's like nostalgia overload.

I can vividly remember being no older than 4 or 5, getting an invisible UV-ink handstamp when leaving the park for a nap or something, then coming back and doing Journey into Imagination. There was black light everywhere in there and I felt like an integral part of it with my glowing hand stamp. The animatronics were so on-point, as articulate and engaging as anything at Magic Kingdom, maybe moreso. It had it all! There were lighthearted funny parts, somber parts, scary parts... Then when you got off the ride, it got even BETTER -- You got to run amok in that incredible glass double-pyramid, everything was hands-on, and so creative. The giant coloring book projected on the wall on second story, the musical lights room... The rainbow tunnel. I could go on and on about this one.

So few people I know got to experience the original, and only know the latest iteration. To them, it's that ride where you have to smell skunk.
Great memories bcgm3! It is sad that most people associate the skunk smell with Imagination ~ I still remember that delightful floral smell it had ~ one of my favorite Disney smells. I swear for a few years you could still smell it in the attraction after they redid it, but not anymore :(

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Mon 05, 2015 7:59 pm
by sag746
years ago, when my boys were like 6 and 8, now 34 and 36, we would go on the "Figment" ride and after its end, would run into Dreamfinder holding a Figment puppet. He would talk to the kids and even chase them while laughing. His voice even sounded like the Dreamfinder's in the ride. Great memories.

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Thu 08, 2015 12:34 pm
by theBIGyowski
yep...the current version of Imagination is loud and stinks

DW won't ride it because of those two things. I would love if they brought back Dreamfinder, but I don't trust the current folks at WDI to do it justice and we'd probably all hate it.

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Thu 08, 2015 1:23 pm
by JenMuse
I still think the ride could be salvaged if they returned to the imagination theme of the original ride (collecting inspiration) and converted the vehicles into buzz light year style cars with a wand for capturing ideas (instead of shooting Zs) then you get a picture at the end with all of your inspiration images.

And yes bring back the imagination playground with all the hands on stuff. And the rainbow tunnel! So much fun!

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Thu 08, 2015 6:51 pm
by Amy
JenMuse wrote:I still think the ride could be salvaged if they returned to the imagination theme of the original ride (collecting inspiration) and converted the vehicles into buzz light year style cars with a wand for capturing ideas (instead of shooting Zs) then you get a picture at the end with all of your inspiration images.

And yes bring back the imagination playground with all the hands on stuff. And the rainbow tunnel! So much fun!
An interactive Imagination ~ that would be pretty neat!

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Fri 09, 2015 10:06 am
by theBIGyowski
so you're saying...use your imagination...on an imagination-themed ride

brilliant!

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Sat 10, 2015 5:41 am
by aboden
I understand the need to update rides but I agree the new version has less to do with Imagination but with senses. I wish they would re-open the top area. That was a blast!

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Sat 10, 2015 2:06 pm
by ImagineerWannabe
bcgm3 wrote:
I can vividly remember being no older than 4 or 5, getting an invisible UV-ink handstamp when leaving the park for a nap or something, then coming back and doing Journey into Imagination. There was black light everywhere in there and I felt like an integral part of it with my glowing hand stamp.
Absolutely! I miss the hand stamps. Peter Pan was perfect for trying to figure out what the stamp was too.

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Sat 10, 2015 4:34 pm
by Amy
ImagineerWannabe wrote:
bcgm3 wrote:
I can vividly remember being no older than 4 or 5, getting an invisible UV-ink handstamp when leaving the park for a nap or something, then coming back and doing Journey into Imagination. There was black light everywhere in there and I felt like an integral part of it with my glowing hand stamp.
Absolutely! I miss the hand stamps. Peter Pan was perfect for trying to figure out what the stamp was too.
I always like figuring out what the hand stamp was too ~ and not just when I was a kid ;) :lol:

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Mon 12, 2015 3:46 am
by aboden
Amy wrote:
ImagineerWannabe wrote:
bcgm3 wrote:
I can vividly remember being no older than 4 or 5, getting an invisible UV-ink handstamp when leaving the park for a nap or something, then coming back and doing Journey into Imagination. There was black light everywhere in there and I felt like an integral part of it with my glowing hand stamp.
Absolutely! I miss the hand stamps. Peter Pan was perfect for trying to figure out what the stamp was too.
I always like figuring out what the hand stamp was too ~ and not just when I was a kid ;) :lol:
As a kid I was always scared to wash my hands with that powdered soap in fear of washing it away, I wanted to keep it lol.

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Mon 12, 2015 7:28 am
by Amy
Ah, but the powdered soap left a residue around your nails that also fluoresced under the black lights. I don't know how effective the powdered soap was, but I'm sure I washed my hands at WDW better than anywhere else so I could make my hands glow. Plus I'm sure I avoided washing the back of my hand where the hand stamp was as best I could :lol:

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Mon 12, 2015 1:56 pm
by bcgm3
You all get it! I don't know many people who remember this stuff. I can barely remember that soap, myself... Though I definitely tried to stave off washing that hand after leaving Disney as long as I could. What a trip.

Re: EPCOT Imagination

Posted: Jan Sun 18, 2015 4:43 pm
by sgrfunk
Yes I agree I miss the old version with Figment and Dreamfinder. It was more about the imagination and dreaming up big ideas. The new version really has nothing to do with the imagination and more to do with the five senses.