Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >> That's exactly what WDI proved with the 3rd version. It's a ghost town. But if they went back to the original concept and of course updated things, akin to the new Nemo subs, it could be very popular. The concept of the original was very sound - it just needed new effects and upgrades. The story behind it was entirely workable. It had good structural elements, solid foundations. The new version is a joke - it's very weak and no amount of special effects can fix how lame of a conceit it is. That's what version 2 and 3 showed.<< And it's a "quick" fix for what they royally effed up the first time. They had already spent their budget, I know that for a fact. We know that Eisner wanted them to fix it, but at the same time the bare minimum of funds were allocated to change it from JIYI to JIYIwF. That said, it still sucks, it still is mediocre, but I won't criticize something TOO harshly when it's something they did begin to fix. Now, they just have to continue to fix it, 7 years after the fact.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >No, Merf is wrong. Figment as a character is done. Totally unworkable. Nothing more can be imagined out of a character based on imagination. It is simply too limiting. You have to give the "Imagineers" something they can work with. Figment, a character based on "imagination' is far to restrictive for the "Imagineers" to work with. If only Figment was more like "Stitch®" or "Buzz Lightyear®"< Hell, give him a franchise, then..
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<I bet Figment is the only character you will ever find in any Disney park that is loved equally by children and fanbois.>> And I think that's all because he IS unique to EPCOT Center. He's an original creation for the theme parks, like the Country Bears or Tiki Birds, that wasn't created for a movie first and then put in the theme parks for synergy. WDI is at it's finest when they create completely new environments and characters that have no direct movie tie-in. Sure, synergy has it's place, but if that's all that WDI can deliver, then the parks just become a place to see more of what you can already get on DVD. I want NEW experiences and characters - and don't want to go home and watch them on tv afterwards.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Throw in a bottle of tequila and you got yourself the makings of a drunken brawl. << I'm up for both of those.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I actually agree with everything merf just said. << You are starting to scare me.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> No, Merf is wrong. Figment as a character is done. Totally unworkable. Nothing more can be imagined out of a character based on imagination. It is simply too limiting. You have to give the "Imagineers" something they can work with. Figment, a character based on "imagination' is far to restrictive for the "Imagineers" to work with. If only Figment was more like "Stitch®" or "Buzz Lightyear®" << Imagination is a much to constraining subject to deal with.
Originally Posted By Manfried Well if you use Figment, then he needs a serious reboot. And maybe Figment should have a girlfriend, call her Brainstorm. The problem with the original is that though it had a lot of effects and stuff, it really did not have a storyline that was easily discerned. Instead it seemed like a lot of disassociated ideas based on various interpretations of the word imagination. So, make Figment more of a mischief creature, and give him a girlfriend that grounds him a little bit more. Oh, and don't bring back Dreamfinder back at all. Too cliche.
Originally Posted By brotherdave How about using Dreamfinder in a pre-show where you need to help find his missing "Figment of Imagination". He could be the narrator of your "Journey Into Imagination" that travels through all sorts of wondrously surreal realms where anything can happen, and usually does so unexpectedly, all while Figment learns that "anything is possible if you use your imagination". Hokey, yes. But that was what was so appealing about the original.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Well if you use Figment, then he needs a serious reboot. And maybe Figment should have a girlfriend, call her Brainstorm. The problem with the original is that though it had a lot of effects and stuff, it really did not have a storyline that was easily discerned. Instead it seemed like a lot of disassociated ideas based on various interpretations of the word imagination. So, make Figment more of a mischief creature, and give him a girlfriend that grounds him a little bit more. Oh, and don't bring back Dreamfinder back at all. Too cliche.>> No. There was a perfectly coherent story. Dreamfinder and Figment were taking you on a trip through the imagination. Simple, perfect. Dreamfinder ain't cliche. If anything having a girlfriend to ground someone is. Figment is a child of imagination.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Well if you use Figment, then he needs a serious reboot. And maybe Figment should have a girlfriend, call her Brainstorm. The problem with the original is that though it had a lot of effects and stuff, it really did not have a storyline that was easily discerned. Instead it seemed like a lot of disassociated ideas based on various interpretations of the word imagination. So, make Figment more of a mischief creature, and give him a girlfriend that grounds him a little bit more. Oh, and don't bring back Dreamfinder back at all. Too cliche.>> No. There was a perfectly coherent story. Dreamfinder and Figment were taking you on a trip through the imagination. Simple, perfect. Dreamfinder ain't cliche. If anything having a girlfriend to ground someone is. Figment is a child of imagination.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>The problem with the original is that though it had a lot of effects and stuff, it really did not have a storyline that was easily discerned.<<< ...It was more of an experience based around a tour that DF and Fig were giving you, like Hokie said. And those are some of the best rides...no REAL story, just experiences. Like PotC. Like HM. Just more proof that JII 1.0 was a classic.
Originally Posted By Manfried If it was a classic, it would have had a line and Disney would have left it alone. Sigh, unfortunately it did not have a line and so Disney, prodded by Kodak, wanted a change. It was missing the one classic element from the two classic Disney attractions of Pirates and Haunted Mansion...a musical song finale.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer What!? Manfried, sorry to say but you are pretty off on this one. It ALWAYS had a line. Even near the end of it's life time. I remember staring at the mural in the atrium while waiting to load for a LONG time. Disney, in actuality had no desire to change it, it's ALL on Kodak and them requiring that the ride was changed...and how. As for music, it had that too! One Little Spark is one of the Sherman's songs, and the culmination of it, in the room of Figment was quite memorable. Sorry...but...no...LOL.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^No, Disney changed it because that was what the contract with Kodak specified. And You were obviously never on the ride, because it did have a musical song finale...
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Dreamfinder and Figment were taking you on a trip through the imagination. Simple, perfect.>> I know I am "wrong" because so many people liked the attraction, but I always thought it was as Manfried said: pointless. Disney attempted to make the concept of imagination a visual thing, but for me it was just abstract jibberish. The turntable where you meet Dreamfinder and Figment was amazing, but beyond that I had no desire to ever ride more than once. As for Figment, I don't think he's a cute character, and his voice is extremely annoying.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<As for Figment, I don't think he's a cute character, and his voice is extremely annoying.>> His new voice is, but basically everything about him is annoying now. They turned him from a child-like creature into an annoying bratty trickster.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I don't mean the current Figment. I've never even been on the third incarnation of the ride. I'm talking about the original.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Really? Well, that's why there's apples and oranges. Never thought his voice was annoying.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Disney changed it because that was what the contract with Kodak specified.>> I think there is a bit of urban legend in saying that Kodak wanted the ride changed. It's probably just as likely that Disney wanted to change it, because of a drop-off in popularity coupled with extremely high maintenance/refurbishment costs.
