Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^The turntable was a problem, yes. But from everything I understand Disney would not have done what they did if it wasn't for the contract.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I still say that is urban legend, perhaps even fueled by Disney so they wouldn't take the brunt of any blame.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>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.<<< You are not wrong, it's your opinion. Abstract jibberish is what the ride is supposed to be, I might add...it's Imagination.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I know it's an opinion, hence the quotes. But it's an opinion not shared by many.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<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.>> If we charted a Venn diagram of your post and Hokie's comments about the turntable, there would be significant overlap. Kodak's contract was coming up for renewal, and Disney was tired of the huge maintenance costs for the ride, particularly the turntable. So, during the Eisner era of maximizing profits at all costs, Disney attempted to foist the high maintenance costs of the ride onto Kodak with a sharp increase in sponsorship fees. Kodak didn't take the bait, and demanded changes to the pavilion and ride to keep the fees down, or they wouldn't renew. Of course, the dimwit junior Imagineers working the rehab decided to remove more than just expensive ride elements, and also tossed out Figment, one of EPCOT's more successful merchandise brands, along with Dreamfinder and the second floor Imageworks. All three were popular with EPCOT fans, more so than WDI ever fully realized or cared to realize. Imagineering should get full blame for the dreadful show changes that Kodak didn't care about one way or the other. But the removal of expensive ride elements to save a few bucks lies squarely with Kodak. Disney sponsorships are expensive. If Kodak doesn't wanna pay the piper to dance, then they should just pick up and leave.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^Great post. I remember reading somewhere that after Eisner rode JIYI, he was heard saying, "Where the **** did all that money go?"
Originally Posted By skinnerbox Thanks, Hokie. And that's not all Eisner said. Actually, after exiting from his first ride through of the 1998 rehab, he only said two words: "Bad show." OUCH!
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^ That's better than me. I'm fairly certain I cried the first time I went on JIYI. Don't judge me, I was 10.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^^^ Don't worry, I did the same. It only got worse when I crossed the park and saw Horizons behind a black wall... >>>Of course, the dimwit junior Imagineers working the rehab decided to remove more than just expensive ride elements, and also tossed out Figment, one of EPCOT's more successful merchandise brands, along with Dreamfinder and the second floor Imageworks.<<< And the removal of the IW was to MINIMIZE costs. ...It was more insurance and liability to have them up there without a handicapped elevator.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^I was sad to see Horizons gone, but Figment WAS WDW for me. I would ride the thing 10 times when I would go to Epcot.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper I just watched Martin's tribute videos for the old Imageworks and JII... I'm depressed.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> ^^^ That's better than me. I'm fairly certain I cried the first time I went on JIYI. Don't judge me, I was 10. << I cried the first time I road JIYI, and I was 50.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I just watched Martin's tribute videos for the old Imageworks and JII... I'm depressed.<<< I know. It hurts. But, he lives on in your pin collection.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> But, he lives on in your pin collection. << And in those wonderfully imaginative Imagination restrooms! Amiright? I go in there and it's like I can see into a sixth or seventh dimension! On second thought, I think someone may have put acid on the toilet paper... Makin' memories!!!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Seriously, the ones in the back of the pavilion are always quiet, clean, and the path to them offers a nice angle of the Pyramids. Good for pictures. Again, on the list of Disney things I never thought I would say.......
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Ummm those are the only restrooms I use in Epcot. No one else knows they're there. Still, it gets kinda creepy back there at night.
Originally Posted By Manfried Okay several points. The ride did fall off tremendously in attendance in about 1989. Every time I was there I walked onto the attraction. The line never got big. I know this I saw it with my own eyes, including the attendance reports. Two, Version two sucked. Three the finale scene referred to in an earlier post was - well - not much of a finale. Four, yes there were huge maintenance costs associated with the turntable. Five, they were not junior Imagineers in version two or three, just not very imaginative. Though version three was overseen by the Tom Fitz crowd, hence the Imagination Institute storyline. Finally, quit living in the past folks. That old attraction is gone, just like 20,000 Leagues is. Never to be back. What we can all hope for is that WDI and Disney get some actual imagination at work and come up with something fun.
Originally Posted By mousermerf How much did they try to kill it though? They took Wonders off the park map before it closed and didn't mention it in any planning videos or media. They shuttered minor attractions in the building and shut down the food place. They closed it during test periods of EMH so that it wouldn't have numbers to justify being part of EMH despite the fact that it was actually being attended pretty well (at the same level as Universe of Energy actually). Energy took 4 people to operate, Wonders took 8. They do intentionally kill attractions.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Five, they were not junior Imagineers in version two or three, just not very imaginative. Though version three was overseen by the Tom Fitz crowd, hence the Imagination Institute storyline.>> Version Two had the Imagination Institute theme as well.
