Originally Posted By ctdsnark A topic that has always invited a great deal of input on these message boards,as well as on other Disney-themed websites,is the comparison of the original Journey Into Imagination ride with its current successor,Journey Into Your Imagination,in both its incarnations, without and with Figment. Most of the comparisons are negative.A great many people do not like the current ride,and would like nothing better than to see JII return;I count myself among these,having myself started several discussions that JIYI is a poorly designed attraction,having none of the wealth of audio-visual stimuli that truly made JII a Disney theme-park ride.Unfortunately,we all know,for numerous reasons,it isn't coming back---the best we can hope for is that the Imagineers finally come to their senses,shut down JIYI for good,and replace it with something worthwhile. But---what if JII were still open?This question comes out of the recent temporary closing of WDW's Haunted Mansion,done so for the purpose of updating many of its visual effects.This past year saw similar work on the two American Pirates Of The Caribbean,as it was given additions that tied it in with the successful movies it inspired.Examine any Disney theme-park attraction that has been open a long time,especially Disneyland attractions that date all the way back to the 50's,and you will find periodic renovations,to replace effects that have grown outdated with the passage of time. Were JII still open,being an attraction that was designed and built in the late 70's and early 80's,it would require such work,particularly with all its filmed imagry,such as the multiple images of Figment in the rides' finale.The originals,done with a puppet Figment shot against a blue screen,would look better re-done in CGI. One of my favorite scenes was the white crystal forest;towards the exit to this scene,it was suggested that it was being painted,like an image in a coloring book.To better suggest this,the plastic flora could've been rimmed with color-changing fiber-optic lights{like those in Spaceship Earth},its changes synchronized to colored spotlights that illuminate this area.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip No version of Journey has ever been a "must do" for me. The original had lots of nice colors, but beyond that I never really "got it". I know lots of people just LOVED Figment, but I never quite got the love affair with the Purple Whatzit either. The latest version in my mind is not much better or worse than the original. I kind of like what they are trying to achieve in doing the whole thing with the senses versus the imagination, but wish they would have done it less stupidly (when will Disney tire of fart jokes?). But the last couple of scenes have great images, nice colors and a catchy tune. It's almost like being in the 70's again. What's not to like? ;-)
Originally Posted By TDLFAN If the original Journey was open still... it would be in horrible shape, like the rest of many old timer rides at WDW.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I also enjoyed the original Journey into your imagination. But, honestly it would not work today. Perhaps this space would be better utilized if it resembled Disney Quest?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<No version of Journey has ever been a "must do" for me. The original had lots of nice colors, but beyond that I never really "got it".>> I'm with you, RT; I didn't get it, so I never understood all the love for JII. It's probably why I don't get jazzed about Beastly Kingdom either... that kind of fantasy does nothing for me.
Originally Posted By jmuboy I'm no fan of Dragons and Wizard type fantasy either! But - I did enjoy the original JII (but I was 10). The current JIYI is way better than Journey 2.0....but still lacks something. I think the current Journey could be enhanced with more visuals and less blank space.....sort of fill the ride out. I say let Tony Baxter have a decent budget and some time and we'll see a better Figment. Maybe one day. Disney certainly seems focused on fixing up Ecpot (which I'm thrilled about) but I don't think JIYI is on their short list right now.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I'd be extremely happy, as I felt the play on words of the original inhabitants of JIYI really embodied what EPCOT FW was all about. Dreamfinder.......and Figment ( of one's imagination) - I mean wasn't that really it ? at the end of the ride, Dreamfinder told Figment that Imagination was our key to unlock all the wonders inthe world, or something like that. It was inspirational, but yeah, maybe too cerebral ( geez I really hope not) - for the give me a go fast gee whiz ride please, generation. To me it could have been used as an 'entrance' ride into EPCOT -- telling people to use their imaginations and open up to the wonders that lay in the rest of this park... That insight is lost in today's more light hearted romp thru Monty Python dream land
Originally Posted By ctdsnark TDLFAN---hence my suggestion that it would be partially renovated. I guess I wasn't very clear---I should have just come right out and asked:Assuming you were a fan of the original Journey Into Imagination,and if it were still open today,what parts of it would you like to see updated,and how?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I guess I would have liked the whole ride to remain the same, but feature new special effects and lighting to make it look a bit more up-to-speed. However... the one thing that needed the most work, and somewhat got fixed for the re-do several years ago, was the creaky ride system. For some reason.. those vehicled never seemed to perform that great when the original ride was opened.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>No version of Journey has ever been a "must do" for me. The original had lots of nice colors, but beyond that I never really "got it". I know lots of people just LOVED Figment, but I never quite got the love affair with the Purple Whatzit either.<<< I have to agree with that statement but I do think the original was much better. I don't know if I can explain it but the original seemed fuller, larger than life. I never saw the second one but the current one is, for lack of a better word, sparse. It seems cold where the original was colorful and warm. I can remember when you would ride along with the Dreamfinder in his, whatever that was, it seemed real to me. It didn't even come close to being my favorite nor did Horizons. I did like WoM because of it's humor. As for Imagination, the song, "one little spark" was almost as catchy as "now is the time" or "great big beautiful tomorrow". Someone correct me if I am wrong here but was the Michael Jackson movie, Captain whatsisname, the show where HISTA is now when EPCOT first opened? I never understood the attraction completely but it was somewhat entertaining.
Originally Posted By ctdsnark When Epcot first opened,"Magic Journeys" was the Imagination pavilion's first 3-D movie."Captain EO" followed shortly,a sensation at the time not only because of the people involved,but also because of the theater's live special effects,synchronized to the action onscreen,the first time this was tried.When "Honey-etc." made its initial debut,JII was still running.
Originally Posted By ctdsnark There was something about JII that always bothered me---having just watched a video of it on YouTube got me thinking.The "changing" posters that stand at the entrance to the Performing Arts part{Figment backstage in front of a makeup mirror,Dreamfinder conducting an unseen orchestra}always seemed like a hastily-thought-up "effect".What I would've liked to see,in its place,a series of bas-relief images celebrating the theater,parts of which move---I believe I saw something like what I just described in the old Communicore,I just don't remember where.
