Use Your Imagination! (Imagination Pavilion at Epcot Center)
Written: Apr 12 '05 (Updated Apr 12 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Recently renovated and greatly improved, Honey I Shrunk the Audience is very creative, short waits
Cons: A little corny
The Bottom Line: Worth a stop during your tour of Epcot, especially if you have young children!
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| chelledun's Full Review: Imagination |
The Imagination Pavilion is located at Epcot Center. It is to the back right of Future World, behind The Land Pavilion. The pavilion is large and has two glass pyramids on a brightly colored base, with ‘upside-down waterfalls’ in front. That means the water is flowing upward, instead of down. Crazy things happen in your Imagination! As you approach the pavilion, you can hear the catchy (or annoying, depending on how you look at it) “One Little Spark” theme song. The various attractions in this pavilion are dedicated to using your imagination in all sorts of different ways. There are several things to do in this pavilion, so I am going to take you through the different attractions.
Journey into Imagination
First, a little history lesson…
The original attraction at this location was called simply Journey into Imagination, and featured the adventures of a bearded audio-animatronic character named Dreamfinder, who looked a bit like a professor. He introduced us to his friend Figment, the little purple dragon. The attraction then took us through a variety of imagination adventures. This attraction closed in 1998, to much fan protest and an alleged boycott of Kodak, the attraction’s sponsor. (Trust me, I received emails from one of the Save Figment list serves!)
The attraction reopened under the name Journey into Your Imagination at the end of 1999, and was NOT good, as some of the reviews written during that time indicate. The remodel took Dreamfinder out of the ride entirely, and Figment had a couple very brief appearances. The goal was to fit the new ride in with the Imagination Institute theme used in Honey I Shrunk the Audience. The result was a very sterile, boring ride through cheesy special effects, and not very child-friendly. It was also a much shorter attraction. After riders hated the new update, this attraction closed its doors once again for another try.
The Current Attraction
The new attraction finally reopened in 2002, and now bears the name Journey into Imagination With Figment. The plot of the show involves riders taking a tour through the Imagination Institute with Dr. Nigel Channing. After a very short time, Figment himself appears and hijacks the cars. The ride takes visitors through a variety of ‘sensory’ labs. In the sound lab, you will be exposed to different musical tones. In the smell lab, you will be exposed to both pleasant and unpleasant odors. Throughout the tour, Figment generally goofs around and causes trouble.
Eventually, Dr. Channing gets fed up and threatens to stop the tour. Figment thinks this is a great idea, and invites everyone to his house instead. This is the most fun part of the ride, as Figment’s house is upside down! Above the cars, riders can see brightly colored furniture and even a swirling toilet which is all completely inverted. The end of the ride features dozens of brightly colored Figments on various imagination adventures. The ride may be a bit much for adults to handle, but it is very popular with young children. I used to force my parents to ride the original version dozens of times during each trip. There is rarely a wait for this attraction, as it loads very quickly.
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience!
This popular 3-D movie replaced Captain Eo, a scary and bizarre film featuring Michael Jackson. This is a short film featuring the characters from the Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Honey, I Blew Up the Baby. After a cute Kodak product placement preshow, guests are ushered in to the large theater. The plot features Wayne Szalinski, (Rick Moranis) an eccentric scientist, preparing to receive the Inventor of the Year Award. While trying to demonstrate his famous shrinking machine, Szalinski accidentally shrinks not only himself but the audience as well.
The special effects here are really fun. The audience feels itself being ‘picked up’, by Szalinski’s young son Adam. There is also much mayhem with the accidental duplication of hundred’s of rats, and guests can actually feel their ‘tails’. I don’t feel like the three dimensional effects are the best Disney has to offer, but the snake lunging at you and cat clawing at you are intense. This attraction is great fun for adults and older children, but young kids may be overwhelmed. If your child becomes upset, the experience is a lot less intense if you have him take off his 3-D glasses.
This attraction offers a FASTPASS, but usually the wait is not too bad. At most, you may have to wait the length of the show one or two times unless the day is particularly crowded.
Imageworks
This is the interactive playground accessible either directly after exciting Journey into Imagination or from a separate set of doors which opens onto a gift shop. There are a variety of opportunities for children and adults to engage in activities which use imagination. Children can conduct an orchestra by waving their arms or jump on brightly lit squares on the carpet which each have a different tone or animal sound. One of the most fun exhibits allows a person to take a photograph of his or her face and then play around with it by sticking crazy noses, eyes, or other features over the photograph.
This area has been shrunk somewhat in recent years, as a large chunk of the space is now occupied by one of those photo labs where you can insert your photo into crazy backgrounds. I would not really advise lingering here too long, as there are lots of opportunities for this type of interactive play at Epcot particularly in Innoventions. It’s not a bad place to kill an hour on a rainy day, but nothing too spectacular.
See Figment!
To the left of the Honey, I Shrunk the Audience attraction is one of the more hidden opportunities for a character greet in the park. A brightly colored room features a meet and greet area for Figment. Let me just say, Figment is HUGE! Our photos from this area turned out great, with the massive purple dinosaur and the rainbow colored background. Figment was there both times we stopped by on our last vacation, and I don’t think many people know he is there because it was never crowded.
Jumping Fountains
Located right outside the meet and greet area are the fun imagination fountains. The water leaps back and forth from fountain to fountain, even over a path between fountains. Kids and adults both enjoy trying to catch the water. Stop by and visit these fountains if you have a chance. I really enjoy taking photos of my family members trying to catch the water spurts. These fountains are one of the mini attractions I view as Epcot Center's hidden treasures.
Need Anything Else?
That pretty much does it for the major attractions of the Imagination pavilion. The souvenir store inside the Imageworks area offers the most Figment related souvenirs of any shop in the park. There are restrooms located to the far right side of the pavilion, very much hidden from site and never crowded.
Overall…
This pavilion has made great progress in the past two years. Imagination is not the most thrilling pavilion at Epcot Center, but it is one of the most child friendly. Little kids love Figment, and adults like Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Although the attractions here don’t compare with thrills such as Mission Space, Imagination should definitely be a stop on your list when you visit Epcot Center.
*More reviews on my very favorite place - DISNEY WORLD!
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Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
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