Across the western side of Epcot from The Living Seas is Imagination.
Imagination
Originally sponsored by Kodak, this pavilion was exactly what its name said: a journey into imagination.
Looking Back into Imagination
Opening in March of 1993, the original omnimover ride was titled Journey Into Imagination and was hosted by Dreamfinder and Figment. It was during this attraction that the tune “One Little Spark” was played. Written by the Sherman Brothers, the song has been a favorite of Epcot fans for 35 years. On the attraction, guests would visit the Dreamport where all the ideas are stored. Guests were also taken through different rooms that represented art, literature, performing arts, and science.
Journey Into Imagination was closed in October of 1998 to make way for a new attraction with a familiar name. Journey Into Your Imagination opened in October 1999 and was hosted by Dr. Nigel Channing (Eric Idle). Similar to the original attraction, Dr. Channing took guests on a tour of the Imagination Institute. The rooms that guests would tour changed to sound, illusion, color, gravity, and connections.
Much to the dismay of Figment fans, the lovable fellow with two tiny wings, eyes big and yellow, and horns of a steer was reduced to a few cameos in the attraction.
In October of 2001, Journey Into Your Imagination closed once again to make way for new attraction with a still familiar name. Journey Into Imagination with Figment opened in June 2002 with Figment returning as a host. This go around, guest toured the Imagination Institute with Dr. Nigel Channing and Figment through the sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste labs.
Looking Back into ImageWorks
At the end of all three of the versions of Journey Into (Your) Imagination (with or without Figment), guests visited ImageWorks. This area of the pavilion, located on the second floor, allowed guests to use their imaginations in what was described as “the creative playground of the future” in the original closing spiel of the attraction (without ‘your’ or ‘Figment’). Some of the interactive areas of Image Works was Dreamfinder’s School of Drama where guests could step into different movie genres, all directed by the Dreamfinder and Stepping Tones, which allowed guests to create music by stepping on different colored panels.
In 1999, ImageWorks went under reconstruction and was reincarnated on the first floor of the pavilion outside of the attraction exit. It was renamed the Kodak “What If?” Labs until 2010 when Kodak dropped its sponsorship and the name went to ImageWorks - The “What If” Labs. The updated ImageWorks is less hands on than the original, focusing instead on computer interactions.
Looking Back at the Magic Eye
The Magic Eye Theater was a 3-D theater located to the left of the entrance to Journey into whatever version of Imagination was going on at the time. Since opening day, the theater has hosted three shows.
The first show was titled Magic Journeys and explored a child’s imagination. During the film, the child’s toys became a real life circus. Magic Journeys featured a song by the same title that was written by the Sherman Brothers. The Sherman Brothers also wrote the song in the pre-show to the film, titled “Makin’ Memories.”
The second film at the theater was Captain EO, which arrived in 1986. It was a musical space fantasy involving aliens and starred Michael Jackson as the title character (It is as 80s as that description sounds). The film was produced by George Lucas and Rusty Lemorande and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Jackson wrote the two songs featured in the film - “We Are Here to Change the World” and “Another Part of Me.”
Oh, and did you know that "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" were used in the film? You didn't? Oh, well that’s what Jared, Joe, and Jenn said on The Mouse Know Best Podcast...
The final film at the Magic Eye theater was Honey, I Shrunk the Audience in 1994. This film was based off the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids movie franchise. Guests entered the theatre for the Inventor of the Year award, which Professor Wayne Szalinski was to be presented. Through a series of events, he accidentally uses his new invention to miniaturize the whole audience.
After Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, it was decided that Captain EO would make a return to the Magic Eye Theater. The tribute ran from 2010 to 2015, when it was replaced by the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival.
Looking Forward with Imagination
The last time the Imagination Pavilion underwent a major renovation/update was in the early 2000s, and it's time to bring our imaginations into 2017. There has been some speculation that an Inside Out themed attraction could find its home at the pavilion, and honestly, I think that would be a great idea. It could keep the same structure as the current attraction while it educates and entertains. Of course, I don’t want to see Figment ripped completely from the pavilion, so it would be cool if they went inside the brain of Figment to see his emotions. I think this would satisfy old school Epcot lovers as well as the next generations of Epcot lovers. After all, Figment made an appearance in Inside Out.
I also think it’s time for a new show at the Magic Eye Theater. The last thing Disney needs to do is turn this into a preview center for its upcoming movies. They need to focus on recreating a Magic Journeys-esque film about Imagination. After all, it’s what the pavilion is named for, so I think it’s time we use it and learn about it.
On that note, the ImageWorks area of the pavilion also needs an update. Think of all the technology that has been invented since the early 2000s. Much like Innoventions could be, this place could be an area where new ideas and inventions are on display for guests to interact with. Maybe we can see the inside of a laptop or cell phone and try to build one ourselves virtually. The possibilities are endless when we use our imaginations.
It only takes one little spark of inspiration to enhance this pavilion.
Robyn Fleenor is a contributing writer for The Mouse Knows Best Podcast. She is an avid Disney fanatic and would rather be at Walt Disney World eating glazed almonds than anything else. When she isn't working to pay for her next Disney vacation, she likes to binge watch TV shows and fall in love with fictional characters. She can be found tweeting at @rahrah6263.
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