Changes
| theme=Imagination
| sponsor= Kodak (1982-2010)
| land=Future WorldNature
| park= Epcot
| opened=October 1, 1982
==Pavilion History==
===Development and Construction===
When original designs for EPCOT Center were being drawn up, an Imagination pavilion was nowhere to be found. In fact, the Imagination pavilion was the last pavilion designed for Future World Nature <ref name= "Martin"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=95 </ref>. The structure that would eventually become the pavilion took inspiration from an idea that Imagineer Tony Baxter had for the Mineral and Ecology pavilion that was originally planned for EPCOT Center but never constructed <ref name= "wedway"> Parish, Matt, Nate Parish, and Michael Crawford. "5:3 The Original Land Pavilion." Audio blog post. WedWay Radio. N.p., 20 May 2013. Web. </ref>. Although Baxter had gotten fairly far in his designs for the Mineral pavilion, after it was decided that the theme pavilion should go in a different direction (due to the fact that Kraft had assumed sponsorship) he turned his attention to the Kodak pavilion <ref name= "E82"/>. Despite the fact that Kodak had originally signed on as an EPCOT Center sponsor in 1977 <ref name= "Martin"/>, the company still did not have a firm idea of what they wanted their pavilion to focus on <ref name= "E82">http://www.epcotlegacy.com/historical-expositions/2010/6/30/gather-store-re-combine-a-history-of-imagination-part-1.html </ref> . According to Tony Baxter:
{{Quotation| “They wanted something that would be very imaginative.” So we said: “How about doing a pavilion on imagination"<ref name= "E82"/>}}
The new Journey Into Your Imagination attraction proved to be extremely unpopular with guests and many decided to boycott the attraction (as well as Kodak) to protest the changes. This campaign proved to be quite successful, as guest complaints (along with pressure from Kodak and Michael Eisner) led to the attraction getting another overhaul in 2001 <ref> http://www.epcotlegacy.com/historical-expositions/2011/3/28/gather-store-re-combine-a-history-of-imagination-part-3.html </ref>. Journey Into Your Imagination closed on October 8, 2001 <Ref> http://www.epcotlegacy.com/historical-expositions/2011/6/13/gather-store-re-combine-a-history-of-imagination-part-4.html </ref>, before reopening on June 2, 2002 as "Journey Into Imagination with Figment" <ref name= "Martin2"/> <ref> http://www.disney-pal.com/Epcot/journey_into_imagination.htm </ref>. Following the refurbishment, the attraction still featured Dr. Nigel Channing giving guests a tour of the Imagination Institute. Instead of testing out his Imagination Scanner however, Dr. Channing now explained how the five senses can trigger human imagination. Figment returned in this version of the attraction, disrupting the doctor’s tour, and showing guests his imagination. Although the focus of the attraction was changed, the basic premise and the track structure of the ride remained basically the same. Also of note, The Kodak What if Labs remained essentially the same, however Figment was added to many of the exhibits <ref name= "Martin2"/>.
In December 2004, a new Figment meet and greet location called "Figment's Place" opened to guests <ref> http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/figment-opens-his-home.47987/ </ref>. The meet and greet was shortlived short lived however and it closed in 2008 <ref> http://new.disneyecho.emuck.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?s=5eab6455796e4c9fb8e0ac0c9f977088;act=ST;f=77;t=11065 </ref>.
In 2009, following the death of Michael Jackson, Disney mulled over the idea of bringing Captain EO back as a tribute to the late singer. Sure enough on July 2, 2010, Captain EO returned to the Imagination! Pavilion, replacing Honey, I Shrunk the Audience <Ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/04/captain-eo-returning-to-walt-disney-world-resort/ </ref>. In August of 2010, Kodak ended its 28 year sponsorship of the pavilion and all references to the company were removed <ref> http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-09-10/news/os-disney-world-kodak-sponsorship-20100909_1_kodak-products-epcot-attraction-theme-parks </ref>. Following the end of Kodak's sponsorship, The What If Labs have returned to their original name ImageWorks. On March 25, 2012, ColerVision announced it would assume sponsorship the ImageWorks <ref> http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/rumor-new-imagination-sponsor-colorvision.834775/page-3 </ref>.
In January 2016, Disney announced that a new Disney Vacation Club members-only club would be opening on the second floor of the Imagination! pavilion <ref> https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/25th-anniversary/epcot-members-lounge/ </ref>. Opening on June 6, 2016, the lounge is located in the former location of the upstairs ImageWorks <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/06/new-disney-vacation-club-member-lounge-opens-at-epcot-today/</ref>.
On September 30, 2016, the Disney Visa Character Spot that was previously located in [[Innoventions]] was relocated to the former location of Figment's Place <ref> http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/09/breaking-disney-visa-character-spot-replacing-figments-place-epcot/ </ref>. On February 13, 2019, the Wreck-It Ralph meet and greet that was previously housed in [[Innoventions West]] was moved to the Imagination pavilion's [[Imageworks]] area <ref>https://wdwmagic.com/attractions/character-meet-and-greets-at-epcot/news/13feb2019-wreck-it-ralph-and-vanellope-meet-and-greet-now-located-inside-imagination-pavilion.htm </ref>. As part of this experience, guests can now meet both Ralph and Vanellope just outside the [[Journey Into Imagination with Figment]] attraction's exit.
==Attractions==
'''[[Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival]]'''- This attraction allows guests to watch three Disney Pixar shorts including: "Get A Horse" "Piper" and "Feast"
'''[[Journey Into Imagination With with Figment]]'''- This dark ride lets guests take a tour of the Imagination Institute with Dr. Nigel Channing and Figment. Along the way guests learn how the five senses relate to imagination.
'''[[ImageWorks]]'''- After exiting Journey Into Imagination With Figment, guests enter the ImageWorks. Here, they can explore various interactive exhibits featuring Figment. Beginning in 2019, guests can now meet Ralph and Vanellope from the Wreck it Ralph franchise in the ImageWorks.
==Former Attractions==
* Although Dreamfinder Run was never released, it can be seen in Martin's video about the original ImageWorks (http://vimeo.com/6976422).
* In the early years of the pavilion, guests could see a spinning Figment topiary in the Magic Garden (which was located just outside of the pavilion). Figment would spin on a turntable there The topiary was removed in the mid-2000s <ref name= "lost"> http://www.lostepcot.com/imagination.html </ref>, the topiary was removed in the mid 2000s. * From 1982 until 1998 Dreamfinder would walk around outside of the pavilion with Figment resting on his shoulder <ref name= "lost"/>.
* Following Figment's return to the attraction in 2002, a large From 1982 until 1998 Dreamfinder would walk around Figment could be found outside of the pavilion <Ref> http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/figment-meet-(with Figment resting on his shoulder) and-greet-gone.289178/ </ref>, however he stopped meeting interact with guests in 2008 <ref>http:name= "lost"//forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/figment-meet-and-greet-gone.289178/ </ref>.
* Imagineer Mark Fuller, a Walt Disney Imagineer, was responsible for the design of the Imagination Fountains <ref> http://www.intercot.com/EDC/Imagination/index.html </ref>.
* In the summer of 2006 the upstairs of the Imagination! Pavilion was used for the finale of the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure <Ref> http://www.mousellaneous.org/epcot/fw/imagination.html </ref>, however at the time it was only being tested. When the World Showcase Adventure officially opened in 2009, the Imagination! Pavilion was not used.
==References==
