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{{Template:Infobox Disney ride |
| image= Imaginationpavilion.jpg
| theme=Imagination
| sponsor= Kodak (1982-2010)
| land=Future WorldNature
| park= Epcot
| opened=October 1, 1982
| custom_value_2 = Journey Into Imagination (1983-1999)
| logo_row=Imaginationlogo.png}}
Imagination! is a pavilion in [[Epcot]]. The pavilion was known as the Journey Into Imagination pavilion from 1983-1999.
==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 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"/>}}
With a theme now in place, Tony Baxter and his Imagineers began fine tuning their plans for the pavilion. Baxter had initially impressed representatives from Kodak with his models for Captain Marvel and his pet dragon. These characters had initially been designed for an expansion of Disneyland called Discovery Bay <ref name= "wedway"/>. Although the expansion was never constructed, Baxter continued to rework the characters for his other projects. In fact, at one time Captain Marvel was going to be renamed Landkeeper and used in one of his early version of [[The Land]] pavilion <ref name= "wedway"/>. With his attention now focused on Imagination however, Baxter (as well as Steve Kirk and X Atencio) was able to rework Captain Marvel and his dragon into Dreamfinder and Figment, the stars of the Journey Into Imagination pavilion <ref name= "E82"/>.
[[Image:ImaginationConcept2.jpg|400px|thumb|Concept art for the Journey Into Imagination pavilion]]
Construction on the Journey Into Imagination pavilion began in July 1981, only 15 months before the park was set to open <ref name= "Martin"/>. When completed, the pavilion would feature the dark ride attraction that was also titled [[Journey into Imagination]], the Magic Eye Theater which showed the film Magic Journeys, and the interactive [[ImageWorks]] area on the pavilion’s second floor.
Although the Journey Into Imagination pavilion was completed in time for EPCOT Center’s opening day, inside the pavilion only Magic Journeys was open to guests. Five days later on October 6, 1982 the ImageWorks area opened<ref name= "E82"/>, followed by the Journey Into Imagination attraction on March 5, 1983. Although the attraction had been more or less ready to go since the pavilion opened, Disney executives felt that Imagineers needed more time to work the kinks out. According to Tony Baxter:
In 1998, with Kodak's sponsorship ending shortly, Fujifilm approached Disney with an offer to sponsor the Journey Into Imagination Pavilion<ref> http://www.disneyparkhistory.com/imagination.html </ref>. Their sponsorship would have included a complete restructuring of the pavilion, including getting rid of the Journey Into Imagination attraction. Although the attraction was popular, it cost a lot of money for Disney to maintain. Fujifilm told Disney that they would replace the attraction with an "E-Ticket" thrill ride, that would be just as popular as Journey Into Imagination, yet cheaper to maintain<ref> http://www.wdwradio.com/2006/06/world-history-the-imagination-pavilion/ </ref>. Kodak, not wanting to lose their sponsorship of the pavilion (especially not to rival Fujifilm) , pitched their own idea to Disney<ref> http://futureprobe.blogspot.com/2008/10/journey-into-imagination-remembered.html </ref>. They told Disney that they would make Journey Into Imagination more scientific, and use cheaper special effects. Although their proposal may not have seemed as glamorous as the FujiFilm Fujifilm proposal, Disney has had concerns about turning the attraction into a thrill ride (as such a ride would still be costly to maintain). With this in mind, Disney accepted Kodak's proposal , and Journey Into Imagination closed for renovations on October 10, 1998<ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/journey-into-imagination/news/10oct1998-journey-into-imagination-closed-for-major-refurbishment.htm </ref>.
When the Journey Into Imagination Pavilion reopened on October 1, 1999, its name was changed to the Imagination! Pavilionpavilion <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/10792/Remembering_the_Magic_Imagination_Pavilion </ref>. Following the refurbishment, the pavilion featured a drastically different layout. For starters, the jumping fountains located outside of the pavilion were significantly reduced in size, in order to accommodate the addition of a new gift shop<ref name= "Martin2"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=135 </ref>. The color scheme and signage on of the exterior of the pavilion were also changed dramatically, as they now reflected Kodak's company colors of red and orange<ref name= "Martin2"/>. Furthermore, the ImageWorks, which had originally been located on the second floor of the pavilion, was moved to the first floor and reduced in size<ref name= "Martin2"/>. At this time, the attraction was also renamed the “Kodak What If Labs". Although its basic premise remained essentially the same, many guests complained that the new What If Labs were simply one big advertisement for Kodak. After exiting the What if Labs, guests were funneled into a the aforementioned new gift shop, where they could buy photos, Epcot souvenirs, and Journey Into Your Imagination merchandise<ref name= "Martin2"/>.
While many things changed both outside and within the Imagination! Pavilion in 19981999, there was no bigger change then the new Journey Into Imagination attraction. Now titled Journey Into ''Your'' Imagination, the attraction was rethemed as a tie-in to Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. Taking place inside the Imagination Institute, Dr. Nigel Channing (Eric Idle) now gave guests a tour of the institute, using them as test subjects for a new invention, the "Imagination Scanner". To the surprise of many guests, Dreamfinder was completely removed from the attraction, and Figment (once the mascot of Epcot) was reduced to only a brief cameo<ref name= "Martin2"/>.[[Image:Imaginationfilms.jpg|500px|thumb|The four attractions housed in the Magic Eye Theater, from left to right: Magic Journeys, Captain EO, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, Disney Pixar Short Film Festival]]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"/>.
==Attractions=='''[[Captain EODisney & Pixar Short Film Festival]]'''- A 4D Space Adventure starring Michael Jackson. This show follows the heroic Captain EO and his rag tag team, as they try attraction allows guests to save the universe. Captain EO originally ran from 1986 until 1994. The show reopened in 2010. 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 they guests learn how the five senses relate to imagination.
'''[[ImageWorks]]'''- After exiting Journey Into Imagination With Figment, guests can further their exploration of imagination in enter the ImageWorks. Here, they can use explore various interactive kiosks to play three different exhibits featuring Figment themed games. Beginning in 2019, guests can now meet Ralph and Vanellope from the Wreck it Ralph franchise in the ImageWorks.
==Former Attractions==
[[Image:FigmentChanning.jpg|300px|thumb|Dr. Nigel Channing and Figment host Journey Into Imagination with Figment]]
'''Magic Journeys'''- This 3D attraction showed guests what the world looked like through the eyes of a child. The show was the first attraction to open in the Magic Eye Theater, where it ran from 1982 until 1986.
'''Magic JourneysHoney, I Shrunk the Audience'''- This 3D attraction showed guests what the world looked like through the eyes of a child. The 4D show was based on the first attraction open in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" film series. While attending the Imagination! pavilionInstitute's award ceremony, where it guests would accidentally be shrunk down to the size of an ant. Honey, I Shrunk the Audience replaced Magic Journeys in 1994 and ran from 1982 until 19862010.
'''Honey, I Shrunk the Audience[[Captain EO]]'''- This 4D show was based on attraction starred Michael Jackson as the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids heroic Captain EO. The film series. While attending followed the Imagination Institute's awards ceremonyadventures of EO and his rag tag team, guests would accidentally be shrunk down as they tried to save the size of an antuniverse. Honey, I Shrunk the Audience Captain EO originally ran from 1986 until 1994 until . The show reopened in 2010before permanently closing in December 2015.
'''[[Journey Into Imagination]]'''- The original Journey Into Imagination was a dark ride, which attraction that allowed guests to explorer their imagination with Dreamfinder and his creation , Figment. The attraction opened and 1983, and remained popular until it closed in 1998.
'''Journey Into ''Your'' Imagination'''- The short lived second version of Journey Into Imagination, this attraction allowed guests to tour the Imagination Institute with Dr. Nigel Channing. Along the way, they guests tested out the institute's newest invention- the Imagination Scanner. Journey Into ''Your'' Imagination ran from 1999 until 2001. '''Figment's Place'''- This character meet and greet location allowed guests to visit Figment inside his home. Figment's Place opened in December 2004 and closed for good in 2008.
==Shopping==
'''Imagination! Gift Shop'''- Located just outside of ImageWorks, the this gift shop features Epcot and Figment merchandise.
===Former Shopping===
'''Kodak Cameras & Film shop'''- This shop sold Kodak products as well as Figment merchandise. The Kodak Cameras and Film Shop opened with the pavilion in 1982 and closed in 1998.
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
* Initially, there were concerns that Magic Journeys would not be ready for opening day. As a backup plan, Disney created the 70 second film "Dreamfinder Run" which would have been used to introduce clips of the unfinished Magic Journeys. Starring Ron Schneider and directed by Mike Jittlov, Dreamfinder Run was never shown to guests, as Magic Journeys opened on time<ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/8217/More_Disney_Films_Youll_Probably_Never_See </ref>.
* Although Dreamfinder Run was never released, it can be seen in Martin's video about the original ImageWorks (http://vimeo.com/6976422).
* Parts In the early years of the original ImageWorks attraction are still located on pavilion, guests could see a spinning Figment topiary in the second floor Magic Garden (which was located just outside of the Imagination! pavilion). The topiary was removed in the mid-2000s <ref name= "lost"> http://www.lostepcot.com/imagination.html </ref>.
* In the early years From 1982 until 1998 Dreamfinder would walk around outside of the pavilion, guests could see a Figment topiary in the Magic Garden (which was located just outside of the pavilion). with Figment would spin resting on a turntable there, the topiary was removed in the mid 2000shis shoulder) and interact with guests <ref name= "lost"/>.
* From 1982 until 1998 Dreamfinder would walk around outside Imagineer Mark Fuller was responsible for the design of the pavilion with Figment resting on his shoulderImagination Fountains <ref> http://www.intercot.com/EDC/Imagination/index.html </ref>.
==References==
