Imagination! (Epcot)

Pavilion at Epcot

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Imagination!

The pavilion logo (top), a throwback to the classic Journey into Imagination logo, used since 2019, and the Imagination! logotype used since 1999

Glass pyramids of Imagination! with the jumping fountains in the foreground.

Epcot
Area|

* Future World (1982–2021)
* World Celebration (2021–)

Coordinates| 28°22′22″N 81°33′04″W﻿ / ﻿28.372876°N 81.551203°W﻿ / 28.372876; -81.551203
Status| Operating
Cost| $38,000,000
Opening date| October 1, 1982
Ride statistics
Designer| WED Enterprises
Theme| Human imagination, creativity, and the arts
Music| One Little Spark written by The Sherman Brothers
Sponsor|

* Kodak (1982–2010)
* None (since 2010)

Wheelchair accessible

Imagination! (formerly The Journey Into Imagination) is a pavilion located in the World Celebration section of Epcot, a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. The pavilion opened with the park in 1982, and is themed to human imagination, creativity, and the arts. Kodak was the former title sponsor of the pavilion.

## Attraction history

[edit]

The interior of the glass pyramid as of 2021.

While the pavilion itself has existed since 1982, it has gone through three significant phases. The original started out as an area in which the 3-D film Magic Journeys was played with a song by the same name by the Sherman Brothers. The Makin' Memories slide presentation, a history of photography was the pre-show presentation. When Journey Into Imagination opened a year later, the area was dubbed the Journey Into Imagination Pavilion. From 1983 to 1986, it held Journey Into Imagination, the (upstairs) ImageWorks, and Magic Journeys. In 1986, however, Magic Journeys was replaced by Captain EO, a more advanced 3-D film created by George Lucas and starring Michael Jackson as the title character. In the mid-1990s, Captain EO was replaced by Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, starring Rick Moranis as Professor Wayne Szalinski and Eric Idle as the Imagination Institute chairman, Dr. Nigel Channing.

In 1998, the original Journey Into Imagination went down for renovation. During this renovation, the upstairs ImageWorks was closed and the building's purple and blue painting exterior was replaced with different colors, navy blue being primary. The original glass sign was replaced by one made of wood and metal. The leap frog fountains were reduced in size to accommodate the new gift shop at the exit of the new Journey Into Your Imagination. The glass pyramids remained intact, although the upstairs ImageWorks was closed, to be replaced by the downstairs ImageWorks - The "What If" Labs

The pavilion was renamed Imagination! in 1999, when the new attraction opened. Fans were upset that Dreamfinder, a popular character from the previous ride, was gone. Furthermore, Figment, another popular character, only made cameo appearances until his short dialogue at the end of the ride. By the end of 2001, Disney closed the ride and modified the attraction, bringing Figment back into a more prominent role, although the Dreamfinder remained absent.

For a brief time after Figment's return to the Imagination pavilion, the walk around Figment character was available for a meet-and-greet in the former Kodak shop between the main pavilion and the theater. Figment's place is now unlabeled, but the décor inside is still visible through the windows.[1]

In the summer of 2006, the finale of a Kim Possible interactive activity was set up temporarily in the upstairs ImageWorks as a test, themed as Dr. Drakken's base, with a station in World Showcase loaning out "Kimunicators" for interactive activities.[2]

Jumping fountains near the Imagination! building with Spaceship Earth in the background.

Following the death of Michael Jackson on June 25, 2009, Disney officials mulled over the possible return of Captain EO.[3] In February 2010, the film, now retitled Captain EO Tribute, returned to Disneyland. On July 2, 2010, Captain EO returned to the Imagination! pavilion for a limited run, replacing Honey, I Shrunk the Audience.[4]

In August 2010, Kodak, who had sponsored the pavilion since it opened, ended its sponsorship after nearly 28 years.[5]

In June 2016, the old upstairs portion of the Imagination Pavilion used for the original ImageWorks reopened as a lounge exclusively for Disney Vacation Club members.[6]

### Current attractions

[edit]

* Journey into Imagination with Figment (June 2, 2002–present; third renovations)
* Magic Eye Theater
* Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival (December 23, 2015–present)[7]
* Disney Vacation Club Lounge (2016–present)

### Current exhibitions

[edit]

* ImageWorks: The What-If Labs (October 1, 1999– present; second renovations)

### Former attractions

[edit]

* Magic Eye Theater
* Magic Journeys (October 1, 1982 – February 9, 1986)
* Makin' Memories (Early 1980s)
* Captain EO (September 12, 1986 – July 6, 1994; first renovations)
* Captain EO Tribute (July 2, 2010 – December 6, 2015; second renovations)
* Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (November 21, 1994 – May 9, 2010)
* Journey Into Imagination (March 5, 1983 – October 10, 1998; first renovations)
* Journey Into Your Imagination (October 1, 1999 – October 8, 2001; second renovations)

### Former exhibitions

[edit]

* ImageWorks (October 1, 1982 – October 10, 1998; first renovations)

## See also

[edit]

* Epcot attraction and entertainment history

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Yee, Kevin (2014). Walt Disney World Hidden History. Orlando, Florida: Ultimate Orlando Press. p. 68\. ISBN 9781500887926.
2. ^ "Kim Possible Game", "All Ears Net", retrieved November 6, 2006
3. ^ Brady MacDonald. "Iger: No plans to bring 'Captain EO' back to Disneyland". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
4. ^ Bevil, Dewayne (June 30, 2010). "What's old is new again as 'Captain EO' returns to Epcot". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
5. ^ Garcia, Jason (September 10, 2010). "Kodak cuts ties with Epcot pavilion". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
6. ^ "Disney Vacation Club New Lounge". Member Lounge at Epcot – Now Open!.
7. ^ "'Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival' to Debut Today At Epcot". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* Walt Disney World Resort - Imagination! Pavilion

* v
* t
* e

Epcot

Attractions

World Celebration|

* Spaceship Earth
* Club Cool
* Imagination!
* Journey into Imagination with Figment

World Discovery|

* Mission: Space
* Space 220 Restaurant
* Test Track
* Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

World Showcase|

* The American Adventure
* Canada
* Canada Far and Wide
* China
* Reflections of China
* France
* Impressions de France
* Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
* Germany
* Italy
* Japan
* Luminous: The Symphony of Us
* Mexico
* Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
* Morocco
* Norway
* Frozen Ever After
* United Kingdom

World Nature|

* The Land
* Living with the Land
* Soarin' Around the World
* The Seas
* The Seas with Nemo and Friends
* Coral Reef Restaurant
* Turtle Talk with Crush
* Journey of Water

Annual events|

* International Flower & Garden Festival
* International Food & Wine Festival
* Disney's Candlelight Processional

Other|

* Utilidor System
* Walt Disney World Monorail System
* Disney Skyliner

Related|

* EPCOT (concept)
* EPCOT Magazine
* Figment
* Epcot Center Ultralight Flightpark

* v
* t
* e

The Sherman Brothers

* Richard M. Sherman
* Robert B. Sherman

Motion pictures

* The Parent Trap (1961)
* The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)
* Bon Voyage! (1962)
* A Symposium on Popular Songs (1962)
* In Search of the Castaways (1962)
* Big Red (1962)
* Moon Pilot (1962)
* Summer Magic (1963)
* The Sword in the Stone (1963)
* The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964)
* The Moon-Spinners (1964)
* Mary Poppins (1964)
* Those Calloways (1964)
* The Monkey's Uncle (1965)
* That Darn Cat! (1965)
* Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966)
* Follow Me, Boys! (1966)
* The Happiest Millionaire (1967)
* The Jungle Book (1967)
* The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967)
* The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968)
* Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
* Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968)
* The Aristocats (1970)
* Goldilocks (1971)
* Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
* Snoopy Come Home (1972)
* Charlotte's Web (1973)
* Tom Sawyer (1973)
* Huckleberry Finn (1974)
* Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974)
* The Slipper and the Rose (1976)
* The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
* The Magic of Lassie (1978)
* Magic Journeys (1982)
* Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore (1983)
* Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1992)
* The Mighty Kong (1998)
* Seasons of Giving (1999)
* The Tigger Movie (2000)

Stage musicals
and musical revues|

* Victory Canteen (1971)
* Over Here! (1974)
* Dawgs (1983)
* The Slipper and the Rose (1984)
* Busker Alley (1994)
* Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2002)
* On the Record (2004)
* Mary Poppins (2004)
* Merry-Go-Round workshop (2007)
* A Spoonful of Sherman (2014)
* Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation (2021)
* Bedknobs and Broomsticks (2021)
* The Jungle Book (TBA)

Theme park
attractions

* Golden Horseshoe Revue (1955)
* King Arthur Carrousel (1955)
* Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room (1963)
* It's a Small World (1966)
* Adventure Thru Inner Space (1967)
* Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress (1967)
* Main Street Electrical Parade (1972)
* America Sings (1974)
* America on Parade (1975)
* CommuniCore (1982)
* Imagination! (1982)
* Magic Journeys (1982)
* The World Showcase March (1982)
* Japan (Epcot) (1982)
* Journey into Imagination (1983)
* Meet the World (1983)
* Innoventions (1998)
* Rocket Rods (1998)
* The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1999)
* Disneyland Forever (2015)

Books|

* Walt's Time: from before to beyond (1998)
* Moose: Chapters from My Life (2013)

Related|

* The Jungle Book 2 (2003)
* soundtrack; musical references
* The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story (2009)
* Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
* soundtrack; song re-recordings
* Tomorrowland (2015)
* soundtrack; musical references
* The Jungle Book (2016)
* soundtrack
* Christopher Robin (2018)
* soundtrack; w/ original songs by both brothers, and new songs by Richard)
* Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
* soundtrack; musical references

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