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5. Imagination!

The Imagination! pavilion is a great news/horrible news situation. When Disney constructed this shiny glass pavilion on the western side of Future World, they anchored it with arguably the greatest edutainment attraction ever. Called Journey into Imagination, it cleverly displayed the inner workings of the creative process.

A man called the Dreamfinder boarded his trusty vehicular contraption, the Dreamcatcher, and crossed the universe, chugging out new ideas all the while. It was a thoughtful, ambitious attraction with a catchy Sherman Brothers song called One Little Spark, and it had a lovable dragon named Figment that children adored.

Journey into Imagination towered above other Epcot attractions for years before Disney regrettably decided to plus it. They created a new, second version of the ride as part of the millennial changes at the park. And that ride failed horribly. People loathed it. After only three years in operation, Disney switched it out for the current attraction, one that’s also an abomination. Journey into Imagination with Figment is a reductive take on the same premises from Journey into Imagination. It’s less than the original in every way and the antithesis of the Disney philosophy of plussing. The Imagination! pavilion is still amazing to see from a distance, but its primary attraction suck-diddly-ucks.

4. Test Track aka Transportation

Image: DisneyThe remaining four pavilions maintain direct ties to their planned premises. Factoring in Imagination!, that’s five out of nine Future World themes that have at least somewhat stood the test of time. Test Track is somewhat difficult to quantify since its tie-in to the Transportation pavilion isn’t as tight as its predecessor’s.

World of Motion used the same space for a dark ride with 30 different historical scenes, each of which involved transportation in some way. Imagine Spaceship Earth with more humor, and you get the gist. This attraction was 100 percent informational in nature.

During the mid-1990s, the sponsor of the attraction, General Motors, changed from extended contracts to single-year renewals. They did this for two reasons. They were cash-strapped, and they were dubious about the lingering value of World of Motion.

Disney came up with an idea to reinvigorate the Transportation pavilion. They would build a modern dark ride in the space of World of Motion. Test Track is in the conversation for best thrill ride at Walt Disney World, and I’d shortlist it for best overall attraction as well. The only reason I’m not placing it higher is because it’s on shaky ground thematically. I’m dubious that it conveys much of value about the concept of transportation beyond the fact that cars go fast and occasionally must brake quickly.

3. The Seas with Nemo & Friends aka The Living Seas

I struggled a great deal in ordering the top three, although I think that most people agree that they’re the finest lingering remnants of the grand plan for Epcot.

The Living Seas claimed the most gripping blue sky prototype of any Epcot pavilion. It was basically an underwater sea lab, a domed dwelling that would dazzle Disney-philes. While the actual pavilion didn’t quite live up to that vision, it wasn’t a reasonable expectation anyway. When the aquatic celebration of life debuted, it featured the world’s largest aquarium. It’s hard to argue with that, right?

The attraction at the time transported guests to the bottom of the ocean via hypdrolators, which were fake elevators. Nobody actually went anywhere, but it added to the effect of a journey to the bottom of the ocean, where guests would visit Seabase Alpha. It was a marvelous attraction worthy of the Disney name.

Alas, guests never loved it as much as they should, forcing Disney to add the Finding Nemo brand. The current ride shares the same name as the pavilion, and it’s absolutely adorable. It’s just not at all informational. For that, you’ll have to step outside the attraction and wander the pavilion, which remains a wonderful exhibition of aquatic life. As far as honoring the spirit of Epcot, this pavilion does quite well.

 
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