Kodak gone from Epcot?

[Disney05]

I'm reading some serious rumors that Kodak is gone from Epcot. Has anyone heard or seen anything? Is it only gone from the Imagination Pavilion? I read it's off the park maps.

[tdf192]

From what I've heard they are completely out of the Imagination pavillion, with only the stepping sound stones working and not boarded up in imageworks.

They have a lot more that they sponsor in all the parks so if they had pulled out completely there would have been a bigger deal made.

People are getting excited as they think this means a return of dreamfinder or the return of a better imageworks, but without another sponser i dont think this is likely or financially possible atm.

Lets just hope that like another pavillion (WoL) the removal of a sponsor doesnt hurt the pavillion

[Chrissy&Tayen]

augh.. i hope its good news and not bad

[missbounce]

Does that mean they'll take down the Kodak Picture Spot signs as well, do you think?

[tdf192]

Does that mean they'll take down the Kodak Picture Spot signs as well, do you think?

If they have just removed sponsorship from the pavillion, which it seems they have then NO.

Like the picture spots, Kodak have more interest in WDW than just the Imagination pavillion

[Flrancho]

This was reported on the Inside The Magic podcast. My first response was "uh oh", thinking of the WoL scenario. My hope would be though that a new sponsor would come in and pick it up and want to return the attraction to its original state. Probably wishful thinking.

[HauntedGabe]

Kodak is also the sponsor for Mickey's Philharmonic.

Back in the late 90's Fuji was pushing hard to take over the Epcot pavilion. Kodak won out. Haven't heard a peep about Fuji this decade. A good portion of the upper level of the Epcot pavilion is now used for private corporate events.

I always enjoyed True Colors.

[Disney05]

^^ I too enjoyed True Colors. You can still find it on YouTube.

[doconeill]

I'm not sure if Fujifilm does much in the US any more with the dwindling of the film market. They had branched out into video tapes (also dying) and flash memory cards for the digital camera market (using a format only used by themselves and Olympus, with both more recently adopting more standard formats). I doubt we'll see much from them.

I remember the True Colors song being so long...

[Disney05]

Ok, since we're talking about it, YouTube - Honey I Shrunk The Audience Preshow: True Colors

[Flrancho]

Maybe one of the more digital oriented companies will pick it up? Panasonic, Sony?

[NC_WDW_Daddy]

I would like to see a company showcase their new digital technology as part of the Imagination experience. Of cours I still like the original stepping "sound stones".

[designbymk]

Good riddance Kodak. From the stories I've heard, their sponsorship renewal basically canned Figment/Journey Into Imagination as they demanded a more "hip" ride be installed if they were to keep sponsoring the pavilion. But I shall not cry over spilled milk. Keep moving forward WDI.

I'd love to se the entire pavilion get a re-imagineering. Clearly HISTA is out for good. And the imagination institute has worn it's welcome. Figment needs his triumphant return and I'm sure it's mainly the business guys wrapped in red tape holding up the overhaul.

Just think of what an entirely new imageworks could be. All of the advances in interactive technology would make for some spectacularly entertaining diversions for children and adults alike. The dark ride moving into the interactive age would be pretty mindblowing too. Take some of the cues from TS Midway and employ them in an entirely new way. There are some great opportunities to really put imagination back into this tired journey.

[JNota0005DakMC]

Good riddance Kodak. From the stories I've heard, their sponsorship renewal basically canned Figment/Journey Into Imagination as they demanded a more "hip" ride be installed if they were to keep sponsoring the pavilion. But I shall not cry over spilled milk. Keep moving forward WDI.

I'd love to se the entire pavilion get a re-imagineering. Clearly HISTA is out for good. And the imagination institute has worn it's welcome. Figment needs his triumphant return and I'm sure it's mainly the business guys wrapped in red tape holding up the overhaul.

Just think of what an entirely new imageworks could be. All of the advances in interactive technology would make for some spectacularly entertaining diversions for children and adults alike. The dark ride moving into the interactive age would be pretty mindblowing too. Take some of the cues from TS Midway and employ them in an entirely new way. There are some great opportunities to really put imagination back into this tired journey.

i could def. see this happening... having just got back i can tell you... the imagination pavilion is in shambles... just looks aged and out of date... and HISTA will not return there is no way that would happen...

[doconeill]

As far as the Imagineers would say recently, HISTA IS planned to return after EO, although the return time is indefinite. They are working to update and clean up the video. HISTA is not directly tied to Kodak.

Of course, they may have other plans by now, and will run EO until they have something completely new - but I don't think they were planning on it.