Sneaking Into Image Works @ The Imagination Pavilion
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- čas přidán 11. 12. 2011
- Disclaimer: I DO NOT recommend that anyone else try this! There are obviously CMs patrolling the area at all hours and there is a good chance you will get busted and possibly arrested!
I recently went up to the abandoned Image Works area on the 2nd floor of The Imagination pavilion, and filmed the whole thing. It was night, so I kinda flew through because parts were pitch black and the whole place was really creepy. Right as I was leaving I got busted by a CM!
For the full story behind this adventure, as well as other Disney-related stories and videos, visit my blog at www.darksideofdisney.com . And don't forget to check out my book, "The Dark Side of Disney"!
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I can't believe that they pay people to patrol those corridors. Odds are they just hang out up there by themselves all night. Plus they get to really take the time to explore these areas. What a great job.
I agree. I think it was just horribly bad luck on my part that she was up there when I was.
Closed attractions always make me so sad. It's like they were once this beautiful magical thing, and now they're just dark and empty :(
I'd support pretty much any reason to reopen that area, but would prefer to have Figment and Dreamfinder back.
I love how you just walked up the stairs as if it was no big deal. :P I was half expecting you to scream "Hey, look, it's Mickey!" and with everyone distracted...
lol that's kind of funny. my wife and I took the kids in 2012 to imagination and we went up those same stairs. there was no rope on it at the time though. but my wife and I loved seeing it and brought back memories of when we were kids, my kids were all like" this is creepy can we go?" lol!
Awesome!!! Wow, you lucked out there.
welp knowing now that we were supposed to go in there I will agree lol!
DixonFamilyFun I
Well, it was nice that the CM was a bit "cool" with you doing some harmless exploring. Good idea to blur his face so he doesn't get in trouble either.
A BIG Thank You for having the nerve to do this. Seeing that tunnel brought the memories rushing back like a tidal wave. I can't believe that I remember so much of it clearly like it was yesterday! Oh, and thank you to the CM for being cool about this and not freaking out.
Yeah, it was nice that they didn't throw me in Disney Jail. However, I think they're being extra vigilant about it since this vid was posted.
And you're very welcome! It was scary, but just like you, it really brought back a lot of memories of the good times I had up there as a kid.
Your lucky
Pretty much, yeah.
It was a great ride, on par with Horizons and World of Motion. Tragic that none of them exist anymore, and that all future generations of kids won't be inspired and awed by them.
And yeah, I was pretty terrified! It was definitely super creepy up there. Glad you enjoyed it, though.
Nope, been doing this for years. My "Sneaking into the Utilidor" video is from 1997, I think!
This was where one of Michale Jacksons music videos was filmed in the 80s
Good job on this video! I know I'm commenting 7 years later, but I'm glad you got footage of this place before they closed off the indoor parts and turned the glass pyramid into the DVC lounge. It's so weird realizing that I didn't even know that whole back area existed when I went to the DVC lounge. Next time I go to WDW I'll make sure to check out the lounge and see if I can see back there.
Glad you enjoyed the video! For a while you could see the Rainbow Tunnel through an air vent in the DVC lounge, but I think they blocked that off.
It's actually very sad how much of park property (especially in EPCOT) has been abandoned. Lots of good memories in a lot of these places. A shame that kids these days can't also make good memories in the same places.
And yeah, it was cool of the CM! Wouldn't happen anymore, though. Since these vids came out they've been warned not to let people off the hook if caught exploring. Insta-ban!
whoa! you got balls to go through all that!
Thanks!
Right now it’s a Disney vacation club lounge I just wish they kept the rainbow tunnel
Wow, yeah, good thing you didn't get caught, because there's no good way to talk your way out of that one!
I wish I had your adventurous spirit!! Although after seeing this, I don't know why they don't try to open it back up. It's gorgeous up there!
@DarkSideDisney "I remembered as being so vibrant and full of life looking like post-apocalyptic ruins"
I think you might be thinking about the first floor. :P
The original Journey Into Imagination seems to be one of the, if not THE, best Disney rides I never rode. I live in California and have only been to Florida twice in my life (27), so I never got the chance. But I've watched a ton of videos and read a lot about it, so I wish I could somehow turn back time to visit it.
This video is extremely fascinating. I'd have been terrified; you have serious balls. I applaud you (and your balls) for bringing some creepy yet lovely magic to us viewers! ;D
Once they upgraded the "Journey into Imagination-With Figment" ride and pavilion back in 1999. They moved the ImageWorks downstairs and closed everything else upstairs. Now, it is heavily patrolled, has wires/crap everywhere, and it is only open every now and then for a private event.
Similarly, I once sneaked into Dazzeland @ The Myer Centre in February of 2019.
And I was very lucky not to get caught unawares by a watchman!
Lol way to play off being lost 😂
I LOVED the upstairs. Wish it was still in use. Kudos for having the guts to walk up the staircase in plain site. The CM was really cool the way they handled you being up there. I've walked by that staircase numerous times and never put two and two together. Don't think I'll ever have the guts to jump the velvet rope.
Ah, yes. Image Works. I forgot about the neon tunnel and all that other stuff. I half-expected to see a bound and gagged Dreamfinder writhing on the floor.
So Friggen cool! I like how you handled the security guard after you got caught. Thanks for posting, I completely forgot how cool the old imageworks was!!
I'm so mad that it's closed up there...it was so fun back in the day...thanks for the memories! gotta sneak up there someday!!!
Glad to see a new video of this stuff!
No need to sneak into WoL it's wide open during the flower and garden festival. It's used for events, appearances and workshops.
Nice! Yeah, I've seen employees use that stairway before, which is why I didn't go that way. Lucky that you got to play with the pin tables - I didn't see them when I was up there!
Okay that was super creepy. 1:57 I could hear the past souls that use to wonder these parts. Nah lol. That was freaking awesome what you did!
I snuck in once with some friends. We had on dark hoodies and bandanas so they could not see our face and we ran when a mom ratted on us.. Funniest day ever.
@Costerguy1234556 I think it was the AC. I'm telling you, between noises like that, the pitch black sections, and seeing a place I remembered as being so vibrant and full of life looking like post-apocalyptic ruins, I was totally freaked out even before I got busted!
Hah awesome video, love that you just casually walked up there while the gift shop was bumpin.
it is SO pretty up there! such a shame! why don't they just drop a few tables, maybe a small food stand and even just call it good? i wish disney actually cared about EPCOT.
Agree 100%. It was freaky.
That shit began to look like the Dark Lodge on Twin Peaks
David Lynch would love this place! So creepy.
and wow awesome they still have this
@DarkSideDisney I wonder if some CMs ever go up there and play with what's left.
Looks great for a rave. Already aptly lit and everything.
Yeah, that first staircase is always locked. Glad you got to see a bit of it, though!
I cannot see any logical reason for this area to be closed. Much of the origional equipment is still up there, alot of it could probably still spring to life with the flip of a switch.
Hey guys check out my version!!!! Sneaking Into Image Works - Rainbow Tunnel - Imagination Pavilion - Walt Disney World EPCOT
Nice video! Did I read correctly that you also got busted up there?
The Dark Side of Disney Hi mate! thanks! Yeah that's true haha! But I acted as the dumb tourist lol! Just like you did haha! I got out fine though and I was past the metal gate anyway lol.
terrortower2
Ah, okay. Glad you didn't get in trouble! There are obviously Cast Members patrolling the area, and I imagine it's a lot harder to play dumb since these videos have been posted.
Yeah too right haha! Well done to you too! I'm glad that you filmed this at night! It just shows how much of a lost gem it is!
Nobody is really sure why they shut it down. They just never opened it back up after the refurb.
It closed when they did the ride refurb years ago. No idea why they never opened it back up.
At least their cheapness left this place. It's a sad reminder of what used to be there
Yeah, it's always worked so far! Probably because there are legitimately a LOT of really dumb people at WDW. CMs must get so tired of clueless tourists.
I heard they might be closing it down in January for a refurb. It'd be awesome if they open up this floor again, but I'm not holding out much hope.
Yeah, it's been closed since they refurb'd the ride in 1998. Check the comments below for more details.
i was also wondering when, you first walk into the imagination building there are stairs to the left, do those also lead to image works?
Here I am to comment on another Epcot video! Yep. This is about right. Last time I went up there before I left was right around this time as well. There's a cast staircase that is unlocked 24/7 right by the restrooms around the back of the building. By the cast break room. You can see the door it leads to at 1:05. They've made a large storage area right smack in the middle of this area as you can see by the walls. It's under heavy camera surveillance (only that storage area, really) *tbc*
Great Video!! I love to see a nice cast member like that. He probs knew that you were a Disney lover. He was very kind. I agree with balletlover157, you HAVE to get into the Wonders of Life Pavillion!! Is that where the Making of Me was? Thanks! : ) P.S. I subscribed : )
It'd take too long for me to list all the reasons why,compared to the original Journey Into Imagination ride,the current ride stinks.But I still can't believe they closed down the second floor!
The old Image Works,with its cave-like interior,was so much better.
Very cool! Walt did build Club 33 in Disneyland where he intended to meet with dignitaries and businessmen. Not sure about WDW, though. But there are a ton of very cool VIP lounges in EPCOT!
There is... a friend found an easy way around the lock, though, and I'd actually recommend that entrance over the stairway now.
@Imagineer6 They've already done enough damage without me adding to it. Maybe I should have brought in a broom and mop and cleaned the place up a bit?
Yeah, you can see the tip of my Chucks when I go over the rope - I imagine myself looking like John Cleese doing the Silly Walk.
I know! It was cool. I couldn't find the elevator though. Oh well. Thanks again for putting up the video, it gave me a good idea of where to look!
Rainbow Tunnel rave!!! Hell yeah!
Yeah, the CMs at the register are way too overwhelmed when that place is busy. Plus, there's a column of merch blocking their view of the stairway!
It;s sad they got rid of the second floor. What safety issues were there?
@295g295 It was closed in 1998. If there weren't hazardous conditions then, there sure are now. Exposed wiring, crap all over the floor. Not a safe place to be.
Agreed. The original Imagination pavilion was awesome and would have stood the test time. What they did to it was murder.
@DarkSideDisney, yesterday I went on the Figment ride and saw the staircase when you first walk in but its closed. Then I looked at the staircase by the gift shop, went up a couple of steps, and chickened out and had to go back down. I saw a little bit, it was so awesome!!!!!
The funny thing is about a year after this video came out I was over at Imagination. I thought it would be funny to take a picture of myself pretending to jump over the rope. I stood still (My foot was not over the rope btw) so my friend could get the picture and just as she took it a CM came running over screaming about how it was closed.. At least they let me take the picture but they had to keep saying things like "It's not safe up there." and "There is nothing even interesting left up there."
HA! That's awesome. It's true that it's definitely not safe up there, but I would very much beg to differ about there not being interesting stuff!
It's safe, I heard it's a Disney Vaction Club thing
It sure felt like it once I got the hell out of there!
I can imagine the people walking through that rainbow tunnel
So sad that they closed it
Sorry for the late response - just saw this. Unfortunately I've never heard of "the zoo", but I can ask around. Maybe something to do with Costuming?
@The Dark Side of Disney,I went to the imagine works area during 2014 summer and I just saw an Cast Member patrolling the area I heard that if you ask permission to go up there then they might just let some guest up there but I still wonder if the undiscovered future world tour lets guest explore the area but besides now at wdw cast members are being very strict every time I go to the park I see an few guest go over ropes so usually etheir security guards or an cast member tells them don't go over the rope very offending but I will get use to it and the might change this just like they did with an no climbing rule while wreck n ralph was put on Disney quest at 2012.
Yeah, they sometimes let people up for the UnDIScovered FutureWorld Tour, but I can guarantee you that they won't let random people up there just because they ask nicely. Too much of a safety hazard.
What a creepy place, that sound was scary as shit.
I was kinda hoping there was a chance she'd just ignore me. Nope.
All that Early Walt Disney World/Epcot History is going to Waste instead of being refurbished for the 30th anniversary of Epcot and bringing back some of the old imageworks and the original figment with dreamfinder
so cool. iasked to go up there one time and a cast member said there were offices up there, i guess they lied or just didn't know.
It is indeed!
There weren't any when they originally closed it! Now, on the other hand, it's a mess.
Haha, thanks. Yeah, it is pretty damn badass up there!
this is really sad. I thought maybe they were at least using the space for storage or offices or something, but it's just...empty! I keep hoping the new trackless ride system (a la Pooh's Honey Hunt in Tokyo) will lead to a return of something MUCH closer to the original attraction and pavilion.
Yes, very sad. Marvel's new Dreamfinder and Figment comic is coming out soon, though, so maybe that'll make the characters popular and cool again and give Disney a good reason to put them back in the pavilion.
100% agreed. There's no comparison.
why was it closed in the first place?
Oh wow so sad. I recognized every single part of the upstairs. The upstairs was so much fun! I wish it would reopen but maybe it was too connected to the original imagination ride. Hey they returned the original tiki birds back to magic kingdom maybe someday they will return the original imagination ride.
Haha I totally did this a few years ago! I used the stairs around the back outside by the bathrooms though! I was shaking so bad I thought I was going to barf... but we spent a good 10 minutes up there and didn't get caught! Played with the pin tables and everything!
They did a refurb of the ride in the late 90s and closed it then. No idea why, to be honest.
@VectronMusic I think it's the AC. But I can't be sure. And yes, it was just as creepy in person, if not moreso.
Where did the actual ride start? Was that area blocked off?
The ride is downstairs. The stairway upstairs was blocked off.
Now gone today
I keep hearing of a place called "The Zoo" at Disney that only CMs know about, I've tried researching it, but can't find anything.. And idea of what it is?
I've been here before! On a field trip!
Awesome!
@adamthewoo Hell yeah! Seeing you doing it in your vid was definitely a big inspiration!
I think it was just budgetary. It costs a lot to cool, light, and staff an entire floor's worth of stuff. They would have also needed to refurb everything to make it match the theme and characters of the new ride downstairs. Not a good excuse, especially considering they continue to raise ticket prices, but it's the most likely scenario.
It's a shame that it's all unused now.
you need to get into the wonders of life pavilion if they open it up for the flower and garden festival(i think it gets open then aha) and try to find all the old rides! naw im just kidding but that would be cool to see if they are still there collecting dust aha
@tamisweetie Thanks! Yep, WoL is where "Making of Me" was located. I'm going to try to get in there soon!
To be honest, I'm not even sure there's still power running to it. No idea how long it's been since they've turned on the elevator or escalator.
@balletlover157 Yeah, they do, but that entrance is locked off.
@The Dark Side of Disney,Ok I already saw the video but the cm is very kind that he didn't took you to jail but do you always sneak into Disney restricted areas or cast member areas and abandoned areas because its awesome to go to the park and take an peak of these old attractions this video reminds me of sneaking inside alien encounter but Disney can still arrest guest for doing this so can you please be able to tell me if an person can sneak inside the old wonders of life attraction or they can get introuble for that.
No, I'm done sneaking backstage. I used to do it all the time, though. I'd get caught a lot, but always talked my way out of it. Not sure if it's so easy to do that these days, though.
As far as Wonders of Life, you can get in there legit during the Food and Wine and Flower and Garden festivals!
I think they have team-building exercises up there for new hires. I didn't see any offices, but I guess it's possible....
I have heard that things got closed when sponsorship stopped...not sure if that's right.
You're very welcome!
I wonder if some of the stuff still works.
aw i miss Image Works. but i hear they might remake it!
2:46 ... "... It's a safety issue"? Image Works was closed because of some hazardous conditions!
What year was this area closed?
@Costerguy1234556 It was hard to tell the condition of a lot of it in the dark. But the Rainbow Tunnel seemed to be in good shape!
Yes, very creepy. I was definitely freaked out. But it was totally worth it!
I think people mean sneak into Cranium Command, Body Wars, the VIP Lounge, etc.