The sneak preview of Pixar’s “Inside Out” is gone from EPCOT’s Imagination pavilion. As of July 2nd, the Captain EO tribute performance was back. That’s good news for fans of the collaboration between Francis Coppola and George Lucas.
In 2010, Disney brought Captain EO back as a tribute to Michael Jackson after his death in 2009. Earlier this year, the show was once again put on hiatus to make way for previews of Disney’s “Tomorrowland” and Pixar’s “Inside Out.”
Hopefully they gave the theater a little TLC during the latest transition. When I was there for the “Tomorrowland” preview, I noticed that some of the infrastructure for in-theater effects had been removed (such as the water spray from the seats). Plus the earlier revival did not include the in-theater laser or starfield effects. Let’s bring those back.
I’m happy that Captain EO is back, but Disney really needs to come up with a new plan for the Imagination Pavilion. The idea of a 4D theater is not a bad one, but how its being utilized right now is not up to the standards of modern Disney Imagineering. Really that goes for the whole pavilion.
Will you go see Captain EO now that he’s returned again to EPCOT?
Most definitely I would make a special trip to Florida to see EO, if the film and theatrical fx are brought up to Jackson/Lucas/Disney standards. This is an important film that would surely have broad appeal (where else can you see Jackson perform live?) if it were properly updated and promoted. The film was no small achievement for Disney – wish they would boast a little more about it.
I love Captain EO, and I’m very glad it’s back for now. I’m sure much of my love for it is the nostalgia factor (combined with the fact that Honey I Shrunk the Audience was TERRIBLE), but it’s been great to be able to revisit Captain EO for the past few years.
That said, I agree that the Imagination Pavilion needs a major overhaul. Captain EO is very dated. The Journey Into Imagination ride is only so-so. Having the entire upstairs part of the pavilion closed is a terrible waste. Something new needs to happen there. My suspicion is that they don’t really plan to do anything to change the pavilion until they finish up whatever will happen at the Studios, at which time Disney might turn its attention to Future World as a whole. The concept of Future World has gotten very ambiguous over the years, as pavilions have been modified or removed and replaced. I think Disney will probably choose to scrap the concept of Future World at some point, and will totally reimagine the entire front half of Epcot.
Wondering if the same thing will happen at Disneyland.
My understanding is Disneyland has other plans for the theater.
I’ve seen it for my last time. I saw it after it was resurrected after Jackson’s death. Not only was it unbelievably dated looking, it was stripped of much of the physical effects (Smoke, lasers, etc.) that it had in the 80s. Not to mention the 3D process is not what 3D technology currently is. It’s very hard for someone with Astigmatism to properly focus on the effects. So no, not going to see it again even if they were handing out free stuff as you exited the theater.
I saw Captain EO when it was originally done and each time I have been back to Disney World it wasn’t there…so I am looking forwrd to seeing it again…..if it seems “dated” to someone….well, I assume you never watch “old” movies on Turner Classic either…but some of us enjoy the chance to see those things once in a while. With a trip planned later this year, I am just hoping it will still be there…and maybe some of the huge amount of walls that were there last time we went will be gone…..bad enough the Polynesian make-over was so terrible….but all those walls? UGH!
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