Epcot Imagination DVC Lounge Photo Tour
Disney Vacation Club has a new member lounge in the Imagination pavilion at Epcot, located upstairs in the former home of ImageWorks. This post will start with our thoughts on the new lounge, followed by some nostalgia for upstairs ImageWorks, and will conclude with me digging into the Idea Bag and asking for your help with a new series of posts.
Alright, let’s start with details on the new Disney Vacation Club Member Lounge. It’s located in the Imagination pavilion, and accessible via the gift shop at the end of the attraction (you can enter through a separate door on the left side of the building…you don’t have to ride the attraction). Almost immediately inside the door, there’s a podium with a kiosk where a Disney Vacation Club rep will ask to see your membership card and photo ID, and then allow the member (plus up to 5 guests) upstairs.
The lounge is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., and on our first day at Walt Disney World we “rope dropped” the lounge to be the first guests up there. You could say that we’re really dorky, but part of that was being in desperate need of a caffeine fix after taking the red-eye in to Orlando and going straight to Epcot that morning. I’m looking forward to revisiting during the winter when the 6 p.m. closing is around sunset.
Once upstairs, the open space occupies a portion of the old ImageWorks, with new walls cutting off a large chunk of the old area. The DVC Member Lounge sports new carpeting, furniture, and a fresh coat of paint. The lounge itself has a pleasant retro-modern style, but is nothing particularly noteworthy.
The highlight of the lounge is the view overlooking Future World, and really just the feeling of being up there in that beautiful sun-soaked area.
I’m not really sure how well photos can convey this, but it’s a beautiful space that anyone will enjoy (which is why it was a shame it closed in the first place). Old school EPCOT Center fans, especially, are sure to go nuts as they’re hit by a wave of memories.
In terms of amenities, the DVC Member Lounge is pretty solid, with iPads, computers, charging stations, and various DVC promotional materials.
There’s also a play area for children where they can play Disney Infinity or watch Disney animated shorts.
Other big pluses are Coke Freestyle machines, a Kuerig, and snack cart.
We actually made a couple trips to the lounge each day we were in Epcot to avoid having to buy coffee from Starbucks, so not only is it a great spot to decompress, but it saved us ~$15 per day!
All things considered, for Disney Vacation Club Members, the Imagination Lounge is a really nice perk. It’s not some huge thing that’s going to push someone over the edge to purchase DVC (probably not, at least?) but it shows that they care about existing members, and not just selling more points.
These little touches, cumulatively, are what helped woo a lot of us to become DVC members in the first place, so collectively I think they do make a difference. Our member satisfaction increased dramatically this trip as a direct result of this lounge, the Typhoon Lagoon Beach Bash, and our interactions with DVC guides at the events. (So…it’s working?)
My one big complaint here is that they play some new age music instead of the classic Journey into Imagination music loop (which is still played downstairs in the restrooms). Given Disney’s propensity for making small nods to the past, I was partially expecting this loop to be played, and it would have been a small touch that would’ve gone a long way.
C’mon, DVC, throw us fans a bone! Even without that, it was a great experience to be back up there. Longtime readers of the blog might recall a few years ago, when I had the chance to journey up into the old ImageWorks, and what an emotional experience that was.
In many ways, our first trip up here prompted similar feelings of nostalgia, joy, and even a bit of sorrow. It was bittersweet: I was happy that this area was open again in any capacity, but sad that it weren’t in a way that could be enjoyed by all guests, and as ImageWorks, once again.
I still hold out hope that one day Journey into Imagination (and this whole pavilion) will be returned to its former glory, and we were one icy flop away from that happening a few years ago. Now, it seems Epcot once again has other priorities, but I suspect we will still a see work done to Imagination before Epcot’s 40th Anniversary.
Whether that future includes Figment probably remains to be seen, and likely depends upon the continuing guest reaction and sentiment towards Figment…
After our visits to the DVC Member Lounge, one thing that surprised me when discussing it with people is that very few remember the old ImageWorks. Given that the original closed back in the late 90s, nearly 2 decades ago at this point, that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.
It was still a sobering reminder of how Figment (the one-time mascot of EPCOT Center) has been neglected since, all the while Elsa and Groot receive attention in Epcot.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help.
Your Thoughts
Have you been up to the new Disney Vacation Club Lounge? What did you think of it? Did it bring back memories (if you have them) of the old ImageWorks? Are you ready to join the crusade for greater Figment awareness? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
I didn’t know about any of these perks, great to see/hear about!
I enjoyed your vlog. Put me and my family on the Disney Dork list too. Thanks for the great blogs and pictures.
I hope to visit the new lounge in November.. does anyone know if it has an elevator? My sister is in a wheelchair, and I hope she can enjoy this vantage point of Epcot. Disney is so accommodating so I’m pretty sure there would be an elevator, but just wanted to ask. Thanks!
Yes, there is an elevator.
We first visited the Imagination Pavilion in 1995 with our kids…2 teens and a pre-teen. The beauty of it was the artistry, color, imaginative & interactive, organic inventions everywhere. We all loved it and wanted to spend more time there, return, etc. With other pavilions focussing on science, cars, the body, etc., the colorful Imagination Pavilion was the perfect counterpoint in the set. From afar or from within, it was the coloring book of exploration among the standard school subjects. Figment echoed these qualities with his plump, purple, joy of life. I agree…his newer version doesn’t quite capture that, and the dark ride is annoying. When we have given in to temptation and ridden it, we are always sorry! We miss the rainbow passage and pay-off of the artsy, cool, exploration room!!! We don’t take our grandchildren to this pavilion, sadly. It’s now just a colorful backdrop.
SarahQuote ” We’re Dorks, Surprise”. Tom Quote “You guys are too if your watching this”…… Guilty!!! You guys rock. This is why people love you. Please don’t change who you are to produce “professional” youtube videos. Keep the professionalism to your expertly written blog, keep the vlog “dorky” and classically “Tom and Sarah”. This is honestly why people love your blog. This little incite into your personalities is the reason you have been so successful. So from a fellow dork……. Keep Dorking it up, and blog/vlog on.
My most vivid memory of ImageWorks was the giant pin-table. There had to be thousands of pins on it, and I loved running my hands along it and making shapes & designs. I was always so amazed that it didn’t stab you or draw blood.
Between that, the original Figment ride with Dreamfinder, and the dancing fountains outside, Imagination was always one of the best pavilions for me as a kid. I have no idea if my parents still have photos or video, but now I’m tempted to find out.
While the images portray great architecture and lighting I have to say for the masses of Epcot guests this is a huge waste of space. Epcot’s future world needs some serious upgrades. I’m hoping for the 50th Anniversary they fix not only this park but a multitude of problems that surround Disneyworld in general. Fingers crossed.
Mike
I’m really liking the Vlogs! Very cute guys.
We’re not DVC members, so it was fun to see up inside the lounge. The glass pyramid from the inside is beautiful.
We’ve been up to the DVC lounge a few times but have never seen the snack cart. Seems hit or miss or maybe a newer feature? I was hoping at least the rainbow corridor was kept intact as a treat for the DVC members but hopefully one day we’ll see the pavilion back in its former glory.
I know I have a few pictures from when I was a kid but they are at my mom’s house (I live in TX, she lives in FL). How long will this project be going on? I might not be able to look through them for a little while. I <3 Figment.
I seemed to lose sound a few minutes into your vlog. Is this a problem my end? We arrive in Disney on Sunday for the first time! My 7 and 9 year old are very excited. We’ve found your blog immensely useful with lots of decision making. Thank you both very much.
Really looking forward to this series of posts! The fall of the Imagination pavilion is my single biggest disappointment in my history with WDW. I wish i I had some photos to lend but unfortunately I wasn’t one for taking many photos back then (I was only 12 when it closed). Looking forward to seeing what everybody has to share though!
I know I still have my old Figment hat (from 1989) and I might still have a few other small toys if I can find them.
I wore that thing to show and tell at school and felt like the coolest kid ever.