ImageWorks - The "What If" Labs

Overview

ImageWorks – The “What If” Labs is the free-roam creative play area you walk straight into when you get off Journey Into Imagination with Figment in EPCOT’s Imagination! Pavilion, in World Celebration. Disney describes it as a sensory play space for little ones, with hands-on interactive stations where kids can tinker, play and burn off some energy. There’s no line and no ride vehicle; you go in, play as long as you like and leave through the pavilion’s ImageWorks shop.

The current version is much smaller than the original. When it opened in 1982 as the “creative playground of the future,” ImageWorks was a big upstairs attraction of its own, with blue-screen movie scenes and kaleidoscopes.

Is it worth it?

Worth it if you’re already riding Figment and have kids under about 8. It costs you nothing because the ride drops you right into it. Ten to fifteen minutes of hands-on play in air conditioning is a nice reset for small kids who’ve been in a stroller all morning.

Skip it if you’re adults or teens, or you’re short on time. In recent years the area has often been noticeably quiet, and some reports say it feels neglected. Some interactive stations may be dated or out of service. Treat it as a pleasant little break, not a destination, and don’t detour across World Celebration just for it.

The best thing about it: it’s one of the calmest indoor spots in a park that can get very busy, especially during festival season. The catch: compared to EPCOT’s newer attractions, it feels like a leftover. You get a little more out of it if you know it was once a much bigger attraction.

Insider tips

• Use it as a cool-down stop. Most guests walk straight through to the shop, so the play area is often close to empty even on busy days. It’s a good place for a quiet break, a snack or a toddler reset with no line and no crowd.
• Do Figment first, then let the kids loose. The ride has its own playful sensory gags, including the well-known Smell Lab scene. Coming off the ride, kids are usually excited and ready to touch everything, so let them play here before you move on.
• Expect some stations to be out of service. Interactive exhibits here tend to go down without much notice. Tell the kids “we’ll see what’s working today” so nobody is disappointed.
• DVC members: there’s a lounge upstairs. Disney Vacation Club members can use the ImaginAtrium on the second floor of the ImageWorks shop. It has comfortable seating, free soft drinks, Wi-Fi and charging stations. Check Disney’s current listing for its hours before you plan around it.
• Restrooms are at the back of the pavilion. These are usually less crowded than the ones at the front of the park.
• There’s no Lightning Lane, so don’t plan around one. The free play area has no line. If you want to cut your Figment wait, the ride is usually short-wait anyway, and SupaPark’s best-time forecaster shows when its waits tend to be lowest. Visiting midday, when outdoor areas are hottest, works well.
• There’s no single rider line or Rider Switch. It’s a walk-through play space, so the whole family goes through together.

Who can ride

Everyone can go in. It’s a walk-through play area with no ride vehicle, so there’s no height requirement. Check Disney’s current listing if you want to confirm.

• Intensity: none. It’s gentle, hands-on play with no drops, spins or sudden movement.
• Motion sickness: not a concern.
• Scary for young kids? No. It’s bright, playful and aimed at little ones. The only part that might startle a sensitive child is the Figment ride you take to get here, which has some dark scenes and a few sensory surprises like smells and sounds. If your child is nervous about the ride, you can walk in through the pavilion’s shop instead.
• Accessibility: the area is open and easy to get around, with room for strollers and wheelchairs.