Epcot at Walt Disney World Rumor- did they lose a sponsor?

| August 26, 2010
UPDATE- It has now been reported that Kodak is no longer sponsoring the Journey into Imagination pavilion. New pictures 9/9/2010 at the end of the blog.
I make no secret of the fact that I love Epcot at Walt Disney World!  My favorite Disney ride is Journey into Imagination.  I recently read a rumor that Kodak was no longer going to be a corporate sponsor of  this pavilion.
I decided to go over and check it out for myself.
The signs outside still announce that Kodak is a sponsor.  The rumor says that Imageworks – The Kodak ‘What If’ Labs are walled off.
The demonstration area and the area in the middle of the room are walled off, but the attractions around the edge of the room are still operating as normal.
Part of the rumor states that Kodak is gone from the park map as well.  I did pick one up today and Kodak is still advertising on the back panel of the park map. I also decided to check if the Kodak picture spots were gone from the park and they still seem to be intact.
So is Kodak leaving as a sponsor?  Kodak has had a relationship with the Walt Disney Company since 1955, so who knows what these changes mean?   It is intriguing that there are walls up in the Imageworks area.  Is it an unplanned refurbishment or a new design?  Are they bringing in something new to the area?  Only time will tell.  I will keep watching and will report back any changes I find.
Pictures from 9/9/2010
Notice that Kodak name is gone from this sign as you exit the ride.
On the outside of the building as you exit.

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Category: Disney World

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  • mainstdisney

    I sure hope Journey Into Imagination stays around.

  • Dave Parfitt

    Thanks for the blog Kathy. Living in Rochester, NY home of the corporate headquarters for Kodak, I always find it interesting that Kodak still does maintain its corporate sponsorship with Disney. The company is hurting, and has not recovered from the switch to digital cameras. There have been so many layoffs at Kodak, they are tearing down buildings here in Rochester, and the company is a shell of what it once was. I would not be surprised to see Kodak leave as a sponsor just because it may not be financially viable for them anymore.

  • disneysteve

    Interesting. Those walls were not up last week. I could certainly understand if Kodak pulled out. Disney World used to be a huge source of income for Kodak back in the days of film. When Kodak used to run Disney promos where you had to mail in box tops to get some special Disney item, my wife and I would collect dozens of empty boxes from the trashcan at the camera shops in the parks. But now, nearly everyone has a digital camera. They might stop in the camera shop for a pack of batteries or a Mickey camera strap, but Kodak can’t be making more than a tiny fraction of the money they used to rake in from park sales. It probably no longer makes any financial sense to continue to sponsor things.

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