Home » Epcot » Journey into Imagination with Figment
Epcot

Journey into Imagination with Figment

Journey into Imagination with Figment
Journey into Imagination with Figment is the third iteration of a ride about imagination that is located at EPCO at Walt Disney World in Florida. The current iteration is a mixture of the best features of the first two iterations. It focuses on the importance of a free imagination and features a dragon mascot named Figment. This is the ride’s interesting story.

Journey into Imagination with Figment is the third and most recent iteration of a ride at the Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT at Walt Disney World in Florida. The attraction is a “dark ride,” meaning the parts of the ride in between scenes take place in the dark. It opened in its first iteration on March 5, 1983, and was called Journey into Imagination. The ride featured a tiny purple dragon mascot named Figment, and the ride was accompanied by a song called One Little Spark, by the Sherman Brothers.

Journey into Imagination (Postcard)

Ride into wondrous realms of creativity, challenge your imagination in a playground of the future, and take 3-D magic Journeys through the Looking Glass of the mind. Presented by Kodak.

The ride was the creation of Tony Baxter and Steve Kirk, and used people mover vehicles that were designed to appear to be floating in the clouds. Passengers could see the silhouette of a blimp “flying” next to them, and hear the blimp’s pilot humming and singing. The second scene of the original ride featured the passengers pulling up next to the blimp, and the pilot coming out and introducing himself as the Dreamfinder. The blimp’s pilot appeared as an old man with a red beard, wearing a blue suit and top hat. Dreamfinder was voiced by Chuck McCann and Ron Schneider.

The Dreamfinder tells the ride’s passengers that he uses his blimp to collect people’s dreams and ideas, and uses these to create all kinds of new, fantastical, and amazing things. One of the things he created was Figment the Dragon. Billy Barty voiced Figment, who appeared at that point in the ride. Together, the Dreamfinder and Figment use their imaginations to fill up an “idea bag.” When the bag is full, Dreamfinder tells the riders that its contents must be emptied into the Dreamport—which, conveniently, isn’t far away when you use your imagination to get there.

The next scene moved the passengers to the storage room of the Dreamport. The room included a huge machine for sorting ideas. There are all kinds of fantastical objects in the room, as well, such as boxed applesauce and a birdcage filled with musical notes instead of a bird. The ride then moved passengers through several other rooms, each one representing an area of academics that is usually heavily influenced by the imagination, such as Art, Writing, Acting and Music, and Science. The Dreamfinder, assisted by Figment, showed the riders how to use their imaginations to produce amazing things in each of these rooms.

At the end of the ride, the Dreamfinder told Figment (and the passengers) that imagination is the key to discovering the hidden wonders of the world. The final scene of the ride showed Figment on several movie screens, each with him being in a different profession that is influenced by the imagination, such as a scientist, pirate, tap dancer, mountain climber, cowboy, and other such things. Dreamfinder takes an in-ride picture of the riders (which could be purchased later), and gives them an inspirational message of using their imaginations as they exit the ride.

“Inspiration Comes to Life” (Postcard) By Artist Eunjung June Kim

The passengers exited the ride into Imageworks, which was intended to be an interactive “playground of the future,” where guests could use their imaginations in a variety of creative play scenarios and games, like a rainbow corridor, pin-screens, huge kaleidoscopes, and a stage where guests could put themselves in their own movie.

This iteration of the ride was closed in October of 1998 to change it into its second iteration, Journey into YOUR Imagination. This iteration opened in October of 1999. Journey into Your Imagination did away with the Dreamfinder and Figment, and used a theme based on a 3D 1994 movie called Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. In this iteration, passengers took a tour of the fictional Imagination Institute, and were test subjects on a new invention called the Imagination Scanner. The host of this ride was a character named Dr. Nigel Channing, who was played by Eric Idle of Monty Python fame.

One Little Spark (Postcard)

In journey into Imagination, Dreamfinder and Figment introduce the Dream Machine, 3-D Magic Journeys and the Image Works, where light and sound spur creativity. Presented by Kodak

This second iteration of the ride was not popular among park guests. It was so unpopular, in fact, that it was changed again in 2001 and opened in its third and current iteration in June of 2002. This newest iteration is called Journey into Imagination with Figment. The popular Figment the Dragon was brought back for this iteration, and he appears in every scene of the new ride. The “One Little Spark” song was put back in the ride, with new verses. The Dreamfinder, though, was not brought back for this iteration. Instead, Dr. Nigel Channing is still there from the second iteration.

In this version of the ride, the Imagination Institute from the second iteration has five labs, each based on one of the five human senses. Dr. Channing, still voiced by Eric Idle, invites the passengers to an open house at the Institute. Figment (voiced this time by Dave Goelz) tags along, annoying Dr. Channing and causing mischief during the open house.

In fact, Figment causes so much mischief that Dr. Channing stops the tour outside of the Touch and Taste labs, and leaves the tour, abandoning the passengers. Figment then takes over the tour, turning the scene upside down with his imaginative mind. Dr. Channing later learns from Figment that imagination is best when it is set free. The passengers on the ride go to the last scene of the ride, which shows Figment in a variety of different, whimsical situations, while Figment and Channing together since “One Little Spark.” As with the first iteration of the ride, passengers leave the ride and go right into the ImageWorks playground.

Journey into Imagination with Figment is the third iteration of a ride about imagination that is located at EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World in Florida. The current iteration is a mixture of the best features of the first two iterations. It focuses on the importance of a free imagination and features a dragon mascot named Figment. This is the ride’s interesting story.
“Totally Mickey” (Postcard) By Artist Jeff Granito

There is a door in one of the rooms in this third iteration that has a name on it that reads “Dean Finder.” This is an homage to the Dreamfinder of the original iteration of the attraction.

The Kodak Company, which had been a sponsor of the ride and its pavilion since the beginning, ended its sponsorship in August of 2010. There are current tentative plans to change the ride again, designing a fourth iteration of it, though nothing has been definitely decided on yet. As of now, the third iteration of the ride is the one visitors to EPCOT will find when they go.

About the author

Will

Postcards are my treasured storytellers, whispering of adventures and connections. They're more than paper; they're nostalgia in tangible form. With every one I collect, I'm reminded of places explored and the love that's crossed miles through handwritten notes. My collection isn't just postcards; it's a living map of experiences and the bonds that make life rich.

Postcard Giveaway

Postcards for Sale

Historical Postcards
Historical Postcards

Instagram

Connection error. Connection fail between instagram and your server. Please try again

Advertisement

Advertisement Small

Flickr

  • Guten morgen
  • Kellie
  • Kellie
  • Kellie
  • "Kiez me tender" :copyright: piwiyan
  • Mauvais œil/bonne étoile
  • bonne étoile/mauvais œil
  • Nat cleans the squids
  • Ramadan lamp

About Author

ThemeForest

Collaboratively harness market-driven processes whereas resource-leveling internal or "organic" sources. Competently formulate.

Calendar

March 2024
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Recent Comments

    RSS Meks Blog

    • 10 Best Knowledge Base & Wiki WordPress Themes 2021 September 15, 2021
      Running a successful online business requires an exceptional WordPress knowledge base theme that organizes documentation and helps customers. Customization options, intuitive navigation, unique layouts, and fast responsiveness are just some of the features you need. The following 10 WordPress wiki themes represent the best options for 2021 and beyond. Explore the full range to determine […]
      Dusan Milovanovic
    • How to increase WordPress Memory Limit (quick fixes) June 16, 2021
      Here is a post about how to increase the memory limit in WordPress. Allowed memory size exhausted error message showed up in your WordPress installation? No worries – this is one of the most common errors in WordPress. You can apply an easy fix by increasing the memory limit in your PHP. Table of Contents […]
      Dusan Milovanovic
    • How to use (and why) WordPress sitemap plugin March 1, 2021
      Did you know that by knowing how to use the WordPress sitemap plugin you can significantly improve your site’s visibility and traffic? Although it isn’t mandatory to have a sitemap on your site, having one significantly improves the site’s quality, crawlability and indexing. All this is important for better optimization, which is why we wanted […]
      Ivana Cirkovic
    • 22 free and premium podcast software for your show [2021 edition] January 18, 2021
      You’re determined to start or improve your podcast but don’t know which podcast software to use to really make it stand out? We’ve got you! #podcasting Top 22 free and premium podcast software for your show #WordPressTips #podcasting The post 22 free and premium podcast software for your show [2021 edition] appeared first on Meks.
      Ivana Cirkovic
    • Digital storytelling with WordPress – an all-in-one guide to make your web stories pop! November 23, 2020
      Wondering how to improve digital storytelling with WordPress and build more awareness and exposure of your business? Let our guide lead the way. The post Digital storytelling with WordPress – an all-in-one guide to make your web stories pop! appeared first on Meks.
      Ivana Cirkovic
    • How to use WordPress autoposting plugin to improve your visibility and SEO? September 10, 2020
      Did you know you can use the WordPress autoposting plugin for your content efforts and improve not only your time management but your business and visibility as well? The post How to use WordPress autoposting plugin to improve your visibility and SEO? appeared first on Meks.
      Ivana Cirkovic
    • How to create a personal branding site? Step-by-step DIY guide August 15, 2020
      Looking for ways and means to create a personal branding site? Well, look no further ’cause we’re giving away all the how-to’s to do it yourselves! The post How to create a personal branding site? Step-by-step DIY guide appeared first on Meks.
      Ivana Cirkovic
    • Top 15 WordPress content plugins and tools to improve your visibility and rankings July 16, 2020
      Let’s take a look at some of the must-have WordPress content plugins and tools to use to improve both your UX and rankings. The post Top 15 WordPress content plugins and tools to improve your visibility and rankings appeared first on Meks.
      Ivana Cirkovic
    • WCEU 2020 recap – key takeaways from the biggest online WordPress conference June 9, 2020
      Missed WCEU 2020 and all the exciting stuff from there? Here are all the key takeaways and main points to remember so, take notes! The post WCEU 2020 recap – key takeaways from the biggest online WordPress conference appeared first on Meks.
      Ivana Cirkovic
    • How to change the WordPress username? An easy step-by-step guide May 14, 2020
      Wondering how can you change WordPress username once you set up your blog or site? Read all about it in our helpful guide! The post How to change the WordPress username? An easy step-by-step guide appeared first on Meks.
      Ivana Cirkovic

    Text

    Distinctively utilize long-term high-impact total linkage whereas high-payoff experiences. Appropriately communicate 24/365.