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{{Infobox Disney ride |

| image=Figmentnigel.jpg

| custom_label_2= Formally Known As

| custom_value_2= Journey Into Imagination (1983-1998) <br> Journey Into Your Imagination (1999-2001)

}}

==Attraction History==

Taking some inspiration from the Gallery of Illusion attraction, Figment was initially sketched by Disney artist Steve Kirk who turned in a rough drawing of the character. Imagineer X Atencio then slightly altered the drawing to, "make the character lovable, in a way that kids could relate to". With their two main characters designed, Imagineers set about finding voices for the duo. Although finding a voice for Dreamfinder was relatively simple (with actor Chuck McCann filling the role) finding a voice for Figment proved to be much more difficult. Disney had men, women, boys and girls all audition for the role, but no voice was deemed suitable. Eventually, they found Figment's voice in veteran voice actor Billy Barty, who was deemed perfect for the role. When talking about the role of Figment, Tony Baxter said:

{{Quotation| "The story needed to describe the complex process in an engaging, interactive way without seeming like a lecture. A persona was needed to give the process personality, but having a human character seemed too selective. A friendly imaginary being that could delight in the wonders of imagination would be more inclusive."| Tony Baxter}}

With their characters in place, it took Disney nearly six months to come up with an idea for the Journey Into Imagination attraction. To help them with their understanding of imagination, Disney brought in various scientist and artists. Eventually they came to the conclusion that while everybody’s imagination was different, how people get their imagination is the same. Thus they decided to focus on how we gather, store and recombine ideas.

===Journey Into Your Imagination (1999-2001)===

With the new millennium approaching, it was decided that Journey Into Imagination needed to be updated. While the attraction remained popular, it had seen a recent decline in attendance and was beginning to look dated. Because of this, Kodak's renewal of their sponsorship of the Journey Into Imagination Pavilion necessitated that the attraction be updated before 2000 (when Epcot was planning on having its big millennium celebration). After a series of rejected ideas (including an attraction based on the 1997 movie Flubber, and another attraction that would have guests entering the mind of a celebrity),Walt Disney Imagineering pitched an idea for "must see" attraction that would use special effects, to challenge and confuse guest’s senses. After hearing the pitch, one executive said:

The new attraction was eventually given the blessing of both Kodak and Disney, and Journey Into Imagination was closed on October 10, 1998. Taking its inspiration from the [[Honey, I Shrunk the Audience]] attraction, it was decided that the new Journey Into Imagination would become a part of the fiction Imagination Institute (which the entire pavilion would now be themed as). Renamed Journey Into “Your” Imagination, the new attraction took guests on a tour of the Imagination Institute, where they learned the “effects of sound, color, illusion, dimension and gravity on people's ‘imagination generator.’” Dr. Nigel Channing (Eric Idle), who had appeared in Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, was tapped as the host of new attraction. Imagineer Orrin Shively (who had previously produced Test Track) produced Journey Into “Your” Imagination, and gave the show a minimal plot in order to allow guests to explore their own imagination.

Journey Into Your Imagination was constructed in exactly one year, making it one of the fasted built, modern attractions, in Walt Disney World. During the construction, the attraction’s track length was shortened by 40% and the turntable (which had been a source of maintenance issues since the attraction opened) was removed. Also removed from the attraction, were popular characters Dreamfinder and Figment (although Figment made a few cameos in the new attraction). The entire Imagination! Pavilion (as it was now called) was dedicated on September 29, 1998, with Journey Into “Your” Imagination opening on October 1.

Journey Into Your Imagination reopened as Journey Into Imagination With Figment on June 2, 2002, a mere 236 days after it closed.

All three versions of Journey Into Imagination have been dark rides which focused on human imagination.

The original Journey Into Imagination attraction, was a dark ride hosted by the Dreamfinder and his creation Figment. On the attraction guests would explore various aspects of imagination. Scenes on Journey Into Imagination included, the Dreamport, an art scene, a nightmare scene, a theater scene and a finale. The ride ran from 1983-1998. For a more detailed plot summary visit the [[Journey Into Imagination]] page.

Journey Into Your Imagination’s plot began in the queue, where guests could see signs for the Imagination Institute. A directory showed that the institute was made up of six different departments: color, dimensions, gravity, illusions, sound, and the [[ImageWorks]]. Dr. Nigel Channing then appeared on the monitors in the queue, to inform guests that besides just touring the lab, they would also be test subjects for the new Imagination Scanner experiment. This video was one of the few places in the attraction where guests could still see Figment.

After entering their ride vehicles, guests moved forward and stopped in front of a large mirror. Here the Imagination Scanner would scan them, to determine what they were imagining. Dr. Nigel Channing would then inform guests that there was, "Not much going on" in their imagination (with the scanner showing cobwebs and even a “vacancy” sign), which was perfect for the experiment. The tour of the labs then began in the Sound Room, where guests were challenged to "see what you hear". The room was almost completely dark, but inside guests could hear various noises such as: a baby crying, a trumpet, a toilet flushing and finally, a train roaring by. As guests transitioned into the Illusion Lab, Nigel informed them that “"When the laws of physics and common sense are shattered, imagination takes over". In the Illusion Lab, guests could see a looking glass illusion that seemed to magnifying a room, as well as and a cinder block breaking through a glass table (that actually had no glass). Continuing on, riders based by giant cage which appeared to be empty, after further inspection however, guests could see a camouflaged giant butterfly. Another illusion in the lab was a fish that seemed to by swimming out of water, although this was obviously not actually the case.

After exiting the Illusion Lab, guests entered the Color of Sound room. Here, large screens showed how imagination relates colors to sound. For example, when the screen was red, guests would hear something cooking, when it was green they could hear rainforest sounds, and finally a metallic color allowed guests to hear a space ship blasting off. After leaving the Color of Sound guests would enter the Connection Room, where they were surrounded by stars, which when connected properly, could create images of animals. The final room in the tour was the Gravity Lab, where everything that was supposed to be down was up. In this room, guests could look on the ceiling to see upside down rooms, including a bathroom and a kitchen. There were also mirrors located here, which showed guests upside down.

After completing their tour, guests were once again scanned by the Imagination Scanner. This time however, their imagination was so strong that they broke the machine. After the machine had malfunctioned, the lights would go out in the room, and projections of all the objects that guests were imagining could be seen above. Dr. Nigel Channing would then invite guests to visit the [[ImageWorks]], concluding the attraction.

The first room that the ride vehicles enter is the sound lab. The professor begins his demonstration by playing a series of tones, which shows how people hear out of either their left or right ear. As the test is going on, all of the sudden, guests here a phone ringing. As Figment appears holding a phone, he explains that you do not need to hear with your ears, but with your imagination. Dr. Nigel Channing then declares that he has completely lost his train of thought. With is queue, Figment replies “no you haven’t, its right here”, as guests hear a train go roaring by. Figment then begins to sing a new verse to the song "One Little Spark"

From just a sound<br>

Your mind has wings"}}

After exiting the sound lab, guests enter the sight lab. Here Dr. Nigel Channing alerts guest’s attention to a large eye chart in the room. While guests are told to read the charts third line, they can see the silhouette of Figment creeping across the screen. Soon, Figment gets rid of all the other letters, and spells out his name. He then explains that “"Sure You Can see with your eyes, but imagine what you can see if you use your imagination”, before singing another new verse of "One Little Spark" as guests continue their tour of the Institute.

A skunk is not a rose!}}

After the skunk catastrophic, Dr. Channing decides to skip the touch and taste labs. He also questions whether or not to end the tour altogether. Figment says that ending the tour of the Institute is a great idea, and that they should instead tour his house. Guests then move off the normal track, as they head towards Figment's house. As Nigel laments that everything has been turned upside down, Figment gets an idea. He decides that upside down sounds like a great idea, and decides to turn his house upside down. Before guests enter his house, they see all kinds of surreal signs pointing them in the right direction. Figment can be heard singing "One Little Spark" again.

Arriving back at the Imagination Institute, Dr. Nigel Channing informs guests that he has learned it's best to let imagination go free. Figment replies, "yeah imaginations a bang!" At this point, a loud popping sound is heard, and guests enter a room with many Audio Animatronic Figments celebrating, as they sing "One Little Spark". Inside the room, guests can see Figment flying by a rainbow and hitchhiking on a planet, among other things. Dr. Nigel's face can also be seen here, singing on the moon. After going through this scene, guests are invited to explore the [[ImageWorks]] to further their study of imagination. The final verses to "One Little Spark" which are played in this scene are:

{{Quotation|"Imagination, Imagination<br>

A dream (A dream)<br>

Right at the start (The start) of everything that's new<br>

One little spark, lights up for you!}}

==Cast==

* Many of the props from Journey Into Your Imagination were reused in Journey Into Imagination with Figment.

*One of the doors found in the queue is marked Flubber Storage.

* A reference to Merlin Jones and his monkey from the 1964 film The Misadventures of Merlin Jones can be found in the queue.

==References==

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/journey-into-imagination-with-figment/news/20jul2001-journey-into-your-imagination-to-be-reworked-into-journey-into-imagination-with-figment-.htm

Pedersen, R.A. The EPCOT Explorer's Encyclopedia:. United States: Epcyclopedia, 2011. Print.