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/* Attraction History */
Journey Into Imagination was an attraction located in the Journey Into Imagination pavilion in [[EPCOT Center]]. The attraction was operational from 1983 until 1999. If you are looking for the second and third version of the attraction see: [[Journey Into Imagination With Figment]]. If you are looking for the pavilion in which the attraction is located see: [[Imagination!]]
==Attraction History==
What would one day be known as Journey Into Imagination, began as an idea from Imagineer Tony Baxter. Baxter was tasked with working on an attraction for EPCOT Center's Kodak Pavilion, with the only request being that they wanted something that would be "very imaginative"<ref name= "E82"> http://www. Based epcotlegacy.com/historical-expositions/2010/6/30/gather-store-re-combine-a-history-of-imagination-part-1.html </ref>. Mulling on this idea over a period of six months, and based on this request, Tony came up with the idea of a Dream Catcher (as it is unofficially called); a machine which traveled through space collecting sparks of imagination<ref name= "E82"/>.
Piloting the Dream Catcher, would be Dreamfinder, a whimsical inventor who collected and reused imagination. The Dreamfinder character actually began as the host of an unbuilt attraction called the Gallery of Illusion<ref name= "E82"/>. This attraction was to be built in the never constructed Discovery Bay expansion of Disneyland, and it was to be hosted by an investor named Professor Marvel<ref> http://allears.net/ae/issue722.htm </ref>. In one of the scenes in this attraction, Professor Marvel showed how he domesticated dragons, even holding a baby one<ref name= "E82"/>. When work began on Journey Into Imagination, Captain Marvel became the inspiration for Dreamfinder, with Joe Rhode serving as the model for the character<ref> http://yourfirstvisit. net/2015/08/21/a-friday-visit-with-jim-korkis-figment-and-dreamfinder/ </ref>. According to Imagineer Steve Kirk:
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 <ref name= "EDC"> http://www.intercot.com/edc/Imagination/jfacts.html </ref>. Imagineer X Atencio then slightly altered the drawing to, "make the character lovable, in a way that kids could relate to" <ref name= "EDC"/>. 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.<ref> https://www.disboards.com/threads/connecting-the-dots-with-a-potential-return-of-dreamfinder.1144737/ </ref>"| 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.