Difference between revisions of "Journey Into Imagination with Figment"

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Journey Into Imagination With Figment is an attraction located in the Imagination! pavilion, in Epcot.

Attraction History

The basic idea for the Journey Into Imagination attraction came from Disney Imagineer, Tony Baxter. The idea for the character figment came to him while watching an episode of the television series Magnum P.I. In the episode Magnum had hidden a goat in Higgins' yard, and the goat had predictably tore the garden up. When Higgins suggested that a goat was ruining his yard. Magnum replied that it was all just a figment of his imagination, to which Higgins countered "Figments don't eat grass!". This line, gave Tony Baxter the idea to create a character "that everyone knows about and has never been visualized.

Figment was first sketched by Disney artist Steve Kirk who turned in a rough drawing of the characters. Imagineer X Atencio then slightly altered the drawing to, "make the character lovable, in a way that kids could relate to". The Dreamfinder, Figments creator was designed after Imagineer Joe Rhode, who would later be lead designer of Disney's Animal Kingdom. The Dreamfinder's voice was performed by actors Chuck McCann and Ron Schneider. Finding a voice for Figment proved to be much more difficult however. Disney had men, women, boys and girls all try out for the role, but no voice was deemed suitable. Eventually, they found Figment's voice in veteran voice actor Billy Barty, who was perfect for the role.

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 every bodies imagination was different, how people get their imagination is the same. Tony Baxter said:

"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."

Journey Into Imagination With Figment finally opened as simply Journey Into Imagination on March 5, 1983. Although the Kodak sponsored pavilion that housed the attraction had been open since Epcot's opening day, the pavilion remained nameless until Journey Into Imagination gave it it's namesake. The original attraction was a dark ride, which helped guests explore their imagination. The ride was hosted by the popular characters Dreamfinder and Figment. 71 different special effects were created for the original Journey Into Imagination, more then tall of the effects created for the opening of the Magic Kingdom. The ride remained essentially the same from 1983 until 1998. In 1998 Kodak renewed it's sponsorship, and decided to redo the attraction, in an attempt to make it cheaper to operate. The ride reopened in 1999 as Journey Into Your Imagination, a much smaller and less expensive ride. Popular characters, the Dreamfinder and Figment were removed from the attraction, along with many of the special effects. The dark ride was now hosed by Dr. Nigel Channing, head of the Imagination Institute. Nigel now gave guests a tour of the Imagination Institute, which was referenced in the other Imagination! (the new name of the pavilion) attraction, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. Many guests were unhappy with the new attraction, and fans began to call for a boycott of both the attraction, and it's sponsor, Kodak. The boycott proved successful, as guests complaints (along with pressure from Michael Eisner and Kodak) led to yet another refurbishment in 2001.

When the attraction re-opened later in the year, it was renamed Journey Into Imagination With Figment. The ride still took guests on a tour of the Imagination Institute, but it now focused on the five senses, and how imagination can effect them. Figment, returned to the attraction, now interrupting the doctor's tour. In all three versions of the attraction, guests were invited to visit the ImageWorks (also known as the Kodak: What If? Labs) at the end of the attraction, to further explore their imagination.

Ride Plot

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

Journey Into Imagination (1983-1999)

After making their way through the queue, guests would board their ride vehicles. The vehicles were trains consisting of four cars. As the vehicles began to move, guests could hear a voice singing the attractions theme song, "One Little Spark". In the clouds to their left, the shadow of a flying contraption could be seen sucking up various objects. As the song continued, the clouds would part relieving the Dreamfinder as the pilot of the flying contraption. The Dreamfinder and guests would then fly together at the same speed as he introduced himself.

Oh, hello there. So glad you could come along. I am the Dreamfinder. Ah, ha, ha. Musical notes! What delightful melodies those will make. I love these flights of fancy. Searching the universe for sounds, colors, ideas, anything that sparks the imagination.

As the Dreamfinder continued to sing, "One Little Spark" the objects that he talked about would be projected in the background. The machine that he was flying would also suck up various objects, which would end up in his bag. The Dreamfinder would then create a dragon like creature called Figment. He explained how he was creating Figment in song.

Two tiny wings

Eyes big and yellow
Horns of a steer
But a lovable fellow!
From head to tail
He's royal purple pigment
And there, Voila!
You've got a Figment
A figment of imagination