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The Secret History of Disney Rides: Journey Into Imagination With Figment

by Tad on March 13, 2017 5   Video

Secret History of Journey Into Imagination with Figment

Ready to explore the mysterious world of the 5 senses (alongside a purple dragon)? Through this secret history of Journey Into Imagination With Figment, we'll learn about the early days of the Disney ride to its current version. Take a seat and get ready for the journey!

===>Hop here for Journey Into Imagination With Figment wait times, ride details and more!<===

The Secret History of Journey Into Imagination With Figment

Originally opening as Journey Into Imagination, the attraction made its debut on March 3, 1983. Tony Baxter led the project of the ride, which was to be built inside Kodak's pavilion at Epcot. As you can imagine (Do you see the pun? Hehe), the attraction should focus on the imagination and creative process. Disney Imagineers decided the characters would come straight from Disneyland's Discovery Bay Project that never made it to life. In fact, Baxter actually came up with the idea of Figment, the purple dragon, after watching Magnum P.I.

Check out this awesome picture of guests, Figment and Dreamfinder in 1983!

Secret History of Journey Into Imagination with Figment - Dream Finder and Guests

The ride didn't always explore the 5 senses, like the current version. When Journey Into Imagination first started its journey in 1983, it operated on an Omnimover system and took guests through Dreamfinder and Figment's imagination. Dreamfinder actually created Figment using the Dreamcatcher! The two hosts guided guests through four areas of the imagination.

Sadly, the original closed its doors in 1998, but was quickly reopened as Journey Into Your Imagination the following year. There were quite a few changes, including the fact that Dreamfinder was nowhere to be found, and guests explored color, dimension, gravity, illusion and sound. The ride system switched from being an Omnimover to using ride vehicles that stopped to load and unload. It actually ended up closing in 2001.

Secret History of Journey Into Imagination with Figment - Pavillion

This brings us to the current version, Journey Into Imagination With Figment! Opening on June 1, 2002, Figment joined the journey once again, but without Dreamfinder. Figment joins guests as they explore the 5 senses. Will there be a fourth version, bringing back Dreamfinder? No one knows for sure!

Journey Into Imagination With Figment Fun Facts

Secret History of Journey Into Imagination with Figment - Dreamfinder

  • Journey Into Imagination With Figment just celebrated its 34th birthday!
  • Dr. Nigel Channing first made his appearance as a host on the ride's second version, Journey Into Your Imagination!
  • The song "One Little Spark" has remained the theme song of the ride through all versions, but with slight differences, such as new verses in the current version.
  • Speaking of "One Little Spark," the Sherman brothers wrote the song. We've mentioned them plenty of times in other secret histories because of their involvement with Disney, such as the theme song of Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress, "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow," and Enchanted Tiki Room's "The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room."
  • You can find a nod to Dreamfinder during the Sound Lab! When entering, look at the office door with the name "Dean Finder!"
  • Why is Pigment purple? According to DisneyLists.com, because of Kodak's original sponsorship! Green, the usual color of dragons, was associated with Fuji Film, so purple was decided as a neutral color.
  • There's a restroom inside the Imagination Pavilion that still plays the background music of the 1983 ride version, Journey Into Imagination.

Have you experienced the different versions of Journey Into Imagination With Figment? Do you think there will be a fourth version? Let us know in the comments below! And don't forget to check out our Journey Into Imagination ride details and wait times.

Stay cool!

Keep hopping, Tad!
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Feb 2, 2019 at 4:42 a.m. Carlos F. Rodriguez Says...

I can not express the love and passion I have for that little Purple hunk. I am completely enamored by his soothing and smoooooth voice! I love Figment so much that I have actually written a poem about him... I will share it with you now...

"Figment, Oh Figment, wherefore art thou figment?

Thy Purple skin is the perfect pigment.

Your high pitched pipes are as smooth as silk

Your smell reminds of fresh whale milk

I hope to meet you again my love

Either here, or up above"

Now here is the end of this love rhyme

You'll be in my heart until the end of time"

Figment was truley the high light of my disney experience, and I rode the ride at least 6 more times before it was time to head to the gift shop. I bought at least 200 dollars worth of Figment merchandise and I decided to take my Christmas Card photo with the expensive and majestic statue outside of the building. If you ever visit Disney World, this is definetly a must see!!!!

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Feb 2, 2019 at 4:30 a.m. Lori Sheranian Says...

This was the worst ride I have ever been on in my life. I wish I could get back the 16 minutes of torture. I would rather have cleaned the public restrooms for 16 minutes than suffer through that ride again. No one in our party liked it at all. Even the 3 year old was bored to tears and asked to go home. I tried to be positive as I am a positive person, but this was almost unbearable. By the time I got to the end of the ride, we flung ourselves out, with joyful splender to be off this horrendous ride. BUT... our joy was short lived. We were funneled into a muiltimillion dollar giftshop, full of figment everything. I am a huge Disney fan, but I could not believe this attaction was in a Disney park. Truly embarassing. I would love to meet ANYONE who thinks this ride is enjoyable. What a waste of prime space. Other than Carlos, is there anyone, of any age that enjoyed this ride. On a very busy day, during a sudden rainstorm, there were only 12 people on the ride, and 9 of them were in our group. I would be so embarrassed if my name was connected to the inventing of this ride.

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Nov 19, 2019 at 10:37 p.m. jessica Says...

In the 80s and 90s this ride was cool and the run area at the end was just that, fun!!!! You could jump on colored squares, walk through. Rainbow tunnel, but your hand under a giant pin table, color on a touch screen which back then was unheard of, plAy different musical instruments with your hand and more. I too have been disappointed with this "new" version for some time. Sometimes it really is true, if it It broke, don't fix it. Yes, make some upgrades but keep what made it work!!!! I'm sorry you never saw it before.

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Mar 14, 2017 at 4:42 p.m. Sandy T Says...

The 2nd, 1999 version was horrible!!! That's why it only lasted a few years. Miss the original, and being able to go up into the pyramid, but the latest, 2002 version is fun. The lab is such an underused space. This is epcot! New, fun, science gadgets are needed. "Scientists" are needed there again, leading demonstrations.

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Mar 13, 2017 at 7:24 p.m. Carlos Medina Says...

During journey into imagination with figment therected will be a fourth version for the following year

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