Figment flashback - Imaginaaaaaation

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From ImagineeringDisney...

Imaaaaaagination

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 12:20PM Posted by Mitch

Let’s take a look at Figment and long-lost Dreamfinder at their original EPCOT Center home.

We’ve recreated the track layout of the original Journey Into Imagination and compared it to the layout of the current attraction. You’ll notice it was originally much longer. And wait... Is the current load are on top of what used to be that grand turn-table show scene?? Hmm. For an overview of the Journey Into Imagination ride visit our friends at LOST EPCOT.

Photos

The following photos were submitted to us as part of our recent Photo Hunt (unless stated otherwise).

The beautiful, shiny, (and clean) glass pyramids. Notice the wonderful plant life. It’s as if it’s spilling into the pavilion from The Land next door. This photo is from Ryan R.

Shapes! EPCOT Center Future World was a wonderland of interesting shapes. The upward flowing waterfall is so imaginative. The next two photos are from Brett of WDW Fan Boys.

Nice matching sock, guys.

Dreamfinder and Figment

They were such a big hit together. I’d love to have been a fly on the wall in the meetings where they decided to get rid of them.

Karate Kid, is that you? Look at those shirts. A Future World t-shirt? Fantastic.

Figment topiary.

These next two photos were from a different photo hunt. In preparation for a certain Epcot celebration Cast Members submitted old photos. These are from Gregory. Has there ever been such a unique meet-and-greet? Didn’t the duo seem so lifelike?

Leap Frog Fountains

As a kid I was MESMERIZED by this. I couldn’t believe water could act in sucha way. I believe this was one of the first things I told my friends in California after returning from my first EPCOT Center trip. The first thing I said was "we got to ride the ride insie the big ball from the commercials".

The next four photos are from Shaun Ortolano.

I love the lamp posts in the next photo. And the coloring in the photo is super nice. This is from David from Futureprobe.

Dreamcatcher

As a kid I never knew there were five of these vehicles. In fact there were five identical Dreamcatcher scenes altogether. Each set of ride vehicles attached itself to a large turn table with one fifth of the table and one of the five show scenes visible. This way riders could view the 2+ minute scene without backing up ride vehicles behind them. It was a brilliant thing.

While working at Epcot I would occasionally find my way to the backside of the old turn table where it was obvious the thing was welded in place once it was no longer used (starting in 1998). It was pointed out to me that the table slowly “screwed itself into the ground over the years”. I wish I had photos. I imagine the whole mechanism would have to be completely thrown out if they ever wanted to resurrect this scene again.

Thank you Katherine A. for this great close-up shot of the Dreamcatcher.

And Shaun Ortolano for this one.

You can read my little story of how I obtained a piece of the Dreamcatcher blimp here.

Shaun also sent in this beauty. The use of white set work and colored lights in the original attraction was so fresh and fanciful.

Merchandise

Here Figment appears in a gift shop display in the great Centorium. Anyone else miss the Centorium?? As a kid that was the ultimate in theme park gift shops in my opinion. And figment had a great presence there. Photos from Shaun.

http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2012/2/1/imaaaaaagination.html

[alexwyattmommy 181]

Out of all the possible memories we could have from our one trip to Disney World back in the mid 80's, the one that sticks the most in all our minds is playing with those jumping water fountains.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

If I remember correctly that was the very first attraction we experienced at Disney World, I LOVE IT!!

[J&J Adventuring..Julia 22]

Can I cry now? I miss this ride.

[FigmentChick 0]

The good ole days!

[BuckeyeFortFan 35]

I can vaguely remember this original ride from my first trip circa 1985. I remember it being one of the best things at EPCOT then. The version now with that British twit both sucks and blows at the same time. Rode it once last year. That will hold me for another decade.