When I first went on the ride it was amazing. My mind was overwhelmed by the true meaning of imagination and what we are all capable of 😊. I still adore Figment because of what he taught me 😊
As an ex cast member from 86. Original figment was the best. Thank you for this. Please bring him back. The entire original ride. Rebuilt. Disney. Time to fix your mistake. I was gone for decades. I came back to live here and was depressed on this lame version of Figment. Please for the love of DreamFinder bring it back. ❤❤❤
Another big component of the ride that no one ever talks about, and can’t be conveyed in pictures, was the smell. Instead of the stinky smell, it smelled like roses throughout the ride. That made it even more magical!
When I was little... Figment was the foundation of my love for EPCOT and made it my favorite park. I loved EVERYTHING about him! I just rode the current ride 2 days ago... it was so extremely depressing, and I really miss it! I'll forever hum the tune and sing in my head... "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." and keep dreaming that they might just bring something like the original back someday!
I can't express how much of this ride's popularity was also the "post ride" area with it's innovative play centers. Seeing the clips of that area in your video took me right back to how much fun it truly was. Being able to digitally paint Figment on a screen like a space age coloring book and then going over and playing with a giant pool-table-sized pin game where you could press your hands/feet/face into them and make an impression was amazing for a midwest kid to experience. There's also nothing to describe the draw for that entire area of Epcot at that time. You had the magic dancing water spouts outside and then Michael Jackson as CAPTAIN FREAKING E.O.! I loved it and miss that type of magic that a kid could experience in the Disney parks. Now, it just feels like you're herded like cattle to experiences that all feel the same, becomes repetitive and, dare I say, boring? Years later when I saw Disney Quest at Downtown Disney in Orlando, I realized that they had taken all that post ride experience, ripped it out of the park, monetized it, and made it somehow worse? It was a good idea, but you can always see where execs see something that park goers enjoy a little bit and make the park more fun and think, "How can we make this bigger, "better", and then make more money from it?!
Finally, a vlog that explains the Figment phenomenon completely. Most Figment videos I've watched only speak of this dude in a way that assumes everyone just knows who he is. Your video answers some questions. 🤘
You Really missed out on the Orginal Ride, its one of the things I remember most when I was a kid on my Trip to WDW. That attraction was incredible, you would have loved it.
I did ride the original attraction but it was so long ago that the memory is hard to recall. The original ride being redone was definitely a loss but the distance between my memory of the original ride and starting to come to the parks again regularly was the Gulf of over 20 years. Although ride 2.5 is definitely a lack for luster. I have a simple example that works for me to explain the playful mischievous figment of that ride, let me take away your sparkmaker (mentor, friend) and replace him with a stuffy old professor, and tell me that doesn't drive you to act out a bit. great video !
Brickey could cosplay a mean dreamfinder! (If he was into that kind of thing, LOL). Also an amazingly comprehensive documentary film of this ride's history! 10/10
I remember the first version with the original Dreamfinder. Kodak was huge, and had a long association with the parks due to Walt’s relationship with Linkletter who agreed to host the opening of Disneyland on TV for the rights to put his Kodak (a company he co owned) in a shop at main street. The popularity is nostalgia.
I’ve been going to Epcot since October 1982. Imagination pavilion was incredible. Dreamfinder was the Man. Joe Rhode also was in the movie guests could play a part in. 80’s Epcot was Legendary. Horizons is my channels avatar.Todays Epcot is nice,but the original was special.
My fiancé, Ron Schneider, is the original Dreamfinder who appeared in Epcot when the park opened. He was voiced a few of Dreamfinder’s lines in the ride and is the Dreamfinder who appears in the Today Show video . He also voiced Dreamfinder in the other attractions in the pavilion. When Figment accompanied Dreamfinder in the park he was a rubber puppet that Dreamfinder would operate to interact with his fans.
This is me, figment! It seems I have been summoned here and I found this video. This is a great video and I’ve been searching through RUclips on my imagination browser and this video was really Interesting on giving more history. It has been a while since me and Dreamfinder parted. I would love to be reunited. We must tell Disney that we’re tired of dreaming about the past and that it is time to revive Journey into imagination back to its original glory! #SaveFigment! 💜 - Your friend, Figment ⭐️✨💜
The orginal ride was great! My family are from the UK so this ride, the song and the characters weren't something we knew about until we visited in 1993, but it made such a connection and was one of the most memorable things from the holiday. Definitely a case of executives not understanding when they have something special. ...and later not understanding why it was special.
I was lucky enough to go to E.P.C.O.T. Center (back when it was called that) in 1985 on a school trip, and Figment was one of my favorite parts of the park. The original Figment was so much fun! I was so disappointed when I returned to EPCOT years later and they had totally changed the ride and Figment's personality.
Thanks for this video. My first time at WDW was in 1989 on my honeymoon. I loved the Imagination ride! We still have a 1989 plush Figment from that trip. We met Dream Finder and Figment once outside the gift shop. I missed the first change (fortunately) and am grateful for the revision. I never knew the “why” other than knowing Honey I Shrunk the Audience was part of the change. It’s crazy to me that they did what they did for a change they wanted - not listening to the people. But they continue on. Figment deserves better!
Thanks for this explanation! I’ve always been curious about this and got to finally ride it at the end of a long Epcot day last year… I was confused, surprised but smiling and happy.
I appreciate this video as someone who first went to epcot when the original version of the ride was still there and fell in love with the little purple imagination dragon. Hell I have a Figment tattoo. :)
Attractions are IP, too. Those that originate in the parks might drive greater sales because they can only be experienced at the parks, unlike a movie or show that can be accessed on demand.
I’m a Californian that identifies Disneyland as my home park but was lucky enough to go to WDW a few times as a kid to ride the original Journey Into Imagination. And moreover, I can still remember The Living Seas, World of Motion, Horizons, The Universe of Energy, and so many more pavilions. See, Figment is the holdover from that time where Edutainment was more important than IP integration. The IP were the attractions themselves and they adhered to Walt as an Optimistic Futurist. You could say Figment is one of the last holdovers from that beautiful vibe EPCOT Center used to have, which is why the character is held so dearly by we who were lucky enough to experience what this park used to be - a celebration of who we are and where we are going.
@ct6852 it's still there, tank and all, but it has a Finding Nemo theme overlay. The old ride is now a Finding Nemo ride. But the aquariums and sealife are all still there, and the interior is largely the same.
My boys loved Figment. So did we parents. He was a delight. I think one of them may still have the Figment stuffy we brought home from what seemed ages ago. One is in his forties and the other will be this August.
Thanks for this episode - I'm with you ... as a west coaster I've never gotten it. Who he is, WHAT he is, etc. I guess it's a bit clearer now, but yeah ... I doubt I'll ever be "Team Figment".
Yeah I remember the original ride with the dream finder and figment. It was so much better it was magical. The first half of the ride was so mesmerizing because you could tell you were moving and yet you seemed to be standing still moving with the show😮🎉 I've never seen anything like it since.
Not all of us are here because of the first iteration… I only grew up with the current one and I love both versions of this dragon and actually feel like they are just both different sides of the same character. I also love DreamFinder, despite never having had the pleasure of getting to take any “flights of fancy” with him. I just love ALL the Figment stuff.
You had my husband at Magnum PI. I’m old old school WDW and the first Imagination pavilion was really cool. I had forgot about all the sponsors. But immediately remembered Kodak. I guess Chevy is the only one left. Back in the day, I thought Figment a little lame. Where was Mickey? But now I love him. Total nostalgia vibes.
The original ride was one of the greatest Disney dark rides, on par with Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. Horizons was at the same level. Epcot was amazing in the 80s and into the 90s then it lost its way. I think it is starting to find it again, but slowly.
Been a long long long time since I've been there, but pretty much all I remember is Figment, that Viking ride with the drop, the Aztec pavilion, and my marble elephant that went flying out of plastic bag when I was swinging it around that broke into four pieces. Oh and elephant #2 that's sitting on my desk right now.
Ive always wondered what the big deal was with Figment, seemed goofy to me. Your video has helped, but, Im still not too sure about him. Thanks, Bricky! 👍👍
Hello! Obsessed Figment person here. I've loved Figment myself for 3 years, and he's been my favorite Disney Character of all time. He's loveable, cute, and a childlike character. I've always wanted Disney to bring back Dreamfinder and the Original Journey Into Imagination because I know how much people loved the ride and would want it to return. I really loved more of Billy Barty's version of Figment because he had such a personality that sticked with us for years, and concluding the fact that Disney took down the original attraction broke so many hearts. I have never been to EPCOT in my life, nor have I ever ridden the attraction, but I am someone who knows what people want in terms of EPCOT, and believe me, I know what is up. But in the end, I hope Disney makes the RIGHT choices and bring back the loveable, imaginary, most creative characters of all time, Dreamfinder & Figment as a Duo.
A friend's dad worked for Kodak early during this era. We're trying to get as many stories as possible, but it was incredibly stressful. EPCOT's been through so much, and always deserved more sustained attention and effort.
Speaking of Kodak , who can ever forget the preshow by Kodak of " True Colors". Pre-shows at that time were mostly boring, but this one always left me feeling a emotional and glad I watched it. I wish that a good video of it was still available, most are shaky and from a distance and it is just not the same. I also remember the Kodak Picture spots throughout the park.
Just watched a full ride through of the original and i truly believe all disneyfans need to band together and demand they bring this back!! Recreate it please!!!!
I loved the original Figment ride and was just crushed when they changed it the first time. The second time was a bit better but still not nearly as good as the original. We used to wait in long lines to go on that ride now it’s a walk on ride all the time.
If you listen to the original Dreamfinder (One little spark) song, which you can still hear as an instrumental version at the Imagination pavillion (also throughout most of this video, fittingly enough), the lyrics give you a perfect sense of who the beloved Figment 1.0 (and Dreamfinder) are. I love that song. It's very 80's Disney, but still timeless. I miss the original ride :-) And pre-2000 Epcot, for that matter.
As a big figment lover. He means a lot to me and my childhood. The day I went to see the first of the two remakes before the current one I walked of the ride mad. So mad. They almost removed figment altogether. I was stopped by a cast member to do a survey. I was honest. And harsh on how I felt. Two weeks later when I was home from my trip I got a call from Anaheim. It was a cast member asking me all about the survey. And my feelings on figment. A few weeks after that call I got a post card from figment. They redid the ride to what it is now. Do I love the ride. No. Am I happy I get to see figment. Yes. I always cry at the very last scene with all the figgies. Disney needs to do better.
Very interesting. I remember riding the original and thinking it was cool. I was kind of confused about the later version thinking I remembered the ride wrong, lol.
Thank you for bringing to the world here why so many of us are so enamored with Figment...for GenX, another help...that maybe we didn't catch until later...Figment was originally voiced by an actor/voice actor who did a lot of children's television in the '70s...so an adorable child-like character with a familiar voice cinched his popularity early on...and that carried on to GenX's children for those lucky enough to experience the original Journey Into Imagination
Another reason why this ride got replaced was because Kodak was in a little bit of a ditch because of bankruptcy and digital photos becoming popular in the late 90s.( also because the ride was ahead of its time so that means that they had to pay a lot of money for the turntable scene.)
Dreamfinder's voice was Chuck McCann, who is probably best known for two things: (1) being the guy in the medicine cabinet who says "Hi guy!" in the 1970s ads for Right Guard deodorant, and (2) co-starring on "Far Out Space Nuts" with Bob Denver. (That's not him playing the live-action face of Dreamfinder, though.)
He was Dreamfinder for the majority of the ride. Ron Schneider, the original strolling Dreamfinder ( pictured in the Today Show video) completed some lines for the ride that were left unfinished and was camera operator Dreamfinder at the end of the ride. The other Dreamfinder pictured is Steve Taylor, the longest running strolling Dreamfinder (15 years!).
It's nostalgia. I went to WDW for the first time in the early 90's with my school choir. And my friends and I thought the song was so funny. So it just became a thing. So I think for most it's the nostalgia is the character.
The RetroWDW channel has a restored video of the original Journey into Imagination ride synchronized with high-quality original audio tracks. Just as I remembered it, and then even parts I didn’t remember. Yeah, my eyes are pretty wet right now.
A fun thing about Figment, he was put into the videogame Disney Speed Storm. He is aged up compared to how he is on the rides, but he is full of his original spirit of being full of imagination and joy. Now I want that version to be incorporated into the parks because he's fantastic in the game.
Yay Brickey! Awesome video about Figment’s backstory. You had me at the VIP tour of Walt’s apartment at DL (which I took by the way!) 😜 WDW is my home park (NYC) and I never knew the full Figment story! You have a mastery for storytelling and you have gained a subscriber with bell notifications on! 🥳🎉🫡 🏰
I remember going and seeing the original ride, before Disney decided to change the entire thing. Dreamfinder and the journey into true imagination was a fantastic experience. The newer just seemed to feel more of a publicity project. Not to mention having that creepiest looking sight toward the end (traumatizing moon anyone?)
"It's the park's 2nd most POPULAR ride! So...let's get rid of it so we can bring in older kids, instead." Yeah, that worked out SO well, wouldn't you say?
I believe back in the 80’s or early 90’s Disney was planning to bring Figment to Disneyland Tomorrowland I think they wanted figment to be the main character for Tomorrowland but not really sure what happen with the plans
@@HeyBrickey I heard from Jim hill media on one of there podcast episodes I do not remember which episode it was but Jim talk about figment was almost coming to DL TL. Podcast is call Disney dish with Jim hill
Yes , that needed some in depth explaining. I do recall the eighties attraction and most definitely the dream finder. “Wonka” like and very memorable 😀. Last year same, completely confused. But “hey” thanks for the backstory. I’m a little better off now !
I've never had the chance to ride the original 1983 version or the 1999 version, I grew up with the current one and call me insane but, I love Journey Into Imagination with Figment... I rode it SO many times when I was young in it hits the nostalgia for me. Yes, I do prefer Dreamfinder than Dr. Nigel Channing, but I find a charm with the current one. Honestly, I love the current and original equally..
I got to Disney in 1985 and fell in love with Figment. In fact,mwhen I got to choose a character to buy i got a figment, and I had it nearby for years.
My husband and I were lucky enough to get to see the original version with both Figment and Dreamfinder on our honeymoon. I fell in love with the ride and characters at first sight. I still miss it and am firmly in the camp that wants them to bring that ride back. The sweetness of the ride, and the way it encouraged kids to dream and how to think creatively was pure Epcot. My heart almost broke when they had stopped the Figment meet and greets for a good decade before they brought him back (thank you popcorn bucket Figment!). I'd accept them updating the ride by bringing technology up to date, but the spirit of the ride needs to be there, It needs to be Dreamfinder and Figment, and they need to completely toss out anything related to the institute! And I know I'm not the only one who's been vocal about it for years! Heck, they already released 2 comic book series centered around Figment, Dreamfinder, and Dreamfinder's niece. If they want a "new" story arc, use the ones out of the comics! It even opens up the possibility of multiple types of "Figments" and mentions that everyone can have one of their own They could market them like the Banshees in Animal Kingdom. The comics sold out multiple runs almost immediately, and there was no publicity before releasing the comics. The fans are already here for it, Disney just needs to up it's game and actually do something with it!
I rode the original ride as a kid. I still have my own life size puppet of figment they use to sell. Absolutely love figment. And yes the ride does not do him or the dream finder justice at all.
WOW, so much information. I rode this ride in the early 80's, it was great. I haven't been to Disney in 20+ years, sad to see it end up the way it did. There's allot of things that don't exist in EPCOT anymore, some might remember the touch screen information centers all around the pond in EPCOT. ROFL, there long gone. I'm old, but I'd love to go back again. 🙂
Figment is the best part of Epcot. Journey Into Imagination was the best pavilion. It sickens me that they got rid of the original ride and the rainbow tunnel with the interactive games. And there wasn't anything "alleged" about Dreamfinder walking around with a puppet version of Figment. My sister and I met them after my family went to the Journey Into Imagination pavilion. We have a photo of us together. I don't think I'd want to go back to WDW now, there's too many good things that are gone.
It's ironic how Epcot lost most of its appeal after Eisner wanted Epcot to be more appealing to specific audiences... like a dad going to his kids' class to talk about his office job, but raps and poses cause he thinks it's super cool.. while the whole classroom cringes and his kids die of embarrassement.. but Dad is forever convinced how great it was... 😅😂 anyhow, i've experienced Epcot pretty much from since it opened. It was such a unique inspiration to me as a child, it literally shaped my life growing up. I was a teenager when Epcot went through its first major overhaul and seeing Horizons and JII being ripped away..two of the most iconic theme park attractions ever built... it was like all the hopes, dreams and inspirations withered away with it. And everything that Epcot represented and emanated in the 80s, i wish kids these days could have the opportunity to experience something so powerful as was the original Epcot Center. Nowadays it's just a shiny husk with some few remnants of its old glory and Disney Imagineering, or rather Disney Exec just don't grasp the depth of Epcot's vision any more and likely never will, again. I could go on and on... but it'll only make me feel extremely sad and heartbroken. RIP Epcot Center!
One more thing i'd like to add: Original JII in particular never strived for perfection, its simplicity and playfulness.. was just so perfectly delivered... "one little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation.." ..boundless creativity can't be industrialized, but that's what Disney tried to do with Epcot.
I’ve been lucky enough to ride all 3 versions and I LOVE the original Figment. I don’t think the original ride would cut it today, but we really should have gotten an upgraded Dreamfinder and Figment instead of version 2, it was awful.
I think one of the main draws to Figment related items is the fact that he's a symbol of original Epcot. A lot of the people who are "Disney Adults" grew up with 80/90's Epcot and it's vastly different than today's Epcot. A lot of that generation misses "old" Epcot. That combined with most of those Disney adults being millennials and us seem to be a generation obsession with nostalgia in general... It makes sense why people flock for Figment merch. I'm sure some people grab it, because simply it's just a popular item, or because "he's cute". However, I think the main reason is because a lot of people are just holding onto what they can of "old" Epcot before it disappears. I kind of wonder if they grab it simply because it "may be the last time". As I don't recall being this much hype about Figment until just the last few years when it was announced Disney was making changes at Epcot. He's always been popular, but it's definitely peaked since constructed started.
Was maybe 5 when I feel in love with some silly dragon that overrode Mickey fo me Now, I got the bucket (40 Anniv version), some new Figment merch....but if they don't FIX that pavillion, I won't buy anymore because I consider it a manipulation of what I felt strongly about as a child. I'm glad you researched his back story because it broke my heart when you first visited Epcot and was confused. Pained me you did get it but why would you. Great vid, even if inside (AND they need to FIX the jumpy water....again broke) arrrgh......
Yep, Figment is my oldest son's favorite character, 'cause we went to WDW for the very first time in September of 1996. Of course, my oldest son turns 44 years old this year. But he still has the plushie. I don't get LinaBell, Gelatin, etc. and I'll probably never get to Tokyo DisneySea or the parks in China. I mean, Duffy's just a bear, right? Oh well.
I wasn’t cool enough to ride the first 2 versions but as a wdw pass holder I cannot tell you enough how much I love figment. He’s precious, even when he’s annoying 😂
Love the video! You truly knocked it out of the park. Literally brought up every point and explained the history & why we love this attraction & characters perfectly. Best video I’ve seen explaining what happened, to folks. Thanks so much, God bless ya man! 😁👍🏻👍🏻 (Though, I’d like to add a note.. I personally don’t think the turntable was fully dismantled/destroyed/removed, I believe it was Infact disabled. The current load area sits on top of the OG turntable, much like much of the rest of the track is simply disabled and laid over with hollow flooring that makes up parts of the current queue & downstairs ImageWorks. (The queue and load area taking up the original load & turntable, the current downstairs ImageWorks taking over the original film finale and unload). So theoretically, I believe the original could fully make a comeback with tech & spfx enhancements, similar to how Disney’s enhanced some of the other classics with new tech. And considering Disney has so many elements within the archives. Whether it be original maquettes/molds, audio & visual media, blueprints, etc. It really would be fairly simple to bring it back I feel and would be a HUGE win to bring back goodwill and fans back to the company, especially the theme park side of things. But yeah, here’s hoping & praying for the best! I totally agree that Dreamfinder, Figment, and this ride deserves the love & proper comeback us fans have been begging for, for years. A timeless iconic classic in line with the others like Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, etc. 🙏🏻)
Thannnnnkkkkk you for this video. I am also in the boat of "wth is with the hype over this sort of just annoying demon looking creature?" (I am constantly amazed he isn't singled out by the "our kids are being brainwashed!" crowd, if you know what I mean) I didn't even realize he was supposed to be a dragon, tbh. I have had nightmares, as a damn adult mind you, of Eric Idle's moonface twisting and singing and then opening his maw to swallow our ride vehicle. So....theres that 😂 Now, I visited EPCOT as a kid in 1989/90 round about and I know we went on the original version. For whatever reason Figment never stayed in my memories, but Horizons certainly did. Coming back to EPCOT, nearly 20 years later as an adult I was so confused with how JIIWF was around. It's...bad. I mean, we go on it to get out of the sun and to sit for a while, but honestly my eyes are closed for nearly the entire ride and I'm practically napping lol it's the 1, 2 combo of being off your feet along with Pixar Shorts.
You have blown my mind. It’s genius and evil villain, Pinocchio type shit. If they do redo figment, I expect it to be an empty dark ride with a broken figment animatronic on a plastic chair.
It was so dissapointing that I couldn't show my kid the wonder that was the Figment of my own youth. They like dragons and purple, so Figment was still a hit, but they didn't get the same magic. Thank you for this retrospective, I learned things about my favorite lost ride that I hadn't known before.
I want a reimagining of this ride. Let the imagineers go wild telling us about imagination, creativity, and dreaming. And I want Jack Black as the Dreamfinder!
I never got to ride the original attraction, but I'm a sap for an adorable dragon. I was a Figment fan from day one. And although now it does seem to be all about the quick cash grab, I for one was touched by meeting him. I actually cried tears of joy. I can see the views from both sides, but I'll always love Figment!
This was a great historical overview of Figment and Journey Into Imagination. There seems to be lesser interest of corporate sponsorship of attractions at EPCOT, in some cases leading to their demise, as with Wonders of Life. Without that corporate sponsorship, there is less investment into keeping the magic in the attractions leading to very bad corporate cost-saving decisions. It is also sad to see that Restaurant Marrakesh has been diminished a glorified rest area. WDW management, listen to the "guests" and bring Journey Into Imaganination back to its original splendor with Figment being a prominent character.
I've been told that upstairs was an amazing zone where kids could play, including a rainbow colored tunnel that was a love of many. When they reworked the ride, they shuttered the floor. It was reopened as a VIP lounge but the imagination zone was left locked and unaccessible to the park goers. I wonder if it's still up there? An urban explorer found a way in and found it sad and dusty.
I agree, we need the original version of the attraction back, or as close as possible. I have ridden it and today’s version is nowhere near as good. Thanks for the backstory on Figment and Dreamfinder. I really had no idea the ideas came from Disneyland.
My grandma was heading to Disney and asked me if there was anything I wanted from there. Epcott had just open so excitedly I said "a Figment plushie!" When she returned she had a pair of mouse ears. She admit she had no clue who or what Figment was. I was so bummed by it but did put the ears up for display in my room until my brother destroyed them. I wish they'd bring back the Dreamfinder in some form because he was my favorite character of WDW.
Sometime shortly after the closing of the original attraction, our family went to DW. We had heard of the attraction and were disappointed to learn of its closure. Later, we were going through another attraction's gift shop and came across a bin filled with discounted Figment plush figures. They wore the yellow sweater with his name stitched across the chest. I picked one up because there was something strange about it. Took me a moment to realize the name was stitched backwards. At first I thought the the figures were discounted due to this, but a cast member said the discount was due to the ride closure. After going through the bin... the one I held was the only one. Everything else is perfect... the seams are all proper. It doesn't appear as if the sweater was sown on inside out or anything like that. The name is just stitched in reverse. Still sitting on a bookcase
I would have LOVED to have rode the original version and I even remember seeing lots of ads for the Dreamfinder and Figment but never got to go to Disney World till late 2000's. I didn't mind the ride but it wasn't all cut out to be like most people who rode it after they had rode the original ride. I do love me some Figment. I wouldn't mind an animated movie or series or even a live action/CGI hybrid film about Figment.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
The original ride was amazing! Dreamfinder was Walt and Figment was his childlike spark of Imagination. That ride gave heart to EPCOT.
When I first went on the ride it was amazing. My mind was overwhelmed by the true meaning of imagination and what we are all capable of 😊. I still adore Figment because of what he taught me 😊
As an ex cast member from 86. Original figment was the best. Thank you for this. Please bring him back. The entire original ride. Rebuilt. Disney. Time to fix your mistake. I was gone for decades. I came back to live here and was depressed on this lame version of Figment. Please for the love of DreamFinder bring it back. ❤❤❤
Yes, yes, YES!!!! 🙌
At this point.. FIgment is one of the only things that embodies original Epcot Center and has to be protected
Another big component of the ride that no one ever talks about, and can’t be conveyed in pictures, was the smell. Instead of the stinky smell, it smelled like roses throughout the ride. That made it even more magical!
Riding the original Figment ride and also Horizons gave me a feeling of truly going to another world as a child.
Same for me and I was in my 20s!!! 😎
Wish I could have seen it literally my only time traveling shenanigans I would do is see old rides tbh. Especially these two!
Agree Horizons was so good.
Same!
When I was little... Figment was the foundation of my love for EPCOT and made it my favorite park. I loved EVERYTHING about him! I just rode the current ride 2 days ago... it was so extremely depressing, and I really miss it! I'll forever hum the tune and sing in my head... "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." and keep dreaming that they might just bring something like the original back someday!
I can't express how much of this ride's popularity was also the "post ride" area with it's innovative play centers. Seeing the clips of that area in your video took me right back to how much fun it truly was. Being able to digitally paint Figment on a screen like a space age coloring book and then going over and playing with a giant pool-table-sized pin game where you could press your hands/feet/face into them and make an impression was amazing for a midwest kid to experience. There's also nothing to describe the draw for that entire area of Epcot at that time. You had the magic dancing water spouts outside and then Michael Jackson as CAPTAIN FREAKING E.O.! I loved it and miss that type of magic that a kid could experience in the Disney parks. Now, it just feels like you're herded like cattle to experiences that all feel the same, becomes repetitive and, dare I say, boring?
Years later when I saw Disney Quest at Downtown Disney in Orlando, I realized that they had taken all that post ride experience, ripped it out of the park, monetized it, and made it somehow worse? It was a good idea, but you can always see where execs see something that park goers enjoy a little bit and make the park more fun and think, "How can we make this bigger, "better", and then make more money from it?!
Restore the Imagination! Bring back Dreamfinder!
What an imaginative expose! I never knew half of this backstory, and I loved the original attraction. You’ve done it again, Brickey!
I saw that ride in around 1983, and right here in my bedroom is a Figment plush from that visit.
Just knowing that the most 80’s park’s mascot’s name was inspired by an iconic 80’s TV show is very satisfying
Finally, a vlog that explains the Figment phenomenon completely. Most Figment videos I've watched only speak of this dude in a way that assumes everyone just knows who he is. Your video answers some questions. 🤘
I think we are in the same boat with our fandom, so the video was made for us, I just happen to be the one who made it.
You Really missed out on the Orginal Ride, its one of the things I remember most when I was a kid on my Trip to WDW. That attraction was incredible, you would have loved it.
I did ride the original attraction but it was so long ago that the memory is hard to recall. The original ride being redone was definitely a loss but the distance between my memory of the original ride and starting to come to the parks again regularly was the Gulf of over 20 years. Although ride 2.5 is definitely a lack for luster. I have a simple example that works for me to explain the playful mischievous figment of that ride, let me take away your sparkmaker (mentor, friend) and replace him with a stuffy old professor, and tell me that doesn't drive you to act out a bit.
great video !
Figment 1 was awesome! And when I worked in and around the parks, he embodied a lot of why I was there.
Brickey could cosplay a mean dreamfinder! (If he was into that kind of thing, LOL). Also an amazingly comprehensive documentary film of this ride's history! 10/10
I remember the first version with the original Dreamfinder. Kodak was huge, and had a long association with the parks due to Walt’s relationship with Linkletter who agreed to host the opening of Disneyland on TV for the rights to put his Kodak (a company he co owned) in a shop at main street. The popularity is nostalgia.
I’ve been going to Epcot since October 1982. Imagination pavilion was incredible. Dreamfinder was the Man. Joe Rhode also was in the movie guests could play a part in. 80’s Epcot was Legendary. Horizons is my channels avatar.Todays Epcot is nice,but the original was special.
Jealous I didn't get to see the EPCOT you got to see Mike! Take care bud.
YES!!! 🙌
My fiancé, Ron Schneider, is the original Dreamfinder who appeared in Epcot when the park opened. He was voiced a few of Dreamfinder’s lines in the ride and is the Dreamfinder who appears in the Today Show video . He also voiced Dreamfinder in the other attractions in the pavilion.
When Figment accompanied Dreamfinder in the park he was a rubber puppet that Dreamfinder would operate to interact with his fans.
This is me, figment! It seems I have been summoned here and I found this video. This is a great video and I’ve been searching through RUclips on my imagination browser and this video was really Interesting on giving more history. It has been a while since me and Dreamfinder parted. I would love to be reunited. We must tell Disney that we’re tired of dreaming about the past and that it is time to revive Journey into imagination back to its original glory! #SaveFigment! 💜 - Your friend, Figment ⭐️✨💜
Yayyy Figment!
The orginal ride was great! My family are from the UK so this ride, the song and the characters weren't something we knew about until we visited in 1993, but it made such a connection and was one of the most memorable things from the holiday.
Definitely a case of executives not understanding when they have something special. ...and later not understanding why it was special.
I was lucky enough to go to E.P.C.O.T. Center (back when it was called that) in 1985 on a school trip, and Figment was one of my favorite parts of the park. The original Figment was so much fun! I was so disappointed when I returned to EPCOT years later and they had totally changed the ride and Figment's personality.
Jealous of that field trip
@@HeyBrickey Heh, we sold chocolate bars for 2 years to fund that trip lol! (It was from Montreal, Canada)
Thanks for this video. My first time at WDW was in 1989 on my honeymoon. I loved the Imagination ride! We still have a 1989 plush Figment from that trip. We met Dream Finder and Figment once outside the gift shop.
I missed the first change (fortunately) and am grateful for the revision. I never knew the “why” other than knowing Honey I Shrunk the Audience was part of the change. It’s crazy to me that they did what they did for a change they wanted - not listening to the people. But they continue on. Figment deserves better!
It's a crime what they did to figment. The original ride was great!
Thanks for this explanation! I’ve always been curious about this and got to finally ride it at the end of a long Epcot day last year… I was confused, surprised but smiling and happy.
I appreciate this video as someone who first went to epcot when the original version of the ride was still there and fell in love with the little purple imagination dragon. Hell I have a Figment tattoo. :)
Attractions are IP, too. Those that originate in the parks might drive greater sales because they can only be experienced at the parks, unlike a movie or show that can be accessed on demand.
I’m a Californian that identifies Disneyland as my home park but was lucky enough to go to WDW a few times as a kid to ride the original Journey Into Imagination. And moreover, I can still remember The Living Seas, World of Motion, Horizons, The Universe of Energy, and so many more pavilions.
See, Figment is the holdover from that time where Edutainment was more important than IP integration. The IP were the attractions themselves and they adhered to Walt as an Optimistic Futurist.
You could say Figment is one of the last holdovers from that beautiful vibe EPCOT Center used to have, which is why the character is held so dearly by we who were lucky enough to experience what this park used to be - a celebration of who we are and where we are going.
They got rid of the Living Seas?? The big tank with the divers?
@ct6852 it's still there, tank and all, but it has a Finding Nemo theme overlay. The old ride is now a Finding Nemo ride. But the aquariums and sealife are all still there, and the interior is largely the same.
@@jl9627 Oh ok. That makes sense. Yeah was thinking that would leave a major hole in the park if they ever got rid of that.
We're very lucky people to have seen EPCOT in its prime.
My boys loved Figment. So did we parents. He was a delight. I think one of them may still have the Figment stuffy we brought home from what seemed ages ago. One is in his forties and the other will be this August.
Thanks for this episode - I'm with you ... as a west coaster I've never gotten it. Who he is, WHAT he is, etc. I guess it's a bit clearer now, but yeah ... I doubt I'll ever be "Team Figment".
Yeah I remember the original ride with the dream finder and figment. It was so much better it was magical. The first half of the ride was so mesmerizing because you could tell you were moving and yet you seemed to be standing still moving with the show😮🎉 I've never seen anything like it since.
Not all of us are here because of the first iteration… I only grew up with the current one and I love both versions of this dragon and actually feel like they are just both different sides of the same character. I also love DreamFinder, despite never having had the pleasure of getting to take any “flights of fancy” with him. I just love ALL the Figment stuff.
You had my husband at Magnum PI. I’m old old school WDW and the first Imagination pavilion was really cool. I had forgot about all the sponsors. But immediately remembered Kodak. I guess Chevy is the only one left. Back in the day, I thought Figment a little lame. Where was Mickey? But now I love him. Total nostalgia vibes.
The original ride was one of the greatest Disney dark rides, on par with Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. Horizons was at the same level. Epcot was amazing in the 80s and into the 90s then it lost its way. I think it is starting to find it again, but slowly.
Been a long long long time since I've been there, but pretty much all I remember is Figment, that Viking ride with the drop, the Aztec pavilion, and my marble elephant that went flying out of plastic bag when I was swinging it around that broke into four pieces. Oh and elephant #2 that's sitting on my desk right now.
CORE Memories 😂 Thanks For Sharing!
@@HeyBrickey Absolutely. So, so heartbroken when I broke that figure. 💔
Ive always wondered what the big deal was with Figment, seemed goofy to me.
Your video has helped, but, Im still not too sure about him.
Thanks, Bricky!
👍👍
Hello! Obsessed Figment person here. I've loved Figment myself for 3 years, and he's been my favorite Disney Character of all time. He's loveable, cute, and a childlike character. I've always wanted Disney to bring back Dreamfinder and the Original Journey Into Imagination because I know how much people loved the ride and would want it to return. I really loved more of Billy Barty's version of Figment because he had such a personality that sticked with us for years, and concluding the fact that Disney took down the original attraction broke so many hearts. I have never been to EPCOT in my life, nor have I ever ridden the attraction, but I am someone who knows what people want in terms of EPCOT, and believe me, I know what is up. But in the end, I hope Disney makes the RIGHT choices and bring back the loveable, imaginary, most creative characters of all time, Dreamfinder & Figment as a Duo.
A friend's dad worked for Kodak early during this era. We're trying to get as many stories as possible, but it was incredibly stressful. EPCOT's been through so much, and always deserved more sustained attention and effort.
Speaking of Kodak , who can ever forget the preshow by Kodak of " True Colors". Pre-shows at that time were mostly boring, but this one always left me feeling a emotional and glad I watched it. I wish that a good video of it was still available, most are shaky and from a distance and it is just not the same. I also remember the Kodak Picture spots throughout the park.
I fall into the camp that does not get Figment, so thanks for the background
Just watched a full ride through of the original and i truly believe all disneyfans need to band together and demand they bring this back!! Recreate it please!!!!
I loved the original Figment ride and was just crushed when they changed it the first time. The second time was a bit better but still not nearly as good as the original. We used to wait in long lines to go on that ride now it’s a walk on ride all the time.
If you listen to the original Dreamfinder (One little spark) song, which you can still hear as an instrumental version at the Imagination pavillion (also throughout most of this video, fittingly enough), the lyrics give you a perfect sense of who the beloved Figment 1.0 (and Dreamfinder) are. I love that song. It's very 80's Disney, but still timeless. I miss the original ride :-) And pre-2000 Epcot, for that matter.
A character fit, for any imagination, suited for all possibilities and willing to please the toughest of nay sayers.
Thank you for this! I rode this ride for the 1st time last year and I thought it was terrible and didn't know why it was so popular
For my 80's EPCOT kid, Figment was the Mickey Mouse! I'm so happy to have experienced it. COME BACK FIGMENT!
As a big figment lover. He means a lot to me and my childhood. The day I went to see the first of the two remakes before the current one I walked of the ride mad. So mad. They almost removed figment altogether. I was stopped by a cast member to do a survey. I was honest. And harsh on how I felt. Two weeks later when I was home from my trip I got a call from Anaheim. It was a cast member asking me all about the survey. And my feelings on figment. A few weeks after that call I got a post card from figment. They redid the ride to what it is now. Do I love the ride. No. Am I happy I get to see figment. Yes. I always cry at the very last scene with all the figgies. Disney needs to do better.
Very interesting. I remember riding the original and thinking it was cool. I was kind of confused about the later version thinking I remembered the ride wrong, lol.
Thank you for bringing to the world here why so many of us are so enamored with Figment...for GenX, another help...that maybe we didn't catch until later...Figment was originally voiced by an actor/voice actor who did a lot of children's television in the '70s...so an adorable child-like character with a familiar voice cinched his popularity early on...and that carried on to GenX's children for those lucky enough to experience the original Journey Into Imagination
My home park! So glad you went back!
Another reason why this ride got replaced was because Kodak was in a little bit of a ditch because of bankruptcy and digital photos becoming popular in the late 90s.( also because the ride was ahead of its time so that means that they had to pay a lot of money for the turntable scene.)
Figment? Dude is adorable
Great video! Yeah, Disney did Figment dirty when they redid the ride in 98.
Dreamfinder's voice was Chuck McCann, who is probably best known for two things: (1) being the guy in the medicine cabinet who says "Hi guy!" in the 1970s ads for Right Guard deodorant, and (2) co-starring on "Far Out Space Nuts" with Bob Denver. (That's not him playing the live-action face of Dreamfinder, though.)
He was Dreamfinder for the majority of the ride. Ron Schneider, the original strolling Dreamfinder ( pictured in the Today Show video) completed some lines for the ride that were left unfinished and was camera operator Dreamfinder at the end of the ride. The other Dreamfinder pictured is Steve Taylor, the longest running strolling Dreamfinder (15 years!).
I wish I could see the Dreamfinder in today's ride. If you want some OG Figment, the graphic novel/comic Disney released is pretty entertaining!
So my sister made me go on that ride during my first trip to WDW 10 years ago. The entire time I was thinking... what the **** is this?
It's nostalgia. I went to WDW for the first time in the early 90's with my school choir. And my friends and I thought the song was so funny. So it just became a thing. So I think for most it's the nostalgia is the character.
Thanks for more East Coast content Brickey!
The RetroWDW channel has a restored video of the original Journey into Imagination ride synchronized with high-quality original audio tracks. Just as I remembered it, and then even parts I didn’t remember. Yeah, my eyes are pretty wet right now.
Good video. We love Figment. We only know the current version of the ride. We like it, but know it needs a major redo again.
A fun thing about Figment, he was put into the videogame Disney Speed Storm. He is aged up compared to how he is on the rides, but he is full of his original spirit of being full of imagination and joy. Now I want that version to be incorporated into the parks because he's fantastic in the game.
Yay Brickey! Awesome video about Figment’s backstory. You had me at the VIP tour of Walt’s apartment at DL (which I took by the way!) 😜 WDW is my home park (NYC) and I never knew the full Figment story! You have a mastery for storytelling and you have gained a subscriber with bell notifications on! 🥳🎉🫡 🏰
I remember going and seeing the original ride, before Disney decided to change the entire thing. Dreamfinder and the journey into true imagination was a fantastic experience. The newer just seemed to feel more of a publicity project. Not to mention having that creepiest looking sight toward the end (traumatizing moon anyone?)
"It's the park's 2nd most POPULAR ride! So...let's get rid of it so we can bring in older kids, instead." Yeah, that worked out SO well, wouldn't you say?
I believe back in the 80’s or early 90’s Disney was planning to bring Figment to Disneyland Tomorrowland I think they wanted figment to be the main character for Tomorrowland but not really sure what happen with the plans
Never heard that. Time to investigate. Thanks for sharing.
@@HeyBrickey I heard from Jim hill media on one of there podcast episodes I do not remember which episode it was but Jim talk about figment was almost coming to DL TL. Podcast is call Disney dish with Jim hill
Yes , that needed some in depth explaining. I do recall the eighties attraction and most definitely the dream finder. “Wonka” like and very memorable 😀. Last year same, completely confused. But “hey” thanks for the backstory. I’m a little better off now !
I've never had the chance to ride the original 1983 version or the 1999 version, I grew up with the current one and call me insane but, I love Journey Into Imagination with Figment... I rode it SO many times when I was young in it hits the nostalgia for me. Yes, I do prefer Dreamfinder than Dr. Nigel Channing, but I find a charm with the current one. Honestly, I love the current and original equally..
I got to Disney in 1985 and fell in love with Figment. In fact,mwhen I got to choose a character to buy i got a figment, and I had it nearby for years.
My husband and I were lucky enough to get to see the original version with both Figment and Dreamfinder on our honeymoon. I fell in love with the ride and characters at first sight. I still miss it and am firmly in the camp that wants them to bring that ride back. The sweetness of the ride, and the way it encouraged kids to dream and how to think creatively was pure Epcot. My heart almost broke when they had stopped the Figment meet and greets for a good decade before they brought him back (thank you popcorn bucket Figment!).
I'd accept them updating the ride by bringing technology up to date, but the spirit of the ride needs to be there, It needs to be Dreamfinder and Figment, and they need to completely toss out anything related to the institute! And I know I'm not the only one who's been vocal about it for years!
Heck, they already released 2 comic book series centered around Figment, Dreamfinder, and Dreamfinder's niece. If they want a "new" story arc, use the ones out of the comics! It even opens up the possibility of multiple types of "Figments" and mentions that everyone can have one of their own They could market them like the Banshees in Animal Kingdom.
The comics sold out multiple runs almost immediately, and there was no publicity before releasing the comics. The fans are already here for it, Disney just needs to up it's game and actually do something with it!
Very cool. I learned so much!
Glad to hear it!
I rode the original ride as a kid. I still have my own life size puppet of figment they use to sell. Absolutely love figment. And yes the ride does not do him or the dream finder justice at all.
WOW, so much information. I rode this ride in the early 80's, it was great. I haven't been to Disney in 20+ years, sad to see it end up the way it did. There's allot of things that don't exist in EPCOT anymore, some might remember the touch screen information centers all around the pond in EPCOT. ROFL, there long gone. I'm old, but I'd love to go back again. 🙂
Figment is the best part of Epcot. Journey Into Imagination was the best pavilion. It sickens me that they got rid of the original ride and the rainbow tunnel with the interactive games. And there wasn't anything "alleged" about Dreamfinder walking around with a puppet version of Figment. My sister and I met them after my family went to the Journey Into Imagination pavilion. We have a photo of us together. I don't think I'd want to go back to WDW now, there's too many good things that are gone.
It's ironic how Epcot lost most of its appeal after Eisner wanted Epcot to be more appealing to specific audiences... like a dad going to his kids' class to talk about his office job, but raps and poses cause he thinks it's super cool.. while the whole classroom cringes and his kids die of embarrassement.. but Dad is forever convinced how great it was... 😅😂 anyhow, i've experienced Epcot pretty much from since it opened. It was such a unique inspiration to me as a child, it literally shaped my life growing up. I was a teenager when Epcot went through its first major overhaul and seeing Horizons and JII being ripped away..two of the most iconic theme park attractions ever built... it was like all the hopes, dreams and inspirations withered away with it. And everything that Epcot represented and emanated in the 80s, i wish kids these days could have the opportunity to experience something so powerful as was the original Epcot Center. Nowadays it's just a shiny husk with some few remnants of its old glory and Disney Imagineering, or rather Disney Exec just don't grasp the depth of Epcot's vision any more and likely never will, again. I could go on and on... but it'll only make me feel extremely sad and heartbroken. RIP Epcot Center!
One more thing i'd like to add: Original JII in particular never strived for perfection, its simplicity and playfulness.. was just so perfectly delivered... "one little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation.." ..boundless creativity can't be industrialized, but that's what Disney tried to do with Epcot.
I’ve been lucky enough to ride all 3 versions and I LOVE the original Figment. I don’t think the original ride would cut it today, but we really should have gotten an upgraded Dreamfinder and Figment instead of version 2, it was awful.
I think one of the main draws to Figment related items is the fact that he's a symbol of original Epcot. A lot of the people who are "Disney Adults" grew up with 80/90's Epcot and it's vastly different than today's Epcot. A lot of that generation misses "old" Epcot. That combined with most of those Disney adults being millennials and us seem to be a generation obsession with nostalgia in general... It makes sense why people flock for Figment merch. I'm sure some people grab it, because simply it's just a popular item, or because "he's cute". However, I think the main reason is because a lot of people are just holding onto what they can of "old" Epcot before it disappears. I kind of wonder if they grab it simply because it "may be the last time". As I don't recall being this much hype about Figment until just the last few years when it was announced Disney was making changes at Epcot. He's always been popular, but it's definitely peaked since constructed started.
Was maybe 5 when I feel in love with some silly dragon that overrode Mickey fo me Now, I got the bucket (40 Anniv version), some new Figment merch....but if they don't FIX that pavillion, I won't buy anymore because I consider it a manipulation of what I felt strongly about as a child. I'm glad you researched his back story because it broke my heart when you first visited Epcot and was confused. Pained me you did get it but why would you. Great vid, even if inside (AND they need to FIX the jumpy water....again broke) arrrgh......
Original Figment and the ride were amazing. I got to see it once when I was a kid in the 80s.
Yep, Figment is my oldest son's favorite character, 'cause we went to WDW for the very first time in September of 1996. Of course, my oldest son turns 44 years old this year. But he still has the plushie.
I don't get LinaBell, Gelatin, etc. and I'll probably never get to Tokyo DisneySea or the parks in China. I mean, Duffy's just a bear, right? Oh well.
I want a movie, a TV show, and a new ride for Figment. Come on, Disney! He's been my fave since 1989, when I rode the first iteration.
One little spark
I wasn’t cool enough to ride the first 2 versions but as a wdw pass holder I cannot tell you enough how much I love figment. He’s precious, even when he’s annoying 😂
Love the video! You truly knocked it out of the park. Literally brought up every point and explained the history & why we love this attraction & characters perfectly. Best video I’ve seen explaining what happened, to folks. Thanks so much, God bless ya man! 😁👍🏻👍🏻 (Though, I’d like to add a note.. I personally don’t think the turntable was fully dismantled/destroyed/removed, I believe it was Infact disabled. The current load area sits on top of the OG turntable, much like much of the rest of the track is simply disabled and laid over with hollow flooring that makes up parts of the current queue & downstairs ImageWorks. (The queue and load area taking up the original load & turntable, the current downstairs ImageWorks taking over the original film finale and unload). So theoretically, I believe the original could fully make a comeback with tech & spfx enhancements, similar to how Disney’s enhanced some of the other classics with new tech. And considering Disney has so many elements within the archives. Whether it be original maquettes/molds, audio & visual media, blueprints, etc. It really would be fairly simple to bring it back I feel and would be a HUGE win to bring back goodwill and fans back to the company, especially the theme park side of things. But yeah, here’s hoping & praying for the best! I totally agree that Dreamfinder, Figment, and this ride deserves the love & proper comeback us fans have been begging for, for years. A timeless iconic classic in line with the others like Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, etc. 🙏🏻)
I love Figment I originally saw him in the 1983 version.
Thannnnnkkkkk you for this video. I am also in the boat of "wth is with the hype over this sort of just annoying demon looking creature?" (I am constantly amazed he isn't singled out by the "our kids are being brainwashed!" crowd, if you know what I mean) I didn't even realize he was supposed to be a dragon, tbh.
I have had nightmares, as a damn adult mind you, of Eric Idle's moonface twisting and singing and then opening his maw to swallow our ride vehicle.
So....theres that 😂
Now, I visited EPCOT as a kid in 1989/90 round about and I know we went on the original version. For whatever reason Figment never stayed in my memories, but Horizons certainly did. Coming back to EPCOT, nearly 20 years later as an adult I was so confused with how JIIWF was around. It's...bad. I mean, we go on it to get out of the sun and to sit for a while, but honestly my eyes are closed for nearly the entire ride and I'm practically napping lol it's the 1, 2 combo of being off your feet along with Pixar Shorts.
You have blown my mind. It’s genius and evil villain, Pinocchio type shit. If they do redo figment, I expect it to be an empty dark ride with a broken figment animatronic on a plastic chair.
Nice to see you back at WDW
thanks. god to be back. I love it.
It was so dissapointing that I couldn't show my kid the wonder that was the Figment of my own youth. They like dragons and purple, so Figment was still a hit, but they didn't get the same magic. Thank you for this retrospective, I learned things about my favorite lost ride that I hadn't known before.
I want a reimagining of this ride. Let the imagineers go wild telling us about imagination, creativity, and dreaming. And I want Jack Black as the Dreamfinder!
Let me guess, Figment is played by Chris Pratt?
They'll have a problem with putting the dream finder back. They put him in Phantom Manor as the beheaded Mayor.
I never got to ride the original attraction, but I'm a sap for an adorable dragon. I was a Figment fan from day one. And although now it does seem to be all about the quick cash grab, I for one was touched by meeting him. I actually cried tears of joy. I can see the views from both sides, but I'll always love Figment!
This was a great historical overview of Figment and Journey Into Imagination. There seems to be lesser interest of corporate sponsorship of attractions at EPCOT, in some cases leading to their demise, as with Wonders of Life. Without that corporate sponsorship, there is less investment into keeping the magic in the attractions leading to very bad corporate cost-saving decisions. It is also sad to see that Restaurant Marrakesh has been diminished a glorified rest area. WDW management, listen to the "guests" and bring Journey Into Imaganination back to its original splendor with Figment being a prominent character.
I've been told that upstairs was an amazing zone where kids could play, including a rainbow colored tunnel that was a love of many. When they reworked the ride, they shuttered the floor. It was reopened as a VIP lounge but the imagination zone was left locked and unaccessible to the park goers. I wonder if it's still up there? An urban explorer found a way in and found it sad and dusty.
I agree, we need the original version of the attraction back, or as close as possible. I have ridden it and today’s version is nowhere near as good. Thanks for the backstory on Figment and Dreamfinder. I really had no idea the ideas came from Disneyland.
God I really need that beeping memory game to go away. Lol
DUDE. I tried so hard to film outside. I even tried to talk around it, and I COULDN'T ESCAPE ITS BEEPS!!!! 😂
@@HeyBrickey haha no I don’t blame you! I just meant in general
I never rode the OG ride, but still when I did visit the park my kids (young adults) rode it and loved it
Maybe I missed something while I was watching this cooking dinner, I think most fans come from the comic tv part of it.
Figment was better in the 80’s! So much better. I have a photo of Dreamfinder, holding Figment, posing with my little nephew and myself back in 84’.
Figment 1.0 was great. Dreamfinder was great. Could ride that all day.
My grandma was heading to Disney and asked me if there was anything I wanted from there. Epcott had just open so excitedly I said "a Figment plushie!" When she returned she had a pair of mouse ears. She admit she had no clue who or what Figment was. I was so bummed by it but did put the ears up for display in my room until my brother destroyed them. I wish they'd bring back the Dreamfinder in some form because he was my favorite character of WDW.
Fun video, keep up the good work.
Sometime shortly after the closing of the original attraction, our family went to DW. We had heard of the attraction and were disappointed to learn of its closure. Later, we were going through another attraction's gift shop and came across a bin filled with discounted Figment plush figures. They wore the yellow sweater with his name stitched across the chest. I picked one up because there was something strange about it. Took me a moment to realize the name was stitched backwards. At first I thought the the figures were discounted due to this, but a cast member said the discount was due to the ride closure. After going through the bin... the one I held was the only one. Everything else is perfect... the seams are all proper. It doesn't appear as if the sweater was sown on inside out or anything like that. The name is just stitched in reverse. Still sitting on a bookcase
I would have LOVED to have rode the original version and I even remember seeing lots of ads for the Dreamfinder and Figment but never got to go to Disney World till late 2000's. I didn't mind the ride but it wasn't all cut out to be like most people who rode it after they had rode the original ride. I do love me some Figment. I wouldn't mind an animated movie or series or even a live action/CGI hybrid film about Figment.