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"One little spark of inspiration..." Basic The Imagiantion pavilion (1982-present) has been hosted by Kodak since its opening. It was called the "Journey into Imagination" pavilion from 1982-1998, and is currently called the "Imagination!" pavilion since 1999. The principle attraction, Journey into Imagination opened on March 5, 1983 and closed in 1998. It was redone into Journey into Your Imagination, which lasted from October 1999 to October 2001. The attraction was redone once again as Journey into Imagination with Figment, which opened on June 1, 2002, and is the current version of the ride. Exterior & Area
The Imagination building is highlighted by two glass pyramids. In 1999, red and orange paint was added to the lower parts of the building, which were originally purple. Surrounding the building are the leap-frog fountains and the reverse waterfall. A Figment topiary used to spin on a turn-table in the area's courtyard called the Magic Garden.
Original Ride Journey Into Imagination was a slow moving 14-minute omnimover trip hosted by Dreamfinder and Figment through their imagination. At the beginning of the ride Figment is created out of the Dreamcatcher. From there Dreamfinder and Figment explore different areas of imagination after taking you to the Dreamport. The tune "One Little Spark" played throughout the ride. It closed in 1998 and reopened in 1999 as Journey Into Your Imagination (a whole different ride). After taking you to the Dreamport, you begin to explore four different areas of the imagination. The first is the artistic/painting area. The second is the nightmare/book area. The third is the show-biz/acting area. The final area is the science area where time-lapse video screens display crystals forming, seeds germinating, and video of the processes being reversed. After exploring the four areas, you are taken to the grand finale where Figment is in the center of a large room. Surrounding Figment are video screens of him being many different things in his imagination: scientist, weight lifter, Alpine mountain climber, top hat/cane dancer, sea captain, pirate in a treasure chest, superhero, and cowboy. Upon exiting this room, Dreamfinder would take your picture, which you would then see.
Image Works After leaving Journey Into Imagination you could enter Image Works. Image Works was in the upper area of the pavilion allowing guests an outside view through the glass pyramid. It offered guests activities that they could test their imaginations with. It included:
Figment's Coloring Book - electronic coloring books with sensitive pens
Magic Palettes - a free-style coloring book with sensitive pens
Light Writers - here, guests used laser beams to draw geometric patterns
Stepping Tones - colored pads on the ground that made different tones when stepped on
Sensor Maze - also known as the Rainbow Corridor, this tunnel changed colors as you walked through
Pin Screens - thousands of pins allowed guests to press their hands underneath to make shapes above
Bubble Music - here, you could press a button to create bubbles that made music
Dreamfinder's School of Drama - here, guests acted out a scene on a small stage - then through a Chromo-Key video-effects technique, the guests watched their performance with newly added background and foreground elements
Giant Kaleidoscopes - guests could spin the dials to create different colors and patterns
Making Faces - an add-things-to-your-face picture kiosk
Image Warp - moving reflection fun-house style mirrors in a strobe-lit room
Lumia - a large ball that responded to sounds by spinning in different light and color patterns
Electronic Philharmonic - a light sensitive orchestra that allowed guests to "play" instruments at different tempos and volumes by moving their hands in the light
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Image Works: The Kodak What If Labs Image Works closed in 1998 and reopened in 1999 as the Kodak What If Labs. The whole upstairs area that housed the original Image Works is now closed. The newer Image Works - The Kodak What If Labs is located at the ride exit. The What If Labs have less hands-on features (such as the pin-screens) and more camera kiosks. A version of Stepping Tones returned in the newer version with pictures of various instruments, animals, and fireworks on each pad. In 2007 or early 2008, the newer Stepping Tones were redone to feature much brighter lights with only instruments on the pads. Pictures of babies playing each instrument are now displayed on the wall. In 2002, a new version of Electronic Philarmagic was introduced with Figment playing the different instruments.Shops
The original Imagination shop was the Kodak Cameras & Film shop located near the theater. It sold a vast assortment of Figment merchandise, and of course cameras and film. The camera shop forever closed around 1999. The new shop opened in 1999 as an extension of the Kodak What If Labs.
Meet 'n' Greets
From Epcot's early days to 1998, a Dreamfinder ventriloquist would walk around the area, entertaining guests with his Figment puppet. When Journey into Imagination with Figment opened in 2002, a full-costumed Figment character was introduced for meet 'n' greets. Unfortunately, he has been discontinued.
Magic Eye Theater Magic Journeys was the first 3D movie held in Mage Eye Theater. Magic Journeys follows a child exploring his imagination. This closed and was moved to Magic Kingdom in 1986, but has since closed from Magic Kingdom and now is completely gone. Preceding Magic Journeys was a preshow featuring the song "Makin' Memories" (a song about taking pictures and sharing memories).Captain Eo replaced Magic Journeys in 1986. Captain Eo, a 3D movie, starred Michael Jackson. It was a space fantasy musical involving some aliens and an evil leader. Captain Eo closed in 1994 when "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" became the new 3D film. The Magic Eye Theater is now just referred to as the Imagination Institute. Your Imagination (Ride v.2) Journey into Your Imagination opened in October 1999 and closed in October 2001. This ride version did not star Figment nor the Dreamfinder and was hosted by Dr. Nigel Channing from the Imagination Institute. Guests went through different departments: color, dimension, gravity, illusion, and sound. Instead of using Omnimover ride technology this ride used cars that had to be stopped to load and unload. Imagination With Figment (Ride v.3) On June 1, 2002 Journey into Imagination with Figment opened, which was a much needed make over to Journey into Your Imagination. This version brought Figment back but still left the Dreamfinder out. Guests are still part of the Imagination Institute's open house, but are now invited to explore the five senses. Some of the areas are still similar to Journey into Your Imagination. There are more references to older Disney movies, such as "Flubber" or "The Absent Minded Professor", "Merlin Jones", and "The Computer Who Wore Tennis Shoes". Medfield College, and names like Merlin Jones, Dean Higgins, and Dexter Riley can be seen or heard in the queue or the ride. Also there is one reference to the Dreamfinder on a door near the beginning of the ride. It has the name plate 'Dean Finder'. Also the tune "One Little Spark" returned with new lyrics. Ride version 4?
Much speculation about a possible fourth version of the ride has been going on since the opening of the third version in 2002. Many rumors have been floating around that the Dreamfinder might also return for this fourth version. Supporting these rumors have been numerous items for sale featuring the Dreamfinder (mostly pins). However, there is currently no official status on a Journey into Imagination 4.
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