It’s a sad time for fans of the original Journey Into Imagination. Chuck McCann voiced Dreamfinder in the original Journey Into Imagination attraction which operated from 1983-1998. He introduced us to a figment of his imagination: “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, voilà! You’ve got a Figment!”
In 1998, Journey Into Imagination was closed to be reimagined into Journey into YOUR Imagination, of which Dreamfinder was no longer a part. This second version of the ride, which opened in 1999, garnered a negative reaction, so it was reimagined again to Journey into Imagination with Figment, reopening in 2002, with Dreamfinder still absent.
Dreamfinder was also the star of a TV show that was unfortunately never aired and only three episodes produced, that took children through the Realms of Imagination while avoiding Fear and his dark realm, the Bewilderness. He was also featured in the Disney Kingdoms: Figment comic book series.
Dreamfinder wasn’t the only work Chuck McCann did for Disney, though. In 1974, he played Loostgarten of Loostgarten Wrecking Company in Herbie Rides Again. He voiced Heff Heffalump, the not-so-scary villain in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. He was Santa Claus in Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas, as well as Duckworth in DuckTales, DuckTales The Movie: Treaures of the Lost Lamp, and DuckTales: Remastered, also giving voice to Bouncer and Burger Beagle. Aside from voicing Disney characters, he was a producer, writer, and actor with over 150 television and movie credits, including his voice work. Though he’s gone, Dreamfinder will live on for all fans of the original Journey Into Imagination attraction in EPCOT Center, and he’ll never be far away when you use your imagination.