Disney Legend and Walt Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter is back at it, reiterating his support for a long-overdue re-do of the Journey into Imagination with Figment attraction at EPCOT—and not only that, his idea bag is full… with the possibility of a full-length animated film featuring Figment.
According to journalist Brooke Geiger McDonald, Baxter brought up the ride redesign tonight during a virtual VIP reception held by Walt Disney Birthplace in celebration of Walt’s birthday:
I would give anything to be called upon to rethink that and get back to the story that every human being does. There aren’t creative people and non-creative people. Everybody uses it. It’s just to what extent and I think that that was a really valuable story to tell. It is certainly not told in there now, and I would love to see it get back.
The original Journey Into Imagination attraction at Epcot, which opened on March 5, 1983 was so complex that it was delayed 5 months from opening with the rest of the park in October of 1982, but when it did open, it was an immediate hit with guests and a much needed diversion for those with children in a park that lacked Disney characters at the time.
Dreamfinder and Figment were an integral part of EPCOT Center until their attraction was closed in October of 1998 when corporate sponsor Kodak decided it was time to remove the aging attraction rather than update it.
The following attraction, Journey Into Your Imagination, opened in October 1999 during what would likely be considered the low point in the history of Walt Disney Imagineering and the Disney Parks. Baxter even referred to it as a “nightmare” during the virtual reception. Guest relations Cast Members at Walt Disney World were bombarded with complaints from guests of how bad the ride was and how they missed Figment and Dreamfinder dearly. The complaints were so numerous that the ride was closed less than 2 years later in the Fall of 2001 and Imagineers were tasked with fixing the ride on an extraordinarily limited budget.
In June 2002, Journey into Imagination with Figment opened to guests, which overjoyed to see Figment return home and to hear the classic “One Little Spark” theme reinstated. However, this always felt like a temporary fix until something better could be drawn up. That was the mid-2000s, it is now 2020. This ride is still open. In fact, it has just become the longest-running attraction to ever occupy the space, even outliving the original attraction.
Baxter has been called back on to work as a creative advisor for the “Princess and the Frog” overlay of Splash Mountain, and he seems eager to work on another overhaul. He even brought up the possibility of doing a film:
“Maybe we can even do a film. That would even be better. A full-length animated feature film starring Figment. Let’s do a kickstarter right now. ”
Back in early September, an episode of “One Day at Disney” showed an interesting project between StudioLAB and the Walt Disney Animation Studios, with sculptors working on various clay and digital maquettes of Figment.
Back in the 1980’s, a set of Figment educational cartoons which were planned and piloted, but never launched, so Baxter’s fantastical ideas may not be far out of reach.
Would you be interested in an overhaul of the current Journey into Imagination with Figment at EPCOT? With the company’s increased focus on streaming, I wouldn’t mind settling down for a Figment film on Disney+, either…
Figment is my FAVORITE Disney character. I think it is a shame he is so under utilized by Disney. I would love to see him with his own movie or show. It’s not like they don’t have a whole comic series to draw a spark of inspiration from
Oh please, do away with that insulting and silly Imagination pavilion and bring back something that is truely imagiative. Actually, it shouldn’t be so difficult, just bring back the original pavilion.
Disney could literally just rebuild and reopen the rainbow tunnel above the attraction as a queue line to meet and greet the Dreamfinder, and increase interest in the pavillion 500 percent.
I sure hope Tony Baxter gets his chance to re-imagine Journey Into Imagination!! He has the right ideas to make it awesome!! That sketch in the picture with Nak Yong Choi makes Figgie look like Dino from the Flintstones. That’s pathetic!! Figgie & Dreamfinder should NOT have their looks changed under any circumstances!! You don’t change the stuff that legends are made of!!!!
LOVED the original ride!!!
Was our, then, kids favorite in Epcot.
Have not enjoyed the ‘new’ one at all . . .
If they bring back Dreammaker
& reunite him with Figment,
I believe they’d have a bigger attraction than Frozen!
If it can bear some resemblance to what it was intended to be and not another horrible re-do, I’m beyond all for it! Bring back Dreamfinder, get rid of Eric Idle (no offense to him) and that horrible smell thing, and bring back all the imagination and creativity and color it deserves. An animated film would be great, but NOT instead of. And most importantly, there is absolutely NO reason to change a scale on Figment’s head or any other part of him.
I think they ought to team up Figment with Phineas and Ferb. Those guys know how to use their imagination!
I’ve been going to Disney since 1977. I LOVE original attractions and never want them to leave. But I agree this figment ride could use an enhancement.
Do I want to see the JII attraction restored and see a full length feature under Baxter’s supervision? Uhh…YES PLEASE!!! :D Seeing both Dreamfinder and Figment together on the silver screen has been a dream I’m wishing with all my might to come true! I would be greatly crushed and disappointed if the Disney execs and the WDI decide against the decision of allowing Tony to take on these projects. Please make these dreams a reality! :D
Sounds like tony is saying what all our hearts are screaming. Hopefully management is wise enough to pull the trigger on this.
The original Figment ride was infinitely better than this version. I hope it is brought back to its original glory. If you watch both versions on youtube, you can see the difference. ☁️ Granted, the old version is not as clear because of the time it was made, but you can see a huge difference. On that note, I wish they would bring back Horizons as well. 🍊
I feel confident that there are so many ways to take a more interesting journey into imagination. Figment is a fantastical creature with the spirit of a child. Children have endless imagination and the imagineers at Disney have the talent. Please please please reimagine this attraction. Give me something to look forward to during this pandemic confinement.