The challenge on sugarfrostedgoodness.com this week is "imagine".
On March 5, 1983, Journey Into Imagination opened in Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center (as the theme park was known at that time). The ride began with riders boarding their omnimover vehicles that seemed to be “floating” in the clouds. The clouds would part and riders would see the silhouette of a strange blimp mixed with a vacuum cleaner and hear the humming and singing of its pilot. In the next scene, riders come right next to this vessel and the pilot, an audio-animatronic man with a red beard dressed in a blue suit and top hat. He introduces himself as the Dreamfinder (voiced by Chuck McCann) and he says that he uses his vehicle (called the Dream Mobile or Dream Catcher by some fans) to collect dreams and ideas to create all sorts of new things. Soon he creates a Figmentof his imagination: a small, purple audio-animatronic dragon (voiced by Billy Barty). [McCann and Barty previously appeared together in the 1978 film "Foul Play".] Both of them come up with ideas to fill the "idea bag". When the idea bag is full, Dreamfinder states that the ideas need to be emptied in the "Dreamport" which he states is "never far away when you use your imagination". Academy Award winners The Sherman Brothers (whose compositions include songs from Mary Poppins, Winnie The Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Disney staple "It's a Small World") wrote the song "One Little Spark", which is played throughout the entire course of the ride. This version of the ride closed on October 10, 1998 in order to begin a major renovation.
The ride reopened on October 1, 1999. This version featured Dr. Nigel Channing (played by Monty Python's Eric Idle) and a considerably-reduced role for Figment. Figment only appeared in filmed cameos in the ride's queue area and not at all in the actual ride. And Dreamfinder? Dreamfinder was sent packing. This incarnation closed a mere two years later, on October 8, 2001 and went through another rehab.
The current version of the attraction opened on June 2, 2002. Dr. Channing was back, with an altered storyline and Figment returned with a larger role and appeared in every show scene. The song "One Little Spark" also returned with new verses. Dreamfinder, once again, is nowhere to be seen.
Dreamfinder, I believe, is living in a discarded refrigerator box beneath the water bridge that connects Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Throw him a quarter on your next visit to Walt Disney World.
Imagine that.
On March 5, 1983, Journey Into Imagination opened in Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center (as the theme park was known at that time). The ride began with riders boarding their omnimover vehicles that seemed to be “floating” in the clouds. The clouds would part and riders would see the silhouette of a strange blimp mixed with a vacuum cleaner and hear the humming and singing of its pilot. In the next scene, riders come right next to this vessel and the pilot, an audio-animatronic man with a red beard dressed in a blue suit and top hat. He introduces himself as the Dreamfinder (voiced by Chuck McCann) and he says that he uses his vehicle (called the Dream Mobile or Dream Catcher by some fans) to collect dreams and ideas to create all sorts of new things. Soon he creates a Figmentof his imagination: a small, purple audio-animatronic dragon (voiced by Billy Barty). [McCann and Barty previously appeared together in the 1978 film "Foul Play".] Both of them come up with ideas to fill the "idea bag". When the idea bag is full, Dreamfinder states that the ideas need to be emptied in the "Dreamport" which he states is "never far away when you use your imagination". Academy Award winners The Sherman Brothers (whose compositions include songs from Mary Poppins, Winnie The Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Disney staple "It's a Small World") wrote the song "One Little Spark", which is played throughout the entire course of the ride. This version of the ride closed on October 10, 1998 in order to begin a major renovation.
The ride reopened on October 1, 1999. This version featured Dr. Nigel Channing (played by Monty Python's Eric Idle) and a considerably-reduced role for Figment. Figment only appeared in filmed cameos in the ride's queue area and not at all in the actual ride. And Dreamfinder? Dreamfinder was sent packing. This incarnation closed a mere two years later, on October 8, 2001 and went through another rehab.
The current version of the attraction opened on June 2, 2002. Dr. Channing was back, with an altered storyline and Figment returned with a larger role and appeared in every show scene. The song "One Little Spark" also returned with new verses. Dreamfinder, once again, is nowhere to be seen.
Dreamfinder, I believe, is living in a discarded refrigerator box beneath the water bridge that connects Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Throw him a quarter on your next visit to Walt Disney World.
Imagine that.
No comments:
Post a Comment