Pimping Out Dreamfinder and Figment

OF COURSE THEY WOULD! But we park fans knew that already. The suits of the Walt Disney Company merchandizing are once again dragging out Figment and Dreamfinder to bring in some quick cash. EPCOT Center's great Journey Into Imagination was an "E Ticket" classic from opening day. Imagineering Legend (yes, someone who is really deserving of the title!) Tony Baxter created the classic characters and led the team in crafting a modern day must-see attraction. Now, new CEO Josh D'Amaro, it's time to show your true fan colors and get a great new version of the attraction green lit. Make this a D23 to remember!

My Wish List: What I Want From Josh D’Amaro, Disney's New CEO

The man with the mega-watt smile and the infamous wardrobe is now CEO of the company we love and some of us love to hate. Fan of the parks and of Imagineering, "nice guy" Josh D'Amaro takes the helm of The Walt Disney Company today. An expanded Villains land aside, I'm not sure what he'll bring, but I know what I want. After giving the announcement some time to ruminate, here's my wish list as a theme park enthusiast.

Request: Return the Theme Parks and Resorts to Their Best Days

Reality Check: Josh will have much more on his plate than just theme parks and cruise lines. Still, this should be a priority as they are currently the biggest money makers for the company. This has nothing to do with the cast members and everything to do with providing real value for guests' hard earned dollars. Stop nickel and diming those who come to the properties for a relaxing, fun-filled vacation. Josh, you can pick and choose what changes, so think it through and take immediate action.

Recent Action Working Against Him: Do I really need to mention all the price increases??? If I do, this means the executives are even worse off than I thought when it comes to treating your paying customers as guests. 

Recipe for a Quick Win: Bring back some of the perks that have been taken away, and bring them back for free. In case the Company leaders have forgotten, that means at no additional charge to your customers already paying so much for a room at the resorts or for a park ticket. 

Bonus idea: Lower the cost of a character breakfast. Nothing says greed like this. Seeing Disney characters should be a perk of your park ticket and not an excuse to fleece the faithful flock. AND giving guests another choice or two for a quick service meal would help alleviate the frustration with the generally awful list of meals available at a fairly reasonable price.

Request: Let the Hard Core Disney Fans Know You're Listening

Reality Check: Josh has to listen to the Board and the investors as well. However, keeping the fans happy and keeping them coming back for more is something that just makes sense. It breeds long term success and not just short term gain.

Recent Action Working Against Him: Removing Rivers of America and taking the Muppets out and putting them back in where they do not belong.

Recipe for a Quick Win:  Two important steps here and one bonus idea. 1- Green light a new and exciting, thoroughly charming adventure with Figment and Dreamfinder. By doing this, Josh, you will instantly put lovers of the charming purple dragon and his mentor in a good mood and earn instant credibility with hard core Disney park fans (like me) that think the best Imagineering days are behind them. 2- Bite the bullet and give us a brand new Tomorrowland in Walt's park! It is a huge disgrace that original land of the future is a hollow shell of the great, big, beautiful 1967 version.  3- Follow it up by placing a version of Muppet*Vision 3D into the same courtyard as Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. It's all as easy as 1-2-3. I know, I know it's not, but you're the boss now, so make it happen.

Bonus idea: Bring back some of the entertainment that's been closed since pandemic times. You know, that big empty theater in Disney California Adventure? That'd be a good start.

Request: Encourage Imagineering to Tell Original Stories

Reality Check: Intellectual Property use will always be on the burner when it comes to theme park expansion and enhancements. Instead of bad films making poor choices for attractions, work the other direction and save a great concept for the park, then turn it into a film. Would this work? Hard to say. It's a gamble, but maybe it is one worth taking.

Recent Action Working Against Him: About every Pixar film in recent release. And some lackluster recent attractions. Want some help? Take a long, hard look at how the Company screwed up Tiana's Bayou Adventure and never let something like that happen again. Inviting in one of your greatest Imagineers, Tony Baxter, to coach the project team and then blow off his suggestions is a misfire if not an outright disgrace. The Princess and the Frog is a terrific film with incredible characters and great music! It should never have been wasted on such a poorly scripted plot for the attraction. Aside from the last scene, the entire execution feels off. Need more to consider as further evidence? How about dumping the original memorable trilogy film of Star Wars for something else for Galaxy's Edge? What was everyone thinking? Certainly, someone in the building had to say it to the team planning it all. Well, at least Disneyland is going to try to fix some of the mistakes. Do I need to talk about Avengers Campus?

Recipe for a Quick Win: None. Brainstorm, innovate, work at it until you get something very, very good. Can it be done? Walt did it. You probably can as well! By chance if the movie comes first, don't wait decades to come up with a park attraction built on it.

Disney Ruined the Figment Ride- So He Rebuilt It

 A rebuilt Journey into Imagination at Epcot? It's the dream of many fans of Figment and Dreamfinder. One man made it a reality. I can only imagine - can you imagine, too?- the hours it took to bring this all together. Out of the ultimate respect for its creator, I'm only posting a link to his creation instead of showing it on the blog. Go here. Now.

Goodbye, Figment, Goodbye

My beloved mascot of EPCOT Center and Journey into Imagination. What is there to say about Figment that hasn't been said? Imagineer Tony Baxter created him with a dash of childish delight, and I just couldn't get enough of the attraction and theme song! Of course, it became obvious I just had to buy a stuffed version of this little dragon. Be it a Kodak project made it all the better! It's been over 40 years he's been at my home. My kids played with him, but over time, he was delegated to a dark corner of the closet. 

Quite an appropriate picture of how Disney CEOs Michael Eisner, Robert Iger, Bob Chapek, and Robert Iger again have treated him. They have largely ignored him, just pimping him out when they need a merchandise sale boost and want to convince unsuspecting park goers that they really do have the beloved Old Epcot in mind. 

As for me, as we pack up our life and move to a new home, it's time to admit that little purple dragon needs to move in to the afterlife. Tired eyes, broken horns, a sacking neck that doesn't sit straight, dirtied body, and a tear or two means it's time to say goodbye. So, goodbye, Figment, goodbye. One day, maybe a new generation of Disney CEOs- ones who can really dream with childlike wonder- will bring you an attraction worthy of your name...

The Best Journey into Imagination Video I've Ever Seen

That most beloved attraction of all time at Epcot: The Original and Greatest Journey into Imagination. Imagineer Tony Baxter created the charming Figment and his pal Dreamfinder as guides for the most fantastic, magical attraction since the park's opening. Have you ever seen a video as great as the one below?

The first five minutes of the ride video are muted due to copyright issues, but after that, you get the full attraction experience. And it's just wonderful! If the above ever disappears, go here.

Thanks to Disney Dave for taking this way back when. Enjoy!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Figment Asks "Can They Imagine, too?"

Now that Imagineer Zach Riddley's EPCOT seems almost complete, like many fans of Figment, I'd make a hard to disprove case that the original EPCOT Center attraction Journey into Imagination is the most beloved Disney attraction created since Pirates of the Caribbean. Before that, I say the most beloved attraction title was given to Disneyland's opening day classic Peter Pan's Flight. I'll be very, very curious to see how the revisions to the second park at Walt Disney World bring in the crowds, ie. increased attendance or flattened. Are Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, The Journey of Water inspired by Moana and the new night time show Luminous enough?  Will all the changes enhance Epcot's reputation among guests too young to remember when it was great? If it doesn't succeed, the Imagineers can always come back to Figment as they always do when they need a boost in revue and fan excitement. Fans of the purple dragon and his friend Dreamfinder will lap it all up. This one included.  

(Photograph copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Epcot's New Luminous Is A More Than Worthy Replacement for Harmonious

 It's not Reflections of Earth, the great nighttime show of Epcot Past. But it's something pretty substantial and clearly in line with the new focus of the park. Epcot's shimmering Luminous - The Symphony of Us is ions better than its predecessor Harmonious. That's not saying much as that show was lacking in many areas.

The theme is executed well. The whole idea of life's journey- starting with a mother's soothing words- and how much we need each other is something our world needs right now. We're so busy hating on those who disagree with us instead of loving them even if we disagree. Perhaps this can be a show to last a decade or more.

Imagineering hit a solid triple when it came to choosing music. Toy Story is unfortunately mined again, but beyond that, it's a rather diverse and clever set of songs. In addition to the new show song, Luminous gives us a taste of Coco, a bit of Frozen, and two very well used songs in So Close (from Enchanted) and I See the Light (from Tangled). Not a Bruno or a Let It Go in sight. Thank God!

The narration is as close to flawless as it gets. Rarely does it go overboard even when the inevitable "We all experience loss" segment comes on. This may be due to the skills of the narrator (sounds like Michelle Yeoh to me) as much as the show writers. A great balance that gives the experience some much needed depth.

Pyrotechnics are spot on with a variety of colors and patterns you'd expect from a First Class creative unit. The water fountains are understated. The lighting of the countries of World Showcase only add to the impact of it all. (Do I torches light? I do not see them in action.)

Will Luminous and the new center of World Celebration make you book a trip to Walt Disney World? Not on its own- but maybe a few more expansions and improvements to the park could change my mind. Anyone else up for a new Journey into Imagination? That'll do the trick!

Watch the great opening night video from Blog Mickey below.

 

An Evening at Epcot, A Look at Our World

Spaceship Earth is a beautiful icon! World Showcase is just stunning- especially at night! Not only is it the focal point of what once was Future World at Epcot, it stands as a symbol of discovery and optimism. Not the discovery of Disney intellectual properties and characters but the discovery of the world around us. The great original Imagineers that designed this place believed in the ability of man to make the world better if he chose. The place has been inspiring folks since its opening.

Let me repeat myself. Here are the hard, cold facts: EPCOT Center ceased to exist years ago.

The character invasion of of Epcot's recent years is here to stay, be it Ratatouille in France, Guardians of the Galaxy in the old Universe of Energy building, Coco in Mexico, or even more Disney film characters in Future World to go alongside Nemo in the Living Seas. The two true unique characters designed specifically for the park, most interestingly, Dreamfinder and Figment, are being left to rot in the now embarrassing Journey into Imagination with Figment. (Sorry, Mr. Tony Baxter.)

Fans are blaming the suits at the Walt Disney Company for this change, and in many ways, they would be correct in doing so. Always responsible to shareholders of the company to turn a profit, they must act to ensure that should grow much larger year after year. Guest experiences are now added in ways that are designed to extract cash from the buying public, from the lowest end customer who can afford a single day at the theme park of their choice to those on the other end of the spectrum, rich guests needing the ill-advised cabanas in the Magic Kingdom (thankfully now long gone) or the $15k meal at Disneyland in the former Disney Gallery space. 

Satisfying investors is the new bottom line of the last 40 years or so. Altruism no longer exists, at least in the corporate world, unless its to gain favor in the minds of consumers. Granted, Walt Disney himself ran a company as well and had to account for his sound business practices to brother Roy, but he kept the satisfaction of the guest foremost in his mind. Certainly, a respected form of altruism.

Still, the business folk are not the only reason change is coming to Florida's second Disney theme park. In addition to the changes in corporate America, I assert that we primarily have ourselves to blame. 

Yes, it is our fault Epcot is changing. Why? As a people, we've changed. We've wandered from the original vision which was established for the park as inscribed on the dedication plaque:

To all who come to this place of Joy, Hope and Friendship - Welcome.

EPCOT is inspired by Walt Disney's 

creative vision. 

Here, human achievements are celebrated through imagination, wonders of enterprise  and concepts 

of a future that promises new 

and exciting benefits for all.

May EPCOT Center entertain, inform and inspire

 and above all, 

may it instill a new sense of belief and pride 

in man's ability to shape a world

that offers hope to people everywhere.

The EPCOT Center that opened in 1982 was built to educate, inform, and inspire and instill pride in man's ability to shape a hopeful world. What was the inspiration? The wonders of this incredible world. Wonders of exploring not only what could be designed by the most gifted of human minds (Transportation, Energy, Communication) but also of those designed by an even bigger creator, worlds created by one infinite in wisdom and power (The Living Seas, The Land, The Wonders of Life, Space). An exciting world awaiting exploration laid out by the Ultimate Imagineer. A world also given to us to nurture and steward.

Now, bear with me here. Especially those of you who have not explored any world of faith or who have and have rejected the thought of a Creator. (I'm not going into that argument. I'm sticking with my original point that it is because of us that the park must change, so please keep reading.) Here's the logic:

The Disney suits follow the dollar. That's their job. It's what we pay them to do. Yet the changes at Epcot all begin with us. Every time we enter the parks, buy merchandise, or view the latest slice of filmed or live entertainment, we are telling the suits at Disney what we want and how much of it we want. When we stopping buying, they rethink their approach and their products. It really is that simple. And what do we want now? We want to be entertained. 

By and large, we no longer want to be the investors in our world and contributors to making it better. We just want to consume. We have looked away from our intended purpose which began with God in stewarding His beautiful creation. Boy, lest you think I'm pointing fingers, I want you to know I struggle with this! It's way easier to kick back and relax than it is to work hard to make a difference. It goes even deeper.

Since you and I have moved away from giving God the credit for His creation and/or accepting the roles He gave us, we instead look to man for fulfillment and answers. We're no longer fascinated by the fact we can have 1- Infinite worlds to explore, 2- An opportunity for a relationship with the Infinite Creator God, and finally, 3- a responsibility to positively impact the world we live in. This covers the gamut from caring for creation to protecting the rights of the most vulnerable of people. We have shifted our focus, so business has shifted their focus in order to make a profit from us.

We humans (park guests and the Imagineers that create attractions) have moved from being inspired by God's creation and the gifts He has given mankind. Instead, we rely on broken and selfish people to fill us and make us happy. Eventually, this brings us to a place of discouragement and general hopelessness when our plans fail or when the people we look to let us down. 

It's even more of a downward spiral when it comes to purchasing products. The goal of the advertising agency is to get us to buy and keep buying. Isn't this the true goal of marketing? To make us unhappy without the product they are selling? Then to also make sure that we are never thankful for what we do have, keeping us prone to buy more. It's a vicious cycle.

When people or products fail to create long term fulfillment, we look for something else or for something within ourselves. We begin idolizing our own capabilities, strengths, and seemingly limitless potential, instead of giving the honor to God who created us and the world we live in. The trade off is emptiness because we often disappoint ourselves. Sometimes that is the worst of all to handle.

Due to our self-focus and our humanism, despair engulfs us as we look around and see man's plans fail. Even men with good solid other-centered goals. Why? Because men desire different things. Even good things can be in conflict with each other because priorities are different from person to person.

Rulers of nations view life differently, some good and some evil. Common people have differing values, so my plans may conflict with your plans. The result of all this tension? We get frustrated, angry, and burned out. Or on a global scale, war replaces peace as men strive to get what they want. Everyday there are new battles being fought in the streets among conflicting groups and ideologies. All this tires our souls and damages our spirits.

Sooner or later, we decide we've had enough. Our desire for comfort becomes the primary focus of our lives, bringing with it increasing desire to just be entertained and taken into worlds different than the one we have (talking Cars, magical princesses, Star Wars, etc). The Walt Disney Company has data compiled over generations telling the suits what we want so they can sell it to us. 

You and I can go into a movie theater after a grueling day, and we can walk out a few hours later feeling happy and fulfilled because we've forgotten our real life situation. Isn't this true? I know it is for me. For some of us, we go even further and decide we want to live there full time. It's why we love the theme parks. It's why a place like EPCOT Center has an incredible fan base from folks that experienced its greatness in the early years. We left the park not only happy but hopeful for that great big beautiful tomorrow. Who wouldn't want to experience that again and again?

The problem with this phony lifestyle of entertainment is It only temporarily satisfies us. So we lavish high praise on what man has created and desire to live in that place, keeping the real world safely, quietly, in the background.  When addicted to it, our entertainment becomes our prison because we trade in a very real and exciting world for one that is imaginary. We trade what's best for what is less than what we can have. 

A constant life of fantasy (or Fantasyland) is good for no one.

"On the Tombstone of America, the inscription will read: They Entertained Themselves To Death." - Leonard Ravenhill

Let that sink in. This quote above, by the renowned English pastor, applies not only to America as a nation but us as individuals. 

Back to Epcot. All our love of and addiction to entertainment and imaginary worlds is why the park is changing.  We're no longer enthralled with science and nature and new discoveries. Nor are we fascinated by the God that created it all- which leaves us looking to ourselves and others. The cycle of emptiness continues as looking to others will never fulfill our human hearts. 

It's too late for the direction of Epcot, but not for us. When we honor Him and reflect on who He is and what He has done, our world becomes filled with wonder, joy, thankfulness, and hope. The more we look to God, the more we become who we were intended to be- beautiful and unique individuals all reflecting His glory. With this freedom and true self, we become inspired. We want to go deeper with Him, know more about Him and the world He created. 

(Photographs from ResortTV.)

One Little Spark for 2023!

Happy New Year! Here's a great attraction poster for  the unbuilt Spark Gap coaster for Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris. What, was this really for Disneyland Paris, you say? If you're like me, you were certainly convinced for many years that this was actually only set as a part of Discovery Bay, Imagineer Tony Baxter's legendary land. The one that never made it past the drawing boards for Disneyland. Good ideas never die they say. (I still say "One Little Spark" belongs to Figment and Dreamfinder, though.)

What about for you? What good ideas have you had that should be coming back into play for the new year? I'm rethinking my life in several areas- spiritual, physical, and more. It's time for one little spark of inspiration. I'm asking God to reveal himself in fresh ways this year and to show me what He wants from me in this next season of life. Whatever that may be, I know it will be an adventure in living, full of the unexpected. 

What will be unexpected in the Disney world of things? An early opening for Tron Lightcycle Run at the Magic Kingdom? A completion ahead of time for Moana's Journey of Water? I'd certainly like to see Disney suits come up with something to go toe to toe with Universal's Epic Universe.  I'm sure the Imagineers have some great ideas, but I do not trust the suits anymore. I'd be happy to be surprised, though. I'm sure you would as well! Regardless, may your new year be blessed as you walk out your life. I pray it is one where you grow closer to the one and only loving God, the Immortal Eternal Being who gives us life through Jesus Christ. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Journey Into Imagination: Stepping Tones Concept Art

For all the pieces of concept art I have and have seen, this one was a new one to me. But what a find! EPCOT Center's Journey into Imagination was one of the most beloved attractions of all time and certainly without a doubt, an Imagineering masterpiece. Tony Baxter and team pulled off something not done all too often. They created a brand new ride filled with different moods, everything from charming to suspenseful. I could go on and on about this adventure, but this post is about the concept art for the Image Works and its fun little area, the Stepping Tones.

As with Epcot itself, what guests find in today's Image Works is a shadow of what once was. Imagine if you will dancing and jumping around brightly colored stones in the floor that light up a dimly lit room and play musical notes. Back at the park opening, there was always a crowd waiting to play. And what fun it was! 

Thankfully, the rest of the area was filled with creative games like this. So, unless you wanted to spend hours in the "aftershow" of Figment and Dreamfinder's adventure, you didn't linger too long in any one place. 

If it is done well or even opens at all, I can see the proposed Play pavilion being the spiritual successor to the Image Works. It may be too IP character heavy for my tastes, but it will appeal to today's young kids, especially those who can't ride the nearby Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. But only time will tell.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Another Look at Disneyland's Unbuilt Discovery Bay

Every few years or so, it seems as if unseen concept art surfaces for Disneyland's unbuilt and abandoned concept Discovery Bay. Today, I present one more. Imagineer Tony Baxter (don't you wish he'd write a book?!?) worked with some of the company's best and brightest to get it just right. Here, this concept art by Harper Goff gives us a great picture of what the future should have held.

 In the area now occupied by Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, this ambitious project would have hosted a variety of attractions, shops and great restaurants that would have bridged the theme between Fantasyland and Frontierland. A San Francisco of the Golden Age (think some steam punk here) would house a major E Ticket attraction based on the film Island at the Top of the World while another drew guests in featuring a little dragon friend of a blustering and lovable professor type character. Does this sound like Figment and Dreamfinder? Yes, it does- and find out more about the project here. 

I won't spill all the beans, but beyond this one article, there's many others on the blog that will help you fill in the picture. It's definitely worth your time! But be forewarned- it may make you wish that Discovery Bay was built instead! 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

An Evening at Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe in 1955

Golden Horseshoe Saloon. The beloved Disneyland original is still open since day one. This piece of concept art by Imagineer Harper Goff shows the elegant building at the end of the main Street in Frontierland. 

The original cast.

The first and best show featured the lovable comedian Wally Boag. Along with the beautiful and smart Betty Taylor as proprietor Slue Foot Sue, the gave guests a show that was energetic, family friendly, and fully memorable. All for the price of admission. No uncharges, no tricks, no 60 days out advanced booking. 

The man.  The visionary and the wife who supported his dreams.

It was a must-see attraction. Walt Disney himself enjoyed his time there the night before the opening of the park. As you will see by looking at these attraction posters for the area, Frontierland was once a real world on the move with multiple forms of transportation in the Wild West. You might even discover some attractions you didn't know existed. 

The original show eventually gave way to others, but it did bring about another fan favorite featuring Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. It's been a mixed bag since, with food ranging from pedestrian fare to little more than snacks and drinks. But there's hope!

As Disney discovers there's a market for nostalgia, Epcot's Figment popcorn bucket sales as an example, the suits may decide its high time to go vintage and bring back something this terrific. Retro is in- and following up a late night show at the Saloon with a cruise around the Rivers of America on the Mark Twain Steamboat would sure be a great way to end an evening at the Anaheim kingdom.

(Images copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

No Fooling! Disneyland's Unbuilt Discovery Bay As You've Never Seen It

Discovery Bay. The name either brings about a collective "That would have been great!" or a blank stare as newer Disney park fans don't know about this proposed but never built land for Disneyland. The land once designed by Tony Baxter and the Imagineers for the northern area of the park is now occupied by Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.  The project is now Disney legend and lore along the lines of Walt Disney World's Western River Expedition and Thunder Mesa complex at the Magic Kingdom. 

What would this imaginative land hold? Picture a Barbary Coast San Francisco bridging the thematic gap between Fantasyland and Frontierland. The line up of attractions included an Island at the Top of the World water based attraction, a thrilling roller coaster, an innovative shooting gallery, and undersea restaurant, and - get ready for this - an attraction that had a host and friend very similar to Journey into Imagination's Dreamfinder and Figment. No fooling!

The whole story and more concept art can be found at this post. And that's not the only one here about Discovery Bay. There's more art to be unearthed here. Last count, I recall writing twelve more articles as I continued to discover more concept art and ideas for this amazing never built location!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

New and Very Rare Discovery Bay Art for Disneyland

A brand new and exciting discovery! Here's a rarely seen piece of concept art for the long lost, never built, Discovery Bay at Disneyland. On the back of this piece is the stamp from Disney, proving its authenticity.

One of the premier attractions, Island at the Top of the World, would have certainly drawn guests. And what a large surprise they would have encountered. But the movie flopped, and all was put to rest.

Imagineer Tony Baxter never did get the permission to go ahead and lead the build out of the land originally set to be artistically wedged between Frontierland and Fantasyland, but that didn't stop him from getting bits and pieces of it into Disneyland Paris.

Island was the farthest thing from a movie box office hit.

Looks like many parts made it to Disneyland Paris!

More Disney and dinosaurs! Always a great pairing.

Where can we find them in the theme parks?

Read more here.

The late 19th Century Barbary Coast / San Francisco area provided inspiration for a variety of attractions- much more than just the two we'll find in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge when it premiers in a few months. Much, much more.

The unbuilt Spark Gap Coaster.

Proposed Coaster Attraction Poster. Say that fast three times!

Fireworks Factory shooting gallery with the Discovery Bay Lighthouse.

How about a new-fangled shooting gallery? The Fireworks Factory would have fit right in place in the Chinatown mini area. These kind of smaller attractions still have their place in the theme parks, bringing charm and variety, fully fleshing out the main story. They also disperse the crowds!

Did you know EPCOT Center's very famous beloved little purple dragon had a role at Disneyland long ago?

Does "Professor Marvel" and his dragon friend look a bit familiar?

They should!

Professor Marvel's incredible Gallery of Illusion.

Visitors to Discovery Bay would cruise along a classic Disney flume ride! This exciting encounter with dinosaurs would sit next to a mega dark ride on the Hyperion airship through the movie's icy environment. Nearby, Professor Marvel would host some hands on adventures and his little dragon friend. 

A very different version of the area's map.

Fully colorized map.

EPCOT Center's much adored original Journey into Imagination truly had its roots in Tony's plan for Disneyland. Nothing really ever does go to waste, does it?

The classic concept art.

One last version of the map.

Discovery Bay only exists now in our minds. As with other unbuilt masterpieces such as Western River Expedition for the Magic Kingdom and the also unrealized Atlantis Expedition for Walt's park, Tony Baxter's Discovery Bay has been relegated to the Disney fandom history.

One day, Disney may one again take another look at the concept. Once they can turn it into a successful film and Intellectual Property. Until then, we can just about forget it.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Figment Asks "What about Science?"

To the millions and millions of people who took their very first Journey into Imagination, it is likely that little purple dragon, Figment, won their hearts. After all, Disney is still using him to sell merchandise years after they ruined the original "E Ticket" ride.

Here's a wonderful piece of concept art that the Imagineers put together. Showing how guests would journey into imagination as they explored the painting, literature, the theater and science, the use of giant props and visual effects created something wonderful. Uniquely Disney and totally magical! 

Long before 2 minute thrill rides replaced the classics, there was very long waits for this attraction. Folks couldn't get enough of Figment and his creator Dreamfinder. We still can't but not in this incarnation where Dreamfinder has been replaced and Figment has become snarky and a bit of a brat.

It's long overdue to turn over this attraction- and really the whole pavilion- to a brand new incarnation of creativity. Retired Imagineer Tony Baxter would probably be thrilled to be called back in to bring Figment back to life. It's his baby after all- and he and his team created the original iconic attraction in the first place! 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

More Discovery Bay Art- and the Connection to Figment

Steampunk is not dead. Not even at Disney. although this may just be an educated guess. (See the end of the post.) Which leads me to the iconic but never realized Discovery Bay. Maybe I'm a bit obsessed with all the never built attractions designed by those incredible Imagineers. Maybe you are as well! There's a reason. Even though these ideas may be extraordinary, and the Imagineers do what they do extremely well, sometimes, it just doesn't work out. 

It would be easy to decry the current leadership at only building attractions that come from movie box office hits, and you'd be fairly accurate in making that assumption. For theme park fans, unfortunately, that's been going on for quite awhile.

Back in 1974, the highly ambitious film Island at the Top of the World debuted to a collective thud. How did this impact the Imagineers plan for Discovery Bay at Disneyland? Well, this pet project had a major attraction based on the film. 

Disney and dinosaurs have always made a perfect match.

Where are they in the parks?

Read more here.

When the film bombed, it created less of an interest in what would have been a stunningly incredible addition to Disneyland, successfully bridging Frontierland to Fantasyland by adding a late 19th Century Barbary Coast / San Francisco area chock full of attractions. 

The Spark Gap Coaster.

Proposed Coaster Poster.

What kind of attractions, you ask? Besides the chance to dine inside the Nautilus submarine and shop in unique stores, there would be an electric "Spark Gap" coaster.

Fireworks Factory and Discovery Bay's Lighthouse.

A new high tech shooting gallery would have been a fine diversion for guests of all ages. Befitting the Chinatown section of the new steampunk looking area, the Fireworks Factory was sure to be a hit!

Does Professor Marvel and his dragon friend look familiar?

Professor Marvel's Gallery of Illusion.

Guests would also enjoy a classic Disney flume ride to an exciting encounter with dinosaurs, an iconic traditional but mega dark ride via the Hyperion airship through the movie's icy environment, and a fun-house / exhibit type attraction with Professor Marvel and his little dragon friend. Sound familiar?

A different version of the area's map.

Colorized map.

Yes, EPCOT Center's beloved Journey into Imagination- not the newer bastardized versions of the original- had its roots in a never built Disneyland attraction. Figment changed his pigment, but other than that, his look is intact. 

The classic concept art.

As park fans know all too well, this extremely ambitious and stylized Disneyland expansion never materialized, and Discovery Bay never made it past the drawing boards. Along with Western River Expedition for the Florida Magic Kingdom and the unrealized Atlantis Expedition for the first California park, Tony Baxter's Discovery Bay has been relegated to the history books with pieces found particularly in Paris. For now.

With the revived interest in Steampunk as evidenced by The Edison restaurant / bar/ entertainment palace, Disney may one again consider something as elegant and timeless as Discovery Bay.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Discovery Bay Art and the Ultimate Journey into Imagination

Disney geeks like me know that Imagineering's fan hero Tony Baxter had offered up the great Discovery Bay themed area as an expansion to Disneyland- and that the suits at the time gave it the heave ho when Island at the Top of the World flopped in theaters. 

But did you know parts of it made its way to EPCOT Center and later to Disneyland Paris? As part of the proposed Disneyland expansion, a charming traveling theater show was to be part of the new land (see concept art above) hosted by Professor Marvel and his dragon. Fast forward to EPCOT Center, and we see once again how old ideas never die as the Professor became Dreamfinder and the dragon Figment as stars of Journey into Imagination. 

What happened is a fascinating story. And Martin Smith, creator of amazing EPCOT Center history videos has released a new video on the Future World pavilion devoted to the duo. Find Part One here. Trust me, you will love it.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Tony Baxter, Tim O'Brien, and a Birthday Surprise

It's often difficult if not impossible to keep up with all the websites, blogs, articles, and books that focus on the Walt Disney Company, it's theme parks, and in particular, Imagineering. 

While I appreciate all of the Imagineers and their work in the parks, it's no surprise to longtime readers of the Insights blog that I find the work of Tony Baxter to be one of Imagineering's best artists. Be it Journey into Imagination, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure or the whole of the most beautiful Magic Kingdoms, Disneyland Paris, his work and the work of the teams he assembled is practically unparalleled in Disney park history.

Tony and his adorable friend Figment.

Theme park historian and write Tim O'Brien has written one of the most comprehensive looks at Tony's life, work, and impact on the Disney world. "First of the Second Generation of Walt Disney Imagineers" is filled with stories and rare photos. A great read you just can't put down. In fact, I read the entire tome in one sitting, receiving it just days ago as a birthday present from my very thoughtful wife.

Imagine my surprise at turning the pages and seeing Mr. O'Brien quote my blog, referencing a pair of articles, The Great Tony Baxter Debate! (Part One and Part Two) Wow. It's as close to fame as I may ever get- aside from meeting a handful of famous singers and having my kids grow up next to a now known Hollywood actress. 

Thank you, Tim, for a birthday gift I'll never forget.