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.)

Abandoned Science and Technology Pavillion for Epcot

The scope of possibilities for the near and distant future remains a recurring theme for Epcot. Unfortunately, so does the difficulty of keeping up to date with an area named Future World. Major pavillions are changing themes or leaving that concept as part of EPCOT Center. Wonders of Life no longer exists. The Living Seas is showcasing an orange fish named Nemo, and other than the smaller exhibits at Innoventions, the idea of staying on the cutting edge of technology and science now seems to be left behind in favor of Disney characters.

This was not always the case. Years back, the brilliant Imagineers designed several concepts for a major attraction highlighting developments in Science and Technology. If you look closely at the early EPCOT Center rendering above, this pavillion can be found at the direct left of Spaceship Earth in the area now occupied by The Living Seas with Nemo. (Do me eyes deceive me, or is that either the Moulin Rouge windmill at the France showcase or was a space devoted to the Netherlands once included on the drawing boards? Hmm...)

The character invasion is quite an unfortunate choice of direction for this amazing theme park. Not only does this move cheapen the experience once offered guests, it also is incongruent with the philosophy and intent of what was originally designed and built. Lastly, this same decision keeps Disney Imagineers bound from creating even more astounding technologies. I know they can do it if given the chance; let them prove it again.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Starry, Starry Night

Just returned from a Rocky Mountain retreat. Venturing to the rooftop to view the evening sky with the stars and moon in their glory, I was once again mesmerized by their beauty. Later that weekend, I was given the opportunity to view the video below- and I sat in my chair stunned at what I heard and saw. Stunned.

Start here: http://www.bethlehemstar.net/. This amazing website is chock full of scientific data with Biblical references surrounding the appearance of the Bethlehem Star. This is the star that was used to announce the birth of Christ to the Wise Men of old. It later chronicles the changes in the sky that were reported to occur at Jesus' crucifixion. I didn't have to be a rocket scientist or a theologian to understand it, it was that well laid out.

Do you like what you see? The DVD mentioned is really well done, and worth every penny. Mind-blowing stuff. Even without the spiritual overtones, someplace where you can explore the constellations belongs in Epcot.

This single endorsement intrigued me:

"About 99.9% of the Star of Bethlehem stuff is nutty, but this isn't that. It's well-researched and reasonable."—Ronald A. Schorn, Ph.D.—Schorn founded and served as Chief of the Planetary Astronomy department at NASA and was Technical Editor of Sky & Telescope magazine. He is the author of Planetary Astronomy."

Worth a look- I promise. You'll never look at the night sky the same again.