25 years ago, Disney destroyed this classic Epcot attraction with a terrible makeover

The current Imagination ride

Reopening in 2002, the newly titled Journey Into Your Imagination With Figment took direct shots at the previous makeover. Figment hijacks the lab tour and points out to Nigel that trying to put imagination into scientific terms is foolish, and so puts in his “one little spark” to things. That included a new take on that classic theme song.

Now, Figment offers a brighter experience, including stopping the tour for his imagination “turned upside down” and Nigel realizes he’s right that imagination should be allowed to run free. Meanwhile, the Image Works had been transformed into the What If Labs with some fun new bits like creating your own Figment image to send to a friend. 

The latest version isn’t as awful, yet it still lacks the magic of the original. That previous spot was just marvelous for classic EPCOT Center guests and did a fine job capturing how free-wheeling and inventive imagination is. The Dreamfinder/Figment chemistry was a key part of the ride along with that theme song. The effects were old-school but in the best way as things like the artwork garden, the spooky caverns and Figment on multiple movie screens popped like no other Epcot attraction at the time. 

Some fans still have hope that this ride will bring back Dreamfinder or at least the vibe of the original attraction. If any part of Disney World is proof change isn’t always good, Journey Into Imagination is it, as this makeover crushed what had been one of the greatest parts of Epcot, and it’s never been the same since. For those who took that original Journey, it was always magnificent and many prefer it over this terrible change.