11 October 1998
Iago: Zazu, I had a terrible dream last night!
Zazu: Ahhhhh..."To sleep: perchance to dream; ay there's the rub."
Iago: Rub? No, it wasn't a massage, you moron, it was a nightmare!
Zazu: This isn't the one about the blender and the Parrot Cocktail, is it?
Iago: No, it was worse. You were in this one. At least, for awhile.
Zazu: <grinning> Was I the source of some pain for you?
Iago: Well, sort of. I dreamt that we were flying. Only not in the usual way. You were driving some sort of airborne contraption that looked like a vacuum cleaner bag on steroids. And you were wearing a top hat. And you had a beard and mustache. That part was really scary. You think your beak is big now, you should see it sticking out over a mess o' facial hair. Yuck!
Zazu: Get on with it!
Iago: Well, anyway, I was riding at the back of the vacuum cleaner thingy. And my feathers were purple! And I had HORNS!
Zazu: Why does that not surprise me?
Iago: And my voice! My beautiful voice -- it -- it -- well, let's just say that I didn't sound like myself. <shudder> There was some lightning, and you kept talking about a spark, which really spooked me. I've been burned enough by that Tiki Goddess.
Zazu: Hmmmmm ... what happened next?
Iago: Well, then the scenes kept changing. It's all a jumble. You were painting a picture -- don't quit your day job, by the way -- and then I was in a dressing room preparing for a big theatrical performance. And, for some reason, I was hitchhiking in a spacesuit. And there were these big, scary books all around. And then you were giving some kind of science lecture. I think I actually slept like a baby through that part --
Zazu: Was there a white room with a merry-go-round?
Iago: YES! How did you know that?
Zazu: Never mind. Tell me what happened next.
Iago: Well, there were all these flashes. At first, I thought it was more lightning, but then I realized that someone was taking pictures! So that cheered me up, because I love having my picture taken. So I got you and we went over to where the flashes were, and we stood there together and smiled pretty and said CHEESE! and then -- then -- oh, Zazu this is the horrible part.
Zazu: Let me guess. It took a year for Kodak to develop the picture, and when you finally got it back, I had mysteriously been removed from the photo, and you were standing by yourself in some silly new costume, holding up a sign that read: I AM NOT BARNEY.
Iago: This is unbelievable! How could you possibly know that?
Zazu: Because you were dreaming about Journey Into Imagination at Epcot, o foolish one.
Iago: You mean it wasn't just a Figment of my Imagination?
Zazu: Well, in a sense, it was. Figment is the name of the little purple dragon in the attraction --
Iago: Piglet is a dragon?!? No wonder it was so easy for Pooh to scare off Mr. Toad.
Zazu: Not Piglet. Figment!
Iago: D-oh! Sorry. It's just that Pooh is everywhere. I've got Pooh coming outta my ears.
Zazu: Don't tempt me with straight lines, Iago. As I was saying, Figment is the little purple dragon, and Dreamfinder is his friend, who collects ideas for his Dreamport and transforms them with his imagination into such things as works of art, or breakthroughs in scientific study, or great books. They've been entertaining folks at Future World in Epcot for a very long time now. I should say, they were entertaining folks at Epcot. Last night, 10 October 1998 was their final Journey Into Imagination together. Word is, the attraction will be gutted, and a new attraction will open on 1 October 1999, without Dreamfinder, and with a slightly different-looking version of Figment.
Iago: Oh no! Not another extinct attraction!
Zazu: Try to look on the bright side. After all these years, the attraction was in need of a rehab. Perhaps those involved will use their imaginations to come up with something even better for us to enjoy. Though I am deeply saddened that Dreamfinder will not be a part of it. I admired his spirit, and I liked his message.
Iago: What message was that?
Zazu: Thanks to Craig Wingerson and his much-lamented "Walt Disney World Song Archive," we have all of the lyrics; both those of Dreamfinder and his little friend Figment:
(Lyrics and music by Richard and Robert Sherman. Figment vocals performed by Billy Barty.)
One little spark of inspiration,
Is at the heart of all creation.
Right at the start of everything that's new,
One little spark lights up for you.
Oh, hello there. So glad you could come along. I am the Dreamfinder. <laughs> Musical notes! What delightful melodies those will make. I love these flights of fancy. Searching the universe for sounds, colors, ideas--anything that sparks the imagination! A sunbeam! That's a good one. <laughs> Everything that I collect can inspire amazing and marvelous new ideas. And you never know what kind of figment you may come up with. <laughs> Here's my favorite!
Two tiny wings, eyes big and yellow.
Horns of a steer, but a loveable fellow.
From head to tail, he's royal purple pigment.
And there--Voila!--you've got a Figment!
A Figment of Imagination!
<laughs> Dreamfinder! I'm just great!
Ah-ah-ah! Not quite!
Huh?
I'll throw in a dash of childish delight.
<laughs>
Look, Figment! Some new friends have joined us.
Can they imagine, too?
Of course! Imagination is something that belongs to all of us.
You mean, everyone can think up new things?
<laughs> That's right, Figment. And every sparkling idea can lead to even more.
So many times, we're stumbling in the dark,
And then--Eureka!--what a spark!
H-h-how are we going to use lightning?
Hmmm ... we can combine it with ghostly shivers on a stormy night. And turn it into a tale of fright!
Oh, oh, look, look! A rainbow! I'll use that to paint with.
Now you've got it.
Wow, wow wow! Numbers, letters, papers for writing. Costumes, make-up, stages for lighting. Teardrops, laughter...
What about science?
Science? We'll need electron beams and crystal prisms. Gyroscopes and magnetisms...
Hold on, Figment.
Why?
The idea bag is full.
It is? Let's start making new things.
Now, wait. First, we must store these ideas with the others in the Dreamport.
Are we almost there?
Oh, the Dreamport is never far away when you use your imagination.
Come on everybody, let's go!
We all have sparks, imaginations.
That's how our minds create creations.
Right at the start of everything that's new.
One little spark lights up for you.
Oh, boy!
Imagination, imagination.
A dream can be a dream come true,
With just that spark in me and you.
(Additional lyrics heard throughout the attraction are: )
Mix red and gold from autumn flowers,
Purple and blue from twilight hours.
Green summer hills and rainbows play a part.
A painter's brush, a work of art.
One chilling word, like shriek or killer,
Can spark the mind to start a thriller.
And some words like dagger, blood, and gory.
And then, a mystery story.
Some happy songs, some snappy dances.
Costumes and sets, spoofs and romances.
With laughs and tears, and footlights all aglow,
The sparks ignite a brand new show.
Iago: I like it. And Billy Barty! So that was the voice. And didn't the Sherman brothers write the music for "Mary Poppins" and the Carousel of Progress?
Zazu: Very good, Iago. Two excellent examples of storylines that show just where imagination can take us -- flying over chimneytops or inventing new products that can change our way of life.
Iago: Didn't they also write "It's a Small World After All?"
Zazu: Errr ... we'll ignore that particular ditty for the time being.
Iago: Well, this whole dream experience has made me very sad.
Zazu: Quite understandable. But on a positive note, I am genuinely touched by the fact that you were upset when I was removed from the photo in your dream.
Iago: Huh? What're you talking about? I was only horrified by the idea that anyone would mistake me for Barney!
The music selected to accompany this page is "Imagine" by John Lennon.