Who was Figment before he was Figment? And what two other characters was Dreamfinder before he became the imaginative fellow we know and love?

Before Figment became EPCOT Center’s beloved purple dragon, he was just a little spark of an idea in the minds of the Imagineers. But the story of how he and Dreamfinder came to life is full of unexpected twists, fascinating creative decisions, and a few surprises that even the biggest Figment fans may not know.

In this episode of Distory Nite Shift, Kate, the Disney Cicerone, and fellow Disney historian Joshua L. Harris of E82 | The Epcot Legacy return to Wayback WED for another collection of rare Imagineering stories, concept art, and historical treasures shared by the people who helped create EPCOT Center.

We’ll explore the evolution of Figment and Dreamfinder, take a closer look at the original Journey Into Imagination, and uncover some of the ideas that almost became part of EPCOT’s most imaginative pavilion.

Along the way, we’ll hear firsthand stories from legendary Imagineers, see some rare early concept art for The Land, and visit a few pieces of an EPCOT Center that might have been.Resources referenced in this episode:

Recommended Disney History Book List Journey into Imagination & EPCOT Instrumental Soundtracks

Journey into Imagination RetrospectiveKate's books & Substack

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View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

In this episode of Distory, we’re floating by the iconic Well Scene of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean and finding some lost history along the way. While everyone knows Carlos (and his wife in the upper window), there’s much more storytelling in this scene than meets the eye… and even more that’s been lost since 1967.

From fascinating details in Marc Davis’s original concept art to clever storytelling hidden among the props, costumes, and scenery, we’re taking a closer look at a scene that most guests have likely passed hundreds of times without noticing some of its most interesting secrets.

We’ll also explore the work of other important Imagineers who brought these characters to life, including Blaine Gibson, Alice Davis, and X. Atencio, and discover a critical story element that seems to have been forgotten over time.

As we compare the Well Scene of today with its earlier incarnations, we’ll also uncover some of the characters, effects, and little pieces of storytelling that have disappeared over the years. Kirk talks about pointy shoes and explains some of the brutal techniques of information retrieval, Kate explains how one pirate’s actions are (comically) physically impossible, and we both enjoy hunting a character that has played hide-and-seek in the Well scene over the years.

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View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!

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