One Little Spark: A Flight Through Wonder and Creativity

More than just a ride, Journey Into Imagination was a sincere celebration of imagination, wonder, and the boundless possibilities of the human mind. The pavilion, which was housed inside the glittering twin glass pyramids of EPCOT Center, was a breathtaking architectural wonder and a glittering representation of the creativity it encouraged visitors to explore. Inside, guests began their journey beneath a swirling kinetic sculpture, boarding vehicles that would carry them into the clouds—and into the mind.

The adventure opened in a dreamlike sky, drifting among soft white clouds and twinkling city lights far below. From behind a billow of mist appeared a whimsical flying machine, the Dreamcatcher, piloted by Dreamfinder, a jovial red-bearded inventor dressed in a top hat and blue coat. As he collected “sparks of imagination”—light, sound, color, laughter, and thought—he whistled the attraction’s iconic song, “One Little Spark.” Then, using bits of whimsy and inspiration, Dreamfinder synthesized a brand-new creation: Figment, a playful, pint-sized dragon made from the horns of a steer, the nose of a crocodile, tiny wings, and a whole lot of youthful spirit. Together, Dreamfinder and Figment invited guests into a magical journey deep into the imagination, where anything could happen.

The next stop was the Dreamport, a fantastical storehouse where the raw materials of creativity arrived in crates, barrels, and glowing jars—desert winds, bottled storms, laughter in barrels, and snow sealed in shimmering boxes. This kinetic dream-laboratory set the stage for an incredible journey through the realms of human creativity. Visitors first entered the realm of art, entering a painter's palette where vivid colors and shifting shapes flowed like inspiration. Here, Figment joyfully moved through the whirling colors, demonstrating how creativity gives art life.

Through literature, where enormous typewriter keys clanked and poured molten letters into enchanted pages, the adventure went on. Guests floated through fantasy and gothic horror scenes, past graveyards of forgotten words and shadowy creatures conjured entirely by the written word. In one tender moment, Figment retreated beneath the covers of his bookbed, hiding from the monsters of his own imagination, a gentle reminder of how powerful—and unpredictable—the creative mind can be.

A sudden flash of light whisked us away to the performing arts, where the curtain rose on a Broadway spectacular. Dreamfinder conducted a vibrant symphony as stages appeared and vanished, laser dancers whirled and spun, and Figment took the spotlight in dazzling “laserized” form. From there, we entered the world of science and technology, where Dreamfinder worked from a gadget-filled observatory, adjusting dials to manipulate time, space, and scale. From cells to stars, the wonders of the natural world unfolded through the lens of human curiosity.

In the final scene, the magic of imagination, science, and art came together on a glittering Hollywood movie set. Stars transformed into spotlights, and Figment imagined himself as the star of the show, while Dreamfinder operated the camera. In a touching finale, the lens turned outward—onto us—reminding guests that the greatest creative force of all is the individual dreamer. The true source of imagination, Dreamfinder reminded us, is within each of us. All it takes is one little spark.

Before the adventure ended, guests were invited into The Image Works, an interactive playground filled with hands-on exhibits that allowed them to experiment with sound, color, and light—new tools to keep the imagination alive.

For those who experienced it, Journey Into Imagination wasn’t just a ride. It was a cherished memory, a gentle encouragement to dream bigger, and a timeless reminder that the magic of creativity lives inside every one of us.