The trouble is that the Imagination Institute is fully tied to the Honey I Shrunk IP. Specifically the Honey, I Shrunk the Audience film. Even there, Dr. Nigel Channing is the chairman of the institute so to make Dreamfinder as the head of that all the sudden.. doesn’t really make much sense. That in essence would be retconning the story and other elements of the original ride. And even though the current attraction features a door titled “Dean Finder”. The truth is, it’s literally describing a position within the institute that looks for for the Dean or Head of the Institute, and oddly enough, seems they picked Dr. Channing for whatever reason, despite there hardly being a creative bone in his body, than again, considering it’s based entirely around the 5 senses.. not of Dreams/Exploration of the creative realms, idea forming, etc... I can’t help but think the whole concept lacks any basic understanding or really any focus that is of how creativity works or improves both our minds and the world around us (the Institute concept that is) (and on a side note, I almost see that “Dean Finder” name in there as a mocking reference rather than any real tribute considering the place/story of the current ride & it’s portrayal of Figment.. ngl.) in comparison, in the original, Dreamfinder’s fortay really is in.. well.. “Dream Finding” and not just helping collect and recombine sparks (abstract ideas) to help folks create new things, but, along with Figment storing all those sparks he finds into the Dreamport where it further sorted, recombined, redistrubuted, etc. and ultimately helps in improving the world along in their own ventures through the realms of imagination. He & Figment went on travels through the realms of imagination, collected sparks via the flying dreamcatching machine and then stored those sparks in the dreamport, aswell as ventured into the realms of imagination (art, literature, theatre, science & technology, film.. basically abstract realms that represent every medium or occupation that best utilizes creativity & idea making to its full potential.) to continue to learn about imagination’s abilities aswell as their own creative abilities.
Another detail to remember is that in the current attraction, Dreamfinder Infact is snoring in the Dream Lab.. (Chuck McCann, DF’s original VA, is the recorded snoring behind that door). Meaning they basically put him to sleep behind closed doors to possibly further their goals in taking over the Dreamport and original pavilion.
