As much as i despise the current incarnation of the Attraction, it does indeed have several 'nods' to it's much more impressive and imaginative past.
These are the various 'nods' i am aware of that have direct ties to the Original 'JII' Attraction in the order you encounter them once entering the current Pavilion -
In the entrance queue, you pass by shelves to your right that are full of all kinds of strange looking 'parts' being used for experiments.
These are actually pieces of audio equipment, lighting equipment, projector parts, and Show props left over from the gutting of the Original Attraction.
I figured this out some years ago, when i visited with a friend who specializes in such things and between the two of us identified just about everything on the shelves.
Anyone who remembers the Original will recognize the various 'bulbs' and 'glass fixtures' from the Dreamport here.
One of the dials from the 'Imaginometer' is also present.
The various backstage elements used for the Show ( partial audio equipment pieces, various old projector parts, etc. ) were cool to see...but egad, so depressing at the same time.
During the first scene on the ride, where you are introduced to Dr. Channing and 'Figment' via video screens, Figment exclaims 'Here We Gooooo!' just before the ride vehicles move into the next scene.
This same line was used by Figment in the Original Attraction in a similar manner, when he exclaimed it before your ride vehicles left the 'turntable' staging area and into the Dreamport section.
The yellow sweatshirt Figment wears in the sound room scene is a recreation of the one he was shown wearing in the Original Attractions' finale scene.
The current ride also has a full-bodied standing Figment that wears a similar shirt,in the scene where he beckons you to visit 'Figments House'.
Both are references to the Original's finale figure of Figment.
When you first enter 'Figments House' in the related upside-down scene, there is a figure of Figment watching cartoons on tv to your left.
The cartoons he is watching are a mix of old and new 'Figmentoons'...and the old ones were once shown as part of the Original Attraction.
The old Original cartoons are easy to spot...white backgrounds, with a dark purple Figment frolicking about.
There are three old Originals,and two newly animated ones if my memory serves me right tonight.
The old Originals used to play on a circular screen to your left as you exited the 'Science' scene room on the Original Attraction.
Dreamfinder stood at the helm or a observatory of sorts, cranking forward and back time to show the wonders of science.
As you exited this scene, the animated cartoons of Figment caught up in the machinery would play in a continuous loop as your vehicle passed by onto the next scene.
The song 'One Little Spark' is of course the most obvious connection to the past. No need to elaborate there...
The current finale scene, showing static figures of Figment with cut-out scenery pursuing various modes of imaginative endeavors, is a nod to the past Attractions original finale.
In the current incarnation the scene shows him as a Hang glider, Knight, Puppeteer, Mountain Climber, Engineer, Balloonist, Artist, and Pilot.
The Original Attraction featured a full AA figure of Figment singing the theme song in the rooms center, with several filmed images of himself in various imaginative roles projected onto screens around the room perimeter.
His roles were - Pirate, Showman, Sailor, Superhero, Mountain Climber, Weightlifter, Scientist, and Cowboy.
The figure of Figment dressed as a astronaut standing on a planet opposite the large 'moon' projection of Dr. Channing's face before you enter the 'starry' exit area is a direct reference to the figure of Figment as a astronaut from the Original Attraction.
The original 'hitchhiking' Astronaut Figment stood to your right before you entered the 'Science' tunnel on the Original.
As you leave the exit area and head out into the post-show area ( once referred to as the Kodak 'What If?' Labs ) there are several interactive play areas.
The area to your right as you walk though, where you can wave your hands to see a crude CGI animated Figment move around and play instruments, plays the original backing tracks to 'One Little Spark' as used on the Original Attraction.
