Some of my utmost favorite 'souvenirs' would be the cassette tapes i made of audio recordings from the Original 'Journey Into Imagination' attraction.
I first visited EPCOT Center in April of 1983, a month after it opened.
I was twelve, and instantly became seriously enchanted by the Attraction and HAD to find a way to bring that experience of riding it home with me somehow.
At that time i was fascinated with analog tape recorders, and was having fun recording movies and voicework onto cassettes at home.
After EPCOT Center however, i knew i just had to bring my tape deck with me onto that ride so i could 'own' all the awesome music and on-ride sounds.
I would sneak in my portable tape recorder in a tote bag, and once on the ride i would pull out the recorder and lay it on my lap.
Once the ride was over, i slipped it back into the bag, or just carried it out by the handy handle.
Not only did i capture audio with some decent results, i ALSO captured all the creaks, groans, electric motor grinds n' whirs..and a LOT of atmospheric stuff.
A real 'time capsule', and they are interesting to listen to today.
You should hear the people laughing so hard at the end of one session...when they saw themselves on the screen near the rides' original conclusion.
It was such a big deal back then...and entirely unexpected.
This was years before on-ride photos and video became commonplace, and folks reacted quite a bit to it in the days of yore.
I listened to those tapes over and over and OVER in the years that followed. Even as a teen.
My Dad can attest to that...the 'Imagination Song' as he called it drove him absolutely nuts as i would endlessly play the song and loop it over and over again.
Yeah, i was obsessed even at that young age.
This was in the last few years before video taping became affordable for the general public, and we were years away from Internet communities.
So for the longest time, the only way i could 're-live' the ride experience was to listen to these recordings.
I made about three cassettes in the next few visits, from July 1983 to the Summer of 1985, and i still have those original tapes.
Love em' !
Next in line would be some of the original paper goods i kept from my first visit to EPCOT Center in 1983.
Old WorldPassort tickets, 'Wheel' Guide Map, and brochures from that time period.
Next would be various not-for-public-sale 'souvenirs' i have gathered over the years since. Various bits and bobs...
If we are however talking about actual, material items...as in, something a Guest could actually purchase at one of the shops as a take home souvenir, then my #1 treasured prize is most certainly my first Figment plush.
Here is a small photo -
This was a 'large plush' version that was sold when the Park opened. I bought mine in April of 1983, upon my first visit.
He was $21.00 in 1983 money, which was considered pricey.
Thus why it is rare to find the larger versions...everyone always seems to have the smaller versions with the felt eyes.
I remember talking my Mom into buying it for me...i so desperately wanted it as soon as i saw it, as i had just instantly fell into rapture with the Attraction.
She balked at the expensive pricetag at first...but finally caved in.
We made the purchase at the Centorium, where they had a swell large display of all the Figment plush back in the day.
I was thrilled that when i rode the Attraction again later that day with 'Figment', the black lights in the entrance tunnel made his stitching glow like crazy. I freaked out...thinking THIS was the coolest ride EVER...and had THE coolest effects EVER.
Oh yes...and i still do.
I used to bring the plush with me on numerous other EPCOT Center visits afterwards...at that time i was living in Florida.
He was a regular...and at home he had a place of honor.
1985 was his last visit to the Park, i was 14.
He returned however for EPCOT's 25th Anniversary in 2007...and was front and center in many of the publicity photos taken related to the Event from the fan worlds' side.
Lots of cool moments...and those who attended that special day may remember seeing him lifted up in the air during the crowd sing-along in front of the Fountain of Nations stage, before the Re-Dedication Ceremony.
I have seen videos of it....'out there'....
Later that day, Marty Sklar 'shook hands' with this plush.
I kid you not. Quite a fun story behind that one...
I can spend up to 200$ or more sometimes on the boys' die cast car collection, my snow globe collection, t-shirts, magnets, stickers... you name it!
Along with the 45 other plushes..
