Anyone who remembers the original Figment popcorn bucket frenzy at EPCOT knows exactly why Disney is acting now. Lines stretched endlessly. Walkways became impassable. Guests waited for hours, only to find out the bucket had sold out before they reached the front.
That moment became a turning point.
As Disney looks ahead to 2026, it’s clear the company doesn’t want to relive another Figment-level line disaster. And rather than letting history repeat itself, Disney is tightening its approach using a tool it already knows well: mobile ordering.
This isn’t the first time Disney has used mobile ordering for festival items. Guests saw it during last year’s International Festival of the Arts, and Disney paid close attention to how it affected crowd flow. What the company learned was simple—when guests aren’t physically lining up, the park functions better.
In 2026, Disney is applying that lesson more deliberately.
One little spark of inspiration… is coming to your popcorn! 🎨✨
The NEW Figment Artist popcorn bucket officially arrives TOMORROW, Jan 16, for the start of the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts! 🐉💜
He’s looking like a true masterpiece in his purple beret and… pic.twitter.com/qDqct8FE5S
— ThrillGeek (@thrillgeek) January 15, 2026
For high-demand items like the Figment popcorn bucket, mobile ordering removes the gamble. Guests place an order through the My Disney Experience app, receive a pickup window, and know immediately whether they’ve secured the item. No camping out. No guessing. No inching forward in a line that might lead nowhere.
From a crowd management standpoint, it’s a smart move. Physical lines for popular souvenirs don’t just impact those waiting—they disrupt entire areas of the park. Mobile ordering breaks that cycle by spreading demand throughout the day instead of concentrating it all at once.
But this shift also sends a clear message: Disney is done letting limited merchandise dictate guest movement.
That doesn’t mean the change is universally loved. Some fans feel that mobile-only systems create barriers for guests who don’t want to rely on technology. Others miss the excitement of lining up and chatting with fellow fans. Disney knows those feelings exist—but it also knows the backlash that follows chaotic releases.
The difference now is intention. Disney isn’t reacting after the fact. It’s proactively designing a system to prevent a repeat of what happened with Figment in the past.
And Figment may only be the beginning.
If this approach continues to keep walkways clear and tempers calm, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Disney use mobile ordering for future festival exclusives, anniversary items, or special event merchandise. The company has already seen how quickly excitement can turn into frustration when demand overwhelms logistics.
For guests heading to Disney World in 2026, the lesson is straightforward. The days of casually stumbling into a souvenir line are fading. Planning ahead—especially for popular items—will matter more than ever.
Disney can’t stop every line from forming. But when it comes to another Figment-style situation, it’s clear the company doesn’t want history repeating itself.
