One of the most adorable parts of EPCOT is the little purple dragon that has become the theme park’s mascot — Figment the dragon. Figment was first introduced with the opening of Journey Into Imagination in 1983. Figment was the creation of the Dreamfinder, who wanted to make a creature that was the literal figment of his imagination.
Much has changed about the original attraction, but Figment has remained the same. He has two tiny wings, eyes big and yellow, horns of a steer, and is quite the loveable fellow! And don’t forget that royal purple pigment!
At the 2022 D23 Expo, held right outside Disneyland Resort, Disney announced that a Figment meet and greet was returning to EPCOT. There have been Figment meet and greets in the past, but there has not been on for over a decade. However, Figment has grown in popularity and is the mascot for nearly every EPCOT festival — including the International Festival of the Arts, the International Food & Wine Festival, and the Flower & Garden Festival.
Fans have anxiously been waiting for Figment to return to EPCOT. Disney originally said that Figment’s meet and greet would come to EPCOT in the summer of 2023. As summer dragged on and nothing was announced, fans began to worry. But now, we finally know when the meet and greet will happen!
At Destination D23 — a smaller D23 Expo held at Walt Disney World Resort — Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed that the Figment will begin meeting guests beginning September 10. Figment even came out on stage to celebrate the exciting news.
Shortly after the news was announced, Disney shared a video of Figment in his meet-and-greet area on TikTok.
@disneyparks IMAGINATION 🌈✨ IMAGINATION 🌈💜 @Disney D23 #Figment #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneyWorld #EPCOT #DisneyNews #Imagination #DestinationD23
Guests who want to spend some time with Figment will be able to find him at the Imagination! Pavilion. It is the same pavilion in which Journey Into Imagination With Figment is located.
Despite Figment’s popularity, Journey Into Imagination With Figment is a somewhat divisive ride. Many fans want Disney to bring back the Dreamfinder and make the attraction more like the original ride. Journey Into Imagination was open from 1983 until 1998, when it was replaced with Journey Into YOUR Imagination. That ride almost completely eliminated Figment, and fans hated it.
Journey Into YOUR Imagination only lasted two years before it was replaced with the current version of the ride. The “new” attraction has created an adorable animated Figment and stars beloved British actor Eric Idle.
