Bad News for Figment Fans: Disney Announces Closure of Beloved Ride

Figment ride fans, we’ve got some bad news.

EPCOT’S Figment character has become as popular, dare we say, as Mickey Mouse himself. With his own steady fanbase, beloved Disney Park ride, and sold-out popcorn bucket, Figment has truly become part of the Walt Disney World theme park icons.

If you’re heading to the Walt Disney World Resort soon, however, check ahead because Journey Into Imagination with Figment may be closed during your Disney vacation.

Journey Into Imagination with Figment at EPCOT opened in the Central Florida theme park back on March 3, 1983.

Created by Tony Baxter and Steve Kirk, the popular attraction features the famous small purple dragon, Figment, as well as the song “One Little Spark”, composed by the Sherman Brothers.

Figment has now become a Disney World staple, so much so that he created chaos in EPCOT last year. As part of EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts, Walt Disney World started selling a new $25 Figment Popcorn Bucket with rainbow popcorn that sold out within days.

With shocking lines of up to 5 hours for a little purple dragon bucket, it seemed there were more fans than Disney had ever imagined for the Journey Into Imagination With Figment attraction starring Eric Idle.

Related: Dragon Down! Figment Takes a Tumble As Guests Wait 5 Hours for Meet and Greet

This year, Disney even introduced a new meet and greet for Figment in the park. At Destination D23, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed that the Figment would begin meeting guests beginning September 10 – and once he appeared, the lines were as long as they were for the popcorn bucket!

Despite Figment’s popularity, Journey Into Imagination with Figment brings differing opinions among guests. The little purple Disney dragon is divisive; while many guests will queue for 5 hours for a meet and greet, other guests want Figment removed from the theme park entirely.

Interestingly, Journey Into Imagination was open from 1983 until 1998 when it was replaced with Journey Into YOUR Imagination. That ride almost completely eliminated Figment, but Disney Park fans wanted him back.

Related: OpEd: How Disney’s New ‘Figment’ Movie Could Save EPCOT

The ride is getting some maintenance it seems, as on October 10, the EPCOT attraction will be closed.

Nothing major will be happening (Figment won’t be getting removed this time!), as Journey Into Imagination with Figment will reopen on October 11, 2023, with the entire refurbishment set to only last one day.

Disney’s full statement from the Walt Disney World Resort website is below:

On October 10, 2023, Journey Into Imagination With Figment will be closed for routine maintenance, and will reopen on October 11. While the attraction is unavailable, all other areas and offerings of the Imagination! Pavilion will remain open to Guests.

So, if this Disney ride is a must-do on your Disney World vacation, make sure you skip EPCOT on October 10 and head to Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom instead!