Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Walt Disney World fans received the ultimate surprise during the closing moments of the “Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase” at D23. Just when the massive presentation seemed to be wrapping up, Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum took the stage to deliver a “one more thing” announcement that brought the house down: EPCOT’s Journey into Imagination with Figment is officially getting a complete reimagining.
The absolute best part of this earth-shattering news? The legendary Dreamfinder is finally coming home!
A Historic Theme Park Reunion
If you are newer to the Disney Parks fandom, you might be wondering why the return of a whimsical, bearded man in a top hat is such a monumental deal.
When the original Journey into Imagination dark ride opened in 1983, it was hosted by two entirely original characters:
- Figment: A mischievous, inquisitive purple dragon with two tiny wings, big yellow eyes, and the horns of a steer.
- The Dreamfinder: A jolly creator and dream-chaser who traveled the universe collecting sparks of inspiration, ultimately introducing the world to Figment.
The duo quickly became the undisputed mascots of EPCOT. Tragically, a highly controversial 1999 refurbishment of the attraction completely removed both characters from the ride. Following intense guest backlash, Disney retooled the attraction in 2002 to bring Figment back in its current iteration. However, the Dreamfinder was completely left behind. After decades of passionate fan campaigns, this iconic duo will finally be reunited.
A Tightly Guarded Creative Mystery
While the announcement of this historic reunion is incredibly exciting, Disney is keeping their creative cards close to their chest.
The most important point about this upcoming reimagining is that we do not yet know what will be included in the new attraction. Disney has explicitly stated that much more is to come regarding Dreamfinder and Figment’s journey back to EPCOT, but they have not released any information on the ride’s new storyline, show scenes, technological upgrades, or track layout. Until Walt Disney Imagineering reveals further concept art, the actual contents of the ride remain a complete, tightly guarded mystery.
No Official Construction Timeline
With an announcement of this magnitude, the immediate question on every fan’s mind is naturally about the opening date.
However, Disney has confirmed that there is no start date or end date for this work. This project is still in its earliest announcement phases, meaning there is no official timeline for when the current ride will close, nor is there a projected opening timeframe for the reimagined attraction.
While fans will need to pack a little patience, this lack of an immediate timeline means you still have plenty of opportunities to ride the current version of the attraction before the construction walls inevitably go up. The spark of inspiration is alive and well at Walt Disney World!
