Have you ever noticed that certain Disney characters just seem to capture our attention? They may not even do anything special, so to speak, but before you know it everybody has fallen in love with them.
Figment is just such a character but why is he so popular?
The main reason why Figment is so popular is that he is such a lovable character. He teaches children in a very positive way but beyond that, he is just one of those dinosaurs that we would love to hug and hang out with for the day.
Figment is part of the Journey into Imagination ride at Epcot. Although the latest version of the ride itself does not always meet with the greatest reviews, people just seem to go crazy over the main character, Figment.
The ride itself is only six minutes but during that time, children get to meet a Disney character that they will remember for the rest of their lives. In fact, that may be one of the reasons why he has met with so much popularity in recent years.
Figment has actually been around for some 40 years, as he was part of the original Journey into Imagination ride when it was created. Many people who are now taking their grandchildren to Epcot were introduced to Figment when they were little children.
Regardless of whether you are young or old, it’s always enjoyable to pop onto the Journey into Imagination ride and visit some of your old characters. It’s a great way to spend some time in the air conditioning during the hot Florida summers as well!
Take a look at this YouTube video that shows the original version of the ride.
Why Are Figment Popcorn Buckets So Popular?
It isn’t only the character Figment that has been so popular but the merch surrounding him has really gained in popularity in recent years. That was seen in a phenomenal way with the release of the Figment popcorn bucket.
It’s hard to believe that the popcorn bucket associated with that beloved character was just released on January 6, 2022. It happened at the Pop Eats booth during the Festival of the Arts celebration (humorously shortened to FARTS). Those popcorn buckets only lasted a few days before they sold out.
It wasn’t long before many people who were able to get one of the original Figment popcorn buckets were selling them online for hundreds of dollars, even though they only cost about $25 at the theme park.
That may seem like a lot for a popcorn bucket but considering the fact that you can get cheap popcorn with them really adds up quickly.
Eventually, the Figment popcorn bucket was released through the MyDisneyExperience app and it has sold out multiple times.
So, why is the Figment popcorn bucket so popular? Nobody really knows, but it’s obvious that people love that little dinosaur and they will go to great lengths to purchase anything related to him.
Is Figment Leaving Epcot?
Considering the popularity of Figment, it’s amazing to think that there are rumors of his untimely departure from Disney. Are those rumors true?
Figment may disappear when Journey into Imagination is temporarily closed from time to time, but he quickly reappears when the ride opens. That ride is still running at Epcot and you still have the opportunity to see the beloved dinosaur in all his adorable glory.
In the end, we will have to see what Disney plans on doing with the Journey into Imagination attraction in the future. There are no immediate plans for the ride to close but it is in the running for a replacement. Perhaps they will replace it with an update of the same ride.
Can You Meet Figment At Walt Disney World
Many Disney fans were disappointed by the disappearance of meet-and-greet characters during the pandemic. Things were limited, but it seems as if we are coming out from underneath that umbrella at this time.
That leads many people to wonder if they will be able to shake hands or perhaps even hug Figment at some point in the near future. It’s nice that we can see him on the ride, but there is something about meeting them in person that really brings us closer to those characters.
For those who are super fans of Figment, you may want to make some plans to head back to Epcot toward the end of 2023. It was leaked that Figment was going to be appearing as a meet-and-greet character, and Disney fans couldn’t be more excited.
What Happened To Dream Finder?
You can hardly think about Figment without also thinking about Dream Finder. The two of them were synonymous at first, but it seems as if Dream Finder has dropped off the scene. What has happened to him?
When Journey into Imagination was opened along with Epcot in 1983, Dream Finder played the lead part in that ride. His sidekick, Figment, was there with him but he barely had a role in that original attraction.
The original Journey into Imagination only lasted from 1982 until 1998.
It was shut down at that time but reopened as a different version in 1999. That version had Dr. Nigel Channing playing the lead and once again, Figment did not have a major role. But that was about to change.
Since Figment had already gotten quite a following, his fans were very supportive and wanted to see more of the dinosaur. Not much was said about the disappearance of Dream Finder, but without Figment, they were not going to be happy until Figment took the lead.
It wasn’t long before the ride closed yet again and was reopened after it was refurbished. Figment would now play a major role in Journey into Imagination but Dream Finder would be noticeably absent.
It is not known if Disney will be bringing back Dream Finder or will make him part of an update to the Journey into Imagination ride or not. There are many fans who miss the nostalgic feeling of the way things were but yet others are willing to move into the future and enjoy everything that Figment and Dr. Niles Channing have to offer.
