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Credit: Edited by Inside the MagicThe EPCOT Overhaul project finally brought down the construction walls back in December. However, the final reveal was met with mixed reactions of underwhelming disappointment and relief at the reopened park. After five years of construction and delays, the originally promised concept was nowhere to be seen, instead being replaced by beautiful light fixtures that stopped working correctly within a week, tall brown canopy structures that gave guests a feeling of an urban park, and a very unfortunate topiary statue that’s been the source of lewd jokes and confusion for months.
The World Celebration Gardens was unveiled as the walls came down as one of three brand-new pavilions that replaced the former Future World. World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery now join the World Showcase in combining a mix of futuristic optimism with cultural and technological appreciation. The grand reveal was made just in time for the busy Christmas season, which saw the Walt Disney World Resort sell out several days of its Genie+ system as the parks consistently reached capacity. Now, EPCOT is looking to celebrate its popular International Flower & Garden Festival, and one of the topiary installments has people talking.
Figment is the beloved purple dragon at the center of the iconic attraction, Journey Into Imagination With Figment. He’s essentially EPCOT’s park icon and can be found on merchandise and designs throughout the park. During the Flower & Garden Festival, topiaries and floral installations are inserted around the park featuring iconic and beloved characters like Elsa and Anna, Peter Pan, Miss Piggy, and, of course, Figment. However, it’s Figment’s rather…interesting…placement that has online Disney fans in a buzz.
Back in August 2023, we reported on the aerial reveal of what looked like a fountain in the shape of female genitalia. Meant to be the centerpiece of the World Celebration Gardens, the planter is designed after the new EPCOT logo and is being used as the current focus of the Flower & Garden Festival. The placement of Figment inside the questionably inspired planter is once again drawing laughter and concern from fans online. You can see more images shared from Blog Mickey here.
Flower Figment lookin’ succulent pic.twitter.com/9GKeZuQvvv
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) February 21, 2024
“EPCOT birthed it’s first Figment!” joked @Soundwave3000.
“You can’t just put Figment Topiary in the EPCOT Vagina and completely leave out Figment’s Bush,” remarked @DisneyDan.
“I swear to god, the jokes write themselves,” stated @TCJaalin, while @AliciaStella replied, “Just because most men can’t find it doesn’t mean it’s a figment of your imagination.”
It’s a hilariously unfortunate oversight on the Walt Disney Imagineers, although it wouldn’t be the first time a suggestively shaped detail has been found inside the Disney parks. Previously, keen-eyed guests could find a suggestively male-shaped sculpture in the Morocco Pavilion inside EPCOT, although its infamy would eventually lead to its downfall, and the area has since been renovated.
Guests can see the Figment topiary throughout the International Flower & Garden Festival, which runs from February 28 to May 27, 2024. In addition to dozens of dazzling floral displays, guests can also sample cuisine from each of the 11 pavilions around the World Showcase as well as the limited time offerings from the outdoor kitchens located throughout park. The Garden Rocks Concert Series brings several iconic artists and performers to the America Gardens Theatre each night. Guests can see performances by artists like Rick Springfield, Commodores, and Simple Plan.
What do you think about the interesting Figment topiary? Hilarious or poorly thought out? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!