Credit: Inside The MagicWhether you love him or hate him, EPCOT’s Figment has a devoted fan base, and I proudly count myself among the die-hard enthusiasts. Recently, a brand-new Figment bus wrap has been unveiled at Disney World, much to the excitement of Figment fans everywhere.
I love Figment, but I love EPCOT even more, so to see anything with a nod to EPCOT makes my day. Imagine driving around Disney property, and you just see Figment cruising by, taking his passengers to the happiest place on earth. It’s one of those small, magical moments that Disney does so well, the kind of thing that makes you smile even when you’re just riding a bus between your resort and the parks.
For those unfamiliar with Figment, he is the purple dragon mascot of EPCOT’s Journey Into Imagination attraction. Since the early 1980s, Figment has been a part of the park and has endured multiple redesigns of the attraction. Despite not having his own movie, television show, or significant merchandise presence outside of EPCOT, he has garnered a remarkably passionate fanbase.
Figment’s fans are dedicated and vocal, expressing their excitement whenever Disney recognizes their beloved dragon with new content, appearances, or, as in this case, an entire bus wrap.
The new wrap showcases Figment in all his purple glory, giving one of Disney’s transportation buses a complete Figment-themed makeover. For fans who have spent years wishing Disney would give Figment more recognition beyond his single attraction and limited presence at the Festival of the Arts, this feels like validation. Disney is acknowledging that Figment matters enough to feature prominently on transportation that guests will see throughout the resort.
The History of Disney Bus Wraps
Disney began wrapping buses with various Disney characters several years ago, creating unique rolling advertisements and entertainment. This initiative transforms standard transportation into an integral part of the overall Disney experience. Just like the Skyliner gondolas, which feature vibrant character wraps that enhance the magic of your travel, the bus wraps serve a similar function while also acting as great conversation starters.
The wrapped buses feature everything from classic characters like Mickey and Minnie to newer properties like Encanto and Moana. Some celebrate specific parks or attractions, while others showcase general Disney branding with multiple characters. The variety means that families riding Disney transportation regularly throughout their vacation will encounter different wraps, creating small moments of discovery and excitement even during what could otherwise be mundane travel between locations.
Who wouldn’t enjoy seeing their favorite character on a bus cruising around Disney property? There’s something truly delightful about waiting at a bus stop and watching a vibrant vehicle adorned with character artwork arrive to take you to your next destination. It emphasizes that you’re not just using public transportation; you’re immersed in the Disney experience, where even the buses are designed to enhance the magic.
Why This Matters for Families
These wrapped buses are an excellent way to keep kids entertained during short drives between resorts and parks. Young children, who may become restless or impatient during even brief transit periods, have something visually engaging to look at and discuss. Parents can point out the different characters featured on the bus wraps, turn it into a game of identifying who appears where, or use it as a distraction during moments when tired kids start to lose patience.
It’s also fun for families to point out other wrapped buses they see throughout their vacation, whether featuring their favorite characters or ones that aren’t as special to them personally. Collecting sightings of different bus wraps becomes an unofficial scavenger hunt that costs nothing and adds an extra layer of engagement to the transportation experience. Kids remember riding the Figment bus or the Encanto bus, or whatever character wrap they encountered, creating memories around something as simple as getting from point A to point B.
For families visiting EPCOT specifically, arriving on a Figment-wrapped bus sets the tone before you even enter the park. It’s a preview of the purple dragon you’ll hopefully see during your Journey Into Imagination visit, building anticipation and excitement for that specific attraction. And for Figment fans who make EPCOT their priority park, riding a Figment bus feels like a little gift from Disney acknowledging their devotion.
EPCOT’s Figment Fan Phenomenon
What makes the Figment bus wrap particularly significant is understanding just how passionate Figment’s fanbase actually is. This isn’t a character with recent blockbuster movies driving merchandise sales. This character does not appear regularly in Disney marketing campaigns or has a significant presence beyond EPCOT. Figment exists primarily within one attraction at one park, yet he has inspired a level of devotion that rivals that of characters with much broader exposure.
The Festival of the Arts is often informally referred to as the Figment Festival due to the prominent presence of the purple dragon, Figment. Throughout the event, Figment can be found in various forms, including merchandise, food presentations, and decorative elements. Many fans of Figment plan entire trips specifically around the Festival of the Arts to collect limited-edition Figment items and enjoy the character’s expanded presence during the celebration.
The Journey Into Imagination attraction itself, while beloved by Figment fans, is widely considered outdated and in desperate need of a major refurbishment or complete reimagining. Yet Figment’s popularity persists despite his attraction’s flaws, which speaks to how much the character resonates with a specific subset of Disney fans who refuse to let him fade into obscurity.
What This Bus Wrap Represents
For Figment fans, this bus wrap represents Disney acknowledging their devotion and giving their beloved character visibility beyond his single attraction. It’s validation that Figment matters, that he’s worthy of featuring prominently on resort transportation, that he’s not just a forgotten relic from EPCOT’s early days but a character Disney recognizes as having ongoing value and appeal.
For EPCOT fans, the Figment bus wrap serves as a reminder of what makes the park special. In recent years, EPCOT has struggled with its identity as Disney has shifted away from its original educational entertainment (edutainment) mission towards more IP-driven attractions and festival-centered operations.
However, Figment embodies EPCOT’s unique history and personality, distinguishing it from other Disney parks. Seeing Figment celebrated on a bus wrap feels like Disney is acknowledging EPCOT’s distinct character instead of merely treating it as just another venue for popular intellectual properties.
The new Figment bus wrap may seem like a minor detail in the overall operation of Disney World. It’s just one bus among hundreds, and many guests might not even notice it. However, for Figment fans and EPCOT enthusiasts, this wrap represents a meaningful acknowledgment of their passion for Disney parks.
It serves as proof that Disney still values characters and attractions that don’t fit the typical blockbuster mold. Additionally, it acts as a mobile tribute to a purple dragon who, despite many reasons to be forgotten, has continued to endure in the hearts of fans for decades.
So if you’re visiting Disney World and you spot that Figment bus, take a moment to appreciate what it represents. And if you’re a Figment fan, enjoy this victory because your purple dragon is out there cruising around Disney property, reminding everyone that imagination is still alive and well, one bus ride at a time.