Credit: Frank Phillips, Flickr
The Honda Center in Anaheim was already buzzing from a weekend packed with historic Disney Parks announcements, but Walt Disney Imagineering had one final, massive surprise up its sleeve. In a true “one more thing” moment that left the D23 crowd roaring with thunderous applause, Disney officially announced a top-to-bottom reimagining of EPCOT’s Journey into Imagination with Figment.
And the biggest news of all? After more than two decades, the Dreamfinder is officially returning to Walt Disney World!
For long-time fans of EPCOT, this is the ultimate dream come true. Here is a complete breakdown of this historic announcement, what it means for the future of the Imagination pavilion, and why the return of this beloved bearded creator is sending shockwaves through the Disney fandom.
The Ultimate “One More Thing” Reveal
As the D23 Disney Experiences Showcase drew to a close, executives took the stage to thank the fans for an incredible weekend of reveals. But before the lights could come up, the unmistakable, whimsical chords of the Sherman Brothers’ classic anthem, “One Little Spark,” began to echo through the arena, as host Neil Patrick Harris began dancing as the Dreamfinder.
“We are taking a new journey into imagination at EPCOT with Dreamfinder and Figment!” Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum told the cheering crowd. “I’m so happy to share this news tonight. We know how important this is to you. We’ve heard you, and this is one more way we’re putting you in the center of everything we do.”
The crowd went crazy when host Neil Patrick Harris turned toward the audience, dressed as the Dreamfinder and holding a Figment.
Disney confirmed that a massive overhaul of the Imagination pavilion in EPCOT is in the early stages of development. The new attraction promises to blend state-of-the-art ride technology with the heartwarming, nostalgic storytelling that made the original 1983 version an undisputed masterpiece of theme park design.
Who is the Dreamfinder?
If you are a newer Disney fan, you might be wondering why a man in a top hat is generating so much hype. To understand the magnitude of this announcement, you have to look back at EPCOT’s opening decade.
When the original Journey into Imagination opened in 1983, it introduced two original EPCOT characters, Dreamfinder and Figment.
- The Dreamfinder: A jolly, bearded scientist and explorer of the mind, dressed in a blue suit and top hat. He traveled the universe in his Dream-Catcher flying machine, collecting sparks of inspiration.
- Figment: The manifestation of that inspiration—a playful, inquisitive purple dragon who served as Dreamfinder’s sidekick.
In 1999, the attraction underwent a highly controversial refurbishment that removed the Dreamfinder and gave Figment a smaller role. Following massive guest backlash, a 2002 update brought Figment back in the current Journey into Imagination with Figment iteration, but the Dreamfinder was nowhere to be seen. For 25 years, fans have actively campaigned, petitioned, and hoped for his triumphant return. Now, Disney has finally answered that call.
Patience is Required: No Official Timeline Yet or Details
While the announcement brought excitement to the crowd, it was a little short on details. All Mazloum really had for the audience was the return of the Dreamfinder and an update coming to Journey Into Imagination with Figment.
However, with such an earth-shattering announcement, the immediate question on everyone’s mind is: When does it open?
Disney was not very forthcoming with the crowd, meaning there is currently no official start date for the ride’s closure, nor an opening date for the reimagined attraction.
This project is currently in its early “Blue Sky” and conceptual design phases. Walt Disney Imagineering wants to take the necessary time to get this incredibly important legacy project exactly right. While this means fans will need to pack their patience, it also means there is still plenty of time to ride the current version of Journey into Imagination with Figment before it eventually closes to make way for progress.
However, after the announcement, Disney did provide fans with this update on the attraction:
“Proving that a dream can be a dream come true, it was revealed that EPCOT will take a new journey into imagination with everyone’s favorite purple dragon, Figment, and his longtime friend and companion, Dreamfinder.The whimsical dream-chaser who originally brought imagination to life in the Imagination pavilion’s original attraction will return in a new adventure with Figment – all it takes is one little spark.”
A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow for EPCOT
Between the completion of EPCOT’s major construction projects two years ago and now, the promise of a revitalized Imagination pavilion and the announced update to Spaceship Earth are preparing EPCOT for its 50th Anniversary in 2032.
By bringing back the Dreamfinder, Disney is proving it is listening to the heart of its fanbase. They are bridging the gap between EPCOT’s educational, nostalgic past and its technologically breathtaking future.
Are you excited to hear those two magical words—”Imagination, imagination”—sung by the Dreamfinder once again? Let us know your favorite memories of the original ride in the comments below!
