Walt Disney World Resort guests visiting EPCOT on Friday morning were met with disappointment when Journey Into Imagination With Figment unexpectedly went dark. The World Celebration attraction remains shuttered hours after its initial closure.
Rare Glimpse Behind the Curtain
On Friday morning, one Disney Park guest found themselves in an unusual situation when their ride vehicle came to a halt just before reaching the attraction’s finale. Reddit user u/Ptucker212 documented the experience, sharing two backstage photographs that reveal what lurks beyond the magic.
“I can see the exit door,” the Walt Disney World Resort guest wrote.
Trapped on Figments
The photographs offer Disney Parks fans a fascinating peek at the decades-old attraction’s infrastructure. One image captures a track split where malfunctioning ride vehicles are diverted backstage for maintenance or storage.
The behind-the-scenes shots strip away the illusion that makes Disney Parks so enchanting—showing Figment animatronics and colorful props surrounded by utilitarian black curtains, exposed walls, and industrial flooring. Without theatrical lighting, the whimsical purple dragon looks drastically different from his on-stage appearance.
Hours-Long Closure Continues on Friday
The World Celebration attraction shut down early Friday and hasn’t welcomed guests back since. The My Disney Experience app continues to display a “temporarily closed” status for Journey Into Imagination With Figment, offering no estimated reopening time or explanation.
Disney occasionally sends push notifications through the app when major attractions experience extended downtime, acknowledging the inconvenience to paying theme park guests. No such notification has been issued for this closure, potentially suggesting Walt Disney World Resort executives anticipate resolving the issue before EPCOT’s evening closing time.
What triggered the January 2 breakdown remains a mystery. Walt Disney World Resort maintained its standard policy of not publicly discussing technical difficulties or operational disruptions affecting its attractions.
The Troubled History of Journey Into Imagination with Figment
Journey Into Imagination With Figment has a complicated legacy at EPCOT. The original “Journey Into Imagination” debuted in the early 1980s, and it was a hit. Figment and the DreamFinder became instant icons, regularly greeting guests throughout the park as walk-around characters.
Everything changed in 1999 when Walt Disney Imagineers unveiled “Journey Into YOUR Imagination,” a controversial reimagining that eliminated Figment entirely from the Imagination Pavilion. Disney Parks fans revolted against the decision, expressing overwhelming dissatisfaction with the disappearance of the purple dragon.
Guest backlash proved so intense that Walt Disney World Resort reversed course within three years. The current iteration, “Journey Into Imagination With Figment,” opened in 2002, restoring the animatronic character to his rightful home.
However, dedicated EPCOT enthusiasts maintain that today’s version pales in comparison to the original attraction’s charm, creativity, and storytelling.
Have you ever gotten stuck on a ride at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
