EPCOT is preparing to enter another exciting chapter as Walt Disney Imagineering turns its attention to two of the park’s most recognizable legacy attractions. During the “Horizons: A Carousel of Progress” showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney revealed that both Journey Into Imagination and Spaceship Earth will receive major updates.
The announcements include the long-awaited reunion of Dreamfinder and Figment and the first substantial update to Spaceship Earth in nearly two decades. While many details remain hidden inside the Dreamport, here is everything Disney has confirmed so far.
Dreamfinder and Figment Will Reunite at EPCOT
Disney announced that guests will eventually embark on a new Journey Into Imagination featuring Figment and the return of his original companion, Dreamfinder.
“We are taking a new journey into imagination at EPCOT with Dreamfinder and Figment,” Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum told the D23 audience.
The announcement was met with an enthusiastic response from fans who have spent years asking Disney to restore Dreamfinder’s presence inside the Imagination pavilion.
Figment will remain part of the experience, but Disney has not revealed how much of the current attraction will be retained or exactly how Dreamfinder will return.
Who Is Dreamfinder?
Dreamfinder was one of the central characters in the original Journey Into Imagination attraction, which opened at EPCOT in 1983.
The cheerful inventor traveled aboard his unusual flying machine, gathering sounds, colors and ideas that could inspire the imagination. During his journey, Dreamfinder created Figment from “two tiny wings, eyes big and yellow, the horns of a steer” and a spark of imagination.
Dreamfinder and Figment then guided guests through different realms of creativity, including art, literature, theater, science and music.
Dreamfinder remained part of Journey Into Imagination until the original attraction closed in 1998. Although Figment eventually returned in a later version of the ride, Dreamfinder has largely been absent from the pavilion for decades.
His return represents more than the revival of a popular character. For longtime EPCOT fans, Dreamfinder symbolizes the park’s original philosophy of encouraging curiosity, creativity and discovery.
Figment Will Remain at the Center of Imagination
Figment has been part of EPCOT since 1983 and has become one of the park’s most enduring original characters.
The playful purple dragon currently appears in Journey Into Imagination With Figment, character encounters and merchandise throughout EPCOT. He has also become closely associated with the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts.
Disney confirmed that Figment will remain part of the reimagined experience and will finally reunite with Dreamfinder.
Until Disney releases additional details, any rumored closing dates or attraction concepts should be treated as speculation.
Spaceship Earth Will Be Reimagined
Journey Into Imagination is not the only classic EPCOT attraction preparing for a significant transformation.
Disney also announced that Spaceship Earth will receive its first major update in nearly 20 years. The reimagined attraction will continue exploring humanity’s progress while expanding its central theme.
Spaceship Earth currently follows the history of human communication, beginning with prehistoric cave paintings and moving through the development of written language, printing, telecommunications and modern technology.
The updated attraction will broaden that focus from human communication to human connection.
According to Disney, the new version will bring Spaceship Earth into the internet age and beyond while preserving the optimism and sense of wonder that have defined the attraction for generations.
What Could Change Inside Spaceship Earth?
Disney has not released a complete scene-by-scene description of the reimagined attraction.
The announcement suggests that familiar historical moments could remain while the overall story evolves to examine how communication helps connect people, cultures and ideas. The internet and other modern forms of connection are expected to become part of the updated narrative.
The company has also not announced a closure date, refurbishment schedule or reopening timeframe.
A Brief History of Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth opened with EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982, and remains the park’s defining visual icon.
The attraction is housed inside EPCOT’s massive geodesic sphere, which stands approximately 180 feet tall. Its continuously moving ride system carries guests upward through the structure before turning the vehicles backward for the descent.
Spaceship Earth has been updated several times throughout its history and has featured four different narrators. Judi Dench has narrated the current version since its most recent major refurbishment debuted in 2008.
The attraction’s emphasis on human innovation has always reflected EPCOT’s original mission. Disney says the reimagined experience will continue that tradition while introducing a broader story about connection in the modern world.
Why These EPCOT Changes Matter
Journey Into Imagination and Spaceship Earth are more than attractions. Both are closely connected to EPCOT’s identity and the ideas that originally distinguished the park from other theme parks.
The return of Dreamfinder acknowledges the enduring popularity of EPCOT’s original characters and storytelling. At the same time, the Spaceship Earth update gives Disney an opportunity to carry its historical journey into the digital era.
Together, the projects suggest that Imagineering is looking toward EPCOT’s future while recognizing the importance of its past.
That balance will be especially important to fans who want new experiences without losing the optimism, creativity and educational storytelling that made EPCOT unique.
Disney has not announced when Journey Into Imagination With Figment or Spaceship Earth will close for their transformations.
Guests with upcoming Walt Disney World vacations should continue checking the official attraction listings and refurbishment calendars as their travel dates approach.
Until Disney provides a schedule, both attractions should be considered available under their current operating information.
A New Spark for EPCOT’s Future
Dreamfinder’s return is a moment EPCOT fans have awaited for decades, while the reimagining of Spaceship Earth promises to update one of Walt Disney World’s most recognizable attractions for a new generation.
Many questions remain about their stories, scenes, technology and timelines. What is clear is that Disney intends to move both attractions forward without overlooking the ideas and characters that made them beloved in the first place.
For an entire generation of EPCOT fans, seeing Dreamfinder reunited with Figment may feel like the return of a missing piece of the park. Combined with a new chapter for Spaceship Earth, these projects could bring a welcome spark of imagination and optimism to EPCOT’s future.
Stay tuned to The Main Street Mouse for all your Disney Parks updates.
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