The Walt Disney Company held its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Thursday, March 20, 2025. During this, CEO Bob Iger showcased Disney’s “perfect marriage of exceptional creativity and groundbreaking technological achievement” that units the corporate aside, whereas sharing highlights of the final 12 months and looking out ahead at billions of {dollars} of investments within the years to come back. Most importantly (by far), he talked about the way forward for Figment.
Once or twice yearly, old-fashioned EPCOT followers get new hope that possibly Walt Disney World will lastly get round to doing the proper factor and reimagine Journey into Imagination. This put up particulars the most recent improvement within the decades-long saga of hope and heartbreak as WDW diehards not-so-anxiously await Figment and Dreamfinder being restored to their former glory.
The largest came to visit a decade in the past, when there have been credible rumors of a year-long refurbishment that ended up being derailed when Frozen was a smash success and Frozen Ever After ate up that finances. Most lately, Disney Legend Josh Gad made a public plea throughout his Candlelight Processional internet hosting duties for Imagineering to provide Figment a journey that does him justice. Before that, there was a sequence of movies Disney Parks posted through which Figment visits the Walt Disney Studios company headquarters and Walt Disney Imagineering campus. The movies appeared to be teasing one thing, however over one 12 months later, and it’s been crickets since.
For my half, I don’t consider Walt Disney World goes to announce Journey into Imagination 4.0 with Figment and Dreamfinder anytime quickly. I’ve already began fascinated about my predictions put up for the 2025 Destination D23 occasion round Labor Day, and regrettably, it received’t be making the listing. Best case state of affairs at this level is an announcement on the 2026 D23 Expo.
Nevertheless, there are just a few topics I’ll discover any excuse to report on with out fail as my very own type of protest or a strain marketing campaign. Among these are the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights, Night Parade at Magic Kingdom, Lights of Winter at EPCOT, Restoring Impressions de France, Saving MuppetVision, and the Journey into Imagination Reimagining.
Walt Disney World is certainly not all the time conscious of fan suggestions and complaints, however they’re generally and in the proper circumstances. All of these qualify, so we’ll proceed to push for these items even when the probabilities of success are low. It beats doing nothing. Which brings us to as we speak’s replace, which is definitely significant for just a few causes.
During the query & reply portion of the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Disney CEO Bob Iger was as soon as once more requested about the way forward for Figment. The query particularly requested whether or not the corporate would think about using Figment in different areas of the corporate outdoors of theme parks, equivalent to a film primarily based on the character? (Even the BDX Droids pictured above reportedly nodded sure, that he ought to.)
Here was Bob Iger’s response:
“This is my 24th shareholder call, my 18th as CEO…and I think the question of Figment has been asked about 15 times. I call him ‘good ‘ole Figment.’”
“We know that Figment is popular with shareholders because of the fact that they ask questions about him all the time,” Iger joked. “But we also know that he’s popular at EPCOT, where you can meet him and experience Journey Into Imagination.”
“I am going to ask our creative teams to make some form of series or short-form videos of Figment. Obviously he’s more popular than just a walk-around character.”
While this appeared like an off the cuff response, it most likely wasn’t.
By his personal admission, Bob Iger has been requested about Figment on ~15 of 24 shareholder calls. No matter the precise quantity, that’s a majority of them. Iger is a meticulous planner, and would nearly actually be extensively prepped on the questions he may obtain with a purpose to give good solutions, keep away from misspeaking, and many others. And a Figment query is about as inevitable as one about Disney returning to household values or no matter, so he’s undoubtedly scripted and rehearsed solutions to each.
Underscoring this level is that he particularly talked about the Figment meet & greet. Unless he simply occurred to move by it on his go to to Walt Disney World final week (uncertain for the reason that crew escorting him would’ve taken him to what they wished him to see–and Journey into Imagination wouldn’t qualify), he most likely wouldn’t know that meet & greet even exists.
The Figment meet & greet was introduced on the D23 Expo earlier than he returned, and debuted as a part of Destination D23, which he didn’t attend. At the danger of stating the plain, character meet & greets are beneath the CEO’s pay grade. So he would’ve been briefed concerning the existence of this meet & greet, and included it into his reply.
Assuming it was scripted and rehearsed, this additionally means a few different issues.
The first is that the Figment characteristic movie by Seth Rogen is lifeless. If it weren’t, Iger would’ve talked about that as a substitute of Disney+ shorts or a sequence. This wouldn’t be even remotely stunning. For one factor, that film was by no means formally introduced and it’s been over two years since we’ve heard something about it. In between, Disney has reduce considerably on streaming manufacturing.
Not to be the bearer of dangerous information, however I’d hazard a guess the entire “Magic Kingdom Universe” deliberate for Disney+ that was introduced again in 2021 is lifeless. But c’mon, it’s 2025 and there haven’t been updates on nearly any of that…did we actually suppose it’s nonetheless taking place?!
More lately, we’ve realized that Jon Favreau is writing and producing a Disney+ stay motion/animated hybrid sequence about Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. This is rumored to be a part of the director’s bigger-picture plans for a Mickey Mouse Cinematic Universe. Perhaps Figment will be part of that?!
More optimistically, Iger’s feedback being scripted and rehearsed additionally presumably means he’s not simply going to ask the creatives a few Figment sequence or shorts. It means one thing is already being explored or, hopefully, within the early phases of energetic improvement.
Iger is aware of phrase travels quick and that Figment followers like me are a rabid bunch. He’s going to be requested about Figment subsequent 12 months, and the 12 months after that, and many others., and my folks aren’t going to be happy if he comes again in a 12 months and say: “Aw shucks, I tried my best, but those darned creatives said there’s absolutely nothing creative we can do with Figment, international mascot of childhood wonder and imagination. Sorry dorks.”
That would represent an impeachable offense (CEOs are impeachable, proper?!). We geeks can be hitting up Nelson Peltz so quick and begging him to revive his marketing campaign to revive the magic and so forth. Further reinforcing the notion that this was deliberate and never impromptu is Disney Parks rapidly posting about this on social media, relatively than strolling again the feedback or ignoring them:
🚨 Figment replace! pic.twitter.com/DqXN4dWWVL
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) March 20, 2025
Less optimistically, it means there’s most likely nothing coming quickly for Journey into Imagination 4.0 at EPCOT. Even although the query particularly requested about films and the corporate’s different companies, Iger would’ve taken the chance to tease a reimagined journey if it have been transferring ahead anytime quickly. Just like he did with the Pandora growth at Disneyland lengthy earlier than it was formally introduced.
As famous above, that is pretty unsurprising. Walt Disney World is unlikely to proceed with Journey into Imagination 4.0 as a result of administration hung the ole “mission accomplished” banner with the opening of Spirit Halloween Superstore CommuniCore Hall. With that, they declared the overhaul accomplished, regardless of lots of its introduced tasks by no means being completed.
This perspective was kind of reiterated in the course of the latest D23 Expo. There have been tons of bulletins for Walt Disney World, together with new lands and points of interest at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Each of those parks will, conservatively, see tons of of tens of millions of {dollars} of funding at minimal. Magic Kingdom might pretty simply eclipse $2 billion relying upon the size and scope of its new lands.
Meanwhile, the one factor introduced for EPCOT was a brand new lounge inside Spaceship Earth…which takes over a lounge area. Not precisely bold. Additionally, new particulars have been revealed about Test Track 3.0, a journey being funded by Chevy Bucks. Suffice to say, the amount of cash Disney will spend money on EPCOT over the subsequent couple of years is next-to-nothing. The distinction between EPCOT and the opposite three parks actually says all that must be stated. EPCOT isn’t the precedence–it’s deemed “done” for causes past me.
Nevertheless, I’ve taken a sacred oath to advocate for Journey into Imagination 4.0 each time the chance presents itself, so I’m going to proceed with that, but once more, right here. As we’ve stated many occasions and for a few years, it’s time to reimagine the Imagination pavilion (Figment known as–desires modifications!).
That’s hardly a daring assertion–it’s been time for nearly 20 years. The final model was solely a band support, meant as a fast repair for the really abysmal second model. That third model–once more, a brief answer–is now the longest-running model of Journey into Imagination. (Let that sink in.)
It’s no secret that at the same time as diehard Figment devoted, we don’t love the present incarnation of the journey. It made our lists of the 10 Worst Attraction Replacements at Walt Disney World and 10 Attractions That Have Aged Poorly at Walt Disney World. We did defend Journey into Imagination as one in every of a number of points of interest at EPCOT that it is best to not skip, which is a “controversial” opinion as a result of the attraction really is divisive.
The present Journey into Imagination has low visitor satisfaction scores relative to different rides of its form. We’ve routinely remarked that first-timers confuse Figment for a Spyro the Dragon knock-off, which is admittedly solely a half-joke.
Unless you’re a toddler of the Nineteen Eighties or 90s who skilled the unique attraction–which has been gone for much longer than it existed!–or are a voracious client of Disney historical past movies, you seemingly have zero affinity for Figment and may even be confused by why the present character has such a powerful fan following. (He doesn’t! It’s the previous Figment we love!)
The present Journey into Imagination attraction and the pavilion as an entire are underutilized. The journey routinely is a walk-on or has an precise wait time of below 5 minutes. The theater has been exhibiting the Pixar shorts for some time now, which was additionally meant to be a band support following the removing of Captain EO. Along with Journey into Imagination 4.0, I can consider few higher touchdown areas for MuppetVision 3D than the Imagination pavilion.
Prior to the large D23 bulletins, Disney management expressed a need to extend capability of the parks by reimagining areas which might be at the moment underused. There are a number of such spots in EPCOT, however except for Wonders of Life, I can’t consider any which have as a lot potential for absorbing extra crowds because the Imagination Pavilion. Even with out precise growth, there’s a lot untapped potential with the Imagination pavilion.
Journey into Imagination 4.0 ought to’ve been fast-tracked to debut earlier than 2027. Walt Disney World wants extra between now and when Tropical Americas opens to supply some semblance of competitors to Universal’s Epic Universe. It’s too late for that, so it needs to be a 2028 challenge. (Realistically, it’s extra like a 2029 or 2030 challenge, at finest.)
I additionally suppose that Disney is mistaken in its evaluation that the half-baked EPCOT overhaul is “over.” I believe that they’re already discovering this through attendance, and that pattern will solely speed up as Epic Universe eats into the attendance of Animal Kingdom and EPCOT to disproportionate levels.
At that time, one thing will must be performed, and the most probably candidates are reimaginings. Several are potential at EPCOT, as mentioned in our List of What EPCOT’s Overhaul Needs in Phase 2. That is unsurprisingly topped by JII4, but in addition on the listing are updates to different former Future World pavilions in addition to additions to World Showcase.
This is each my hope and my expectation. Walt Disney World’s present 5-year plan requires minimal funding in EPCOT as different parks are the main focus. I’m skeptical that’s really potential or sensible, and the corporate might need to divert a few of these assets from Magic Kingdom–a park needing no assist to start with–to EPCOT because it turns into obvious the park isn’t “fixed” from an attendance perspective.
Disney is notoriously gradual to reply to developments, so it’ll most likely take till Epic Universe opens for that realization to happen. While there’s appreciable debate over whether or not Universal’s new park will eat into Walt Disney World attendance or a “rising tide lifts all boats,” our expectation is that it’ll be a little bit of each. That Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios will profit, whereas EPCOT and (particularly) Animal Kingdom will undergo. (The common household solely has so many trip days to allocate to theme parks, and that quantity is below 4.)
Realistically, that places the earliest conceivable announcement of Journey into Imagination 4.0 on the 2025 Destination D23 occasion at Walt Disney World, which can happen over Labor Day weekend. As talked about above, I doubt that’ll occur. It’s too quickly after Epic Universe opens, and likewise, I believe Spaceship Earth or one thing going into the Wonders of Life pavilion is the extra rapid precedence and decrease hanging fruit.
Above all else, the explanation a reimagining of Journey into Imagination might and will occur is repairing relations with followers and optimistic PR. As pent-up demand continues to fade, attendance drops and Epic Universe opens, Walt Disney World will want the diehards greater than it did just a few years in the past.
For Bob Iger, getting Journey into Imagination 4.0 greenlit needs to be a no brainer transfer. Although it’s unlikely he himself is a Figment fan, Iger has demonstrated upon returning that he does care (considerably) about visitor goodwill and fan disenchantment–however there’s rather more work to be performed on that entrance. Much extra importantly (to him), Iger is worried about his legacy.
Then there’s Josh D’Amaro, who’s within the working as a successor CEO. Fans have seen D’Amaro favorably over the previous couple of years regardless of all that’s occurred, largely as a result of Chapek has taken the blame–and D’Amaro is rather more likeable. But the tides are beginning to flip–and that’s regardless of an enormous slate of D23 Expo bulletins. D’Amaro has but to show himself (his monitor file at this level is mainly simply CommuniCore Hall and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure), and a reimagined Journey into Imagination might assist elevate his inventory.
Bringing again Figment and Dreamfinder is a surefire method of undoing numerous the outrage and model injury from the previous couple of years, quieting the complaints and criticism. I can’t consider another single optimistic announcement that will outweigh so many prior negatives ones. Quite a bit can be forgiven by followers within the blink of a watch. We’d win, the executives who need to bolster their statures would win. Everybody wins.
It’s already been an honest couple of years for Figment followers. We’ve gotten some nice merchandise (that has offered like hotcakes), an amazing new e-book, and the meet & greet stays fashionable. (Speaking of which, I ought to most likely get round to sharing pictures from Baby Bricker’s first Figment encounter.) A brand new sequence on Disney+ can be one other small victory for Figment followers, and if Bob Iger follows via on it, I promise to park Megatron in entrance of the tv for 12 hours per day (who at the moment isn’t allowed any display screen time), watching it on loop to additional indoctrinate her into the Figment fandom. But we nonetheless want extra; Figment deserves extra.
An overhaul of Journey into Imagination can be each a legacy challenge and one thing that will outline the in any other case underwhelming World Celebration neighborhood of the EPCOT transformation, tying it collectively right into a extra cohesive challenge. Figment would turn into the face and mascot of the new-look EPCOT, elevating the in any other case underwhelming central backbone within the course of. Walt Disney World has performed sufficient dipping its toes into the pool to check the recognition of Figment. It’s past time for a redone journey.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider Disney CEO Bob Iger saying he’s going to push creatives to make a sequence or shorts about Figment? Could this be a precursor to Journey into Imagination 4.0? Or is that this simply extra false hope for followers? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation that now could be the second-most logical time for a Journey into Imagination overhaul? Any questions? Hearing from you is half the enjoyable, so please share your ideas within the feedback!