A headline and sentence that I by no means concept I’d kind: Walt Disney International has introduced that Dreamfinder will go back to his rightful house, reunited with Figment inside of Adventure Into Creativeness as a part of a reimagining of the vintage EPCOT Heart enchantment. That is actually the most efficient Disney information I will in all probability consider.
This night used to be one of the most best possible nights of my existence. (I were given married noon and my daughter used to be born within the morning, so I’m secure pronouncing that.) As I sit down right here typing this in the midst of the night time, I’m directly extremely sleep-deprived and am in a state of adrenaline-driven euphoria. I don’t suppose I may sleep despite the fact that I sought after, so it’s a just right factor I’ve a couple of dozen weblog posts to crank out. Even though I do stay pinching myself simply to quadruple-check that I’m now not dreaming.
Even supposing I didn’t put Adventure Into Creativeness on my D23 predictions for the primary time in a decade and informed myself I knew it wasn’t going to occur, my center sank when Parks Chairman Thomas Mazloum swiftly ended the Disney Reviews Exhibit. I will have to’ve been on cloud 9 with the similarly past due Tomorrowland reimagining, however but, I used to be devastated as soon as once more. After which I noticed the person within the sack (perhaps I’m dreaming?!) seem at the back of the doorways and I jumped from my seat. I knew straight away: it used to be in any case taking place.
The person within the sack published himself as Neil Patrick Harris dressed as Dreamfinder maintaining Figment, and demanded that Mazloum satisfy a promise: that if NPH hosted the “Horizons: A Carousel of Development,” Mazloum would repair NPH’s favourite Animatronic personality of all-time to his former glory.
Right here’s video of what can simplest be described as essentially the most magical second:
Already watched this a dozen instances, nonetheless can’t consider it’s in any case actual. %.twitter.com/WJx5Xc5vNt
— Disney Vacationer Weblog (@DisTouristBlog) August 16, 2026
“YES! We’re taking a brand new Adventure Into Creativeness at EPCOT with Figment and Dreamfinder!” Disney Reviews Chairman Thomas Mazloum informed the cheering crowd. “I’m so glad to proportion this information this night. We understand how necessary that is to you. We’ve heard you, and that is another approach we’re hanging you within the heart of the whole thing we do.”
Walt Disney International additional shared that it’s time to take a brand new flight of fancy into our creativeness at EPCOT. Now not simplest will everybody’s favourite inventive red dragon be sticking round, however he’s in any case reunited with Dreamfinder, too. There’s so a lot more to return about Dreamfinder and Figment’s adventure again to EPCOT, so keep tuned.
Clearly, there are numerous unknowns, however the only factor that totally is understood is the what Thomas mentioned on the finish: “We understand how necessary that is to you. We’ve heard you, and that is another approach we’re hanging you within the heart of the whole thing we do.”
This in point of fact is due to all of you. All of us. I used to be instructed a couple of years in the past that if I sought after to peer Dreamfinder and Figment restored to their former glory with a reimagined Adventure Into Creativeness pavilion, the enthusiasts had to (paraphrasing) will it into life. We had to do the whole thing in our energy to ship management with what they had to get a suggestion greenlit. And so we did…and they did.
I do know a few of you didn’t consider once we defined how new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro is other. Or how Imagineering is again on target, and there’s a a great deal progressed running dating between Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney International management.
For those who don’t see that now, after this night’s slate, I don’t know what to let you know. From the Tomorrowland reimagining to Disco Yeti to the Adventure Into Creativeness reimagining, this Expo used to be principally a listing of the best hits of changing enthusiasts’ largest proceedings.
I suppose this implies I will by no means say any other dangerous phrase about Josh D’Amaro, Thomas Mazloum, Bruce Vaughn, Michael Hundgen, Chris Beatty, Neil Patrick Harris, or someone else who helped make this second occur, paved the way of stumbling blocks, or just stayed out of the best way when they may’ve impeded creativeness. I’m nonetheless having a difficult time believing that is actual.
Our Remark
As very long time readers definitely know, Figment is my favourite Disney personality and the unique Adventure into Creativeness is my favourite enchantment. Now not simply at Walt Disney International–any place, ever. I’d industry all long run visits to Tokyo DisneySea for a possibility to revel in the unique EPCOT Heart darkish trip with Sarah and Megatron simply as soon as.
There’s actually no information that will be as significant for me as this announcement of a reimagined Adventure into Creativeness. Disney may’ve introduced a fifth gate at Walt Disney International, Tokyo DisneySky, or the go back of all extinct vacation choices (together with Nation Endure Christmas) and this is able to nonetheless be the number 1 information of the 2026 D23 Expo for me through a shockingly vast margin. It’s the announcement I’ve been anxiously expecting for the ultimate twenty years.
That’s rarely hyperbole. It’s been time for a reimagining for twenty years. The ultimate model used to be just a band help, intended as a handy guide a rough repair for the in point of fact abysmal 2d model. That 3rd model–once more, a short lived resolution–is now the longest-running model of Adventure into Creativeness. (Let that sink in.)
It’s no secret that whilst diehard Figment devoted, we don’t love the present incarnation of the trip. It made our lists of the 10 Worst Appeal Replacements at Walt Disney International and 10 Sights That Have Elderly Poorly at Walt Disney International. We did protect Adventure into Creativeness as considered one of a number of points of interest at EPCOT that you simply will have to now not skip, which is a “arguable” opinion since the enchantment in point of fact is divisive.
Until you’re a kid of the Eighties or 90s who skilled the unique enchantment–which has been long gone for some distance longer than it existed!–or are a voracious client of Disney historical past movies, you most probably have 0 affinity for Figment and may also be at a loss for words through why the present personality has this kind of robust fan following. (He doesn’t! It’s the outdated Figment we adore!)
The present Adventure into Creativeness has low visitor pleasure rankings relative to different rides of its sort, and for just right explanation why. The trip robotically is a walk-on or has a real wait time of beneath 5 mins. The theater has been appearing the Pixar shorts for some time now, which used to be additionally intended to be a band help following the elimination of Captain EO. We’ve robotically remarked that first-timers confuse Figment for a Spyro the Dragon knock-off, which is in point of fact just a half-joke.
Whilst the present enchantment is healthier than not anything, the unique Adventure into Creativeness of my adolescence within the Eighties thru mid-Nineteen Nineties that includes Figment and Dreamfinder used to be one thing particular. An exemplar of Imagineering on par with Haunted Mansion that has enduring reputation, regardless of being extinct for many years, as it showcased the head of Disney and humanity.
Figment embodied the most efficient issues about adolescence interest. The nature resonated deeply with adults who noticed somewhat bit in their children in Figment, and youngsters who noticed somewhat of themselves within the personality. He used to be whimsical and inquisitive, humorous and endearing. Greater than some other personality, Figment embodies what it method to be a child at center.
It used to be a equivalent tale with Dreamfinder; the nice and cozy, jolly and eminently huggable determine who used to be one phase professor, one phase parental determine, and one phase Santa Claus. Adventure into Creativeness’s good fortune is understated: the trip confirmed us all of the best possible of ourselves.
In an international this is an increasing number of polarized, on edge, and bursting with negativity, Figment and Dreamfinder are an antidote to all of that. Those characters are arguably “wanted” greater than ever, and resonate an increasing number of with each and every passing yr as a result of the beliefs they constitute.
I’m satisfied that’s a part of why Figment products plays so nicely, even with visitors who by no means skilled the unique enchantment. Its spirit of optimism, creativeness, childlike surprise and whimsy are common; despite the fact that the present enchantment doesn’t, the perfect model of Figment speaks to enthusiasts.
My fondness for Figment is well-documented in this weblog. You’re more than likely already acutely aware of that as a result of each and every time there’s even essentially the most inconsequential building on a trip reimagining, corresponding to CEO Josh D’Amaro bringing up the ‘long run of Figment’ all the way through the shareholder’s assembly, DTB is everywhere it.
We’ve been imploring Walt Disney International to reimagine Adventure Into Creativeness for years. Selfishly, I need our daughter so that you can trip a reimagined model of the trip whilst she’s nonetheless the perfect age; however I additionally need everybody who didn’t revel in the unique to peer how this personality can also be so particular.
This unique EPCOT Heart enchantment and those characters had been my one little spark into Disney fandom. My first foray into the Disney fan group used to be the now-defunct FigmentsImagination.com (to be had right here by way of the Web Archive Wayback Gadget). I came upon that website online again within the past due Nineteen Nineties, after being dissatisfied to be informed that the unique trip closed. It used to be a approach to stay the reminiscence alive of the unique characters and enchantment that I cherished, maintaining out hope they’d go back.
Speedy-forward a couple of decade to when Sarah and I returned from our first commute in combination to Walt Disney International, and my fondness for Figment used to be rekindled. I started scouring eBay for all issues Figment and located a humiliation of riches. I scooped up the whole thing I may in finding.
My obsession with Walt Disney International turned into our obsession. Sarah had long gone prior to as a child, however she wasn’t striking out on message forums in her faculty’s laptop lab, poring over EPCOT Heart trip rumors. I suppose she used to be “cool” or one thing. Now not anymore. Now we had been each Disney geeks.
We returned to Walt Disney International the following yr as true geeks, dressed in our Figment shirts to fulfill the nature referred to as Figzilla. The photograph beneath is from August 19, 2007. It’s considered one of a chain the place I, a school dude, were given somewhat excited to fulfill his adolescence hero, a costumed dragon, in entrance of his female friend. (And but, she nonetheless married me!)
That is the commute that in point of fact put Walt Disney International excessive for us. Our first commute used to be a laugh, however this used to be magical. Upon returning house, we had been in even deeper when it got here to Walt Disney International. The eagerness grew, together with that for Adventure Into Creativeness.
Even on the time in 2007, there have been rumors of a trip reimagining and recovery of Figment to his former glory. Naturally, we bought a Figment child gown in order that our long run kid may revel in that long run model of the enchantment and put on it whilst assembly long run Figment and Dreamfinder.
A couple of years later, I had the great fortune of assembly Tony Baxter and in short talk about the unique pavilion with him. Later that very same commute, I had the implausible revel in of seeing Dreamfinder, Figment, and Richard Sherman carry out “One Little Spark.” In truth, that is all so important to me that Figment and Dreamfinder made my Best 10 Disney Reviews (So A ways) Record two times.
For some time, rumors a couple of long run reimagining of Adventure into Creativeness had been not unusual some of the Disney fan group. It gave the impression that there have been all the time a couple of competing concepts for a brand new trip that used to be thisclose to being greenlit. Invariably, one would contain Disney highbrow assets from an animated movie and any other can be a subsequent technology trip that includes the triumphant go back of Figment & Dreamfinder.
I adopted those rumors voraciously, getting stuck up within the angst, pleasure, and common curler coaster of feelings. Doable replacements ranged from Phineas and Ferb to Inside of Out, and more than likely a half-dozen different characters I’m forgetting.
A decade in the past, it gave the impression a Adventure into Creativeness redo used to be in any case shifting ahead, simplest to apparently be thwarted through the good fortune and next fast-tracking of a Frozen trip in International Exhibit. Then all the way through the darkest days of the Chapek technology, the entire rumors revolved round Figment being outright changed through film highbrow assets, which will have to come as a marvel to nobody.
Round that point, I turned into jaded and skeptical of any rumors relating to Adventure into Creativeness. I’ve all the time in point of fact sought after to consider, which has more than likely been a part of the issue for lots of different EPCOT Heart enthusiasts, too. And I in point of fact sought after a press release, however on the identical time, I sought after the timing to be proper. Right through the late-stage Chapek technology, which additionally introduced us such gemstones as CommuniCore Corridor, I knew the timing used to be now not proper.
As a lifelong Walt Disney International diehard, EPCOT Heart fanatic, and Figment fan, I may play the lengthy sport and wait a couple of extra years. In any case, what’s somewhat longer at this level? Particularly for an enchantment that shall be round for many years to return. I’d reasonably Imagineering have the time, skill and price range to get it proper–and with out Pleasure from Inside of Out changing Figment.
In the previous few years, I’ve allowed myself to consider once more. Chapek is long gone. Imagineering is again on target. Management is aligned, from the local-level at Walt Disney International to the Parks Chair to even the CEO. While Bob Iger used to be conversant in Figment and more than likely knew higher than to take away him and incur the wrath of the fandom, new CEO Josh D’Amaro is aware of precisely who Figment is and what he method to enthusiasts.
Nonetheless, even with the celebrities apparently aligned, I didn’t need to get forward of myself in imagining this chance. I had heard the entire rumblings, rumors and wishful considering this time. And sure, I used to be even one of the most crazies who “noticed” a blurred Dreamfinder at the back of Neil Patrick Harris and Parks Chair Thomas Mazloum within the above photograph. (In my protection, I didn’t see it till it turned into a veritable Rorschach take a look at on social media, however I’ll concede that after I noticed it, I couldn’t unsee it.)
All of this backstory is both vital context for my love of the unique Adventure into Creativeness or me ‘operating out the clock’ to steer clear of providing a real response to this information relying upon your viewpoint. In truth, it’s a little bit of each. For the second one time in the similar night time at D23 Expo, I think just like the canine that has stuck the automobile.
I will slightly include my pleasure, however I’m additionally in a state of outrage. Up to I’ve sought after this to occur, and advocated for it at each and every flip within the hope that no matter affect this website online and its readers may have may help in making a distinction, I’m additionally now not positive I ever believed it if truth be told would occur.
Truthfully, whilst I sit down right here typing this, it nonetheless doesn’t somewhat really feel actual. Did that announcement if truth be told occur, or did I float asleep whilst writing up a press release about 50 new popcorn buckets coming for EPCOT’s fiftieth Anniversary and dream all of it?
In the end, what’s most fun for me, for my part, is that we’ve got a daughter who’s getting into her early life when Adventure Into Creativeness may in point of fact resonate. She’s already outgrown her cute Figment gown (nobody tells you time begins shifting quicker whilst you develop into a mum or dad), and is getting into the ‘candy spot’ for Adventure into Creativeness to spark her interest.
Sarah confirmed her the clip of the announcement and she or he used to be excited to peer Figment, however had no clue who Dreamfinder used to be, so I suppose I’ve some paintings to do. One at a time, she noticed Neil Patrick Harris and exclaimed, “it’s doodah!” Which, I suppose, through extension method I may painting Dreamfinder!
Personally, I hugged no less than a dozen other folks on the Honda Heart (It’s not that i am a hugger) and gave a number of random strangers top fives. It’s more than likely the nearest I’ll ever get to what it should really feel love to win the Stanley Cup, except for everybody (studying this) would agree the stakes are approach upper right here. Suffice to mention, I’m completely ecstatic for the reimagining of Adventure Into Creativeness to in any case be taking place.
I’m for my part fascinated with with the ability to relive my very own adolescence nostalgia, and forge new circle of relatives recollections 4 many years later. I’m basking within the communal pleasure of fellow EPCOT Heart enthusiasts, who’ve in a similar way waited see you later for at the present time but additionally had been worried it’d ever occur or if truth be told be just right information when the Adventure Into Creativeness reimagining used to be introduced.
In spite of everything, I’m elated on the prospect of reuniting Figment and Dreamfinder, restoring them to their former glory and introducing new enthusiasts to the characters who can fall in love with them for the primary time. Fascinated with the children who’re going to find those characters all the way through their early life, and feature a in point of fact imaginative Adventure Into Creativeness to go away an indelible mark that shapes their adolescence and sparks their very own interest and inquisitiveness, fills my center with pleasure.
Above all else, that’s what made me teary-eyed about this announcement. The truth that a complete new technology of children are going to have the similar revel in that I did as a kid, and be impressed to consider and dream. That’s value celebrating. I completely can not wait to be informed extra and watch this trip reimagining play out.
Making plans a Walt Disney International commute? Find out about inns on our Walt Disney International Accommodations Opinions web page. For the place to consume, learn our Walt Disney International Eating place Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to shop for, learn our Pointers for Saving Cash on Walt Disney International Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at artful pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney International Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to start out is our Walt Disney International Commute Making plans Information for the whole thing you wish to have to grasp!
Your Ideas
What used to be your response to this announcement? Ideas on Dreamfinder and Figment being reunited and restored to their former glory in a reimagined Adventure Into Creativeness? What do you want to peer occur in a super global? Are you excited? Skeptical? Anxious? Some other ideas, insights, and so on? Any questions we will let you solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas beneath within the feedback!
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