Figment Cafe

[WDWFigment]

Does anyone have any information about the Figment Cafe that was for employees of DL (I'm posting in the WDW forum since Figment is a WDW character)? I've heard that a lot of Figment memorabilia adorned the walls, did anyone ever see it? Better yet, did anyone ever manage to sneak a picture? Any information at all would be helpful, Google turned up very little on the topic.

I have found a couple images on www.figmentsimagination.com that can't be copied, and this one:

 

[shumphr2]

I have never heard of Figment Cafe before.....That is very exciting.....Figment is one of my favorite characters ever.....Can't wait to see what develops!!!!

 

[maelstrom]

I've never heard of this. I'm eager to learn more, like why did Figment have a cafe across the country from his home?

 

[comics101]

I've never heard of this. I'm eager to learn more, like why did Figment have a cafe across the country from his home?

If i'm not mistaken, Figment and Dreamfinder were originally created for a show in what was supposed to be Discovery Bay in Disneyland, however, for some reason that never surfaced and the characters were moved to EPCOT Center.

 

[maelstrom]

If i'm not mistaken, Figment and Dreamfinder were originally created for a show in what was supposed to be Discovery Bay in Disneyland, however, for some reason that never surfaced and the characters were moved to EPCOT Center.

Never heard of Figment and Dreamfinder being a proposed part of Discovery Bay, either. As far as I know, Figment was conjured up specifically for Epcot.

 

[Captain Hank]

I believe that Figment Cafe is the name of a cafeteria at Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, CA.

 

[kiawahman]

how do you know this was a DL not WDW cafe?

 

[Captain Hank]

how do you know this was a DL not WDW cafe?

I'm pretty sure that it's in WDI CA not WDI FL. It's not a restaraunt for Guests. I remember reading about it in one of the Imagineering books, either The Imagineering Way or The Imagineering Workout. It talks about how the Imagineers volunteered their time off to decorate their cafeteria in a Figment theme.

 

[WDWFigment]

I'm pretty sure that it's in WDI CA not WDI FL. It's not a restaraunt for Guests. I remember reading about it in one of the Imagineering books, either The Imagineering Way or The Imagineering Workout. It talks about how the Imagineers volunteered their time off to decorate their cafeteria in a Figment theme.

Everything I've seen about it says it's defunct. But it was in WDI in CA, yes (according to the little bit of information I've seen).

 

[WDWFigment]

Sure enough, a little information about Figment Cafe can be found in The Imagineering Way. From page 80:

"Because so much creative discussion happens over lunch, it follows that the design of our cafeterias should inspire food for thought as well. One such dining room was given the tantalizing moniker of "Figment Cafe"--named after the clever little purple dragon from the Journey into the Imagination attraction at Epcot.

Unfortunately, there was nothing very Figmenty about the new eating facility. It had bare white walls and a drab blocked-in patio populated by exceedingly plain tables and chairs. Even the carpet was gray. This new cafeteria inspired us all right--it inspired us to want to change it immediately."



For there it goes on to talk about how they changed it to a Discoverers' Club that would include a large picture of an "Explorer Figment." However, management said it would cost too much, so the imagineers did all the work to decorate the Cafe on their own time (The Imagineers, 81). I guess this settles the mystery, although I heard from a couple different sources that pictures were not allowed in Figment Cafe because the walls were adorned with unique Figment items. Wonder if this is true, or if it was just white walls. I can't imagine there being no decorations of the restaurants namesake, but who knows.

Anyone else know anything?
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[jeffb]

If i'm not mistaken, Figment and Dreamfinder were originally created for a show in what was supposed to be Discovery Bay in Disneyland, however, for some reason that never surfaced and the characters were moved to EPCOT Center.

Yes, I seem to recall something like this as well but they were not Figment or Dreamfinder (at least yet) - I think it was something with a Sourcerer and dragons that never came to be. These characters were then revisited for EPCOT and morphed into Figment and Dreamfinder. Paging Marni.

 

[WDWFigment]

Yes, I seem to recall something like this as well but they were not Figment or Dreamfinder (at least yet) - I think it was something with a Sourcerer and dragons that never came to be. These characters were then revisited for EPCOT and morphed into Figment and Dreamfinder. Paging Marni.

I don't know if this is exactly the case--according to Marni/Martin's Tribute to JII the imagineers developed a sorcerer/wizard type character who had a bunch of green dragons. There even is a picture of a green dragon with him. I'm sure he has more information, but there is about 20 seconds in his tribute that tells how Kodak rejected the idea because of Fuji Film. My recollection of that portion of the video isn't perfect, but I think that's the information it gave. I don't recall it saying anything about them originally being for DL, I thought they were made for this attraction at EPCOT Center.

 

[jeffb]

I don't know if this is exactly the case--according to Marni/Martin's Tribute to JII the imagineers developed a sorcerer/wizard type character who had a bunch of green dragons. There even is a picture of a green dragon with him. I'm sure he has more information, but there is about 20 seconds in his tribute that tells how Kodak rejected the idea because of Fuji Film. My recollection of that portion of the video isn't perfect, but I think that's the information it gave. I don't recall it saying anything about them originally being for DL, I thought they were made for this attraction at EPCOT Center.

WDWFigment - Yes this is definitely what I am thinking of.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Going a little of topic:

In past Imagination & Figment discussions there was talk of Figment actually being the property of Kodak not WDC. Info anyone??

 

[maelstrom]

AFAIK, Figment was created specifically for Epcot, dreamt up by Tony Baxter, IIRC.

 

[WDWFigment]

Going a little of topic:

In past Imagination & Figment discussions there was talk of Figment actually being the property of Kodak not WDC. Info anyone??

All of the Figment items I have say "Copyright Disney, 1982," so I presume he's Disney's property. That, and I really can't see Disney giving Kodak that kind of power or leverage over one of their most popular characters.