News Figment meet and greet returning to EPCOT at Walt Disney World in a 'whole new way'

[Gillyanne]

Unless there will be a Destination D event it's the only other time will be hearing anything else about it..Also, it brings up where they will have it within the Pavillion. Would they officially kick out Vannellope or Joy for this?

That's what I was wondering, get rid of/redo the area from one of the other characters (or maybe not even re-do Joy's since it's "Imagination Land"); or maybe get rid of the musical light area? You know in true Disney fashion get rid of more of the "play" part of the area...

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

That's what I was wondering, get rid of/redo the area from one of the other characters (or maybe not even re-do Joy's since it's "Imagination Land"); or maybe get rid of the musical light area? You know in true Disney fashion get rid of more of the "play" part of the area...

A big hint if there was a closure for a reimagining of the ride is that the upstairs DVC lounge would have to close first and migrate somewhere else in Epcot. It would take slowly to move just to start...

Speaking of move Mickey won't be at Magic Eye once the new hub opens shown on the revised map a new Character Spot is coming back to their original spot..
Photo from pirate & princesses

 

[FigmentFan82]

I gotta feel like they're swinging for something unique here. We know they're open to developing new technologies for the M&G experience (Hulk - yes looked clunky AF but it shows them trying to go there)

It would be amazing if a very lifelike little Figment robot could waddle down the paths around Imagination and interreact with guests

 

[Homemade Imagineering]

If it’s not ready till the end of 2023, it’s definitely not the old walkaround

 

[Figments Friend]

I have been on Property here for the past week, and spent today at Epcot ( again ).
Several CMs asked if I had heard the news regarding the meet n' greet 'coming back'.
Had a good chat with a few of them.
Two even mentioned 'they should just bring back Dreamfinder with him'.


Anyway, I would LIKE to think that this will not simply be yet another costume character but instead one of the 'living character initiative' creations.
Similar to lil' Groot and the soon to be appearing baby Grogu coming to Disneyland.
One could even include BB8 over at Launch Bay and tiny Chef Remy that used to appear at Epcot's Chefs De France.

This Figment meet n' greet really NEEDS to be something more then just a performer in a suit.
They already tried this with 'Figzilla' and it was my understanding from hearing from friends behind the scenes that this was not popular with Guests back at the time.
I know his creator was not a fan of the 'Mega Sized Figment'.
Everybody knows he is supposed to be a 'pint sized dragon'.

Today, now more then ever, such a properly sized 'meet able' creation can be made.
We have seen this already at this point being used in the Parks with Guests.....and the character is a perfect match for going that route.
The big question is if Bob will let them do this, and do it RIGHT...and not go the 'cheap n' quick' route.
We shall see, but something gives me the impression this might happen.

-

 

[cheezbat]

I’m sure this’ll be a puppet or animatronic of some sort…

I would have no problem with Figzilla either. I was probably one of the only people who liked him.

This announcement at the parks panel was an absolute slap in the face though. They just about got everybody going nuts only to crush their joy by announcing a meet and greet.

 

[Figments Friend]

Agree.

They go to the effort to do this, and yet the Imagination Pavillion in itself continues to sit and ferment.
It IS a slap in the face.
What SHOULD be done and seriously NEEDS to be done is refresh the entire Pavillion.
Make it 'imaginative' again.
But we all know this.

And NO, that does not mean shoving 'Pixar' splutter in there.
Oh **** no.
A perfectly apt pair of characters already exists.
Keep that 'Pixar' stuff over at Studios.

-

 

[pdude81]

I have been on Property here for the past week, and spent today at Epcot ( again ).
Several CMs asked if I had heard the news regarding the meet n' greet 'coming back'.
Had a good chat with a few of them.
Two even mentioned 'they should just bring back Dreamfinder with him'.


Anyway, I would LIKE to think that this will not simply be yet another costume character but instead one of the 'living character initiative' creations.
Similar to lil' Groot and the soon to be appearing baby Grogu coming to Disneyland.
One could even include BB8 over at Launch Bay and tiny Chef Remy that used to appear at Epcot's Chefs De France.

This Figment meet n' greet really NEEDS to be something more then just a performer in a suit.
They already tried this with 'Figzilla' and it was my understanding from hearing from friends behind the scenes that this was not popular with Guests back at the time.
I know his creator was not a fan of the 'Mega Sized Figment'.
Everybody knows he is supposed to be a 'pint sized dragon'.

Today, now more then ever, such a properly sized 'meet able' creation can be made.
We have seen this already at this point being used in the Parks with Guests.....and the character is a perfect match for going that route.
The big question is if Bob will let them do this, and do it RIGHT...and not go the 'cheap n' quick' route.
We shall see, but something gives me the impression this might happen.

-

I, for one, would love to meet Figzilla. Now an animatronic "Talking Mickey" Figment would be better, especially if we get real Photopass and not the stupid box camera they have turned off everywhere they tried them.

 

[hismattjesty]

I’m sure this’ll be a puppet or animatronic of some sort…

I would have no problem with Figzilla either. I was probably one of the only people who liked him.

This announcement at the parks panel was an absolute slap in the face though. They just about got everybody going nuts only to crush their joy by announcing a meet and greet.

Make that 2 of us then! I absolutely loved the costumed version I met in 2005/2006ish outside the Imagination pavilion. Was the day of my 33rd or 34th birthday, and I lost it! I had never seen a Figment M&G outside the original Dreamfinder w/ puppet one up until then.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Agree.

They go to the effort to do this, and yet the Imagination Pavillion in itself continues to sit and ferment.
It IS a slap in the face.
What SHOULD be done and seriously NEEDS to be done is refresh the entire Pavillion.
Make it 'imaginative' again.
But we all know this.

And NO, that does not mean shoving 'Pixar' splutter in there.
Oh **** no.
A perfectly apt pair of characters already exists.
Keep that 'Pixar' stuff over at Studios.

-

I agree with you, but the "Pixar stuff" has long since left the confines of Hollywood Studios. Two pavilions down, as a matter of fact, has a Pixar character in its name now. That train left the station years ago.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I had found this interesting I posted this video before of a test run on how Figment would work with guests...


While looking through the comments former Dreamfinder performer Ron Schneider commented on this..

"From all I know, this was part of WED Enterprise's research into children's resp0nse to the Figment hand puppet. Disney had set the look for the AA Figment in the JII ride-thru, and wanted us to stroll outside in the Picture-Taking Garden, but wanted to see how small children would react to the puppet, which they believed would be handled by a ventriloquist while interacting with the Guests; in other words, they thought he would talk. There was also the issue that you couldn't fit a puppeteer's arm in the AA figure as it existed and so Figment would need to be redesigned. (Note how Mickey's design and proportions have changed radically several times over decades, but we always recognize him as the same guy, whether it's Steamboat Willie or Talking Mickey on Main Street!) However, the voice was too much to handle coming from the puppet. Notice the kids are a little put off by it; high and loud and annoying. The character design, though rounder and friendlier, is still pretty pointy and manic (a rather "un-Disney" design actually; which I think accounts for his popularity with the older demographic!). So, as it was explained to me by Tony Baxter when I was hired, this led to the WED Team's decision that the strolling Figment would remain silent, in order to avoid frightening the kids."

 

[Doberge]

Tony seems to think it's a walk around?

So how do we take Tony wishing more had been announced? Is it to be read as "I've been consulted and there are more plans that are near ready to be announced but were not" or as "I don't know anything but wish there would be more in the works."

I've been curious since Sunday wondering if Disney pulled announcements at the last minute, as had been rumored has happened in the past. D'Amaro's teaser line asking the audience if we were ready to "come along along on a little journey with me" was too spot-on to be unintentional, as though the line was scripted for a bigger announcement and then not changed as the announcement list changed.

But on the Figment meet and greet, moving the character doesnt seen like a problem. R2D2 is an example of a robotic charcater controled by a distanced operator. And there are plenty of options for suited or puppeted options as well. They can roll out something in existing tech without much problem but if they're going for a talking Figment then that's way more difficult. Making talking characters that look natural speaking had only worked if masked (storm troopers, Vader, Mando) or a dressed up face character (most others). The Town Square talking Mickey was always a bit strange.

 

[Inspired Figment]

Basically, he doesn’t know anything much about it and simply wanted more to be announced due to his fondness for the character & attraction. Just like past D23s. They went out of their way to say they’re consulting w Tony for Tiana’s Saltmine simply for a PR save. They never wanted his advice to begin with and the stuff we’ve seen so far, shows that. He wishes they’d genuinely consult him for a proper comeback of the attraction, but alas, bread crumbs like the Tiana Saltmine fiasco. Hence why he left WDI years ago. His Legends Award/retirement Ceremony is very symbolic & telling… look closely at which characters are besides who when he gets his award.

 

[Figments Friend]

I, for one, would love to meet Figzilla. Now an animatronic "Talking Mickey" Figment would be better, especially if we get real Photopass and not the stupid box camera they have turned off everywhere they tried them.

I met 'Figzilla' once back in the day....in his special spot called 'Figment's Place' which was the former Kodak Camera shop next to the Pavillon.
The space was painted up pretty nice inside... and 'Figment' was gigantic.
Nobody was in there...place was deserted in the middle of the day.
Just me, the giant dragon, and a older CM.

Besides a quick photo, the three of us spent most of the time talking about how much the Original 'Journey' is sorely missed.
Well, 'Figzilla' didn't talk of course....but nodded very much in agreement and made it known he agreed.

I have a photo....might share at a later time.
He towers over me....such a contrast to the little guy we all know and love.

-

 

[Figments Friend]

I agree with you, but the "Pixar stuff" has long since left the confines of Hollywood Studios. Two pavilions down, as a matter of fact, has a Pixar character in its name now. That train left the station years ago.

True, but I was referring to Pixar elements being used as part of a refresh of the Imagination Pavillion.
So weary of people constantly briniging up the 'Inside Out' talk from ages ago.
The Pavillion does not need this....it already has characters Disney created specifically for this purpose.
Use em'!

-

 

[Inspired Figment]

True, but I was referring to Pixar elements being used as part of a refresh of the Imagination Pavillion.
So weary of people constantly briniging up the 'Inside Out' talk from ages ago.
The Pavillion does not need this....it already has characters Disney created specifically for this purpose.
Use em'!

-

THIS 100%! On top of it, you would’ve ‘thought’ they’d learned their lesson with the last 2 redos shoehorning the popular at the time, “Honey I Shrunk”/Medfield College connected sci-fi comedy flicks IP into the mix that the needless film IP inclusion & push was one of the biggest parts of it’s downfall. People love Figment, Dreamfinder, and the original theme the way it was. Figment was never supposed to be the throwaway cameo/afterthought or an “interference”.. he’s supposed to be a key ‘catalyst’ of its narrative & theme. The focus of the ride was the theme, ‘not’ the character.. Disney management doesn’t understand that when it comes to the parks in their entirety at all anymore.

 

[GhostHost1000]

I’m still not over how they teased figment when it’s in such need of TLC and then it ends up just being a M&G

 

[Inspired Figment]

I’m still not over how they teased figment when it’s in such need of TLC and then it ends up just being a M&G

Truth be told, they ‘genuinely’ think the pavilion is fine as-is and that the issue was fixed in ‘02 (carelessly shoehorning Figment into it as an afterthought rather than fixing the ‘real’ problem with it) Tony’s Legends award ceremony is SUPER telling… absolutley ludicrous.

 

[Figments Friend]

So how do we take Tony wishing more had been announced? Is it to be read as "I've been consulted and there are more plans that are near ready to be announced but were not" or as "I don't know anything but wish there would be more in the works."

I've been curious since Sunday wondering if Disney pulled announcements at the last minute, as had been rumored has happened in the past. D'Amaro's teaser line asking the audience if we were ready to "come along along on a little journey with me" was too spot-on to be unintentional, as though the line was scripted for a bigger announcement and then not changed as the announcement list changed.

But on the Figment meet and greet, moving the character doesnt seen like a problem. R2D2 is an example of a robotic charcater controled by a distanced operator. And there are plenty of options for suited or puppeted options as well. They can roll out something in existing tech without much problem but if they're going for a talking Figment then that's way more difficult. Making talking characters that look natural speaking had only worked if masked (storm troopers, Vader, Mando) or a dressed up face character (most others). The Town Square talking Mickey was always a bit strange.

Tony has been waiting for years for Disney to refresh the Imagination Pavillion 'correctly'......like many of us have been waiting.
His comment, from my perspective, and yet another in many over the years to publically nudge the Company to do so.

Everybody remembers his comments during his Disney Legend ceremony when Bob Iger publically stated it was a mistake to remove the Original Attraction. Tony then said "So, when are we bringing back Dreamfinder...?"
The audience went nuts.
And who can forget his truthful comments made during a Imagineer panel at what may have been the IAAPA some years ago before his 'retirement'.
Slamming the current Attraction for the un-imaginative atrocity that it is among peers.

So this is just another attempt to try to push those involved into finally commiting to a proper refresh.
It won't happen until WDW Ops is convinced the current ride needs addressing.
Tony has stated that to me in the past.

It's all up to us, folks......let em' know.
Iger admits it was a mistake.....so.....half way here.

-

 

[Inspired Figment]

So much so in fact, Iger even had the nerve to say that ‘he’ was asked “what had ‘I’ done with him?”. We ‘all’ know that was false as we know who was ‘Infact’ in charge at that time.. and I think that’s also ‘incredibly’ revealing on the type of guy Bob Iger is/was as heart… he is a politician through & through. That’s what his goal was in being head of Disney. Not to continue Walt and others’ legacies that came before him, but to simply use it as leverage for his ‘other’ aspirations… (and folks.. if you don’t know what they are/were.. look them up. It will explain ‘everything’. He’s wanted to put ‘his’ stamp on everything… not tastefully continue & honor what came before & be happy being the head of the most beloved/respected company in the world. Chapek is simply the after effects of Iger’s way of management, just way more out there & in the forefront. He isn’t hiding behind the facade of good PR & Disney’s past legacy.