Do people nowadays actually know who Figment is? Time for you to be judged, purple lizard
Wait a sec, the question should be… was Figment relevant in the past?
Oh my god, I’m so sorry, you beautiful purple lizard-dragon. I didn’t mean to be rude. I actually like you - true story! I like you so much that during my first visit to Disney World in 1994, I bought your plush toy and carried it home when I was just nine years old. And then… wait, I’m not sure what happened to you. I think my dog at the time bit your neck off. I’m so sorry.
Back to the original question: Figment. Disney World fans know who this little guy is, and he’s become somewhat of a mascot for Epcot over the years. There’s even a dark ride where he’s the main star! It’s a modest, fun ride that’s perfect for toddlers, but we can still see that mischievous little dragon causing all kinds of trouble around the Imagination Pavilion.
He’s gonna take you back to the past…
I don’t have kids, so I’m not sure if they still love Figment nowadays. However, I do see a lot of merchandise still being sold. Figment plush toys are still available, and he’s the star of the popcorn buckets that pop up in Epcot from time to time. You can also find special pins with his head on them, as well as a few sculptures showcasing his beautiful purple skin.
Sure, Figment is a part of many people’s childhoods, but what about children visiting Disney today? In a world dominated by Roblox, Fortnite, and Mario, do they actually care about Figment? I know some people whose kids love the ride, so that’s nice. Figment’s expressive, bright colors help him connect with toddlers. However, I do think kids over 10 might have a harder time connecting with him.
I decided to dive deeper into forums and Reddit to see what people think of Figment, and it’s actually a maze of never-ending opinions. Most people say that Figment is all about nostalgia: he’s one of the few remaining characters from the official debut of Epcot back in 1983, and having him there takes guests back to a time when Epcot was just a simple theme park. I can definitely get behind this appeal.
Figment is like the cool guy that people at Disney World know about. Maybe it’s even better that people outside the parks don’t really care who he is. He’s like a special mascot or superhero who only appears to those who share the same love - in this case, the love for Disney World. Only guests walking around in Mickey ears and eating Mickey ice cream bars know about him, and this creates a sense of community that brings us all closer together.
So, I guess Figment is still relevant, mostly to Disney World, and he definitely screams “Florida,” but that’s enough. Now that I stop and think about it, I’m always reminded of my first time at Disney World when I was a small kid whenever I see Figment’s face. It brings back memories of my grandmother and a time when things were simpler. So, for that, thank you, Figment.
…and I guess bringing back memories and a smile is more than enough to say that, yes, you were always relevant, you beautiful purple lizard.
