EPCOT is heading into another exciting — and busy — chapter of transformation. At the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase during D23, Disney confirmed two major overhauls for the park: a reimagining of Spaceship Earth and a brand-new journey featuring Figment and the long-absent Dreamfinder. The catch? Neither announcement came with a single date attached.
Dreamfinder Is Finally Coming Back
The Figment news landed during the closing moments of Disney's D23 parks presentation, and it was exactly what longtime EPCOT fans have been hoping to hear. Figment isn't going anywhere — instead, the beloved purple dragon will be reunited with Dreamfinder for what Disney is calling a "new journey into imagination" at EPCOT.
Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum made the announcement to the D23 crowd, saying:
"We are taking a new journey into imagination at EPCOT with Dreamfinder and Figment!"He added that Disney has heard what fans have been asking for — a meaningful acknowledgment given how long this reunion has been requested.
Dreamfinder hasn't been a central part of Journey Into Imagination since 1998. He originally appeared alongside Figment when the attraction opened in 1983 and was part of the experience for 15 years. Disney has not yet explained what the new attraction will look like or how much of the current ride will carry over, but the announcement points toward something considerably larger than a routine refurbishment.
Spaceship Earth May Go First
Disney also confirmed at D23 that Spaceship Earth will receive a major reimagining. Rather than focusing specifically on the history of human communication, the attraction will shift toward a broader theme of "human connection" and bring its story into the internet age and beyond. That's a significant conceptual change for a ride that has been running since EPCOT opened 43 years ago. The geodesic sphere itself isn't going anywhere, but the experience inside it will enter a very different era.
No closure or reopening date was announced for Spaceship Earth either. However, based on what's known about the scope of both projects and Disney's construction slate at Walt Disney World, it appears likely that the Spaceship Earth reimagining would happen before Disney shuts down Journey Into Imagination With Figment.
The practical reason is straightforward: closing two major EPCOT attractions simultaneously for lengthy overhauls would remove a significant amount of capacity from the park. Staggering the projects — reopening Spaceship Earth before beginning the most disruptive phase of work on the Figment attraction — would help keep the park experience intact for guests.
A Possible (But Unofficial) Timeline
It's important to be clear: Disney has not officially confirmed any of the following dates. These are projections based on the likely order and scale of the projects currently on EPCOT's horizon.
A 2027 closure for Spaceship Earth is one possibility as Imagineers move deeper into development. Given the scope of reworking scenes, technology, effects, and story, a reopening sometime around 2028 would not be surprising. Disney could then turn its attention to the Imagination! pavilion — meaning Journey Into Imagination With Figment could potentially remain open throughout 2027 and much of 2028.
That would put a possible Figment closure somewhere in the 2028 or 2029 window. A 2028 closure could position the reimagined Figment and Dreamfinder attraction for a debut between 2029 and 2030. If Disney waits until 2029 to close the ride, that timeline could shift even further out.
Could EPCOT's 50th Anniversary Be the Target?
EPCOT will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2032, and that milestone gives Disney a natural goal to build toward. Disney could potentially stretch the Figment project into 2030 or even 2031, delivering a newly reimagined attraction featuring two of the park's most beloved original characters just ahead of that anniversary celebration.
There's no indication yet that Disney has specifically tied Dreamfinder's return to EPCOT's 50th anniversary. But a 2031 completion would make sense from a broader planning perspective — and it would give Imagineering considerable time to develop a project that carries enormous expectations.
Figment has been part of EPCOT since 1983 and is considered one of the park's most recognizable characters. Disney itself describes him as uniquely tied to EPCOT's identity. Bringing Dreamfinder back after decades away only raises the stakes further.
The Ride Isn't Closing Yet — That's the Good News
For guests who want to ride the current Journey Into Imagination With Figment, the most important takeaway is this: there is no official closing date. Disney has announced the future, but it hasn't started the clock.
The current expectation — again, based on projections rather than confirmed Disney timelines — is that Spaceship Earth will be addressed first, potentially closing in 2027 and reopening around 2028. Journey Into Imagination With Figment could then close in 2028 or 2029, with its replacement potentially debuting somewhere between 2029 and 2031.
What is official is the part that matters most to fans: Dreamfinder is coming back. After decades of requests, Figment and Dreamfinder are preparing to share an attraction once again. The only question is how many years we'll have to wait before that new flight of imagination takes off.