Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT: Everything You Need to See and Do
Explore the Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT, including Journey Into Imagination with Figment, ImageWorks, the Pixar Short Film Festival, Figment meet and greet and more.
Estimated reading time: 18 minutes
I’m going to start this guide with a confession that may get my Disney card revoked.
I don’t really get Figment.
I know. 😂
There are Disney fans who absolutely LOVE Figment. My friend is one of them. Put that little purple dragon on something and she’s probably super duper excited.
But I have a gigantic hole in my personal Disney history. My first trip to Walt Disney World was in 1987, when I was 14. Then I didn’t return until 2017, when my daughter was five.
So I completely missed the era when an entire generation of Disney kids fell in love with Figment.
I don’t have the nostalgia.
And unfortunately, the current Journey Into Imagination with Figment hasn’t exactly converted me.
In fact, the Imagination Pavilion is probably my least favorite pavilion at EPCOT. It might be one of my least interesting areas in all of Walt Disney World.
But—and this is important—that doesn’t mean you should automatically skip it.
There are several things here that are genuinely fun, particularly if you’re visiting EPCOT with younger kids. It’s also one of the easiest places in the park to escape the heat or rain, sit down for a while, let your kids play, and enjoy some wonderfully aggressive air conditioning.
And the pavilion itself? The glass pyramids, fountains and retro-futuristic architecture are actually pretty cool.
So let’s talk about what’s here, what’s worth your time, and what you can probably skip if your EPCOT day is already packed.
Where Is the Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT?
The Imagination Pavilion is located in World Celebration, on the western side of EPCOT.
It’s relatively close to Spaceship Earth and sits along the route toward World Nature, making it easy to combine with attractions like The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends.
You also really can’t miss the building.
The enormous glass pyramids rising above the pavilion are some of EPCOT’s most distinctive architecture. And while the interior doesn’t currently live up to the promise of that building for me, I’ve always thought the pavilion itself looks pretty fantastic.
What Is There to Do at the Imagination Pavilion?
At the moment, the main attractions and activities include:
- Journey Into Imagination with Figment
- Meet Figment
- ImageWorks – The “What If” Labs
- Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
- the fountains and water features surrounding the pavilion
That’s really the heart of it.
Which is part of my problem with this pavilion.
For an enormous building devoted to the concept of imagination, I feel like Disney should be able to go absolutely bonkers in here.
Instead, the current headliner is…
Well.
Let’s talk about the ride. 😂
Ride Journey Into Imagination with Figment
Journey Into Imagination with Figment is a slow-moving dark ride through the fictional Imagination Institute.
Dr. Nigel Channing takes you through several laboratories devoted to the senses, while Figment repeatedly interrupts the tour because apparently imagination cannot be contained by proper scientific procedure.
That’s the basic premise.
The attraction is colorful. It’s silly. It’s indoors. It usually doesn’t require a huge commitment of your EPCOT day.
And I really don’t like it. 😂
My Problem With Journey Into Imagination
If you grew up with the original Journey Into Imagination and Figment is one of your beloved childhood Disney characters, your reaction to this ride may be completely different from mine.
I understand that.
I just don’t have that emotional connection.
I’m judging the attraction almost entirely on the experience Disney is offering right now, and on those terms, it lands very close to the bottom of my personal ranking of Walt Disney World rides.
I have an entire guide where I rank the rides at Disney World, and Journey Into Imagination is hanging out wayyyyy down there near the basement.
Because at one point, you are literally subjected to a skunk smell as part of Figment’s tour of the senses.
Disney built an attraction about the limitless possibilities of human imagination…
…and I get farted on.
Okay then. 😂
RELATED: Disney World Rides Ranked From Best to Worst
Should You Ride Journey Into Imagination Anyway?
Actually?
Yes—at least once.
This isn’t a ride I would prioritize over EPCOT’s major attractions. I wouldn’t rearrange my Lightning Lane strategy for it. And if you’re running out of time at the end of your EPCOT day, this would be an extremely easy cut for me.
But the attraction usually isn’t difficult to experience, and Figment is such a significant piece of EPCOT history that I think first-time visitors should see what all the fuss is about.
Your kids may also like it considerably more than I do.
And if you already love Figment?
Ignore me completely. 😂
You were probably going to ride it anyway.
Journey Into Imagination Is Getting Reimagined
There is also a very good reason this particular section of the guide is eventually going to need a substantial update.
Disney has announced plans to reimagine the attraction.
And I am completely in favor of this development.
Anything they do is an opportunity to improve what is currently there, and the concept of an attraction built around imagination has so much potential.
The problem is timing.
Disney projects don’t exactly appear overnight, so depending on when you’re reading this, the current version of Journey Into Imagination may still be operating for quite some time.
For now, my assessment stands.
I’ll be very happy to rewrite it when Disney gives me a reason to. 😂
Meet Figment
After all of that, I should probably point out that there is another rather important reason Figment fans should visit the pavilion.
You can actually meet Figment.
Figment has his own dedicated character greeting inside the pavilion, and if you love him, this is absolutely something I would make time for.
The meet-and-greet space is colorful and whimsical, and unlike seeing Figment represented on merchandise or inside the ride, you get an actual character interaction.
And yes, I have met him.
For research purposes. 😂
This is another place where my personal Figment indifference really shouldn’t influence your decision. If you grew up loving this character—or you’ve introduced your own kids to him—this may very well be one of the highlights of the pavilion for you.
Check the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit for current appearance times.
RELATED: Where to Meet Disney Characters at EPCOT
Don’t Skip ImageWorks – The “What If” Labs
This may actually be the part of the Imagination Pavilion that I appreciate the most.
At the end of Journey Into Imagination, you’ll enter ImageWorks – The “What If” Labs, an indoor interactive play area filled with activities involving light, sound and—you guessed it—imagination.
Is it a major EPCOT attraction?
No.
Is it kind of cool?
Yeah. It actually is.
There are interactive areas where kids can experiment with music, movement and visual effects, and it’s the sort of place younger children can happily poke around while their parents take a break.
And that’s where I think ImageWorks becomes particularly useful.
ImageWorks Is a Fantastic EPCOT Break Spot
There are times at Disney World when the best attraction isn’t Guardians of the Galaxy.
It’s air conditioning and a chair.
😂
ImageWorks gives you both.
If you’ve been walking around EPCOT in 90-degree Florida heat, your kids still have approximately 847 units of energy remaining, and you would personally like to stop moving for ten minutes, this is a pretty good arrangement.
Let them play.
You sit.
Everybody wins.
It’s also a useful place to remember on a rainy EPCOT afternoon. Instead of standing under an awning waiting for a storm to pass, you can come inside and let the kids explore.
I wouldn’t necessarily cross EPCOT specifically for ImageWorks.
But if you’re already visiting Journey Into Imagination—or simply need a comfortable indoor break—don’t rush straight through it.
Watch the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
The other major indoor attraction in the Imagination Pavilion is the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival.
This is a theater presentation featuring Disney and Pixar animated shorts enhanced with 3D and theater effects.
And my feelings about this are considerably less complicated than my feelings about Figment.
It’s cute.
That’s pretty much it. 😂
I enjoy it when I see it. I don’t think it’s bad at all. But on a busy EPCOT day, it’s also very easy for me to skip.
Where it becomes considerably more attractive is when Florida decides to Florida.
Hot outside?
Come watch Pixar shorts.
Pouring rain?
Pixar shorts.
Everyone’s feet hurt and your family needs to sit somewhere dark and air-conditioned for a little while?
Hello, Pixar shorts.
That’s actually one of the recurring strengths of the entire Imagination Pavilion. Even if none of its attractions rank among my EPCOT must-dos, this building is extremely useful when your family needs a break.
And sometimes that’s exactly what you need in the middle of a Disney day.
Take a Few Minutes to Explore the Pavilion Itself
This is one area where I think the Imagination Pavilion deserves more credit than I usually give it.
The building is cool.
The enormous glass pyramids are classic EPCOT architecture, and the entire area has that slightly retro-futuristic look that feels distinctly different from newer sections of the park.
There are also some really fun water features outside.
And yes, I may enjoy the fountains more than I enjoy Journey Into Imagination.
Make of that what you will. 😂
Check Out the Jumping Fountains
One of the easiest things to miss around the Imagination Pavilion is also one of its most charming.
Look for the fountains where streams of water appear to jump from one basin to another.
They’re one of those wonderfully weird little Disney details that don’t require a reservation, Lightning Lane, mobile order or touring strategy.
You just stop and watch water seemingly leap through the air.
Kids tend to love them.
Adults stand there trying to figure out exactly how they’re doing it.
And then everybody moves on with their day.
I actually wish the entire pavilion had more experiences like this—small, playful, unexpected things that make you stop for a minute and think, Well, that’s cool.
Because that feels very appropriate for a pavilion devoted to imagination.
Is the Imagination Pavilion Good for Kids?
Yes. In fact, I think families with younger kids are probably the audience most likely to get more out of the Imagination Pavilion than I do.
Journey Into Imagination is colorful, gentle and doesn’t have a height requirement. Figment is silly. ImageWorks gives kids a chance to get out of the stroller and actually interact with things. The Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival gives everyone a chance to sit down.
And then there are the jumping fountains outside.
Put all of that together, and this can be a surprisingly useful little corner of EPCOT for families with preschoolers and elementary-age kids.
It’s also a nice counterbalance to some of EPCOT’s bigger attractions. Not every five-year-old wants to blast backward through space on Guardians of the Galaxy.
Sometimes they want to make noises with their feet and watch water jump over their heads.
Fair enough. 😂
Is the Imagination Pavilion Worth Visiting Without Kids?
This is where my answer gets considerably more qualified.
If you’re an adult who loves Figment, then absolutely. You already know you’re coming here.
If you’re an adult with no particular attachment to Figment?
I would put virtually everything in the Imagination Pavilion into the “do it if you have time” category.
I would ride Journey Into Imagination once if you’ve never experienced it. I would watch the Pixar shorts if you want an air-conditioned break. I would wander through ImageWorks if you’re curious. And I would definitely stop for a minute to appreciate the fountains and architecture.
But if I had one EPCOT day and needed to make cuts?
This pavilion would be very vulnerable. 😂
How Much Time Should You Spend at the Imagination Pavilion?
You could spend 20 or 30 minutes here if you’re basically popping in to ride Journey Into Imagination and look around.
If you want to meet Figment, spend some time in ImageWorks and watch the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival, you could easily stretch your visit to an hour or more.
Families with younger kids may spend longer simply because ImageWorks isn’t really something you experience on a schedule. If your child is happily playing and you’re happily sitting in air conditioning, there is absolutely no reason to rush.
That’s actually one of the best ways to use this pavilion.
Don’t necessarily think of it as something you need to complete.
Think of it as a place you can use when EPCOT needs to slow down for a little while.
The Imagination Pavilion Is Excellent in Bad Weather
I mentioned this earlier, but it deserves its own section because this is probably one of the pavilion’s biggest practical advantages.
Remember this building when it is brutally hot or raining.
There is quite a bit you can do indoors without committing yourself to a major attraction.
You can ride Journey Into Imagination. Let the kids play in ImageWorks. Meet Figment if he’s greeting. Watch the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival.
And, most importantly, sit down.
That makes the Imagination Pavilion a surprisingly useful place to have in your back pocket during a summer EPCOT day.
If you’re staring at a Florida weather radar filled with red and orange blobs, suddenly those Pixar shorts start looking considerably more exciting. 😂
What About the New Playground Near the Imagination Pavilion?
This is one area where EPCOT has been changing, and it’s worth distinguishing the permanent park layout from the temporary playgrounds Disney has sometimes installed during festivals.
If you’ve visited the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival in previous years, you may remember elaborate outdoor play gardens that appeared specifically for the festival.
Those aren’t necessarily the same thing as permanent additions to this part of EPCOT.
So I wouldn’t build your touring plan around an old festival playground you’ve seen in photos. Check the current EPCOT map and My Disney Experience app before your trip to see which play spaces are operating during your visit.
And if you’re visiting during Flower & Garden, absolutely check the festival map too. Disney often adds kid-friendly garden and play experiences that make EPCOT particularly fun for families.
Figment Gets Extra Attention During EPCOT Festivals
Even though I’m not personally a member of the Figment Fan Club, I have to acknowledge something:
Figment and EPCOT go together.
You’ll see that connection even more strongly during EPCOT’s festivals.
Figment frequently appears in festival merchandise and decorations, and during the Flower & Garden Festival I’ve photographed a fantastic Figment topiary surrounded by enormous pink flowers with Spaceship Earth behind him.
It’s adorable.
There. I said something nice about Figment. 😂
Festival offerings change from year to year, so don’t assume that a specific Figment display, topiary or activity will be in exactly the same place during your visit.
But if you love Figment, EPCOT festival season tends to give you even more reasons to keep an eye out for him.
What Should You Absolutely Not Miss at the Imagination Pavilion?
This is a strange question for me to answer because I don’t think there is anything here that every single EPCOT visitor absolutely has to experience.
And that’s okay.
If you’ve never visited before, I would probably do Journey Into Imagination once, simply because Figment is such an important EPCOT character and the ride is the pavilion’s primary attraction.
If you’re traveling with younger kids, I wouldn’t skip ImageWorks.
If you love Figment, obviously meet Figment.
And regardless of who you’re traveling with, take a minute to look around outside.
The glass pyramids and fountains are genuinely some of my favorite things about this area.
Which leads to the larger issue.
The Imagination Pavilion Deserves More
This is probably my biggest takeaway from the entire pavilion.
What a concept Disney has to work with here.
Imagination.
That’s it.
No restrictive intellectual property. No narrow theme. No complicated backstory necessary.
Just imagination.
Disney Imagineering has built attractions that send us flying over the world, shrink us to the size of a rat, drop us into Star Wars battles, launch us through space and put us inside Mickey Mouse cartoons.
Surely we can do something spectacular with imagination.
And the building already looks spectacular.
Those glass pyramids announce that something interesting should be happening inside.
That’s why the current pavilion feels like such a missed opportunity to me. It isn’t that everything here is terrible. It isn’t.
It’s that this should be one of the coolest places in EPCOT.
Instead, I mostly use it for air conditioning.
That’s quite a gap. 😂
A New Version of Journey Into Imagination Is Coming
Thankfully, Disney apparently realizes there is room for improvement.
A new version of Journey Into Imagination has been announced, which means this pavilion could eventually become considerably more interesting than the one I’m describing right now.
And I genuinely hope it does.
I don’t need Disney to make me nostalgic for an attraction I never experienced as a child. I just want them to take this character that so many people adore and give him an attraction worthy of that affection.
There is enormous potential here.
Of course, major Disney attraction projects take time. Depending on when you’re planning your trip, you may still encounter the current version for quite a while.
Once the new attraction opens, I’ll come back, ride it and update this guide.
And the bar isn’t exactly in the stratosphere.
Just don’t fart on me and we’re already making progress. 😂
Is the Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT Worth Visiting?
Yes.
But this is probably the least enthusiastic yes you’ll find in any of my EPCOT pavilion guides. 😂
I don’t think the Imagination Pavilion deserves a huge chunk of your touring day unless you’re a major Figment fan or you’re visiting with younger kids who love ImageWorks.
I wouldn’t prioritize Journey Into Imagination over EPCOT’s major rides. I wouldn’t tell you that the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival is a can’t-miss attraction. And I wouldn’t pretend I understand why grown adults lose their minds over a little purple dragon.
But I also wouldn’t tell you to walk right past.
Ride Journey Into Imagination once.
Meet Figment if you love him.
Let your kids play in ImageWorks.
Watch some Pixar shorts when you need a break.
And stop outside for a minute to appreciate those fountains and the gorgeous glass pyramids.
Because somewhere underneath the current attractions is the skeleton of a pavilion that could be fantastic.
I’m really hoping Disney eventually figures out what to do with it.
Visiting the Imagination Pavilion During an EPCOT Festival
One final thing to keep in mind: the Imagination Pavilion sits right in the middle of a park that changes considerably throughout the year.
EPCOT’s festivals can add topiaries, gardens, merchandise, food booths and other experiences throughout this area, so what you encounter outside the pavilion may vary depending on when you visit.
Flower & Garden is particularly fun here because the landscaping surrounding the pavilion fits beautifully with the festival—and Figment himself has gotten some pretty fantastic topiary treatment.
If you’re planning an EPCOT festival trip, these guides can help you figure out what else is happening around the park:
