Disney has a way to inspire cult-like following and cult-like behavior from its most loyal guests. On display this week: a six-hour line to buy a specialty popcorn bucket. Yes, really.
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Was There Really a Six-Hour Line For a Popcorn Bucket at Disney World?
Fans of Disney World have shown their undying support for seemingly anything “limited edition” by enduring a half-day line, on their feet, in the sun, for the chance to pay $25 for a popcorn bucket in the shape of a character most wouldn’t recognize. This really happened.
Disney popcorn buckets are refillable plastic or metal containers that guests can bring back for $2 refills of popcorn any time they are in any of the theme parks. They come in a variety of themed shapes, we own a version that is a Millenium Falcon from Hollywood Studios.
This particular popcorn bucket was sold in conjunction with the 2022 Epcot International Festival of the Arts. On the first day of the Epcot’s festival, unbearably long lines greeted those looking for the “Figment” purple dragon-shaped bucket (with included lanyard) featuring rainbow popcorn.
No single ride at Epcot has had a line 5-7 hours long in recent memory.
https://youtu.be/kGU47jifvsA?t=128
Special thanks to Adrian Vasquez for allowing us to use his video. Check out his youtube channel Theme Park Express for more.
Just Why? Who Is Waiting In This Line?
Speaking honestly, there will always be a contingent of Disney Park enthusiasts who will buy anything the company produces, especially if it’s a limited edition item. That’s certainly a significant portion of the line. This is one reason why Disney’s reduction of benefits and increased prices have continued despite the pandemic and reduced attendance capacity.
But there are others in that line. Nearly instantly, photos appeared on various reseller sites like eBay, Etsy, and elsewhere instantly listing the buckets for more than $100. While the buckets were limited to two per customer, social media displayed single buyers walking away with bags of the buckets from each arm.
Some in the lines reported this to Disney cast members, though complaints would have done little but satiate the complainers.
The Online World of Disney (And Others) Have Their Say
Universal Studios Orlando enjoyed trolling the Disney World “popcornpocolypse” (as one dubbed it, though I would lean toward Apopcornalypse):
Y’all must really like popcorn.
— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) January 14, 2022
Disney World groups on Facebook were full of vitriol at those who were profiting from others’ pain who simply wanted to get their own bucket for their family. Some of that is warranted considering the limited nature of the item and supply chain constraints that hit the parks hard already. Last week, purchasers of $200 replica lightsabers, a tough commodity in the current environment, were sent home with their devices in a plastic bag as opposed to its normal custom case due to the same supply chain issues.
Group members were outing guests who posted their own photo of their bucket which had been instantly listed online with the same image for the listing.
At least one “imagineer” joked that the line had stretched to Universal Studios.
The line for Figment popcorn buckets this morning has already made it to CityWalk! pic.twitter.com/KrSTY81y2a
— Ryan Barr (@Imagineer6) January 14, 2022
Purportedly the issue had extended all the way to Disney California Adventure where the buckets were also made available, confusing guests that thought they were in lines for rides.
confused guests at dca’s cars land lined up for figment popcorn. pic.twitter.com/ztyMdTCHcz
— ivy marie stopped bidding on a 10k figment sketch. (@sincerelyivy) January 14, 2022
Others, having fun with the resellers, began listing other limited edition items like drawings of the bucket.
“Bad Artwork Sketch” of the Figment Popcorn Bucket for sale on eBay right now pic.twitter.com/7NnKxsQaaf
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 14, 2022
Conclusion
On the opening day of the Festival of Arts, Figment-shaped popcorn buckets consumed parkgoers and resellers in a 5-7 hour line to purchase the buckets. The character that was featured in an Epcot ride is making Disney news as one of the hottest must-haves this year. Personally, I find the line, interest, and item to be absurd but to each their own… while supplies last.
What do you think? Would you wait in a 5-7 hour line for the right to purchase a plastic popcorn bucket?
“Some in the lines reported this to Disney cast members.”
“I want to see the Manager!!!
“None are available.”
“Then find Pluto!!”
Let’s go Brandon!!! Heard he is improving his bingo skills so he can stay busy after November.
@Stuart: my reply was not to you. Matthew has definitely some work to do here as his blog is not easy to reply.
It’s ok, I know you love to haunt me regardless. 🙂
the fun quirks of queueing effect, defunctland made an awesome video about it earlier this year: https://youtu.be/9yjZpBq1XBE
As it turns out, when there’s a line for something, people think it’s worth waiting on, and so the line gets bigger and bigger.
That certainly was the case in The Soviet Union because they were out of everything.
Am I the only one who sees a resemblance between AV and Kyle? Why couldn’t Epcot just have a cost member take the contact info of each interested person and summon them electronically when a time slot was available to pick up the plastic object?
People are getting dumber by the minute.
The way I see it is that if you are crazy enough or dumb enough to be all occupied with getting a 50 cent popcorn bucket with $1 worth of popcorn and $2 refills that require you to return to the park. Then you are doing the rest of us a favor by staying busy while we go about our business, ride rides, etc.
That photo shows how humans have spread like cancer on this planet.
Thanos was right. Half the human population of this planet should be exterminated with a snap of the finger.
Enthusiasts? Interesting and more than generous word choice considering their behavior.
Only in America….and we wonder how someone like Donald Trump gets elected? The pictures above say it all….
Who’s the potus right now?
Indeed. Strange that the mocking refrain about ‘old white men in power’ was so 2021
Brandon
These are the same idiots (many of whom are young, healthy and have no symptoms) that will wait in an hours long line instead of doing something productive to take a test.
I feel dumber for having read this.