Starbucks Epcot mug: Discovery Series
The Epcot mug from Starbucks' Discovery Series sets EPCOT in purple capitals over a pale mint circle, with a purple dragon, fireworks, a sphere, a futuristic car, a teal mouse and flowers.
- Series
- Discovery Series
- Place
- Epcot, Florida, USA
- Type
- Mug
- Released
- Not confirmed
- Capacity
- 14 fl ozstandard mug size
- SKU
- Not confirmed
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The dragon who needed a voice, and a little person to give it
Tony Baxter's team auditioned women to voice a purple dragon two and a half feet tall, and Baxter remembered that the actress Connie Stevens was one of them; it just didn't work [1]. Randy Bright, who ran Epcot Films, saw the problem: Figment was tiny, and every voice came from someone big [1]. He suggested a little person. Billy Barty answered that not every little person is an actor, but he was one [1]. Baxter said they were lucky to get him, and that they pushed his voice up about ten percent in pitch, though it was still his voice [1]. The ride that carried Figment, Journey Into Imagination, closed on October 10, 1998 [2]. The outcry was enormous, Baxter says, and it helped bring the dragon back [1]. On June 1, 2002, the ride returned as Journey Into Imagination with Figment [3]. The purple dragon at the far left of the Epcot mug (2) looks like the character they were casting.
The mug does not label its drawings, so connecting this one to the story is our reading.
What's on the mug
- 1Lettering
EPCOT in purple capitals beside a round purple logo, over a pale mint circle.
- 2Purple dragon
A purple dragon with an orange crest rises at the far left, one arm raised.
- 3Geodesic sphere
A pale sphere made of triangles sits behind the lettering, with purple and teal fireworks above.
- 4Fireworks
Purple and teal bursts of fireworks sit above the sphere.
- 5Futuristic car
A low white-and-purple car with teal wheels drives along the bottom, two figures aboard.
- 6Teal mouse
A teal mouse holds up a tall yellow-and-purple object with a round end at the lower right, beside the handle.
- 7Flowers
Yellow and teal flowers sit at the lower left, above the car.
- 8Purple dragon and EPCOT logo Side view
A purple dragon with an orange crest leans toward a round purple logo and the letters EPCOT, which the curve of the mug cuts off.
- 9Mint rock towers Side view
Pale mint rock spires with a purple spiral and orange windows rise at the left of this side.
- 10White-and-purple car Side view
A low white car with a purple stripe sits at the lower right, below the dragon, with yellow and blue flowers beside it.
- 11Spiked tower with orange rays Back view
A tall tower striped in mint and purple has orange and teal spikes fanning out from its top.
- 12Round badge with pastry Back view
A round teal badge holds a golden pastry and a fork, left of the tower.
- 13Hot-air balloons Back view
A cluster of mint and purple balloons floats at the upper right of this side.
- 14STARBUCKS wordmark Back view
The vertical STARBUCKS wordmark runs beside the handle on this side.
The photo shows one side of the mug, standing on a dark base. The back and the area behind the handle are out of view.
Collector notes
- This mug uses purple and mint instead of the dark green circle of many Discovery mugs, so it is easy to tell from a distance.
- The purple dragon is at the far left edge and wraps toward the back, so a photo from the handle side misses it.
- The Side and Back photos show the mug on its Discovery Series box, which carries a Disney Collection mark.
Before you buy
The photo shows one side of the mug, so the back and the area behind the handle are out of view. This one uses purple and mint where many Discovery mugs have a dark green circle. Epcot also appears in the Been There Series, so check the series name before you order.
