journey of water release date

Moana’s Journey of Water: Disney World AP & DVC Preview Dates & Virtual Queue Details

Walt Disney World has revealed preview dates for Moana’s Journey of Water at EPCOT! This shares the dates & details for Annual Passholder & DVC members, along with recommendations for attending the sneak peek and details about the virtual queue that’s being used. ( Updated September 24, 2023 .)

Before you get too excited about being the “first” to experience Journey of Water Inspired by Moana, it’s worth noting that Cast Member playtesting began in late July and ran through late last month. Playtesting differs from traditional previews in that Imagineering and Operations uses them to observe an attraction in action with normal audiences (or close to it) to see what works and what doesn’t. Participants are then surveyed afterwards for feedback, all of which Disney uses for test & adjust.

Walt Disney World has already moved on to regular Cast Member previews, just like most other recent attractions have offered. Cast Member previews for Journey of Water Inspired by Moana began on September 1 and will continue through September 22, 2023. That date is significant, as also just so happens to be the start of Disney100 at EPCOT, meaning that Moana’s official opening will miss that date.

We also now know that Moana’s Journey of Water will also miss the anniversary of EPCOT for its official opening date. Following the Cast Member previews, Annual Passholders can attend a special preview for Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana starting later this month. Walt Disney World Annual Passholder previews will take place at EPCOT from park open to park close on the following dates:

• September 24 to September 29, 2023
• October 1 to October 4, 2023

To participate in this preview experience, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders must have a theme park reservation for EPCOT on the day of the preview. Please note that:

• If your theme park reservation is for a different theme park (and not for EPCOT), then you will NOT be eligible to participate in a preview that day.
• If you enter EPCOT without a theme park reservation after 2:00 pm, then you will NOT be eligible to participate in a preview that day.

To check in for this preview, please visit the entrance to Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana—located across from Coral Reef Restaurant.

Important Information

• Registration is not required to attend the Moana’s Journey of Water AP preview.
• Again, you must have a theme park reservation for EPCOT on the day of the preview–Park Hopping to EPCOT is not sufficient.
• A standby queue will be in place for this experience; a virtual queue will not be available.
• An eligible, activated Annual Pass is required to attend this preview. You must show your Annual Pass card, Disney MagicMobile pass, MagicBand or MagicBand+—along with valid photo identification—when checking in.
• Everyone in your party must be an Annual Passholder to attend this preview experience.
• All offerings are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

We also now have the details for Disney Vacation Club previews of Moana’s Journey of Water:

• When: September 24 – 29 & October 1 – 4, 2023
• Time: From park open through 5:00 p.m.
• Where: Check-in will take place at the Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana entrance, across from the Coral Reef Restaurant in World Nature.
• Who: Eligible DVC Members with a valid EPCOT theme park reservation and valid admission to EPCOT on a preview event date.

The only material difference appears to be that the DVC preview period ends at 5 pm, rather than running until park closing. I wonder if that’ll actually be enforced, or if both will operate in exactly the same way. Additionally, eligible DVC members means those who qualify for Membership Extras (meaning you bought DVC directly or have a resale contract that’s grandfathered in).

September 24, 2023 UPDATE: Moana’s Journey of Water previews started this morning, and there was a standby queue that formed immediately at park opening, wrapping around the construction walls and to the park entrance. If our estimates are correct based on attraction capacity and the pace of people through the walkthrough when we did it, this is easily a 2-hour long line.

Previously, Walt Disney World indicated that only a standby queue would be used for Journey of Water previews and NOT a virtual queue ( see strikethrough above ). After park opening today, they decided otherwise, launching an impromptu VQ as the line continued to worsen. This started as being offered via paper slips ( a return of OG FastPass! ), but has since been integrated into the My Disney Experience app under EPCOT -> Special Events:

Unlike other virtual queues for TRON Lightcycle Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the one for Moana’s Journey of Water will only be used  as necessary  and after eligible Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members have entered EPCOT.

According to Walt Disney World, “standby line access for Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana may be available at park open and again after boarding groups have been called for the day. You can check back here to learn if current attraction access is via virtual queue or standby line.”

Frankly, it’s frustrating that Walt Disney World got caught flat-footed here. We’ve been discussing demand, capacity, and operational logistics for Moana’s Journey of Water for a while. In fact, our post about the Opening Date for Moana’s Journey of Water has an entire section dedicated to “Virtual Queue vs. Standby Line.”

Here’s the conclusion to that: “With all of that said, I still think there’s a reasonable chance Moana’s Journey of Water will need a virtual queue at first. Disney diehards love anything new, and EPCOT enthusiasts are the ‘worst’ of all. No matter how many previews or how strategic the timing, this is going to have high demand at the outset. Even opening during a lull may not help much, as October through December is an incredibly popular time of year among annual visitors–so there’s going to be a steady stream of fans for whom this is brand-new.”

How this issue would be very obvious to someone on the outside, but not internally is confounding. That’s doubly so after multiple dates of Disney Park Pass reservations have fully booked up for EPCOT on preview days. Walt Disney World  knew  these dates would be busy–they have the data saying so!–and yet, they still said a virtual queue would not be used. (Let this be Exhibit 82 in the case that Walt Disney World is not nearly as good at forecasting attendance and demand as many of you seem to think.)

It’s still too early to draw any definitive conclusions about what this means for the official opening day and thereafter, but our view is that this dramatically increases the odds that Moana’s Journey of Water will also need a virtual queue during normal ops. In the nearer term, it’s likely that the virtual queue will be necessary even after today. Although demand is always worst among the APs wanting to be “first,” the fact that park reservations are fully booked for several other dates suggests there’s a steady stream of demand in the days to come.

What follows is the original post about Moana’s Journety of Water AP and DVC previews…

Timing-wise, these preview dates make sense for Moana’s Journey of Water. Honestly, I’m a bit surprised the timeframe isn’t longer, running at least 2-3 weeks in late September and early October 2023.

That has pretty much been the preview playbook for EPCOT in the last few years with both Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Both of those had prolonged preview periods, and both occurred during the two slowest months of the year (September and May).

This was mutually advantageous: they offered locals a “squeak/sneak peek” at the new attraction with shorter wait times, while also helping spike attendance for EPCOT during the off-season and pulling forward some of those locals’ visits from October. Having a ‘release valve’ on demand was good for those attractions, but not essential.

Neither used standby lines upon opening, so there was no concern about overcrowding and long standby lines. (Not having as many locals ‘fight’ tourists for spots in the virtual queue is a good thing, but not an operational imperative.) Which brings us to the next topic…

It’s really interesting and curious that Walt Disney World is not requiring registration for Moana’s Journey of Water previews. There are a number of plausible potential explanations for this. One is simply that their system is  so bad  at sending out emails to notify APs of the registration opportunity, and that the past previews have filled up fast.

We’ve seen this play out again and again, which is why we send out email alerts letting readers know when registration emails have gone out for past previews. We typically hear from a ton of people who didn’t get the email directly from Walt Disney World–or who had it get caught by SPAM filters–but got the notice from us, and were only able to register because of that.

We’ve also heard from even more frustrated fans who didn’t get the official notification and saw our email “too late” (meaning over 15 minutes after it went out), got stuck in a long virtual queue for registration and wasted hours watching a progress bar…only to be shut out. I’d hazard a guess that Walt Disney World has received a ton of complaints from Annual Passholders as a result of the preview process.

So this could simply be a “solution” to that–shifting demand to the park itself, and letting the chips fall where they may.

Another possibility is that Walt Disney World is dropping registration since Moana’s Journey of Water is not an blockbuster addition or E-Ticket attraction, so the internal view is that preview registration is unnecessary. This could be a matter of not wanting to set expectations too high, or thinking that demand will be far lower since this is “only” a walk-through water exploration trail.

I’m skeptical of either explanation. For one thing, the ship has already sailed on setting expectations. Walt Disney World has been teasing Moana’s Journey of Water for  years –for better or worse, fans have already formed an opinion on what this is or should be. The hype is what it is, and preview registration (or the lack thereof) is not going to change that.

For another thing, this could be an opportunity to purchase an Annual Passholder exclusive Moana fidget spinner for “only” $25, and there would still be a long line on day one. Disney diehards are a different breed, and savor nothing more than exclusivity and ridiculously long lines. Since this is a new attraction several years in the making rather than a fidget spinner, you can be assured that the demand will be even higher. And not just on day one. So either Walt Disney World management has made a massive miscalculation, or this is purposeful.

My money’s on the latter. I suspect all of the previews have been and will be part of a “stress test” on Moana’s Journey of Water–both the walk-through itself and logistics in handling demand and operational realities of a relatively low-capacity walkthrough nestled among construction walls.

Walt Disney World operations is still likely learning a lot about crowd flow for Moana’s Journey of Water. I suspect final line logistics have not been finalized–and probably won’t be until after AP previews. (The queueing issues for Journey of Water are another topic for another day –for now, just be aware that they exist.)

Suffice to say, if you’ve been shut out of AP or DVC previews in the past and are relieved to see that Moana’s Journey of Water is lower stress…you might want to hold that thought. What’s happening here is Walt Disney World opening the floodgates and shifting that stress to the in-park experience. You’ll pay the price in the Florida heat and humidity, rather than while sitting at your computer enjoying creature comforts, such as air-conditioning.

On a positive note, demand for Journey of Water previews will definitely be lower than for Cosmic Rewind or TRON, but so too is the barrier to entry. Those previews could be pretty chaotic, and that was even after Walt Disney World limited their levels well below organic demand. In this case, organic demand is lower–but it’s going to be unchecked. Total shot in the dark, but I’m guessing more APs show up each day for the Moana’s Journey of Water previews than did for Cosmic Rewind or TRON Lightcycle Run.

To that point, demand for Moana’s Journey of Water previews is going to be at its highest on the morning of September 24, 2023. This is an incredibly easy prediction to make even though it’s a Sunday when Pixie Passes are blocked out. The basis for this is quite simple–it’s a weekend when many locals are off work, and there are tons of diehard Walt Disney World fans who want to be “first” for everything.

Following that, September 25 in the morning will be very busy for pretty much the exact same reason, with the lack of Pixie Pass blockouts further fueling elevated demand. To be clear, those entire days will be bonkers, but the mornings will be especially bad.

After that, I’d expect it to be reasonably busy most of the time, perhaps with lower crowds in the mornings on subsequent days and higher crowds in the evenings after work and school. In general, “best” and “worst” are relative terms, as it’s likely that lines will be lengthy pretty much no matter when you go during the preview period.

We won’t be able to attend these previews for Moana’s Journey of Water, but if we could, we’d target the mornings of September 28 or October 3. Depending upon how chaotic the earlier dates are, we might even do Early Entry and make a beeline for Journey of Water. I’d probably also return for evening on either or both days, hoping that demand had died down a bit. (This assumes each AP can attend multiple times; if not, I’d go only at night and just deal with whatever the crowds might be.)

To each their own, but I personally do not see the point in trying to be “first” for a preview of Moana’s Journey of Water. For one thing, you won’t be first–there’s already been over a month of Cast Member previews. For another thing,  who cares? Are the bragging rights of being first-but-not-really that great? Is it worth fighting what will undoubtedly be colossal crowds?

The answers for me are an unequivocal “no,” and I say that as someone who blogs about Walt Disney World. (You’ve probably heard the saying, “it’s better to be the best than the first.” That also applies to being a fan and enjoying things for fun rather than having bragging rights in being first.)

For those who are wondering, this potentially leaves the door open to soft openings for Moana’s Journey of Water. My guess is that the walk-through opens after Columbus Day in order to miss the worst of the fall break crowds. If that’s accurate and the official date ends up being October 16 or later, I could see Journey of Water doing wider soft openings as something of a release valve for regular guest demand.

As always, we’ll be paying close attention to what happens with both the official opening date for Moana’s Journey of Water and any (additional) preview or soft opening opportunities. If you’d like a heads up when an announcement is made or soft openings begin, you can subscribe to our free email newsletter for instant alerts .

Ultimately, we are ready for Journey of Water Inspired by Moana to open and I’m cautiously optimistic about what it’ll add to the lineup at EPCOT in the long term. In the near-term, I have a lot of concerns and unanswered questions about how Journey of Water will “work” until demand dies down.

Between its capacity and the new attraction smell, I anticipate a number of unavoidable operational issues that are going to frustrate fans–including those who were previously pissed off about being shut out of previews completely. Personally, I think opening the floodgates is an interesting approach for AP and DVC previews and a “good” way to stress test for what demand will be like and how Moana’s Journey of Water will handle regular guest demand once it officially opens. But in fairness, I say this as someone who won’t have to endure the long lines myself, and can watch it play out from afar!

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

Your Thoughts

What do you think of Moana’s Journey of Water? Excited to attend an Annual Passholder or Disney Vacation Club member preview? Will you try to do one of the dates right away, or wait until demand dies down and it’s easier to experience the ‘Moana Maze’ minus the chaos and congestion? Does this exploration trail look appealing to you? Do you think this will be a solid addition to EPCOT, or do you wish it were added elsewhere? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

We had early entrance Sept 25, took a little while to get to Moana due to cast members telling us the wrong location for the line (I should have just gone with Tom’s description; its right in front of/across walkway from Seas building) & got there pretty close to 9:00 and walked right in, no wait. We all had fun playing with the water, using hands/arms to make it rise and fall and make music and jump, and it was lovely. People just need to know it is a minor attraction and set expectations accordingly.

I miss the simple days of buying an admission ticket and riding the ride of your choice. Guess I am getting old.

We will be down for the week before it opens and in Epcot on October 9 and 13. We are not AP or DVC. Do you think there is a chance we will be able to see it in a soft opening?

We just got back from EPCOT a bit ago. We booked our date for the AP preview when it was announced and strolled over around 6pm to experience this in the evening. You can imagine our disappointment in finding out there was a virtual queue put in place without any notice. The line at 6 was very long and they told us they weren’t sure if they would take walk-ups for the evening. We decided to check out the 4 new food booths, get our AP magnet, and ride Soarin over CA! After Soarin we went back over to a now empty Journey of Water and they let us in at 8:45 pm. We were able to stroll through at our own pace with maybe 10-20 people in the trail. I agree with you though. How could they not know the demand for this? they have access to their AP inventory which is sold out. I already questioned how this would work without a registration and it didn’t.

I still have no clue what this is, other than maybe fountains and waterfalls?

I think Tom meant that first link to be to his review. Here’s it is: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/moanas-journey-water-review-photos-video/

Haha, indeed I did. Thanks!

One “Devil’s Advocate” reason to be among the first to experience the attraction is to make get in and see it before some of the features break down and/or are phased out because they are too unreliable for consistent operations. See: underwater mermaid light effects, Pirates of the Caribbean. It might also behoove one to see the attraction in its mint in box state, before all of the grubby guest hands trash all of the real and fake plant life and leave chewing gum all over the rock work…

This is a fair enough point…or would be, if Journey of Water were currently in ‘mint’ condition. As far as I know, they’re still in test & adjust and haven’t had all of the effects working most days. So it might be one of those things where the ‘sweet spot’ is November through March 2024, rather than right away.

I do agree that there’s a good chance at least some of the interactivity will be put on timers–that’s a concern we raised in our review.

Is anyone else frustrated with Disney? Moana’s water walkthrough construction began 2021 completed end of 2023. Small walkthrough not a big people eater. Then you have Universal building a whole park, started 2021 set to complete 2025. Disney is driving your average family away with its all to over the top planning vs easy going fun that Universal offers. Disney stockholders better pay attention.

This technically started back in 2019; they just paused for most of 2020. Pretty ridiculous, either way.

I don’t think the average family cares how long construction took once it’s open, but I still take your overall point.

I wonder if WDW delayed implementing the VQ for today’s previews just so they can say “See? THIS is why we need virtual queues! Now get off our back about TRON…”

I know a lot of people want to believe Walt Disney World is playing 4D chess with certain decisions, but trust me, they are not.

If this were part of some grand scheme, they wouldn’t have affirmatively indicated there would not be a virtual queue. They also wouldn’t have scrambled to roll one out morning-of.

Yeah, the thinking was probably more like “We won’t need a virtual queue for passholder previews, because it’s not like every passholder who made an Epcot reservation is going to try to rope drop it.” But I do hope somebody there is saying “I told you so” today.

We’re AP and direct DVC and have ZERO interest in this. It is randomly placed out of place in an education park and blocks the iconic “golf ball” as my little one calls it. The fake imagineers should have created a Polynesian Pavilion and built it in the world show case circle. If Iger and Mark Parker sells to Apple we are selling our DVC at a loss and cancelling our APs, I don’t care. That company is circling the drain. I hope Disney goes bankrupt and they repo Iger’s stocks, yacht and golden parachute.

I don’t understand. I thought Journey of Water is an area of the park, a path, a themed section, rather than an attraction. There will be lines? Can you walk through to avoid the longer construction routes through Epcot without waiting on line?

So, my adult son and I (who are both annual passholders) have had an EPCOT reservation Sept 25 for months, but we are also taking my 13 year old nephew as a special treat, and he is of course not an AP. So even though we reserved this day months ago and are coming from out of state (we’re not locals who can drop by a couple of weeks later), we are not going to be able to do the preview because we have a non-AP child with us??

This is from another comment below in case you missed it, “ David Z September 7, 2023 We just got the DVC email (we joined three weeks ago!). Dates are the same as the AP dates – noon to 5PM each day. Up to four guests per member”. So looks like you’ll be Ok!!

I’m looking forward to this and think it will be a nice respite from the heat. But good Lord, open it up already. You’d think they just spent the last half decade building a rocket to to Mars with all the cast member previews and testing. Just open it.

I’m actually looking forward to this attraction! I love Moana and I think a low key walk through attraction can offer a nice respite during a busy day in the park(s). My kid is no longer little, but it will be nice for families with small children who are too young/small to go on many rides yet. I hope it will be open for everyone by the time we visit in early November. All that being said, I hope they do build a Moana ride at some point as well. My son thinks a Moana ride where you battle Te Ka and Tamatoa would be excellent

I think that’s the right attitude to have, and once the hype burns off and this settles into normal operations, it’ll be a nice little addition for families with small children…or anyone who wants to cool off on a hot day at EPCOT (which is most days).

Walt Disney World needs more additions like this, not less. They just need to find a way to build them faster, more cost-effectively, and without marketing them to an absurd degree.

Well, I will already be down there then and I have missed out on every other preview…so I will do this. I’m letting my Pass expire this year so I can finally have some financial recovery time, so if I get in I can finally check off ‘passholder preview’ as something I experienced. I guess all my passholder luck these past few years has been Star-Wars based, which is honestly fine for me (though I am still bitter about being shut out for Guardians.) Not looking forward to the heat, but that is what my umbrella and neck fan are for~

“Not looking forward to the heat, but that is what my umbrella and neck fan are for”

That’s what this is for, too! 🙂

Have fun and enjoy the preview. Hopefully my predictions about crowds turn out to be inaccurate doom and gloom!

Thanks… as I was reading this, I got the DVC invite: Disney Vacation Club Member Preview: Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, When: September 24 – 29 & October 1 – 4, 2023, Time: From park open through 5:00 p.m. Where: Check-in will take place at the Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana entrance, across from the Coral Reef Restaurant in World Nature. Who: Eligible Members with a valid EPCOT® theme park reservation and valid admission to EPCOT® on a preview event date.

Thanks for the heads up–neither of us got that email!

We just got the DVC email (we joined three weeks ago!). Dates are the same as the AP dates – noon to 5PM each day. Up to four guests per member.

Unlike many I’ve been a big supporter of this project from the moment it was announced… just hoping that it lives up to its potential as a natural respite from Epcot’s original version of the future as a sea of concrete.

I wish Tom & Sarah could be there for these previews (as I’m anxious to hear their thoughts), but I’m so happy for what I presume is their reason to stay home. It’s also poetically apropos that this attraction and the Bricker family might simultaneously experience downtime because the water breaks.

Well, I will be doing Destination D23, so it’s possible that I will end up getting a sneak peek at Journey of Water via other means.

After that, your presumption is correct. Trying to attend any of these previews would be cutting it too close for comfort.

I think the bigger issue is that many still think this is a ride versus a walkthrough attraction. That is where the frustration will come in after waiting in line the realize you walkthrough it and probably most of the interactive parts won’t even work due to high volume usage during the previews. More bad press coming for WDW I fear.

That’s absolutely an issue, and what I was referencing when saying that the ship has already sailed on setting expectations.

As I frequent photographer of construction walls, I can safely say that guest expectations are all over the place for this based on what I’ve overheard. In general, guests and fans are expecting it to be more than it is. (Same deal with San Fransokyo Square at DCA.)

Meanwhile, many guests think the replacement for Splash Mountain is a restaurant thanks to the “Tiana’s Foods” construction walls.

I love walking through beautiful gardens so I see it as a welcome addition. But being first? It was fun to be part of the early AP thing for Ratatouille but this? I can wait.

I’ll be honest. I have a hard time getting excited about this new “attraction”. It does seem to be more in line with the overall original focus of EPCOT, so there is that. But overall it seems to me to be no more exciting than walking through Pandora or through the Swiss Family Treehouse. But maybe I’m a skeptic.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

It has been a very long road to get to the opening of Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana at EPCOT since it was first announced back in August 2019.

We have enjoyed bringing you updates on the construction process and are very hopeful that with the area now complete we are not far away from the official opening of this new attraction as part of the EPCOT transformation. We still await confirmation of the exact date which we will share with you as soon as it is announced.

For many, in that Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana is a walk-through attraction and doesn't include an actual ride, expectations are fairly low. We understand that this new area will include water features and splash pads for children to enjoy.

Cast Members have been testing Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana and if you are wondering exactly what this new attraction has to offer then take a look at the atmospheric full walk-through video which is embedded below. You can see how it looks in daylight as well as after dark where the water effects take on a whole new look and meaning.

Although Disney has been criticised for the two year construction timeline for Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana and that there is no actual ride element, if it is taken for what it is, Disney fans surely can't fail to be impressed? But, is EPCOT the right location for this attraction? Although it clearly has a edutainment element, for many the answer will be no, Disney's Animal Kingdom would have made for a better fit for the theme. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.

In a recent review posted to YouTube by DSNY Newscast, we get to hear an honest opinion of the new Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana and on first looks it appears that this new attraction at EPCOT is more impressive and fun than most are likely expecting it to be.

What is great about this new walk-through experience?

The very interesting thing about the water effects is that they are interactive and completely controlled by the guests as they are in the film, making this a very different experience to most areas which include jumping fountains or water features which are centrally controlled.

According to DSNY Newcast, Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana is an area where all families or parties could spend at least 30 minutes out of their day to EPCOT to enjoy.

Water features which particularly stood out and are worth spending time exploring are:

• The geysers at the beginning of the experience where you can control the water by your arm movements.
• Pads at the end which control geyser style spouts by jumping on them.
• Wall of Water created by a group of guests moving their arms at the same time.
• Effect where the water adjusts to the height of your hand to give you a high five.

Disney has very cleverly placed sensors hidden in plain sight to enable the water effects to appear magical. The theming is very impressive with rock work, foliage and of course the towering 16 foot statue of Tafiti as well as Easter Eggs to Moana.

It revitalises one of the original purposes of EPCOT being edutainment and teaches guests about the importance of water conservation as well as the facts of the water cycle.

What are the problems?

The location is an issue as it is difficult to feel completely immersed in Moana's world when Spaceship Earth looms in the distance. With a Moana meet and greet exclusive to Disney's Animal Kingdom and blue sky plans announced for a Moana themed land to be built in the location of Chester and Hester's Dinorama in DinoLand USA, it seems a real shame that this interactive walk-through experience was not located at Disney's Animal Kingdom rather than EPCOT. 

Also, as the water features are all controlled by guests it can seem slightly lifeless when fewer people are in the area, however we aren't predicting that this will be a problem for majority of the time, especially when Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana first opens.

In summary, don't be put off by preconceptions regarding Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana. From initial reviews it appears that Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana, if taken for what it is as a walk-through experience, will be a very fun and enjoyable attraction for all the family. 

Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana at EPCOT is slated to open this Fall and back in August, Disney revealed a new look photo and logo for Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana at EPCOT which can be seen below posted to Twitter by Landon McReynolds . We are expecting news of an opening date for this walk-through attraction soon. 

#Disney has shared a new look at "Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana" attraction. According to Disney's latest quarterly earnings report, the attraction at #EPCOT is still scheduled to open this fall. pic.twitter.com/QhWzLgMHoH — Landon McReynolds (@LandonProducer) August 16, 2023

It certainly looks like although there will not be a ride that this new attraction will be a very immersive addition to EPCOT and we will be very excited to bring you video footage of exactly what you can expect to experience from Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana when it opens at EPCOT.

Here is the newly released logo for Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana, do you think it does the attraction justice? Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.

To see the construction journey continue reading...

Co-founder of the site alongside her amazing Husband Nick who had the vision and inspiration to create Theme Park Tourist from scratch. Natalie has always been amazed by theme parks and thinks nothing beats walking around a Disney Park soaking up the sights, sounds and magical atmosphere hand in hand with the ones she loves.

Add new comment

Sign up for your free account, about theme park tourist.

Theme Park Tourist is one of the web’s leading sources of essential information and entertaining articles about theme parks in Orlando and beyond.

We are one of the world’s largest theme park guide sites, hosting detailed guides to more than 80 theme parks around the globe.

Find Out More About Us...

Plan Your Trip

Our theme park guides contain reviews and ratings of rides, restaurants and hotels at more than 80 theme parks worldwide.

You can even print them.

Start Planning Now...

Save money, experience more.

Moana’s Journey of Water: NEW EPCOT Attraction Review

Journey of Water, inspired by Moana is a brand new attraction at EPCOT at Walt Disney World! Based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios film fan favorite Moana, this new attraction is inspired by Moana's friendship with water and her devotion to nature.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about this new experience, a NEW look at the attraction and info on how to access the Moana experience.

We have been inside the new Moana Epcot attraction and have our review and photos included below.

Get exclusive access to prices on hotel & tickets just for Mickey Visit subscribers. Don't miss our travel hacks newsletter!

In this planning guide:

Moana's Journey of Water Now Open

Moana Journey of Water is NOW OPEN. Moana is also available at World Nature for a character meet-and-greet with guests in her dedicated space near Journey of Water.

Disney shared a sneak-peek of this experience on their Instagram:

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Disney Parks (@disneyparks)

You can read more about other new attractions and rides at Disney World in our tracker .

NEW- Virtual Queue for Moana Journey of Water

Moana Journey of Water uses a virtual queue as needed. Guests can request a spot once they enter at EPCOT and starting at 9AM via the My Experience App.

Read all about the Moana Journey of Water virtual queue in our guide.

Inside New Moana Journey of Water Epcot Attraction

Recently I had the opportunity to go inside the new Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, attraction. This walk through experience is a trail through interactive water elements, rock sculptures, and greenery. The melodic, calming, Moana score plays throughout the area.

The experience immerses guests in a lush environment featuring the global cycle of water which will be brought to life. Guests can interact and play with water as it travels from our skies to our oceans and back again. This experience is designed for all ages and is inspired by Moana's friendship with water and her devotion to protecting nature around her. What all this means is that there are placards throughout featuring commentary on our reliance on water cycling throughout our world.

Journey of Water includes each zone of the water cycle which is introduced with trail markers. These trail markers are illustrations that tell the story of each stage of water and include instructions on how to interact with the water one each zone. The attraction includes interactive elements which focus on each stage of the water cycle: Rain, Stream, Wetland, Spring, Land, Lake, River, Ocean and Sky.

And this is one interactive experience at Walt Disney World that does not require a MagicBand+ to access the interactive elements, everything is purely on connecting with nature, no wristbands required.

While walking through the experience, there is also always a clearly labeled “dry path” where you can avoid getting wet completely. This is great for parents to avoid the water while kids play. It will also be crucial during the colder January and February months.

During my time walking through the new attraction, we got to “teach the water how to play”. From making a wave ourselves to then having the rocks explode with that same wave to playing a musical instrument, many of the water elements are currently interactive.

My favorite two water features are a curtain of water that opens when you walk up to it slowly. It feels very James Bond-esque and like I'm walking up to a secret layer – maybe I am thinking of the scene in “The Incredibles” where they part a waterfall to enter the secret lair. The other favorite one is where you can jump on a pad and the water shoots up. Supposedly the water goes higher the harder that you land on the pad.

Other water cycles encourage guests to wave to the water when rainfall gathers into streams along with direct interactions with the water like playing a water harp which results in actual music being played when guests run their fingers over the strings of water.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of the trail was the impressive Te Fiti figure that rises over a pond about halfway through the experience. So far I have only personally see the train during the day, but know that at night this figure lights up stunningly.

The area does include shaded canopies inspired by canoe sails which further connects to the Moana film. Considering the Florida heat, this was a wise decision for Imagineers and truly makes this an amazing place to spend time. This is also not an experience that is guaranteed to get you wet. You can pretty much decide how interactive you truly want to be with the water. At one point I was walking passed some of the rockwork in the Moana area under a jumping fountain and a gust of wind came up and the water dumped down on me drenching my back. Be careful not to get too close on a cold day.=

Parents can just enjoy a spot in the shade while their kids go all in and play with water. There is also a specific puddle area where water jets jump up and kids where playing.

As you'll be able to tell from my photos throughout this article, there was a Florida thunderstorm inbound while we were enjoying the attraction. There were multiple pre-recorded announcements while we were walking through Journey of Water Inspired By Moana that the attraction could close. The attraction did end up closing just before the rain started.

Additional Commentary on Moana Journey of Water

One key reason that Disney built Moana Journey of Water at Disney World is the popularity of the film and character. The movie is continuously one of the top titles on Disney Plus. This popularity coupled with the promotion this new attraction has received, the demand for the experience will be high. I am sure that Disney shares my worry that demand will far outweigh the capacity of this walk-through experience.

Perhaps Disney is purposely having longer preview periods and pushing out the opening until a slightly slower period to try to take as much of the pent-up demand off the attraction when it opens to day guests. Based on the recently announced Moana attraction previews the demand for “opening day” ride chasers – the locals and content creators – will pretty much be gone by the time the attraction officially opens to the public.

The other difficult aspect of this attraction is that capacity isn't fixed. There is no, “if we run this attraction on a consistent basis it should bring through a certain amount of guests per hour.” This was part of the argument for having the original Haunted Mansion use Doom Buggies instead of creating a walk-through exhibit. In this case, there are variables at play including the weather and guest type that will shift how long people spend enjoying this new experience.

Disney also has to be careful with the amount of people in the attraction to avoid pushing the interactivity elements to their limits. During our preview, there was already one section that was not open and likely had some element break.

The new Journey of Water Inspired by Moana attraction at Epcot is a great addition to the park. I look forward to getting this area and the rest of the middle of Epcot fully open again. At that point, the attraction should be a nice no-wait addition that gives younger guests a great place to run around and play.

Background on New Moana Disney World Attraction

In the film Moana, the ocean is seen as its own individual character that guides Moana in her journey and even adds a sense of commentary to different moments in the movie. Just like how water is a character in the movie, it is said that water also acts as its own character in the Journey of Water as it reacts to guest interaction.

Walt Disney Imagineering partnered with artists and cultural consultants from Walt Disney Animation Studios to design this experience and capture the beauty of the natural water cycle within the attraction. Imagineers were also inspired by Moana's fierce determination to protect her environment.

Guests will notice familiar shapes and characters carved into the rocks and waterways through Journey of Water. An example of this will be Moana herself as she celebrates water's arrival to the ocean.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is part of EPCOT's transformation and is located in the World Nature neighborhood of the park where Living with the Land and other similar themed attractions are located.

Te Fiti Figure Moana's Journey of Water

The most predominant feature you will notice in Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is the 16-foot-fall Te Fiti figure which is positioned along the trail inside the attraction.

When I first saw this image on my social media feed, I thought it was a photoshopped rendering at first and it took me a moment for my eyes to catch up! She's absolutely breathtaking and I cannot wait to see the beauty that Imagineers have created for this experience.

Moana's Journey of Water fits in nicely with EPCOT especially when you consider the long-standing history this park has had with nature. All you have to do is look towards Living with the Land to see that connection and innovation. This is a nice opportunity for Disney to add a popular, beloved film franchise into the park while still ensuring it maintains its relevance to what EPCOT stands for. They've hit it out of the park with this one and I think even the most hesitant EPCOT fans will end up liking what they see.

Te Fiti Concept Model Moana

The Te Fiti figure was originally revealed as a concept model at 2022 D23 Expo. Disney used scale models to develop the color and digital models to get all the details right.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is a great addition to EPCOT.

Ready to Plan Your Walt Disney World Vacation?

You can save a lot of money on your Disneyland or Disney World vacation by subscribing to our newsletter HERE .  Be sure to check out the information offered on other Disneyland and Disney World planning articles throughout the website:

• Attraction Guide to Walt Disney World’s: Magic Kingdom
• Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios Attractions Guide

Related Posts

I Spent My Honeymoon at Walt Disney World- Here Are My Best Tips!

Magic Kingdom Ride Guide 2024 – Ride Reviews, Bonus Tips

Full Ride Video POV: Disney’s New Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Ride That Replaced Splash Mountain

Disney is Planning Massive Expansion of Their Theme Parks, These 15 Movies Should Definitely Be Represented

Hollywood Studios Rides Guide 2024 – Ride Reviews, Must-Knows, Bonus Tips

Expedition Everest SECRETS Revealed! 10 Facts About Animal Kingdom’s Roller Coaster

Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.

About Gavin Doyle

Gavin Doyle is a best-selling author and founder of Mickey Visit. He is an expert on helping families save money and experience more at Disney, Universal, and beyond. He has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, ABC7, Travel+Leisure, the OC Register, Orange County Register, LA Times, Yahoo! News, and more.

Education: University of Southern California Favorite Ride: Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout! at Disney California Adventure

Read more about Gavin.

See MuckRack Profile Here.

Planning a Disney Vacation? Get Exclusive Discounts + Free Bonuses

In addition to exclusive discounts for Mickey Visit subscribers, get our free planning printable and guide to make your life SO much easier.

Previous Post: 11 Best Disney Halloween Movies to Watch With Your Family

Next Post: Moana Journey of Water- Virtual Queue, NEW EPCOT Experience Open Now!

Exclusive Discounts + BREAKING NEWS

Join our newsletter of 100,000+ readers for discounts, planning tips, and breaking news about Walt Disney World and Disneyland. "Essential for planning your trip!" -Helen from Portland, Oregon

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana – New!

World Nature

Guests Can Be

Age interest.

Accessibility and Other Information - Opens Dialog

Accessibility

• May Remain in Wheelchair/ECV
• Audio Description

Service Animals Permitted with Caution

Interactive, What's New

Explore the wonders of water along a lush trail that’s fun for all ages—based on the Disney animated film Moana.

• 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Monday, June 03, 2024

Use CoBrowse to Share Your Screen?

Even as the Disney Cast Member guides you around our site, they will be unable to access or view any files or information on your device or anything you type.

To stop the session, click the X in the screen-sharing window at any time. You can remain on the phone with the Cast Member.

Enter the code provided by the Cast Member and Accept to get started.

Invalid code. Please reenter

Not on the Phone with a Cast Member?

the disney food blog

food IS a theme park

Read the Latest Posts

Looking for something?

Get the dfb newsletter.

STAY CONNECTED

Journey of Water, Inspired by MOANA at Disney World’s EPCOT

Journey of Water is a new attraction — the first ever inspired by Moana — in EPCOT’s World Nature ! This experience officially opened on October 16th, 2023 .

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana

Journey of Water is one element joining several others that all ultimately come together to make up the historical transformation of the park .

STEP INSIDE the Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana HERE ! And join us on a FULL WALK-THROUGH of the attraction HERE !

Journey of Water — The Attraction

What is journey of water.

Guests can explore what Disney has described as a “lush exploration trail” that allows explorers to “play with magical, living water” through an immersive, self-guided walk-through attraction .

Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana

In addition to the trail and interactive living water experiences , guests also learn about the importance of the natural water cycle.

The Water Cycle

As you walk through the attraction, you’ll see signage describing the natural water cycle. Each of the sections —  Rain, Stream, Wetland, Spring, Land, Lake, River, Ocean, and Sky  — has a way for you to interact with the water.

Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley explained that these signs and experiences   “guide guests through the cycle of water in fun and engaging ways  to tell our story of the vital link we share with water across our planet, and inspire the important role we all share in preserving this life-giving and life-sustaining precious resource.”

Welcome to the Stream section!

The Walt Disney Imagineering team tasked themselves with   capturing the beauty of the natural water cycle   for the attraction. Disney says they were also inspired by Moana’s fierce determination to protect her environment and her bond with water .

If you’re a fan of the movie  Moana , you should be able to recognize some  familiar characters and shapes that are carved into the rocks and waterways .

There are about a dozen hidden characters throughout the attraction (both on land and in the water) throughout Journey of Water.

Baby Moana in Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana

As you explore, you’ll find signage that will help you know how to interact and PLAY with the water !

Journey of Water signage

Throughout the attraction, there are parts where you may simply play with certain water features and other sections where you’ll need to perform actions to get the water to respond.

For example, in the “Rain” section of the trail, Disney teaches us how water falls from the clouds to the earth and tumbles down the mountains, renewing everything it touches.

Journey of Water

To celebrate that,  guests can play with strings of water that play musical notes  as they touch them.

An Imagineer Comments on Journey of Water

Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley shared the following with Gizmodo.com : “For Journey of Water, the idea is really celebrating the cycle . You actually get a chance to meet water the same way Moana meets her friend water in the film , and we have some really fun experiences as you move through this trail that are totally unique, invented for this. But the underlying subject is really the importance of preserving water, like the cycle of water, the fact that all water is essentially finite, and it’s important for us to understand its role and to preserve it as a resource, so we’re able to use elements from Moana’s story. But the Epcot story is about water and its conservation; that idea is rooted in real ideas, real things that inspire us but then actually take you into that experience. That’s what we think the unique space of Epcot can bring to life.”

Journey of Water at Night

We’re uncovering the SECRETS of Journey of Water HERE!

Will i get wet exploring journey of water.

Disney has specified Journey of Water is a “self-guided outdoor trail” where you’ll learn about water being a friend, water connecting us all, and the need to protect water.

This experience is meant to appeal to everyone!

In the Land section, for example, you can walk through a waterfall, and it’s up to you how wet you get ! Walk slowly and the water will split around you, but walk quickly and you can get soaked!

Kakamora water feature

But there are portions of what Disney calls a  “dry path”  so if you want to learn about water without being covered in it, be on the lookout for those.

You can take the dry path instead!

Essentially, these are parts where the path splits in two and you can observe from a drier place without getting into all the wet features.

Group water element

So if getting wet is NOT your thing, don’t be concerned — you’ll be able to avoid playing too much with the water here, if that’s your preference.

Journey of Water — Location

Journey of Water is located in the World Nature neighborhood in EPCOT.

World Nature also encompasses The   Land and The Seas  pavilions.

Journey of Water — Attraction Access

Journey of Water is available through Standby access as a walk-though attraction.

Journey of Water — Characters

As mentioned above, there are about a dozen hidden characters from Moana throughout the attraction (both on land and in the water).

Can you spy Hei Hei?

One character in particular, though, is not hidden whatsoever.

Te Fiti in Journey of water

In fact, at 15 feet tall and comprised of over 3,000 pieces of foliage , this stunning sculpture of Te Fiti is a true highlight of Journey of Water!

Te Fiti in Journey of Water

Additionally, Moana is now meeting guests in EPCOT’s World Nature , right near the entrance to Journey of Water!

Moana in EPCOT

Be sure to check the  My Disney Experience app for appearance times, as this Meet-and-Greet is bound to remain incredibly popular for some time .

Journey of Water — Good to Know

Here’s a tip for you: Wearing a pair of waterproof shoes — or even packing a simple pair of sandals for this occasion — can really make this experience more enjoyable ! This way, you can experience the interactive water features in a more comfortable manner.

Now, you really don’t have to get  too  wet to experience any of these water features — most of them are similar to walking through a mister that you’ll find in other areas of the parks. But,  it can get  hot  in the Florida sun, and if you have the appropriate clothes, you might really appreciate taking advantage of these water zones at their fullest effect .

Water feature

You might also want to bring a poncho . Most of the water interactions are mild, but it doesn’t hurt to pack a lightweight poncho in your bag just in case.

Journey of Water Restroom

Should you or anyone in your group need to use restrooms, this attraction does have its own dedicated bathroom space.

Additional Specifications for Journey of Water

Restrictions: Some aspects of Journey of Water — or perhaps even the entire attraction — may close during inclement weather ; Wheelchair access is available only the dry path; Disney shares that “Service animals are permitted with caution in some areas; service animals must remain on the dry path.”

Height Requirement: Any height

News and Details About Journey of Water

• NEWS: Following Abrupt Closure, the Moana Attraction Finale Has REOPENED in EPCOT
• NEWS: Disney Suddenly CLOSES Part of Journey of Water in EPCOT
• We’ve Gotta Share Some GOOD NEWS About Characters in Disney World
• Here’s the Bad News About EPCOT’s New Moana Attraction
• There’s a NEW Park Map in EPCOT — See All the Changes Here!
• ALERT! A NEW EPCOT Attraction Officially Opens Today!
• 25 Dates to Consider When Planning Your 2024 Disney World Vacation
• Why We’re Worried About October 16th in EPCOT
• If You’re in EPCOT Today, We’re a Little Worried About You
• You’ll Be SURPRISED by the CROWDS at the Moana Attraction in EPCOT

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

We know disney. you can, too..

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER EBOOKS

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana Passholder Preview Dates Announced for EPCOT

Hi everyone!

Passholder previews for Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will be coming to EPCOT from September 24th – September 29th and October 1st – October 4th, 2023. We enjoyed Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana a lot (we recommend a sunset/evening walk-through). 

Watch our video of Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana (we also have an article with 65 photos ) and read more below about the Passholder previews for the walk-through attraction.

Share this:

• Little People Collector NSYNC Special Edition Set Releases Tomorrow
• ‘Star Wars’ The Black Series Ahsoka Tano & HK-87 Assassin Droid Action Figure 2-Pack Available for Preorder

• EPCOT / News / Walt Disney World

BREAKING: Opening Date Revealed For Journey of Water in EPCOT

by Jess Landers · September 9, 2023

We’re at one of the biggest Disney events of the year — Destination D23 !

Destination D23

This sold-out event, which takes place from September 8th to the 10th at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, lets ticketholders explore all kinds of fun Disney facts, history, news, and more, and we have a big update about an EPCOT attraction!

Journey of Water Opening Date

We FINALLY have an opening date for Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana in EPCOT! The interactive water trail attraction will officially open to the public on October 16th.

Journey of Water recently opened to Cast Member previews , but not to regular guests.

Journey of Water

This attraction allows guests to interact with the cycle of water, as well as learn more about how water affects our world. This is a great way to stay cool on a hot Florida day and let kiddos get some wiggles out — all in the name of education!

You can read all about our experience in the attraction here .

Also, Disney revealed that on the same date (October 16th), a Moana meet-and-greet will debut in a new area across from Journey of Water!

Photo: Disney

Keep following MickeyBlog for more Disney news!

Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on  your next Disney vacation , please fill out the form below and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond-Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!

Tags: Epcot Inspired by Moana' Journey of Water opening date

Get a FREE Quote!

Interested in booking a Disney Vacation? Look no further! The award winning agents at MickeyTravels are ready to help you book a truly magical vacation!

• Name * First Last
• Number of Adults *
• Number of Children *
• Ages of Children *
• Select Your Destination * *hold ctrl or shift to select more Walt Disney World Disney Cruise Line Disneyland Adventures by Disney Aulani Hawaii Disney Special Event Tickets Universal Orlando
• Approximate Travel Dates *

You may also like...

Gear Up for Summer With This NEW Loungefly Backpack at Disney’s BoardWalk!

March 4, 2024

Imagineer Gives Inside Look at Some of the Awesome Details of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

March 11, 2022

Toy Story Holiday Popcorn Bucket is the Best

November 10, 2022

Recent Posts

MickeyBlog News for June 3rd, 2024

X-Men ’97 Producer Brad Winderbaum Discusses the Pivotal Moment in Season 1 and What Is Next For the Show

Dafne Keen Sets the Record Straight on Whether or Not She Will Appear in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

Sign-up for Our Newsletter

News / The Walt Disney Company

June 2, 2024

Marvel / News

News / Walt Disney World

Why Disney World Vacations Are Better in 2024

• Walk-Through Attractions
• World Nature
• Português do Brasil

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana

• View history

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is a walkthrough attraction at EPCOT 's World Nature , based on Disney 's 2016 animated feature film Moana . [1]

It was originally scheduled set to open in 2021 . However, it was delayed to October 16 , 2023 , as part of the park's 40th anniversary celebration, which is part of the Disney 100 Years of Wonder anniversary celebration, since the opening was postponed indefinitely following the closure of the park due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 2.1 Logo and Posters
• 2.2 Concept Art
• 3 References

Summary [ ]

Journey of Water is a garden featuring interactive fountains and other water features leading from the current Innoventions Plaza (replacing much of Innoventions West) down to The Seas Pavilion . Anchored by a 16 foot tall topiary figure of Te Fiti , Journey of Water serves as a whimsical exploration of the water cycle and how it sustains our world.

Gallery [ ]

Logo and posters [ ].

Concept Art [ ]

References [ ]

• ↑ " Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Shares First of Many Exciting Announcements to Be Unveiled at D23 Expo 2019 ". DisneyParks ( August 22 , 2019 ).
• 1 Inside Out 2
• 3 Nostalgia

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana – New!

An outdoor exploration trail where water comes to life, go with the flow, water connects us all, make a splash... or stay dry, know before you go.

• Some aspects of this experience may close during inclement weather.
• Wheelchair access is available on the dry path only.
• Service animals are permitted with caution in some areas; service animals must remain on the dry path.

Meet Moana in World Nature

Safety, Accessibility and Guest Policies

Times for journey of water, inspired by moana – new.

Complete Guide to Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana at Epcot

If you’re a fan of Moana , then this attraction is for you. Just like Moana does in the movie, you’re able to interact and play with water as you enjoy this outdoor trail in Epcot.

As described by Disney, Journey of Water gives you the opportunity to “learn about the importance of water and discover its playful personality.”

While this attraction is far from a thrill ride, it is gorgeous and special in its own right. Plus, you get to learn about the cycle of water with help from some pretty cool interactive water features.

Find out everything we know about the attraction in our complete guide to Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana.

In this article

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana Quick Facts

• Location: Epcot, inside World Nature
• Height requirement: None
• Suitable for: Everyone
• Attraction length: Depends — it’s a self-guided outdoor trail
• Do we recommend? Definitely for fans of Moana
• When to visit: Anytime
• Scheduled Refurbishments
• Tip(s): There are wet and dry paths, the latter for those who want to avoid getting wet. You don’t need to use a MagicBand, a MagicBand+, or a special app to for the interactive water features.

Description: Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is an outdoor trail that guests take in at their own pace as they explore and interact with playful water features themed after the popular animated movie. The experience includes lots of water features and fountains to help guests learn how the cycle of water works.

Journey of Water is found in the World Nature neighborhood of Epcot, which is close to the entrance of the park. It’s near The Seas with Nemo and Friends attraction and Coral Reef Restaurant.

Download the PDF

How to Experience Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana

During previews and the soft opening of this attraction, a Virtual Queue was utilized. However, this is no longer the case and the queue hasn’t been used since the initial opening.

When you are ready to visit, you can head over and join the standby line. You can find the entrance to this walk through attraction near Coral Reef restaurant and the Seas with Nemo and Friends.

Do I Need Genie+ to Experience Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana?

Genie+ is not offered at Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. You’ll be able to visit the attraction via the standby line.

You can also access the attraction during both Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours .

Rider Switch/Child Swap

Rider Switch is Disney’s service that allows guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, while another person/people wait with the little one.

Seeing as Journey of Water isn’t a ride, Rider Switch is not offered here.

• Learn more about Rider Switch

What to Expect When You Visit

Unlike other attractions, Journey of Water doesn’t really have a dedicated queue. One isn’t necessarily needed, since this is a trail that keeps guests constantly moving.

When hopping in the Standby line, you’ll simply stand in a queue that is located outdoors.

Accessibility Information

Guests may remain in their wheelchair/ECV as they explore the self-guided trail, but wheelchair access is available only on the dry path.

Service animals are also permitted with caution in some areas and they must remain on the dry path.

In the Experience

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, includes lots of water features and fountains to help guests learn about how the cycle of water works.

As you travel through the attraction, trail markers guide you as you interact with the water, which responds to your movements. You won’t need to use a MagicBand, a MagicBand+, or a special app to do this — it all seems to be working on a motion sensor, so you can experience the features tech-free.

The cornerstone of the attraction is a giant Te Fiti statue that stands 16 feet tall, which was placed in December 2022 . It’s a pretty impressive feat, and there’s no doubt this is one of the most exciting parts of the attraction for Moana fans.

There’s a large fountain that features the heart of Te Fiti inside the attraction that is also a focal point for the area.

Speaking of fountains, there is a chance that you could get wet while experiencing this attraction, but you definitely don’t have to if you don’t want to.

Some portions of the trail offer a wet path and a dry path, so you can truly personalize your experience. You likely won’t get fully soaked even on the wet path, but there are splash areas designed for kids who are into that.

As you walk through the attraction, you’ll encounter several different stops along the water cycle, starting with rain. You’ll then proceed to the stream, where you’ll find “strings” of water you can run your hands through and play music.

Next are the wetlands, a walking path where you can choose to stay dry or walk directly through the water, though the water will part to allow you to walk through. Then, there’s the spring, where the water will come up to meet your hand.

This is followed by the land, a cavelike area which also offers a dry path, and the lake, where you’ll finally see Te Fiti. Next, you’ll be at the river, and finally, the sky as you make your way back around the path. Each of these stops offers different ways to interact with water as you learn along the way.

The attraction ends with the opportunity for several people to join together to create one giant wave with their movement.

Though Moana herself does not appear in this attraction, a meet and greet with the character is in an area nearby, across from the Coral Reef restaurant.

Is Journey of Water Kid-Friendly?

Yes, Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is definitely kid-friendly. There’s an interactive water feature here (similar to a splash pad) with theming that Moana fans will enjoy. You may want to bring a change of clothes for your little one in case they get wet!

Since it’s an outdoor, walk-through attraction based on one of Disney’s most beloved animated characters, we expect that it this to be a crowd pleaser with younger age groups.

Children who don’t like getting wet may not like this attraction, since a lot of water is involved. But, there is also the dry path available for all guests.

Be sure to check out our guide on things that might scare little ones at Disney World.

If you have a stroller with you, there is a designated stroller parking area outside of the entrance.

Disney officially announced Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana in August 2019 at the D23 Expo as part of an overhaul of Epcot that’s been in progress for several years now.

It was initially intended to open in 2021 to celebrate the parks’ 50th anniversary, but was eventually pushed back to late 2023.

Almost a year later, Disney shared an update with fans, providing new concept art of the attraction once construction was underway.

Since then, Disney Parks Blog shared new project milestones with eager fans, including the progress being made on a sculpture of Moana by Principal Dimensional Designer Jim Towler that will be featured in the attraction in August 2022.

During the 2023 Disney Shareholders Meeting in April 2023, Bob Iger toured the attraction , and from the footage shared, it seemed like it was close to being completed.

At the time, he revealed that guests would be able to interact with the water similar to the way that Moana did in the movie.

During the 2023 Destination D23 parks panel , it was finally confirmed that Journey of Water, Inspired Moana would open on October 16, 2023.

Other Fun Details

• There are a range of hidden characters carved into the surrounding areas, like Moana, baby Moana, HeiHei, Pua, Gramma Tala, and Kakamora.

• If you listen closely, you’ll hear songs from the Moana soundtrack playing as you explore the trail.
• There is a Moana meet and greet nearby Journey of Water for guests to say hello to the character who inspired this attraction.

Other Attractions in World Nature

Land Pavilion

• Awesome Planet
• Living with the Land
• Soarin’

Imagination Pavilion

• Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
• Journey into Imagination

The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion

• The Seas with Nemo and Friends
• Turtle Talk with Crush

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana

Home » Walt Disney World » Epcot » Attractions

Moana: Journey of Water Attraction Coming to Epcot – Details, Opening Date & More

By Author Ziggy Oskwarek

Posted on Last updated: September 1, 2022

• Facebook 3448
• Pinterest 335

Disney revealed at the last D23 Expo that they currently working on a new Moana-based attraction is coming to Epcot as part of its transformation called: Moana: Journey of Water . This was one of the most surprising new attractions coming to Epcot in the new few years and we are excited to share more with you.

In this post we are going to share everything we know so far about the Moana: Journey of Water attraction with you including details, concept art, and even rumored opening dates.

Before we get started, don’t forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. There we bring you the latest Moana: Journey of Water updates as well as vacation planning tips. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!

(Updated 5/5/22) New Concept Art for Moana: Journey of Water

Today Disney gave us the first updates about the new Moana: Journey of Water that we’ve had in two years including the most detailed concept art we’ve had of the attraction yet.

There are several interesting details included in the artwork including a wooden pavilion, and plenty of water features. Let’s take a look:

The area that Moana: Journey of Water takes up is on the site of the former Communicore West building, and it takes up a large footprint.

Here is the entrance to the experience:

From its position, it looks like it will be on the pathway going toward The Seas with Nemo and Friends and guests can make a stop here before moving on.

We get a better look at some of the fountains and water features on the right side of the art:

The wooden pavilion is interesting and it looks like smaller water features are located inside of it.

In the back of the experience is where the larger waterfall is located and the heart of Te Fiti as we’ve seen in previous concept art.

In this last image, we see what looks like the back of the attraction as it borders the new Festival Center there at the top of the artwork.

Besides the new concept art, Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley provided some new details about Moana: Journey of Water in an Instagram post, and it’s starting to be a little clearer just what this new experience will be like:

“This new experience is coming to EPCOT during its historic transformation, and will find its home within World Nature, our new neighborhood dedicated to learning and supporting humanity’s relationship with our planet.

Journey of Water will immerse guests in a lush environment, and it is here that the story of the global cycle of water will be brought to life in a story completely unique to EPCOT. We’re creating an outdoor attraction for all ages, where you will be invited to play and interact with water as it travels from our skies to our oceans and back again.

The spaces and experiences within were inspired by Moana’s friendship with water and her devotion to protecting nature around her. I often say that EPCOT is a park about people – the stories and curiosity that we share about our world, and the endless possibility that lives in each of us.

Since the earliest days of the park, pavilions like The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends have given millions of guests the ability to explore the far reaches (and depths!) of our planet, and it’s through these unique encounters that we become inspired to protect the beauty and balance of our natural world. Journey of Water will build on that history of storytelling and conservation-focused education at EPCOT.

Currently, our Walt Disney Imagineering team is hard at work preparing the site and developing all the details that will give form to this new experience.”

While we still didn’t get too many specifics with this latest update, at least we have a much better idea of what the experience will look like as a whole. To us, it looks like it’s going to be much more geared toward kids rather than adults, and we’re a bit unsure about what the main draw is going to be here besides just water features.

We also are a bit skeptical right now about how much people will want to keep coming back here once they’ve experienced it already.

Stay tuned for more updates coming soon. In the meantime, keep reading for more details about what we know so far.

Moana: Journey of Water Overview

Not too many details have been given about the project yet, but this is the first attraction in any park based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film, “Moana,” and guests will be able to interact with magical, living water in a beautiful and inspiring setting.

Right away people want to know if this is a ride. No, from the concept art we can see, it isn’t a ride, but more like an interactive experience. It will be something to interact with along a walking path in EPCOT’s World Nature.

The location for Journey of Water is over by The Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion, on the site of the former Communicore West building. From looking at the concept art, there are multiple fountains which kids and adults will be able to interact with.

This is definitely a family-friendly addition to EPCOT and its latest push into getting more Disney IP into the parks.

There is an exploration trail with fountains and water arches that rise above guests’ heads along the trail.

It also goes along with the original mission statement for EPCOT as there are “edutainment” elements to the experience. Disney says it will help “ guests learn how to protect the natural water cycle in a fun and engaging way ,” and show them the role we all play in preserving our planet’s water supply.  

We got to see the concept art and models at the Disney Parks “Imagining Tomorrow, Today” pavilion which was located on the show floor of the last D23 Expo . There were plenty of models including one for the Journey of Water area already set up to see.

Here is what it looked like:

A similar Moana: Journey of Water model was also but for the now-closed EPCOT Experience in the Odyessy pavilion.

Here is a look at the limited edition poster for the attraction:

Will the Moana Character Be in the Attraction?

At this time, it’s unclear whether guests will actually be able to see the Moana character while visiting Journey of Water or not.

As we mentioned, it’s not a ride, and it really looks more like a walkthrough space with gardens than anything else. Is it possible that the whole thing is an elaborate queue for a character meet and greet with Moana?

While it wouldn’t surprise us if Moana is in the space, it doesn’t appear that is the entire point of the attraction. It’s supposed to be an immersive environment that actually teaches guests about water and its important role on our planet.

It looks a bit more complicated than a character meet, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Moana still won’t be there in some form or another, especially with Disney’s strong push for IP in EPCOT right now.

If the Moana is included here, she will probably be located at the end in the small section where the rocks, waterfalls, and heart of Te Fiti are all grouped together.

When is Moana: Journey of Water Opening?

It’s not a stretch to say that we’ve been waiting for this attraction to open for quite a while, and there have been multiple construction delays over the past few years.

When the parks closed down for a few months in 2020, all construction projects were put on hold, and even when they started up again, budget cuts put Moana: Journey of Water lower on the list of attractions to build than others that were already further along.

Originally, it looked like Disney was aiming for a 2021 opening for Journey of Water. We even saw some interesting information in a limited-print edition of upcoming attraction posters on the ShopDisney website with a description that stated Moana: Journey of Water was opening in 2021 .

Here is the original blurb:

“Celebrate the new aquatic adventure at the reimagined Epcot with this limited edition print promoting the forthcoming  Moana -inspired  Journey of Water  walkthrough maze. Featuring the goddess Te Fiti from the 2016 movie, the poster is printed on archival paper and will whet your appetite for the attraction’s 2021 opening at Walt Disney World.”

Of course, that turned out not to be true, and that 2021 date was put on there erroneously with Disney quickly removing all traces of it shortly after.

In reality, Disney hasn’t officially said when Journey of Water is opening. For a while now, we’ve known that it wasn’t going to be one of the first attractions ready in the huge Epcot overhaul , and probably wouldn’t make it to the park until 2022.

At this point, we don’t have any accurate information about the opening of Moana: Journey of Water but by looking at the construction progress, it doesn’t seem that we will be seeing it in 2022. That means it probably won’t be ready in time for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary or EPCOT’s 40th anniversary in October.

It’s likely that it won’t open until sometime in 2023, especially since other attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind are already opening this year and Disney will likely want to spread around the new attraction openings.

We’ll keep you posted with any updates regarding Moana: Journey of Water as soon as we hear more. In the meantime, keep reading for more general info on the upcoming attraction.

More details will most likely be announced about this new Moana attraction, so stay tuned for that info.

In the meantime, check out all of the other New Disney World Rides coming in the next 3 years .

• D23 Expo Guide – Everything You Need to Know about the Expo!
• D23 Expo News and Announcements – All the Announcements from the Expo
• D23 Expo First Timer Tips and Tricks – Everything you need to know BEFORE going to the D23 Expo.
• Star Wars at D23 Expo
• Marvel and Phase 4 at the D23 Expo
• Tour of the D23 Expo Show Floor

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about the new Moana: Journey of Water attraction coming to EPCOT…

• Are you looking forward to this new attraction?
• Do you think Moana is a good fit for the park?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂

My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.

Janet Montanaro

Saturday 2nd of July 2022

Looking forward to seeing Moana. Hope in early 2023. Bringing along 5 grandkids all 5 and under. Please have them hurry.

Cheryl Mahood

Tuesday 22nd of June 2021

I am hoping that the Moana attraction will be completed by next summer, as we are bringing our granddaughter and she is obsessed with Moana and looking forward to it—and also anything having to do with Disney princesses! We brought our children to Disneyworld and Disneyland around six times when they were little and now are looking forward to enjoying the magic with our grandchildren!

Monday 13th of April 2020

Nice topic.

Thanks for you.

Tom Krausse

Tuesday 7th of April 2020

Don’t read too much into it, especially the date. It’s possible, if not probable, that this was planned ahead of time and put up automatically from pre-Coronavirus plans. As noted, it’s an odd place to announce stuff, which suggests to me that they were probably planning an announcement in late March to early April of details, but current events postponed that.

Disney World Suspiciously Pushes Back Opening Date for New ‘Moana’ Attraction

in Walt Disney World

According to a new report, Disney World has suspiciously pushed back the opening date for Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. Here’s what you need to know.

Disney’s World’s Newest Attraction Opening Soon, but Not Too Soon

For those of you unaware of what this new experience will be or what it’s all about, the official Walt Disney World website describes Journey of Water , Inspired by Moana , as the following:

Stroll along a self-guided outdoor trail where you can play with water as it travels from the sky to the oceans and back again. Along the way, you’ll find that: Water Is a Friend: Moana befriended the ocean… and you can, too! Enjoy magical encounters with water and discover its playful personality, just as Moana did on her heroic voyage. Water Connects Us All: All water is connected—and it connects us to one another. As you traverse this trail, you’ll connect and interact with water in new ways. And you’ll learn about the global water cycle, which takes water on a wondrous adventure around our planet. Water Needs Protection: Throughout your journey, you’ll learn how you can help protect this precious natural resource and make a positive impact on the world.

Disney recently released some new photos on social media of the attraction. Industry insider and professional journalist Scott Gustin posted the pictures on his official Twitter page, giving us a closer look at some of the facades we can expect from this new attraction area.

Cast member previews began inside the attraction area some time ago as cast members, and their guests formed a line to enter the attraction in the photo above by Attractions Magazine. The site also began testing from Disney World officials back in late June. The ride is scheduled to open “in late 2023,” with no official month mentioned yet. But news has come out indicating that we might have a timeframe of when the ride could open, initially being pushed back from what was supposed to be a September opening date.

‘Moana’ Attraction Pushed Back at Disney World? Report Claims New Ride Won’t Open Until at Least This Date

WDW Magic reported recently that with new cast member previews taking place most of September, this would mean that the new attraction area will not be open to the public until at least October or November. According to the report, the next round of cast member previews will occur between September 1 and September 22, 2023. The report mentions that Disney has confirmed the official next round of cast member previews.

So any chances of guest soft openings will not likely arrive until September 23 or early October. Disney has yet to confirm any form of guest previews for Journey of Water, with DVC-type soft openings happening first before regular guests can enter the area. With September closing in and summer coming to an end, likely, this new attraction area will open sometime in mid-Autumn, likely around the start or middle of October. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.

Comments Off on Disney World Suspiciously Pushes Back Opening Date for New ‘Moana’ Attraction

Age of Water

Originally posted by Neyreyan_Youtube : My prediction would be early august.

Originally posted by Ryuu : Originally posted by Neyreyan_Youtube : My prediction would be early august.

Originally posted by Ryuu : Meanwhile i keep crafting T1 dredge in the boat :D But they've decreased randomness of stats and it even affected previously created copies! I had 9 seconds of working time, got 11 and so far best i got is 22 radius, 11 time

Originally posted by Neyreyan_Youtube : Originally posted by Ryuu : Meanwhile i keep crafting T1 dredge in the boat :D But they've decreased randomness of stats and it even affected previously created copies! I had 9 seconds of working time, got 11 and so far best i got is 22 radius, 11 time

Originally posted by Neyreyan_Youtube : Still havent found any unmarked dredge location, how do you even see them? The game is pretty big and i saw 0 in 200 hours

Originally posted by Ryuu : Were you talking about that hard fishing spot or what? Try it, maybe you'll catch some decor fish. But i recommend taking someone to cover you from Sonjas and catching big fishes is super hard, i managed only 1 so far — got boring Mako Shark. Originally posted by Neyreyan_Youtube : Still havent found any unmarked dredge location, how do you even see them? The game is pretty big and i saw 0 in 200 hours

Report this post