It’s finally TIME!! 🌊🌊🌊

The brand-new Moana-inspired walk-through attraction — Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana — is set to open in the fall of 2023. We’ve seen sneak peeks of the attraction, and some of the construction walls have come down in the area, but we FINALLY got the chance to experience it for ourselves and we’re taking YOU with us!

Recently, we were able to attend a Cast Member preview of the new attraction and now we’re sharing a sneak peek inside with you. (We’ll be sharing a full walkthrough soon, so stay tuned for that!)

Overview

As a general overview, this is a walk-through attraction that Disney has previously described as a “lush exploration trail.” It is located in the World Nature section of EPCOT. It is meant to enable guests to “play with magical, living water” while also learning about the “importance of the natural water cycle” and preserving water as a resource.

We’re checking out Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana! Come with us! pic.twitter.com/xWmQojKRJN

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

 

Signs throughout the attraction are used to “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.” So — to be extra clear — this is NOT a ride you get on. It’s an experience you walk through.

Entrance

As you approach the entrance to the attraction, you’ll see an awning covering the entrance desk and a sign for the name of the attraction “Journey of Water.” It all has a very natural feel to it (which fits in well with the story and the fact that it is in World Nature).

There is a beautiful portion where you’ll see the circular design on some rockwork. It’s similar to the one fans will recognize from the heart of Te Fiti which Moana restores in the movie.

Can we also talk about now we’re never getting over this view? 😍 pic.twitter.com/tuGGOuCgZc

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

 

There are also some warnings and reminders as you enter.

Just a few notifications you want to be aware of! pic.twitter.com/UAVJfvlkV2

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

 

The Attraction

As you walk through the attraction, you’ll see signage describing the natural water cycle. There are portions for things like Rain, Stream, Wetland, and more. As you start your journey, one portion talks about the sky and the role it has to play in the cycle.

In some parts, you may be able to experience water in a more passive (but still engaging way) like by running your hand under some water streaming down from rocks. Listen closely for some cool sound effects you’ll hear here!

The water is inviting you to play! These streams are interactive and play music as you pass your hands through the water!

📍Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana pic.twitter.com/Fp0XRuMm3z

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

 

At some points, you will need to move around your hands in the right places or step on certain portions of the path for the water to make some of its playful effects — like jumping!

We’ve come across another interactive fountain! It’s like the water waves back at you! 🌺 pic.twitter.com/x3T1nAwk10

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

 

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

In this section of the attraction, it’s highlighted how land also shapes water’s movement (and in turn, water shapes the land)!

Here you can find the interactive waterfall! pic.twitter.com/JY2ePyJ673

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

 

In one part, there is a waterfall that parts for you if you walk slowly. Walk through it quickly and…well…just watch to see what happens! 😂

The waterfall splits around you! 😅 pic.twitter.com/vVRUefZxHs

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

 

If you REALLY want to get wet, there’s one place where joining together with fellow guests to do a certain motion may actually produce a more exciting result!

Here’s another BIG opportunity to get wet! This part of the attraction is great when you work as a group! pic.twitter.com/IMB1ZVcsvY

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

There are other interactive portions where you don’t get quite as wet.

Surprise! There are interactive geysers too! pic.twitter.com/0hJwqp1kQ9

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

 

Characters

There are no character meet-and-greets here, but you will see various characters hidden in the rockwork and designs of the attraction.

I spy with my little eye…Heihei! 🌺 pic.twitter.com/VP9JRrDIz6

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

 

There are about a dozen hidden characters throughout the attraction, both on land and in the water.

Be on the lookout for Moana herself carved into some of the rocks at one part of the experience!

And there’s a GIANT Te Fiti figure to look for too near a beautiful little pond. She is around 15 feet tall and made of over 3,000 pieces of foliage!!

Just when the attraction couldn’t get prettier, we have Te Fiti! 😍🌺💚 pic.twitter.com/KT4m46kJ4o

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

 

Do You Have to Get Wet?

You can choose to get wet here so be aware of that! 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. 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.

This attraction is an experience for everyone! You can get wet if you choose, but you don’t have to! #JourneyOfWater pic.twitter.com/TLk3ujRrqc

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

 

PS If you need to use the restrooms, this attraction does have its own dedicated bathroom space!

Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana also has its own RESTROOMS! pic.twitter.com/optqCt6y5B

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 1, 2023

 

And that’s a first look inside this brand-new space! Again, we’ll have a more complete walkthrough coming soon, so stay tuned for that. An opening date for the attraction has not yet been shared but it is set to open this fall. We’ll keep an eye out for more news and let you know what we find.

For our entire page ALL about Journey of Water, click here!

What do you think of the new attraction? Tell us in the comments!