It’s certainly no secret that Disney World has gone through some significant changes lately — and more updates are on the way.
Moana land concept art
Disney has confirmed that a Dinoland U.S.A. re-theme in Animal Kingdom and a Beyond Big Thunder Mountain in Magic Kingdom are currently in the works, though they’ve been keeping the specifics of those projects pretty quiet. A while back, Disney filed a patent that led us to believe a potential Moana ride was in the works, and now we have an update!
In 2022, we learned that Disney had filed a patent for a “Boat Motion Simulator.” The patent described a “system configured specially to impart boat-type motions (e.g., roll, sway, heave, pitch, surge, and yaw) to a passenger boat.” Not only that, but images from the patent led us to believe this ride was themed after Moana!
©Disney
Essentially, this simulator would be able to create the actual feeling of boat-type motions, all while floating naturally and vertically supported by buoyancy in the water.
©Disney
But, Disney has filed an updated patent that has since been published for a potential Moana ride named, “Guided boat with external discrete yaw control.” This technology would allow for boats to change viewpoints as they are propelled through the water. The images throughout the patent once again support the idea that this could be a Moana boat ride.
©Disney
The new system would allow each ride vehicle to be pointed in different directions to view scenes they otherwise have missed with just one point of view. It could work similarly to how Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind does at EPCOT, but with a standard flume ride instead of a roller coaster.
©Disney
And, although the standard flume system would still be used here, the direction the boats face would be controlled by an underwater track or guide, meaning that riders might not always be facing the direction the boat is traveling.
©Disney
During the 2022 D23 Expo, Disney teased that a Moana-themed area could theoretically replace DinoLand U.S.A. in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but we’ve since learned that this expansion will actually be themed after the “Tropical Americas,” so it’s entirely possible this potential Moana attraction could end up in a different Disney park altogether.
One thing is for sure, we’ll be looking out for announcements — especially during the parks panel at the upcoming D23 — The Ultimate Disney Fan Event!
©Disney
We’re always on the hunt for the latest clues that could give us a hint about what’s next on the horizon at Disney parks across the globe, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more news!
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I would definitely ride a Moana themed attraction.
That ride concept sounds awesome and a moana scenery ride would be beautiful!
Sounds good but talk is cheap. Doubt I’ll see this ride in my lifetime. Maybe my children will??