A new attraction has opened in EPCOT in October 2023. Journey of Water Inspired by Moana was originally scheduled to open in 2021 as part of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary. It was pushed back and was part of the 100 Years of Wonder Centennial Celebration of Walt Disney Company. You can check out Disney’s Official Information Journey of Water | Inspired by Moana | Walt Disney World Resort (go.com) but we will walk you through the attraction in detail in this post.
The Water Cycle
Water Connects Us
All of the water in the world constantly circles the planet, from the sky to the seas and back again.
It brings life to each of us in turn. This global cycle of water connects us all.
This is the only water we will ever have! If we can conserve it, wherever we find it, everyone will have the water they need to live.
Rain
We start with RAIN just like the water cycle on Earth. You will notice mist and light rain coming down over the rocks along the path. You will see the heart of Te Fiti in the rocks above. Some beautiful pictures can be taken here during certain times of day and lighting conditions. As we progress through the attraction there are signs which help visitors learn more about how water works and how we can conserve it. These signs are not overly complicated so most kids will understand the basic premise of the message.
There are multiple decision points in the Journey of Water Inspired by Moana on whether you wish to travel the “dry” path or the “wet” path. The dry path you will stay dry. On the wet path there is a very high likelihood you will be, maybe, very wet by the end of the attraction.
A little further along the path you will come upon the first interactive segment of the attraction. You will notice some “strings” of water falling in a void on the rock wall. If you touch these strings, you will hear different sounds. Think of a water harp.
Stream and Wetland
This area of the journey is the stream section. It explains how streams are formed and how they flow across the surface. Another interaction area is in this section. You stand on an icon and wave your hands at the water. The water is sent up in jets, arcs through the air, and lands in a perfect spot. This is meant to signify a stream forming and rolling across the ground.
The wetland section does not have any interactions. It does explain how streams spread out and soak the soil, creating a wetland area. There are some very nice photo opportunities in this area. Crowds are also a bit lighter in this area due to lack of interactive elements.
Spring
The next area was one of our junior traveler’s favorite spots in the attraction. The signs explain how water will collect in the ground and rise to the surface as a spring. The interactive element here is you stand on an icon and put your hand out over the bubbler on the ground and the water shoots up and hits your hand. The water will go about five feet off the surface. This is one area, you can get very wet from any wind or splashing person close by.
Land, Lake, and River
The land area shows how the surface of the land is eroded and changed by flowing water. We see some waterfalls plunging into lakes. Our next interactive area is the curtains of water. You will have a choice of dry or wet path in this area although both can be dry if you move slow enough. There will be two curtains of water and as you approach, if you approach slowly, the water will stop, and you will pass dry.
As you round the bend and enter the lake section, you will see Te Fiti. She is BEAUTIFUL. This is probably the most photographed section of the attraction. It is going to be a crowded area but with some patience, you can grab the perfect picture of Te Fiti.
The river section is pretty much a pass-through for most visitors. Signs explain the widening and confluence of streams to form slower moving but still powerful rivers. There is a kids splash zone in the transition area between rivers and oceans. Kids will be soaked after this section.
Ocean
This is another section you will have to consciously watch if you do not want to get wet. There are two interactive areas in the ocean section. First, you will stand on an icon and raise your arms to make waves crash onto the rocks. If you work in unison with your fellow guests, you can get an impressive wave by all doing the motion at the same time. The second interaction is stand on an icon and jump. When you jump you will send a spout of water high into the air.
Sky
Finally, you will see the sky section of the attraction. In this section you will see fog billowing out of the rocks and feel almost serene in the environment. The signs show how evaporation cycles the water back to the rain area. Our journey of the water cycle is now complete.
Closing
When we visited Journey of Water Inspired by Moana, about two weeks after it opened, we saw very little wait time and crowds were not terrible. Disney says they will use a virtual queue if needed to pace the crowds. During the tour keep your eyes out for hidden objects such as Hei Hei, Pua, Maui’s hook, Te Fiti, and Moana among the scenery. We do suggest visiting Journey of Water during the day and again after dark. With the lighting effects, it is almost a different attraction altogether.
If you have any questions or comments about Journey of Water, drop us a comment, email, or DM on Facebook. Please reach out for your free Disney Vacation Quote. Contact – (themeparkvacationsplanner.com) We are here to help you plan your Walt Disney World vacation. We can provide a free no obligation quote, advice, or suggestions for your trip. We love talking about Disney vacations.