Journey of Water ‘Moana’ Attraction Showcases Test Phase in New Photos

The unsightly EPCOT construction walls will finally come down this fall as the Park prepares to launch its new Journey of Water attraction later this year. Inspired by Disney’s animated movie Moana, Guests will get the chance to experience new and fun ways to engage with water never before seen at Walt Disney World. Disney Imagineers know you are excited and recently took to social media to give an early preview of the interactive water coming with the Moana attraction.

There’s More Beyond the Reef

Journey of Water lets Guests stroll along a self-guided outdoor trail where they can play and interact with water. The experience showcases the beauty of the ocean as water travels from the sky before returning to the sea. The theme park attraction is supposed to educate Guests about the importance of water by connecting with it in a unique way, much as Moana did in her movie.

This reimagined area of the Park is called World Nature and is dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty and balance of the natural world. Due to its central location, the Moana attraction construction has caused frustrations in EPCOT. Fans cannot wait to see it finally realized so that they don’t have to navigate around it anymore.

Disney Imagineers have started to teach water “how to play” as they prepare for the fall launch. The images posted to social media seem to hint that the water will actually respond to your hand movements in certain ways, though this is speculation.

Disney shared new photos of Imagineers testing at Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. Disney says "Imagineers have begun to teach water how to play" as they "test and prepare our next attraction to welcome guests later this Fall to World Nature in EPCOT" at Walt Disney World. pic.twitter.com/IhHjiPpTab

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) June 20, 2023

The Imagineers look to be having fun testing the water technology. The Instagram post highlights the educational experience that Journey of Water will provide:

Guests of all ages will engage with water in a variety of ways as they learn about water’s amazing “journey” around our natural world, including ways to better conserve our natural resources and protect water as it voyages throughout our natural world, connecting us all. We hope everyone feels inspired to connect with water as a friend, just like Moana did in the film!

Moana‘s Future and EPCOT’s Problems

While Disney Guests are excited to experience Journey of Water, they have been criticizing EPCOT recently over the rise of its drinking culture in the World Showcase Lagoon. Dubbed “drinking around the world,” the Park has had issues with intoxicated visitors causing problems and making it less safe for children. Journey of Water is a self-guided walking experience, and the availability of alcohol could negatively affect the attraction.

Aside from the upcoming walking tour experience, Moana has also been greenlit to become a live-action movie in Disney’s growing lineup of reimagined classics. Some fans argue that getting this treatment is way too soon, though this hasn’t stopped Disney from pushing forward, including attaching Dwayne Johnson to the project.

Are you excited to “play with water” when Journey of Water releases later this fall? Here’s hoping the experience is worth navigating all those construction walls for over two years!