NEWS: New Details and Opening Timeframe Announced for Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana at EPCOT

At D23 Expo 2022, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro shared a look into the future for Disney theme parks and beyond. During his presentation, D’Amaro gave updates on the upcoming Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. Learn more below.

 

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, will open in late 2023, inviting guests to follow the story of water on the planet, inspired by Moana’s connection to the ocean. The new exploration trail will allow guests to learn about the story of water on Earth.

In the photograph above, you can see the new model of Te Fiti that will be used to develop Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. The model was on display at D23 Expo in Anaheim.

RELATED ARTICLE: NEWS–New Design Details Released for Journey of Water Coming to EPCOT

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, is coming to EPCOT! The attraction will be the first Disney Parks experience evoking the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite guests to meet and play with magical, living water. Disney has shared a “First Look” at some design elements of the upcoming attraction. Learn more below.

Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Reid Ekman:

Many exciting things are happening across our parks and resorts in celebration of World Princess Week, and today I’m excited to share a first look at some design details within Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. This upcoming attraction at EPCOT is taking shape before our eyes, as our Walt Disney Imagineering team and crew of artisans have already begun sculpting the rockwork in this immersive exploration trail.

Designed for all ages, Journey of Water will allow guests to explore and engage with water as it travels from our skies to our oceans and back again. Walt Disney Imagineering partnered with artists and cultural consultants from Walt Disney Animation Studios to bring this experience to life. Our team tasked themselves with capturing the beauty of the natural water cycle within the attraction. We were also inspired by Moana’s fierce determination to protect her environment – her bond with water is unique, and we are excited for guests to learn about the importance of water and experience its playful personality just as she did.

Fans of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana” will be delighted to see familiar shapes and characters carved into the rocks and waterways throughout Journey of Water. A great example of this is Moana herself, who will be positioned proudly – celebrating water’s arrival to our ocean.

As part of our design process, Imagineers create models, mock-ups, and maquettes to bring our beloved characters and stories into the parks in sometimes unexpected ways. Above is a behind-the-scenes look for World Princess Week of Principal Dimensional Designer, Jim Towler, sculpting the foam maquette of Moana for this attraction.

This gives you a glimpse into the earliest stages of our design process, before paint and additional details have been added. Once the pose of the character is defined, sculptors add detail and texture until the emotional expression of the carving is just right. We then do a paint study and often create full-scale samples to test final materials and carving techniques. This process ensures the production and creative vision for the experience align.

Below is another making-of example, showing a sample from the mountain-like forms that will soon mark the entrance to the attraction. Fans will recognize Moana’s iconic spiral, which we portrayed in one of the first concept renderings for Journey of Water.

Every detail helps tell our story.  Here, you can see how artisans use paint, scenic treatments, and foliage to bring even more life to our worlds and environments.

It’s certainly an exciting time for our project team as these elements are coming together on site now and in the coming months! Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will be brought to life within World Nature – the EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe, and balance of the natural world. Moana is the perfect role model to inspire us to protect and conserve water and guide us through the Journey of Water.