Journey of Water Inspired by Moana
This BRAND NEW attraction opens in Epcot very soon and while we are currently in the midst of previews, we are getting some great sneak peeks of this incredible new walkthrough water play area. I don’t know what I was expecting, but Journey of Water is so much more beautiful and detailed than I imagined! Let’s explore what this new attraction has to offer!
You will find Journey of Water located in Epcot across from the Land and Seas Pavilions (where you’ll find Soarin & Finding Nemo).
First things first, Journey of Water opens officially on October 16th, 2023. This is a walk through attraction, so it will not have a queue or Lightning Lane offered like a typical ride. This will be come and go as you please, and as this will probably be incredibly popular when it first opens, I recommend planning on visiting earlier in the morning or later in the evening when crowds may be a little less thick.
Watch our Full Video tour on YouTube!
What exactly is this new attraction? Think of it like a giant interactive water play garden. You do have opportunities to get a little splashed, but you can also stay pretty dry if you so choose. This has elements that will be fun for all age groups, so it isn’t just for kiddos! Since this is considered a water play area, they do have rules to be aware of beforehand like no bringing in food, drink, or glass containers into the attraction as well as other typical things you may see in these types of areas.
The story of Journey of Water takes you through the different stages of the water cycle. You can learn about these different stages by reading the information signs and then experience those elements through the interactive activities. You’ll first walk in to a steaming rock feature with a symbol of the heart of Te Fiti. With dripping water features, you’ll also find Te Fiti herself hidden in the rockface. Keep your eyes peeled! You’ll see lots of your favorite characters sprinkled throughout like Hei Hei, Pua, Mauii, and of course Moana!
Around the corner is your first interactive water feature. You will find some dripping water that when you run your had through, it makes musical sounds. These are the perfect height for young ones to reach and with the light up elements, this would be super fun at night!
Stream is the next area. Here you will find spaces to stand by the ‘stream’ and you will wave your arms to make the water dance for you! This is a fun one to do if you want to opt for a less ‘wet’ experience.
I won’t spoil all the surprises as there are alot of really fun elements throughout, BUT I did want to share my FAVORITE part of this attraction! Towards the end, you will find a big almost gyser like area. You can get your group together for this one as you will stand on the markers on the ground and then wave your hands up in the air to make the water splash up into a huge wave! You don’t get super wet, but you may get a few splashes. This is very entertaining to watch others do if you aren’t into doing it yourself.
Right next to it is where you will find the splash pad area if your little ones want to get wet and cool off. I do want to give warning that yes, the water is very refreshing, but with all the foliage and steam elements, this area can get pretty humid especially during warmer parts of the day. Not a huge deal, just something to be aware of!
You will also find restrooms towards the end of the attraction as well as a water fountain with a water bottle refill station. And yes, I did test it out and the water was nice and cold!
This is an area that you could spend 15 minutes to well over an hour depending on how immersed you wish to be. I think that Disney did an excellent job blending the educational aspects that we know Epcot to be all about while intertwining it with characters that we love. The design is simply stunning and I think this is a fantastic addition to the park!
OH! I almost forgot to mention - Moana will be having a dedicated meet & greet location nearby the attraction, so after you have some fun splashing around, you can go tell Moana all about it!
