Imagineer Zach Riddley provides an update on EPCOT's 'Journey of Water - Inspired by Moana'

May 05, 2022 in "Journey of Water Inspired by Moana"

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Journey of Water Inspired by Moana concept art - May 2022

Posted: Thursday May 5, 2022 11:49am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Imagineer Zach Riddley has provided an update this morning on the latest progress at "Journey of Water - Inspired by Moana."

Journey of Water Inspired by Moana concept art - May 2022

Details about this walk-through experience have so far been vague, but with the release of today's new concept art we are beginning to get a better idea of this new attraction.

This is what Zach had to say:

This new experience is coming to EPCOT during its historic transformation, and will find its home within World Nature, our new neighborhood dedicated to learning and supporting humanity’s relationship with our planet.
Journey of Water will immerse guests in a lush environment, and it is here that the story of the global cycle of water will be brought to life in a story completely unique to EPCOT. We’re creating an outdoor attraction for all ages, where you will be invited to play and interact with water as it travels from our skies to our oceans and back again. The spaces and experiences within were inspired by Moana’s friendship with water and her devotion to protecting nature around her.
I often say that EPCOT is a park about people – the stories and curiosity that we share about our world, and the endless possibility that lives in each of us. Since the earliest days of the park, pavilions like The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends have given millions of guests the ability to explore the far reaches (and depths!) of our planet, and it’s through these unique encounters that we become inspired to protect the beauty and balance of our natural world. Journey of Water will build on that history of storytelling and conservation-focused education at EPCOT.
Currently, our Walt Disney Imagineering team is hard at work preparing the site and developing all the details that will give form to this new experience.

Journey of Water Inspired by Moana concept art - May 2022

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Jayspency11 days ago

So they could turn it into an Apple store

DreamfinderGuy11 days ago

Ultimately they did do an early cancellation with Glidden, that was a five year contract that they ended in four. The West building I believe they did the same since all the exhibits closed at once, including the relatively new IBM Think which was presented by their longest running sponsor. That closed so abruptly because they had plans for the West building that they were going to act on imminently, which would later be canceled.

Bocabear12 days ago

I disagree. It would have been a different animal.

James Alucobond12 days ago

You were responding to a comment about Innoventions. Innoventions was a series of interactive exhibits with a variety of sponsors. Now, you have a series of interactive areas themed to Disney programming (the Moana IP) as you suggested. Whether or not water is involved in the exhibits is pretty much irrelevant, but you bring it up endlessly in an attempt to trivialize it for whatever reason. The loss of the building is a legitimate complaint, and we all know CommuniCore Hall is a bust, but your "it's so easy" idea for programming is essentially what happened minus the roof.

bpiper12 days ago

I am surprised that those contracts with the companies were that iron clad that Disney couldn't end them early, instead of waiting years for the last one to expire while the building just got more vacant as time went by. The last few years were very bad show.... But that could be said of a lot of things there now a days. They just don't care anymore on how it looks.

Bocabear12 days ago

Not really... at all. The building was razed.... They built a Water play and exploration trail. They built another building with some meet and greets that look like a bust and truck tour of Disney on Ice.... and a "flex space"...

James Alucobond12 days ago

That’s literally exactly what they did minus the indoor part.

DreamfinderGuy12 days ago

Disney wanted the space back to use for themselves

Bocabear12 days ago

they didn't try hard enough? They could have easily programmed that space themselves as a Disney attraction... It could have been an amazing indoor character Meet and Greet where the characters all had beautifully detailed settings within an indoor forest setting... Something that could have been a fantastic thematic wow... Making visiting the M&G a lot of fun instead of a long line for just a picture....That space was large enough it could have had all of those settings and a central court area with vending and refreshments....which would have been the cooler place to go in the summer or during storms...they would sell merch and F&B (snack) and would have been a much needed indoor gathering spot...But they would have had to actually design and beautiful indoor environment and not a Marriott Hotel Meeting Room...which it seems is all they are really designing these days....

bpiper12 days ago

Any idea why?

DreamfinderGuy12 days ago

Innoventions never had trouble finding sponsors lol, it died a slow death because Disney stopped accepting new ones and ran out the contracts on the old ones

Bocabear12 days ago

We would rarely ever get any of the food in the World Showcase during the food and waine festival and did the Party For The Senses instead where you could actually sit with your food...But years of cuts and changes had really ruined the PFTS...it was not longer a fun special thing, but just a bunch of Disney restaurants providing Tapas for a $150 ticket....

Chef idea Mickey`=12 days ago

It's an improvement, but for years it was like. It was funny when for Food and Wine debuted they removed some seats inside Detention Hall. 😁

MisterPenguin12 days ago

It still needs improvement, but EPCOT is getting better at non-restaurant seating/tables. Part of the empty expansion pad between Morocco and France now has picnic seating. Same with the waterfronts area in front of America down toward Germany. Morocco now has a nice hole-in-the-wall outdoor lounge into which to bring food. There's a new picnic area on the Rose walkway between Canada and Imagination. The new hub has several seating/table areas, as well as Communicore Hall having indoor seating.