Latest on Journey of Water Inspired by Moana soft openings at EPCOT

Oct 05, 2023 in "Journey of Water Inspired by Moana"

Gallery / 4 Photos
Journey of Water Inspired by Moana entrance area - October 5 2023

Posted: Thursday October 5, 2023 9:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Cast Member and Annual Passholder previews are now over at EPCOT's Journey of Water Inspired by Moana, with attention shifting to the possibility of soft openings.

The attraction is currently closed as of this morning to all guests, but the water effects and music are all running, and Cast Members are present.

Journey of Water Inspired by Moana entrance area - October 5 2023

Disney is likely using some of the time before October 16 to make minor changes to the experience. Some water effects have not been working recently, and additional drainage is expected to be installed in some areas.

The nearby Moana character meet and greet area is also complete but remains behind rolling bushes.

Journey of Water Inspired by Moana entrance area - October 5 2023

We still expect to see some soft openings before October 16, which will likely be unannounced and may change anytime.

Journey of Water Inspired by Moana overview

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JayspencyNov 12, 2024

So they could turn it into an Apple store

DreamfinderGuyNov 11, 2024

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.

BocabearNov 11, 2024

I disagree. It would have been a different animal.

James AlucobondNov 11, 2024

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.

bpiperNov 11, 2024

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.

BocabearNov 11, 2024

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 AlucobondNov 11, 2024

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

DreamfinderGuyNov 11, 2024

Disney wanted the space back to use for themselves

BocabearNov 11, 2024

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....

bpiperNov 11, 2024

Any idea why?

DreamfinderGuyNov 11, 2024

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

BocabearNov 11, 2024

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`=Nov 11, 2024

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. 😁

MisterPenguinNov 10, 2024

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.