This week, Walt Disney World unveiled their newest attraction and the most recent addition to the ongoing Epcot transformation: Journey of Water Inspired by Moana. I got a chance to check out this brand new walkthrough and get some pictures of what it looks like inside.
This walkthrough area is located in between the Seas Pavilion and Spaceship Earth. Even before you enter the area, the lush trees and themed music can be heard from the surrounding paths to draw guests in. The area is meant to educate guests about the different stages of the water cycle, and the different areas of the new attraction are devoted to one of the steps, usually with an interactive element to match.
I was instantly impressed with this new addition, because it actually managed to make me forget I was in Epcot. Inside this attraction it really feels like you have been transported to a tropical island. The area music is incredible, it is made up of Moana-inspired ambient instrumentals that perfectly sets the mood of discovery and fun exploration, which is what Epcot is all about. The greenery is a nice change of pace from the stark and concrete architecture in the rest of World Discovery (formerly Future World).
Every inch of this new area, essentially a new land, is covered in foliage, moss and incredible rockwork. The interactive exhibits are also a ton of fun for all ages. This land will mainly appeal to families, but you don’t have to be a kid to be entertained by water geysers that raise up to meet your hand and crowd-controlled giant waves.
I think my favorite exhibits were the aforementioned geyser effect, the separating waterfall, and the musical water strings. The main icon of Journey of Water is the giant statue of Te Fiti made out of flowers and foliage. It’s a stunning sight and everyone who I saw there was lining up for pictures in this area.
The main issue with this area will be overcrowding. On opening day they used a virtual queue to control crowds, but it’s unclear how it will work moving forward. This should feel like an area of exploration, but if there is a big line for all of the exhibits, it won’t be as fun and will be stressful trying to squeeze into a space. Luckily, there are multiple stations at each stop on the journey, so that should help as well.
Overall, Journey of Water is a great addition to Epcot and in my opinion is a must-do if you are at the park, just to see the rockwork and how impressive the landscaping of the area is. It’s the closest thing to Pandora or Galaxy’s Edge that Disney has built, and the attention to detail is incredible.
Have you had the chance to experience this new attraction? Let us know in the comments below!
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