Reviewing Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana

The journey of a thousand drips exists in EPCOT

I want to start this review of Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana by saying I may be slightly influenced, because I bought the perfect hat.

I am not particularly a fashion guy, and I don’t really accessorize. As a former sports editor and travel softball coach who spend the better parts of the spring, summer, and fall outdoors under the sun, my eyes have spent decades under the protective cover of a good baseball cap.

Despite my wish to be able to pull off an Indiana Jones-style fedora, I have never been able to successfully wear any other type of headgear than a baseball cap.

But a couple of years ago, in the Disney Store in Sevierville, Tenn., I found a Moana-themed bucket hat for just a few dollars. It was white with orangish flowers and Moana-inspired details, complete with purposefully frayed edges. It was exceedingly cheap, under $5.

We had a vacation coming up at the Caribbean Beach Resort, and a water park day. Suddenly, a $3.99 Moana themed bucket hat seemed like it was the perfect pre-trip purchase.

Reader, it could not have worked out better. The hat was a hit walking around the CBR, and an even bigger hit when we visited the Polynesian for Dole Whips. I wore it to Disney’s Blizzard Beach and spent the day vibin’.

The final test? EPCOT day. Would I, and the hat, survive a full theme park day? Would the vibes wearing a Moana hat to Journey of Water be excellent, or would I feel like a big ol’ Disney dork? Read on to find out more and for our official review of the attraction.

What is Journey of Water?

It is a walk through trail attraction designed to offer a cool respite from the oppressive Florida heat. It  is also designed to be a fun and informative trip through the water cycle, from rain to ocean and back again.

It was announced in an odd time in Disney history, especially EPCOT history. Originally set to open in 2021, the pandemic happened and several ambitious project were dropped from EPCOT’s planning. What was supposed to be a transformative time for the park became a time for ridicule as construction walls seemed to be the main attraction in many parts of the park.

Then, as the vision for Journey of Water became clearer many used the relatively minor attraction as a subject of ridicule. Not a ride, not a massive attraction, just an interactive Moana themed splash pad, they said. The ironic part was that many of those deriding the idea were the same folks who have been upset as EPCOT has moved away from its original educational vision. That the Moana attraction would be just the type of edutainment they’d been asking for seemed to be completely missed.

But then a funny thing happened. The attraction opened, it was well done, and all the critics just kind of shut up. Or at least moved on to something else to complain about.

Why is Journey of Water a success?

I don’t want to give too much away from the official review at the end, but it’s kind of awesome. The theming with the giant topiary Te Fiti is great. It’s green and fresh, and the water is cooling.

As you go from station to station you really do learn – or at least are refreshed – about the water cycle. The various stations where you can use your hand to make the water jump and move in spurts – a little like Sorcerer Mickey in Fantasia is fun. I saw a description that called the seven stations the water cycle “whimsical”, and I think that’s the perfect word for it.

There is a dry path if you don’t want to get wet, but on most Orlando days, that shock of water is refreshing—especially from the misters, where you won’t get soaked unless you want to.

Also, I think that because Moana is so close to The Seas with Nemo & Friends, there is a thematic consistency that helps Journey of Water feel like it belongs.

Finally, it’s not like there’s a big wait. You walk up, walk through, and walk out. Bingo, Bango, Bongo.

But, mostly, it’s just really well done. It turns out when Disney has an idea – even if its seemingly unpopular – it can still execute it to high success.

Is that it for Moana in Orlando?

Sadly, pretty much. There’s a meet-and-greet just outside of Journey of Water and another in Animal Kingdom, but despite its massive popularity—with a hit soundtrack, a sequel, and a soon-to-be-released live-action version—Moana is one of Disney’s real post-2000 success stories.

However, Disney has struggled to allow those post 2000 success stories to have much impact in in Florida parks. Rapunzel has an excellent bathroom in the Magic Kingdom and can be seen in parades but has a fantastic presence overseas. Moana, we’ve already spoken about. They transformed the Norway ride into Frozen Ever After, set up a few meet and greets and a show, but the Frozen experience overseas makes Orlando look cheap in comparison.

We’re getting Encanto theming in Animal Kingdom, but I’ve all but given up on anything from the underappreciated Big Hero 6. They ought to at least bring back the Baymax meet-and-greet, but that’s not going to happen. Brave underachieved but was beautiful, and there’s certainly a place in the United Kingdom Pavilion to honor Scotland—especially since they scrapped the planned Mary Poppins Cherry Tree Lane addition.

They haven’t done enough with Zootopia in Florida despite the launch of the new show and meet and greet in Animal Kingdom. And I can’t believe they don’t have anything for Coco planned.

Even some less mainstream properties have gone ignored by Imagineers. I don’t love the Descendants franchise, but early 20-year olds and younger have a real affection for it. If they don’t have something Descendants related in Villains-land, they’ve missed an opportunity to attract younger adults and teens.

Since Disney seems to be chiefly retheming things for its newer, more popular IP, Animal Kingdom’s Kali River Rapids could get the quick turnaround treatment like Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster to incorporate Moana, but I’ve got a feeling they’re gonna leave AK alone awhile after the major Tropical Americas construction again.

Ok. What about the hat?

Reader, it was a massive success. I can be oblivious when wearing themed clothing inside the parks. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been completely perplexed by someone greeting me with Star Wars lingo when I’m wearing my Mandalorian shirt in the parks.

Them: “This is the way.”

Me: “Huh?”

Them: Points

Me: “Oh yeah.”

But that hat? It played. Especially, in the attraction itself. I felt a little bit like an unofficial Journey of Water greeter, like at Wal-Mart except I didn’t have to check anyone’s receipts. I got MULTIPLE compliments on the hat – I like to think it’s because I wore it well. And I met two hat buddies. One who owned the hat but wasn’t wearing it that day, and another who was my hat twin. It was a big day for the hat and the guy underneath. I am now thinking about branching out my hat game further. When the Indiana Jones ride debuts, I may have to go all in.

Also, apparently now it’s a collector’s item. Going from anywhere $20 to $61 online. I feel like my wearing may have driven the price back up. My apologies.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana an official review

Surprisingly good. While I didn’t make fun of the attraction before it opened, I kind of had low expectations for it. I figured it would be fine, a place to visit on a hot day, but once you’d done it once, you didn’t need to do it again. Instead, we are genuinely charmed by it and entertained. I won’t go so far as to say I – who did a science fair project on the water cycle in second grade – learned a lot, but I think my kids did.

Disney edutainment can still work. Who woulda thunk it?