Prior to the pandemic shutting down not only the entire world but virtually every division at the Walt Disney Company, Disney had announced a major overhaul at EPCOT. World Showcase would see the addition of a number of attractions and Future World would undergo an extensive transformation.

However in 2020, with all their parks closed worldwide, Disney made the decision to make some changes to previously planned projects. Some were still given the green light while others were put on hold or outright canceled. One of those projects that were up in the air – at least according to Disney bloggers – was the Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana walk-through attraction. However, in the last few months construction on the new water-based attraction has commenced and recently has picked up steam.

Now, the Disney Parks Blog has released an update on what is happening over at EPCOT.

Many exciting things are happening across Disney parks and resorts in celebration of World Princess Week, and today Disney has shared a first look at some design details within Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. This upcoming attraction at EPCOT is taking shape and the Walt Disney Imagineering team and crew of artisans have already begun sculpting the rock work in this immersive exploration trail.

Designed for all ages, Journey of Water will allow guests to explore and engage with water as it travels from the skies to the oceans and back again. Walt Disney Imagineering partnered with artists and cultural consultants from Walt Disney Animation Studios to bring this experience to life, and our team tasked themselves with capturing the beauty of the natural water cycle within the attraction. We were also inspired by Moana’s fierce determination to protect her environment – her bond with the water is unique, and we are excited for guests to learn about the importance of water and experience its playful personality just as she did.

Fans of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana” will be delighted to see familiar shapes and characters carved into the rocks and waterways throughout Journey of Water. A great example of this is Moana herself, who will be positioned proudly – celebrating water’s arrival to our ocean. 

As part of the design process, Imagineers create models, mock-ups, and maquettes to bring these beloved characters and stories into the parks in sometimes unexpected ways. Above is a behind-the-scenes look for World Princess Week of Principal Dimensional Designer, Jim Towler, sculpting the foam maquette of Moana for this attraction.

This gives fans a glimpse into the earliest stages of the design process, before paint and additional details have been added. Once the pose of the character is defined, sculptors add detail and texture until the emotional expression of the carving is just right. Disney then does a paint study and often creates full-scale samples to test final materials and carving techniques. This process ensures the production and creative vision for the experience align.

Below is another making-of example, showing a sample from the mountain-like forms that will soon mark the entrance to the attraction. Fans will recognize Moana’s iconic spiral, which we portrayed in one of the first concept renderings for Journey of Water.

Every detail helps tell the story.  Here, guests can see how artisans use paint, scenic treatments, and foliage to bring even more life to our worlds and environments.

“It’s certainly an exciting time for our project team as these elements are coming together on site now and in the coming months! Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will be brought to life within World Nature – the EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe, and balance of the natural world,” states the Disney Parks Blog. “Moana is the perfect role model to inspire us to protect and conserve water and guide us through the Journey of Water.”

Disney will continue to share new updates, as they become available, on the Disney Parks Blog, and @waltdisneyimagineering and @thezachriddley on Instagram for the latest on this exciting part of the EPCOT transformation!