Journey of Water featuring Moana coming to Epcot

[Casper Gutman]

Well said, the Disney parks are amazing because they are parks, not concrete jungles. We spend as much time enjoying the environment as we spend enjoying the rides.

Compared to the useless sea of concrete that used to inhabit this area we are ecstatic for this change.

As has been pointed out over and over and over again, Future World was not a "concrete jungle" when it opened. It was, however, a thematically and aesthetically coherent area with a clear design philosophy.

I really miss World of Motion. They should rebuild it, exactly as it was, in the middle of Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

And certainly not new for Disney.
Part of the reason I like it is exactly that. This reminds me of the old style Disney.
There are so many complaints here about Disney ushering in new, shiny, spinning, mindless entertainment.
Here we have a thoughtful, naturalistic, go at your own pace attraction.
I like that.

I completely agree. However, it shouldn't take them half a decade to build.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

As has been pointed out over and over and over again, Future World was not a "concrete jungle" when it opened. It was, however, a thematically and aesthetically coherent area with a clear design philosophy.

I really miss World of Motion. They should rebuild it, exactly as it was, in the middle of Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom.

And most of us never experienced it in that form. What it was 30 years ago is irrelevant, what most of us know is the concrete jungle it’s been for the last decade or 2… and Journey of Water is a vast improvement over that.

 

[ppete1975]

I like Moana a lot too, but what will the Moana elements consist of in this attraction? Static figures? AAs seem unlikely, certainly, and it won't be a meet n' greet at opening. Clever, subtle touches might appeal to me but don't seem like the direction Disney is likely to go and wouldn't be a huge draw in any case.

As a side note, I really question the idea that Moana is "Lion King-tier" - the only modern Disney animated release to clearly reach that lofty level is Frozen. Heck, Encanto has a greater claim (although I don't think a valid one) thanks to the wild success of Bruno. That said, Moana is unquestionably very popular.

Lion king helped save Disney animation. Moana is a good film in a line of good disney films. I agree Frozen was the only movie that matched the renaissance fervor.

 

[lazyboy97o]

You serious Clark?

Yes. There are certain design elements that define space. The whole reason people think it’s World Nature on the west, World Celebrate in the center and World Discovery on the east is because the monorail creates an edge condition. People kept incorrectly guessing at where Journey of Water would actually sit because they were unconsciously responding to that edge condition, it doesn’t make sense over on the other side of the tracks away from the pavilions. Even Disney has messed up their own graphics of the neighborhood boundaries because they lack spatial definition.

And most of us never experienced it in that form. What it was 30 years ago is irrelevant, what most of us know is the concrete jungle it’s been for the last decade or 2… and Journey of Water is a vast improvement over that.

It’s not irrelevant because it shows that this ex post facto justification for the huge expense of tearing down CommuniCore West doesn’t hold up. It was more than possible to add more softscape to Future World, adding more softscape to Future World was not a factor in tearing down CommuniCore West and the new CommuniCore Hall will be more building but without the softening of curves.

 

[Andrew C]

Yes. There are certain design elements that define space. The whole reason people think it’s World Nature on the west, World Celebrate in the center and World Discovery on the east is because the monorail creates an edge condition. People kept incorrectly guessing at where Journey of Water would actually sit because they were unconsciously responding to that edge condition, it doesn’t make sense over on the other side of the tracks away from the pavilions. Even Disney has messed up their own graphics of the neighborhood boundaries because they lack spatial definition.

This was never my argument. You guys seem to now be talking about the boundaries of world nature while I was commenting on whether the water cycle, and moana as an IP, is on point for world nature. It is. As mentioned, if you’re gonna add IP to World Nature, moana is gonna be at the top of that list. The water cycle, or journey of water, is absolutely appropriate for a World Nature neighborhood. Especially if you read disneys own words for what the neighborhood represents. If you want to argue that point, feel free. If you wanna pivot to boundaries, feel free.

 

[Casper Gutman]

This was never my argument. You guys seem to now be talking about the boundaries of world nature while I was commenting on whether the water cycle, and moana as an IP, is on point for world nature. It is. As mentioned, if you’re gonna add IP to World Nature, moana is gonna be at the top of that list. The water cycle, or journey of water, is absolutely appropriate for a World Nature neighborhood. Especially if you read disneys own words for what the neighborhood represents. If you want to argue that point, feel free. If you wanna pivot to boundaries, feel free.

Your glib reply was specifically to a section of my comment regarding the arbitrary boundaries of World Nature. You chose to quote that section. You were clearly discussing the boundaries, or you made a mistake.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

It was more than possible to add more softscape to Future World,

I’d be praising that just as much. Either way what we’re getting is a massive improvement over what’s been there the entire time I’ve been visiting Epcot.

 

[Andrew C]

Your glib reply was specifically to a section of my comment regarding the arbitrary boundaries of World Nature. You chose to quote that section. You were clearly discussing the boundaries, or you made a mistake.

I guess that’s what you wanted to discuss for some reason. Because you responded to my post below, where I made no mention of boundaries. Your pivot to that did take me a moment to realize, yes, because that wasn’t what i was talking about.

Anyways...

World Nature...Moana...water...the water cycle. The link is pretty clear and doesn't need analyzation. It is common sense stuff. If you're gonna add IP into World Nature, she is gonna be it.

It will be about the execution and edutainment value for me. But either way, I am sure plenty people will be walking through as they make their way into/out of that neighborhood. At minimum, it will be very pretty.

The link isn't really clear at all... the "World Nature" designation is entirely arbitrary with no physical or geographical existence within the park itself, purely the creation of a board-room. Moana and its rockwork will be the only "natural" structure in the entire front half of the park, completely out of place. So I think the link bears analysis.

And I question how heavily travelled the side route leading from the hub past Moana will actually be. Won't it be primarily travelled by the very small number of guests planning to start a visit with Nemo? Won't most still take the wider, more prominent path leading right from the center of the core? If Disney were keeping the path from the entry plaza to Seas open, the placement might make a little more sense.

 

[J4546]

I’d be praising that just as much. Either way what we’re getting is a massive improvement over what’s been there the entire time I’ve been visiting Epcot.

pretty much this. Whatever theyre building is a massive improvement to what was there imo.

 

[MrPromey]

View attachment 662460

I'm pretty sure you know what I meant and why this is fun and cheeky but in no way relevant.

JII wasn't trying to pass off a pretend civilization and their pretend tech as a literal science exhibit* - it was an attraction highlighting imagination and the creative process, itself which is actually real.

I mean, that one was a on the nose as it could possibly get when Dreamfinder starts out by introducing you to a "Figment" of his imagination.


*Before something goes "wrong" as always does on these type of Disney rides to create the actual ride story.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I’d be praising that just as much. Either way what we’re getting is a massive improvement over what’s been there the entire time I’ve been visiting Epcot.

What about CommuniCore Hall is a massive improvement over CommuniCore West? That it is more rectangular?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

fun and cheeky but in no way relevant.

Nobody ever accused me of not knowing my own brand.

 

[MrPromey]

Swiss Family is located right on the main path through the park, every guest passes it. That isn't true of Moana, which is off to the side of most guest paths. Additionally, Swiss has a clear gimmick - wandering through actual tree tops. I don't think Moana's gimmick - fountains - is anywhere near as unique or as much of a draw. Plus, Swiss is a key classic Disney attraction with a long history, although how much that counts for anything at this point is unclear.

Plus in my trips over at least the last ten or so years, Swiss Family is a ghost town most of the time where there is zero line, no cast member even assigned and where you can, at times, walk the entire length without running into another person in front of you.

Not to say you're the only one there, just that it's spaced out that much.

My son has always loved this one so we have always walked through multiple times.

That said, I distinctly remember waiting to go up it as a kid and having it basically be a line all the way up, around, and down through the exit but those days are long gone.

Personally, I think it still works as an excellent placemaking prop for Adventure Land and would be noticed if removed, even by regulars who don't actually go up it.

It has such a small footprint that other than another gift shop, I don't know what they'd replace it with so I hope it never goes away.

 

[luv house of the mouse]

What?

It's Future World West.

Don't you mean West world?

 

[MrPromey]

So I was right about the ulterior motives. And as a ranking of marketability, it's awful. I mean, you have Zootopia and Atlantis in the same tier...

Making people on the internet mad is really easy. Most are mad already. You seem to be putting way too much effort into it.

I thought we had a rule against talking about Zootopia in park threads.

 

[mightynine]

I'm not expecting much in the way of edutainment when the social post gushing (yes, I see what I did there) over the details doesn't seem to mention consulting any, you know, scientists.

It's a Moana monument you walk around in. Not exactly the most exciting thing.

 

[No Name]

Come to think of it.... Man, another Epcot ride in the wrong park.

Guardians - Hollywood Studios
Frozen - Magic Kingdom, "New Fantasyland"
Moana - Magic Kingdom, Adventureland/Aladdin Replacement

Not a ride.

I’ve always found that to be humorous rather than a theming justification.

Original Epcot was in its simplest form a showcase of the newest tech companies had to offer alongside the cultural wonders countries had to offer.

Xandar showcasing its tech does not run against that original concept.

It’s quite literally pretending to fit the original concept. It’s not an Epcot pavilion, it’s themed to an Epcot pavilion. Someone here made a good analogy that this is as much a real Epcot pavilion as the Starcruiser is a real spaceship.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

What about CommuniCore Hall is a massive improvement over CommuniCore West? That it is more rectangular?

That it’ll be usable guest space rather than a massive building housing a Starbucks, a Coke place, and a couple meet and greets. I’ve been going to Epcot for a decade and other than a couple meet and greets the west buildings have been largely blocked off and wasted space.

Useful entertainment and expo space and a nice walkthrough is infinitely better than two buildings that are 90% empty taking up some of the most valuable real estate in the park.

Could they have done other things? Sure, maybe even better things? Sure, but I don’t understand how anyone can argue what’s being built is not a vast improvement over the complete waste of space this area has been for the last decade or two.

 

[lazyboy97o]

That it’ll be usable guest space rather than a massive building housing a Starbucks, a Coke place, and a couple meet and greets. I’ve been going to Epcot for a decade and other than a couple meet and greets the west buildings have been largely blocked off and wasted space.

Useful entertainment and expo space and a nice walkthrough is infinitely better than two buildings that are 90% empty taking up some of the most valuable real estate in the park.

Could they have done other things? Sure, maybe even better things? Sure, but I don’t understand how anyone can argue what’s being built is not a vast improvement over the complete waste of space this area has been for the last decade or two.

What makes the new building more usable than the old building?