Journey of Water featuring Moana coming to Epcot

[Ponderer]

This same argument works when we examine franchises such as Avatar, in that it did not maintain popularity, or GotG, in that it certainly will.

Just briefly on your mention of Avatar, it should be pointed out that this is kind of an American perspective. In areas like China and South America, Avatar has retained both commercial popularity and enormous cultural resonance - perhaps because the environmental themes cut much more deeply there. China banned Avatar early in its run because it was gaining an almost religious following, and still managed to become the biggest hit of all time there, losing that only recently. As recently as last year, there were theaters still playing Avatar in South Korea.

There’s a reason we got both a Pandora land and four upcoming Avatar films, and it’s not because it was a giant hit in 2009.

Anyway, that’s my unnecessary aside, as you were.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

To those that say Moana "is popular now, but will die off eventually,"

you're wrong.

Moana was a great film. Great films are remembered and become classics. Let's take a look at the facts.

Since the term 'great' is subjective, for the sake of argument we will attribute to it the meaning of high critical reception and auduence reception.

Disney's great films tend to occur in waves which have themselves happened at all times throughoit the company's history. Early films such as Cinderella and Bambi, to Jungle Book, all the way to Aladdin and the Lion King; they've all become classics because they were great films remembered as such. There were films which were popular but not critically successful, or films then were the latter but yet did not garner so much money.

We can look at the past and see this fact and observe that Moana like all other popular and good films will become a classic.

This same argument works when we examine franchises such as Avatar, in that it did not maintain popularity, or GotG, in that it certainly will.

Even if it does Journey if Water alone will still be a great entrance attraction. Even in the animated concept you don’t see any signs of Moana and it even has to own Epcot logo, it’s just “inspired by Moana”. Adventually it will probably just be a generic Epcot Attraction.

 

[marni1971]

So it’s a walkthrough trail and not an attraction?

 

[MisterPenguin]

So it’s a walkthrough trail and not an attraction?

We need a definition of "attraction."

As for those who think Moana is a flash in the pan, keep in mind that Disney is stepping up her presence more and more so. Do you really think Disney hasn't done the market research with regard to Moana's popularity before etching her symbol on stone?

 

[marni1971]

We need a definition of "attraction."

I’m sure someone would make it fluid.

Get it? Fluid?

 

[MisterPenguin]

I’m sure someone would make it fluid.

Get it? Fluid?

Water joker you are!

 

[SirWillow]

We need a definition of "attraction."

As for those who think Moana is a flash in the pan, keep in mind that Disney is stepping up her presence more and more so. Do you really think Disney hasn't done the market research with regard to Moana's popularity before etching her symbol on stone?

they're actually late to the game on it- really worse than they were with Frozen. Moana has not only shown it's staying power, but I actually know many that it's growing in popularity with. And those with South Pacific heritage generally love it because of how respectful it is to their culture. That's a big plus.

But it's also a great movie with great music. I didn't expect my wife to even want to see it because of the subject (she doesn't like many things that deal with "gods" but Moana is one of her absolute favorite movies ever.

they really need to bring Moana back as a meet and greet.

 

[Captain Neo]

I honestly forgot about Moana until they announced this

 

[AdventureHasAName]

We need a definition of "attraction."

As for those who think Moana is a flash in the pan, keep in mind that Disney is stepping up her presence more and more so. Do you really think Disney hasn't done the market research with regard to Moana's popularity before etching her symbol on stone?

I'm old enough remember when Disney decided it was essentially replacing Pluto with Stitch. How'd that work out?

 

[MisterPenguin]

I'm old enough remember when Disney decided it was essentially replacing Pluto with Stitch. How'd that work out?

Stitch is as popular as ever. His attraction however, was an unfortunately overlay. They kept him spitting at WoD.

 

[bUU]

Considering you’ll find issue with anyone that challenges your alleged brilliance

That sure is the pot calling the kettle black.

We need a definition of "attraction."

Precisely. The Oasis is a fantastic attraction in Animal Kingdom Park, but how many guests just view it as an unnecessary extra distance for them to get from the entry to Everest?

 

[wm49rs]

That sure is the pot calling the kettle black.

Precisely. The Oasis is a fantastic attraction in Animal Kingdom Park, but how many guests just view it as an unnecessary extra distance for them to get from the entry to Everest?

No, just a bell end at work. But I’m sure you’ll find something be be up in angst again soon. Stay classy....

 

[KikoKea]

Water features are one of my favorites, and I think they add a great deal to parks. Done right, this could be a nice area leading to The Seas for enjoying a bit of relaxing downtime. Done wrong, though.... Considering Disney's track record with promises and delivering, I'm hoping they don't cheap out on this, too. Better to just cancel the attraction than do it half-way.

 

[Bairstow]

Water features are one of my favorites, and I think they add a great deal to parks. Done right, this could be a nice area leading to The Seas for enjoying a bit of relaxing downtime. Done wrong, though.... Considering Disney's track record with promises and delivering, I'm hoping they don't cheap out on this, too. Better to just cancel the attraction than do it half-way.

Does WDI ever do water-features wrong, though?
That's long been one of their best track records.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Does WDI ever do water-features wrong, though?
That's long been one of their best track records.

... until they turn them off.

 

[Bairstow]

... until they turn them off.

What are you thinking of?

 

[Brer Panther]

To be honest, I've never even seen Moana. It just didn't look interesting to me. Just seemed like a regurgitation of the Tangled/Frozen/Zootopia formula: "There's a girl. She's kinda quirky, confident, she has a dream. She makes a deal with some guy who's a wisecracking jerk and they go on some adventure and become best buddies. Oh, and there's some hoofed animal that acts like a dog*." Although I am glad that Jermaine Clement got to be in a Disney movie.

* I know that Zootopia didn't have one, but that's only because EVERY character in that movie was an animal.

Who’s Penelope? Lol

And Anna is not a Disney Princess

I think they actually mean Vanellope. After the climax of Wreck-It Ralph it's revealed that she's a princess, then she decides that she wants to be a president instead... and then in the sequel she does a 108, decides to be a princess again, and winds up meeting the other Disney Princesses. I think there was even talk of her joining the line-up at one point...

 

[doctornick]

So it’s a walkthrough trail and not an attraction?

I dunno. Is Swiss Family Treehouse an attraction? How about something like the Main Street Cinema in DL? Tom Sawyer Island? The walkthrough in the castle at DL? Seems like this will be something in that range and is reasonable to call an attraction, albeit a lesser one.

Personally, I think those type of A-tickets really properly fill out the parks which is part of the reason I am intrigued to have this come to Epcot for this reason. I understand other points of view though.

 

[TP2000]

To be honest, I've never even seen Moana. It just didn't look interesting to me. Just seemed like a regurgitation of the Tangled/Frozen/Zootopia formula: "There's a girl. She's kinda quirky, confident, she has a dream. She makes a deal with some guy who's a wisecracking jerk and they go on some adventure and become best buddies. Oh, and there's some hoofed animal that acts like a dog*."

That post just made my whole night. Thank you! It sums up every plotline to almost every Disney/Pixar movie of the last 5 years.

It's all just so... boring and predictable.

 

[TP2000]

I dunno. Is Swiss Family Treehouse an attraction? How about something like the Main Street Cinema in DL? Tom Sawyer Island? The walkthrough in the castle at DL? Seems like this will be something in that range and is reasonable to call an attraction, albeit a lesser one.

Personally, I think those type of A-tickets really properly fill out the parks which is part of the reason I am intrigued to have this come to Epcot for this reason. I understand other points of view though.

From artwork and official statements at D23 Expo, Journey of Water Featuring Moana, Presented by Dasani seems to be a short walk-thru thing past water features and small waterfalls and pop-jet fountains themed vaguely to Polynesia but also the Earth in general.

I would classify that as definitely below the C Ticket experience of Tom Sawyer Island with the rafts and big island/caves/fort to explore. I would classify it as slightly more exciting than the A Ticket of Disneyland's Main Street Cinema, even after they got their butts handed to them by bad press a few months ago and had to remove the souvenirs made in Communist China and add some benches for good will.

But I'm not sure I could elevate it to the B Ticket status of a spinner like Teacups or a Carousel. It also appears to be less involved than the B Ticket Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse (Orlando, Tokyo, Paris) or Tarzan's Treehouse (Anaheim, Hong Kong). It appears to be a themed A Ticket walk-thru, although a good one like Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle Diorama walk-thru.

I'm sure it will be a fun 5 minute stroll, like Disneyland's Castle Diorama is. My concern is that it's being installed in the swamps of Orlando, and so within 30 days it is going to smell like mildew. And within 90 days the most complicated features will be broken and turned off.

And it will still smell like mildew.