Whether you want to simply stroll through a natural garden or interact and play with water until you’re drenched from head to toe, there is something for everyone to enjoy at Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana in EPCOT.
For those who enjoy hunting for hidden details, there are some hidden (and not-so-hidden) characters and designs to find in the rockwork throughout the attraction. For those with a close eye for details, there is even a Hidden Mickey to be found! In this article, we’ll take a look at all of the hidden details that we’ve found so far as public soft openings begin before the October 16th grand opening.
Te Fiti, the Mother Island
The first hidden character you’ll find is Te Fiti. She’s just steps away from the main entrance to the attraction and nearby signage tips guests off to the fun scavenger hunt that you can partake in while enjoying the self-guided nature trail.
Te Fiti can be found in the rockwork right next to the “Rain” sign as long as there isn’t too much mist in the area.
Maui the Demigod
Over in the “Stream” section, keep an eye out for Maui the Demigod carved into the rockwork on the left side of the section.
HeiHei
When confronted with the option to take the first-ever wet path or dry path in the Wetlands section, keep an eye out for Hei Hei. If you can’t find him at first, just follow his tracks in the walkway!
Pua
In the “Spring” section, you can find Pua carved into a natural bench area.
Ships
Beyond the magically parting waterfall in the “Land” section, guests can find ships representing those found in the Moana movie!
Gramma Tala Manta Ray
Located next to the waterfall is the Manta Ray representing Gramma Tala.
Heart of Te Fiti
Somewhat tough to see, the Heart of Te Fiti can be found at the base of the 16-foot-tall Te Fiti character in the “Lake” section.
Maui’s Hook
In the “River” section, Maui gets another nod with the carving of his hook into the rockwork.
Sea Turtles
The rest of our finds come in the “Ocean” and “Sky” finale sections of the attraction. We’ll start with some animals before returning to characters from the movie.
Fish
Baby Moana
Moana
Tamatoa
Kakamora
Seashell & Starfish
While not characters or props, there are some starfish to find and a seashell to keep an eye out for as well!
BONUS: Hidden Mickey
Ok, in addition to hidden characters and props, you know Walt Disney Imagineering had to have at least one Hidden Mickey, right? As it turns out, Cast Members are aware of one – giving us a hint to take a closer look at the lanterns around the magical waterfall portion of the experience.
The majority of the lanterns simply have fun designs or three-circle patterns that look like a Hidden Mickey, but there’s only one with an officially recognized Hidden Mickey!
There you go! Did you find something we’ve missed? Leave us a comment below or reach out on social media!
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Is it just me, or does anyone else see the tribute to Horizons in the first pictures of Maui?