Over the next 10 days, Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana will have soft openings at EPCOT ahead of the October 16th grand opening. During the soft opening period, the self-guided nature trail will be open on select days and at select times. Disney World has not published an exact schedule. On top of that, guests may be required to join a Virtual Queue to experience the interactive gardens. Here’s how to join the Virtual Queue.
Check If Virtual Queue is Required
Within the My Disney Experience app, guests should navigate to the Virtual Queue page and select the “EPCOT” tab. Scroll down to the “Special Events” section and if the “Join Queue” button is available, or if there is wording saying that the Virtual Queue is closed, then standby is not available. Here’s a look at some screenshot on how you can check and what to look for.
- On the homepage, scroll down to the Virtual Queue section
- Click “Join Virtual Queue”
- Click “EPCOT”
- Check for “Join Virtual Queue” button or text under Journey of Water soft open
Virtual Queue Restrictions
The only posted restriction by Walt Disney World is that a guest must be inside EPCOT to join the Virtual Queue. That means that the Virtual Queue system will check to make sure that you’ve tapped into EPCOT before allowing you to join the Virtual Queue.
During Annual Passholder previews, there were additional restrictions such as Disney Park Pass restrictions. There is no language that suggests that those restrictions are currently in place. If we are to take the black and white text instructions posted by Disney at face value, that means that guests who park hop to EPCOT or Passholders who use the reservation-less entry after 2pm would both be eligible to join the Virtual Queue.
How to Join the Moana Journey of Water Virtual Queue
Here are the official instructions about the Virtual Queue process from Disney World:
On select days between October 6 and October 15, 2023, Guests may have an early opportunity to enjoy the newest experience at EPCOT—Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana.
Get ready to stroll along this lush exploration trail, where you can connect with water and discover its magical personality. As you explore and play, you’ll learn about water’s natural cycle from the skies to the seas and back again.
A Virtual Queue May Be in Use
To ensure the best Guest experience, a virtual queue may be in use during periods of high demand for Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana.Here’s what to know before you go:
- When a virtual queue is available, EPCOT Guests may join throughout the day starting at 9:00 AM, using the My Disney Experience app. Guests must be in EPCOT to join the virtual queue.
- A standby queue may not be available when a virtual queue is in use.
- Each Guest can request to enter this virtual queue no more than once per day during regular park hours.
Moana Journey of Water Standby
As noted above, a standby line may be available for Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana soft openings. If there is not enough demand to require a Virtual Queue, or if the Virtual Queue has been fully processed, a standby line may be available. We expect that there will be standby line availability during the soft opening period.
To check if a standby line is in use, you can either ask a Cast Member at the entrance to the attraction, or there will likely be information in the My Disney Experience app that has wording similar to the screenshot below from Passholder previews:
Annual Passholders may head directly to Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana and join the standby queue. Virtual Queue is not required at this time.
Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana Walkthrough Video
To skip the crowds and enjoy a more serene walk-through experience, check out our video below!
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!