Is The Opening of One of Disney’s Newest Attractions Delayed?

2023 is shaping up to be an incredible year at the Walt Disney World Resort, with new attractions opening, the return of favorite nighttime spectaculars, and so much more.

With attractions like TRON Lightcycle / Run and Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana set to open in 2023, along with the return of rides like the Walt Disney World Railroad there is a lot to look forward to throughout the year….But did Disney just confirm that one of these projects has been quietly delayed? Let’s take a look…

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Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, is the newest walk-through attraction set to arrive at the Walt Disney World Resort next year. While no opening date has been announced so far, we have seen lots of progress take place in terms of the attraction’s construction.

Recent updates include what appears to be near completion of the attraction’s rockwork along with the 16-ft. sculpture of Te Fiti first displayed as a concept at this year’s D23 Expo.

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Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana has been listed on Walt Disney World’s official website for some time; however, its opening timeframe listed online has recently been modified.

When the listing for EPCOT’s next attraction was added to the site, Disney noted that it would open in “Spring 2023.” As of December 9, 2022, the website now reads “Opening Late 2023.” In this case, it is possible that the opening of Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana has been delayed as we know from this year’s opening schedule that “late” in the year could mean any date through the end of the calendar year.

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When will Disney confirm the announcement for Journey of Water? Given the recent news that Destination D23 will return to Walt Disney World next fall, it seems like one possibility would be for the company to share the opening date at that event.

Disney’s official description of Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana reads:

Where Water Comes to Life
Stroll along a self-guided outdoor trail where you can play and interact with water as it travels from the sky to the oceans and back again. Along the way, learn about the importance of water and discover its playful personality—just as Moana did on her heroic voyage.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is scheduled to open within World Nature—the EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty and balance of the natural world.

We will continue to monitor any updates and will report back with more information as we have it here on Disney Tips.