Disney Imagination Campus Blog

Discover the importance of water conservation in Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, now open at EPCOT in the World Nature neighborhood! This self-guided exploration trail is an innovative attraction that serves as a powerful educational tool, imparting essential knowledge about the water cycle while drawing inspiration from the beloved Disney animated film, Moana.

The trail reflects the cyclical nature of the water cycle itself, inviting Guests and students to embark on a journey that mirrors the transformation of water throughout its lifecycle. The trail even includes informative trail markers strategically placed to help visitors delve deeper into the fascinating world of water and how it influences our planet.

As students venture along the trail, they’ll begin to understand, and experience, the profound ways in which water connects us all, just as Moana discovered her connection to the sea. Like Moana, we should be stewards of the earth. We have a set amount of water on our planet, and it is our job to conserve it to protect our delicate ecosystem.

The journey commences with rain. Raindrops fall from the sky, revitalizing and rejuvenating everything they touch.

Guided by gravity, rainwater flows into small streams, embarking on a journey through the earth.

Along this path, some of the water seeps deep into the earth, forming wetlands—a unique environment that nurtures a diversity of plants and animals.

As this water sinks further into the ground, it undergoes a natural filtration process, coursing through layers of sand and gravel, purifying it as it travels deeper underground. In time, some of this purified water resurfaces through natural springs.

Land itself plays a vital role in shaping the course of water's journey, much like water shapes the contours of the land. Water's persistent flow can etch intricate pathways into stone and rock, creating awe-inspiring geological formations such as caves, canyons, and majestic waterfalls.

Gathering from various sources, water comes together to fill lakes that sustain plant and animal life.

Rivers also meander across the terrain, providing essential fresh water to people, plants, and animals that depend on its life-sustaining flow.

However, the vast majority of Earth's water resides in the currents of the oceans. These immense bodies of water unite our continents, influencing our climate, and even providing the very air we breathe. The oceans are a testament to the interconnectedness of our planet.

To complete its remarkable journey, water takes one final transformative step. The sun's warmth causes water molecules to evaporate into the sky as water vapor. As the water vapor cools, it gathers into tiny droplets, ready to be reborn as raindrops, thus commencing the cycle anew.

The profound beauty of the water cycle is its ability to connect all living beings on Earth. The water we touch today will embark on its own journey, visiting others tomorrow, and highlighting the importance of responsible water stewardship and the ripple effect it has on our global community.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect and preserve this precious resource, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

Come learn more about the water cycle with your students in our living laboratory at EPCOT!

Curious to learn more? Check out the Science & Technology workshops at our East Campus in Walt Disney World Resort and our West Campus in Disneyland Resort for a discovery of the real-world application of science, technology, engineering, art, and math at some of our most popular attractions! Sign up for our e-newsletter to stay up to date on all things Disney Imagination Campus and explore all our academic workshops to see how we inspire imagination-powered learning.