MOANA: JOURNEY OF WATER

HIDE & SEEK

Moana: Journey of Water is a beautiful and captivating new walk-through attraction in the heart of Epcot, located just across the pathway from the Coral Reef Restaurant and The Seas with Nemo & Friends. It’s a fun and interactive experience and fills your senses the moment you walk in, from the mist pouring out of the volcano, to the jumping water, and the lights and sounds. And on top of everything there is to see and having tons of fun playing with the interactive water, those tricky Disney Imagineers filled the attraction with hidden characters!

This experience is great to walk through more than once. I definitely recommend at least once during the day and once when it’s lit up at night. It’s just so incredible to see the light play with the water.

Next time you take a stroll through, keep a keen eye out for these cleverly hidden easter eggs. Some are more obvious like the Heart of Te Fiti in the volcano at the entrace, others are more hidden still, and yet others are hidden in plain sight. I don’t know how many times I walked by Hei Hei before I saw him!

Photos of all the camouflaged items are listed here, 17 in total! For a complete walk through video visit our YouTube Channel, Magication Travel to help you locate these fun hidden gems.

1. The Heart of Te Fiti

1: The Heart of Te Fiti in the volcano at the entrance.
As soon as you enter the walking path, straight ahead is a misting volcano with the Heart of Te Fiti carved at the top. This one is hard to miss.

2. Te Fiti to the Right of the Volcano

Find Te Fiti in the rockwork by the rain. Feel welcomed by her warm presence. Did you know that Te Fiti’s island was actually base on Tahiti? Moana has several aspect of the Polynesian cultures, but Motunui resembles Tahiti the most.

3. Tattoo Maui: Behind and to the Left of the Jumping Water

Do you see his tattoo hook?

Maui’s tattoos in the movie “Moana” represented his accomplishments and his heroic status. It depicted all the big, important moments in his life, both good and bad. Which one is your favorite?

4: Hei Hei: When You Choose Wet or Dry Path

The rooster stands tall as you choose your path. Hei Hei, or Heihei, is Maori for chicken. The Maori people are New Zealand Polynesian. In the movie “Moana,” Hei Hei symbolized the people Moana would lead and his rock was the island.

5: Pua: Across from the Interactive Springs

Isn’t he a cute pig? Pua’s name comes from the Maori work, “puaka,” meaning “pig” or “pork?” It’s theorized that Pua represented Moana’s parents’ approval and her desire for it.

A great spot for a selfie!

6: Maui’s Hook: Hidden in the Gourds by the Water Curtain

Don’t miss Maui’s Hook carved into the gourd!

Search for all the hidden symbols and see what you can find.

7: Hidden Mickey: Be Sure to Check all the Gourds!

Watch for the little hidden Mickey in the gourds.

What else can you find? Let us know!

8: Maui’s Hook in the Spring Section

Maui’s Hook is ready and waiting for him to pick it up and do his magic. Maui’s hook symbolized the connection between humans and the ocean. The character’s hook is like the Makau, or the Hawaiian fishhook, and is a symbol for safe passage over water.

9: Gramma Tala’s Stingray

Gramma Tala in stingray form swimming in the ocean.

After she dies, Gramma Tala returns as a manta ray. In life, her clothes had manta ray patters and she had a manta ray tattoo. Even though mantas are gray, she is blue with designs.

10: Moana’s Boat just after the Water Curtain

Moana’s boat has Te Fiti’s symbol. Moana’s boat is a wa’a kaulua, a traditional Polynesian double-hulled outrigger canoe. The symbol is the koru, symbolizing new beginnings, growth, hope, and rebirth. She is a beacon of light for her people.

11: Boat: Near Moana’s Boat

This boat is on the left wall right after the water curtain. Because Moana made her courageous journey, the other outrigger canoes were able to sail past the reef for fishing.

12: The Heart of Te Fiti Tucked in under the Water

Te Fiti’s heart is tucked below her for safe keeping and all is well again. Look closely, can you see it? Hidden beneath a small rock shelf is her heart. In the movie, the heart is a small pounamu stone with the power to create life and islands. It’s spiral shape is symbolic to the Maori who consider the spiral to represent an unfurling fern frond and signifying perpetual movement as well as a point of origin.

13: Be on the Lookout for Starfish in the Ocean Area

Do you see the starfish in the wall? Starfish are echinoderms that can live an average of thirty-five years and weigh up to eleven pounds. There are around two thousand species, and some species can have up to forty arms. If they lose a limb, they can grow it back, but they only survive in salt water.

14. Watch for the Sea Turtle

Do you remember this cute little guy? As a toddler, Moana helps the baby sea turtle by holding a leaf over it to help it get to the water. Later, it’s seen with a big turtle, swimming in the ocean. It’s similar to Moana’s theme where the turtle gets assistance, but still makes the journey on their own.

15: Baby Moana Kids Interactive water Area

Baby Moana plays and swims in the ocean while the ocean keeps her safe. Can you see her? As a symbol of innocence and purity, Moana is seen as a goddess-in-training with the ocean as the source of life. Even her name, “Moana,” is the Polynesian word for ocean.

16: Fish in Ocean Area

Look at the big fish with the great big round eyes. There are estimated to be around twenty thousand species of fish just in the ocean, having five main classifications. The hagfish, lampreys, cartilaginous fish, ray-finned fish, and lobe-finned fish. Say that three times fast!

17: Tamatoa: Kids Interactive Water Area

See the giant crab with all his treasures on top of his shell and a few gold pieces in front of him. Shiny!

You can probably guess, but the crab Tamatoa was a metaphor for greed and ego. He was obsessed with shiny object and had a sadistic and heartless personality.

18: Kakamora: Kids Interactive Water Area

Watch for the Kakamora ocean pirate coconuts! How many can you find? The Kakamora are actually a legendary people of the Solomon Islands with a short stature, similar to the Menehune people of Hawaii. (Also mythical, no resemblance.)

19: Moana’s Shell

Moana’s shell as she placed it on top of the rock stack at the end of the movie, “Moana.” This is a conch shell representing infinite space, the ocean, and the human journey, a symbol of new life and purity.

20. Moana Holding her Paddle

Moana holds her paddle at the interactive water area where you jump to make the water rise up into the sky. She’s on her journey, taking on the ocean and Te Ka with a purpose. Moana is returning the heart to Te Fiti.

(630) 686-3610
allison@magication.net

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