PHOTOS, VIDEO: Moana Meet and Greet Debuts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Shannen Ace

Moana meet and greet at Disney's Animal Kingdom

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Moana Meet and Greet Debuts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Moana has arrived at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for Earth Day and the park’s 25th anniversary. The new Moana meet and greet can be found on Discovery Island and is set to stick around after the anniversary celebration is over.

Moana Meet and Greet

moana meet and greet 0089

Moana is meeting guests at Character Landing, a former Discovery River Boats station from the park’s opening.

moana meet and greet 0096

In the past, it has also housed a Winnie the Pooh and friends meet and greet and Pocahontas meet and greet. Disney added a “Moana” music loop to this area.

moana meet and greet 0097
moana meet and greet 0098
moana meet and greet 0101

The space is now decorated with banners reminiscent of those seen in “Moana,” but these depict scenes and iconography from the main character’s journey. Her animal companions, Pua and Hei Hei, are pictured on banners.

moana meet and greet 0104
moana meet and greet 0105
moana meet and greet 0106

Other images include the seashell that young Moana finds early in the film, Maui’s hook, Moana’s boat, and ocean waves.

moana meet and greet 0118

Behind Moana is a sail-shaped tapestry depicting boats and her grandmother’s manta ray spirit passing through the ocean in front of the island of Motunui.

moana meet and greet 0123

This is Moana’s first regular meet and greet at Walt Disney World Resort. She also appears in the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade and has had special meet and greets during runDisney races.

moana meet and greet 0125

Moana wears the necklace she stored the heart of Te Fiti in.

moana meet and greet 0128
moana meet and greet 0133

According to My Disney Experience, Moana will be greeting guests starting at 9:15 a.m. daily. Her final meet and greet time will start at 3:50 p.m. and end at 4:30 p.m.

moana meet and greet 1935

Here is the full list of times:

  • 9:15 a.m.
  • 10:00 a.m.
  • 10:45 a.m.
  • 11:30 a.m.
  • 12:15 p.m.
  • 1:00 p.m.
  • 2:20 p.m.
  • 3:05 p.m.
  • 3:50 p.m.

Watch our video of Moana at Disney’s Animal Kingdom below.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom 25th Anniversary

Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened on Earth Day, April 22, 1998. To celebrate the park’s 25th anniversary, there are special food items, rare character meet and greets, and a merchandise collection.

Check out our full list of offerings for the Disney’s Animal Kingdom 25th anniversary celebration.

Wild at 25: An Unauthorized Field Trip

If you’re at Disney’s Animal Kingdom today, join us for “Wild at 25: An Unauthorized Field Trip,” an event presented by WDWNT celebrating the 25th anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom! We welcome you and your friends and family to attend this free meet-up at the park on April 22, 2023. The event will consist of free-to-attend meet-ups at some of Animal Kingdom’s attractions and shows on April 22, as well as a free-to-play interactive game for actual prizes.

More Moana News

A new “Moana” merchandise collection recently launched at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort.

Te Fiti Figure Journey of Water

Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” is still under construction at EPCOT. The walkthrough attraction will teach guests how water travels around the Earth and the importance of water conservation. Disney CEO Bob Iger stated Journey of Water will be the final element of the years-long EPCOT expansion.

Less than seven years after the original animated “Moana” film hit theaters, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announced that Disney will make a live-action version of “Moana.”

Johnson voiced Maui in the original film, and Auliʻi Cravalho voiced Moana. Johnson is producing the remake with Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia under their production company, Seven Bucks Productions. Beau Flynn of Flynn Pictures Co. is also producing, and Cravalho, with Scott Sheldon, is executive producing.

Jared Bush, who wrote the original screenplay, is working on the new script with Dana Ledoux Miller. A director and actors are not attached.

DAK Moana Zootopia Concept Art

“Moana” and “Zootopia” land is in early development to replace Dinoland U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom. A single piece of concept art was released showing the potential land, including Moana’s boat on a lake and an aerial carousel ride.

There is a “Moana” unit of Disneyland’s “Magic Happens” parade, which recently faced criticisms from Polynesians unhappy with the depiction of hula.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram.