A new “Moana”-inspired prop is available for guest photographs at the entrance to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in Walt Disney World.
‘Moana’-Inspired Oar Prop
Guests may now snap a photo of themselves with a “Moana” inspired wooden oar standing in a planter near the entrance to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The oar has an etching of Maui’s fish hook, Te Matau-a-Māui, as well as a heart.
A red flower headdress reminiscent of the accessory worn by the future Chieftain sits atop the oar. In addition, a copy of Moana’s necklace, where the heart of Te Fiti was kept safe throughout Moana and Maui’s journey, hangs from beneath the flowers.
More ‘Moana’ News
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.
Beginning April 22, Moana will greet fellow voyagers on Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park – just in time for the park’s 25th anniversary.
A “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.
Journey of Water, Inspired by ‘Moana’
In addition, Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” is scheduled to open this fall. It’s near the center of EPCOT, behind Spaceship Earth, and part of the World Nature neighborhood.
Disney CEO Bob Iger stated Journey of Water will be the final element of the years-long EPCOT expansion.
Guests will enter near a tall section of rock featuring Te Fiti’s swirl. The attraction is made up of water features built into fake rockwork. The rocks are covered in fake plants and moss, and feature some Easter egg carvings. Guests will encounter Te Fiti herself in the form of a 16-foot-tall statue.
“Along with Moana as a steward of water conservation, Te Fiti is a symbol of how we should protect and nurture water wherever we find it,” Reid Ekman, Lead Concept Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, wrote on Disney Parks Blog.
“This is an important theme in Journey of Water, where guests will learn more about how water travels from our skies to the ocean, and back again. This story will unfold along a lush trail inspired by the environments and art style of the beloved Walt Disney Animation Studios film.”
Will you be stopping by to snap a photo with the new “Moana”-inspired prop at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort? We’d like like to read about it in the comments below.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.