Frozen Attraction Coming to Epcot - Replaces Maelstrom

Buttercup;2433449 wrote: Ugh. World showcase is not supposed to be another fantasyland. It's supposed to teach you about other countries and give you authentic cultural experiences. NOT take you on a ride through a fictional land that slightly resembles something Norwegian.
Epcot has once again lost its direction and is becoming a mishmash of random weird stuff strung together.
It's so sad, given what it was supposed to be.

I could not agree more!!! You expressed my feelings about it very well.

Are there any details about whether it will be a slow moving dark ride, or will the Viking boats still be used? :mickey:

donnine;2434100 wrote: Are there any details about whether it will be a slow moving dark ride, or will the Viking boats still be used? :mickey:

No details yet.

kbean;2433983 wrote: Terra said add philly cheesesteaks in the American pavilion! More genius then the frozen ride!!!

Seriously right!!!! ;)
I want some good food!!

Melanie;2434102 wrote: No details yet.

This can't be counted as 100% but the folks in the know that have talked to me this week said the boat track will still be used, just expanded and the post-show area will be torn out to lengthen the ride. While it wasn't put to me this way it almost sounds like what happened with Test Track 2.0 where the exact same track was kept with different sets and scenes.

There are boats in the movie. I would guess it will still be a boat ride.

BrerGnat;2434141 wrote: There are boats in the movie. I would guess it will still be a boat ride.

I think if they are gonna take the ride down completely they are going to get rid of the water. It just makes maintenance and upkeep much easier and switching to an omnimover allows a smoother flow.The supposed budget seems a bit high for a simple overlay.

It is so funny to read the comments on this thread.

It is a natural fit for a Frozen ride to go into the Pavilion. First off, for those who want it in Fantasyland. Ok, where do you put it? Since it has been rebuilt there is no room. So, please, tell everybody, what are you going to close to open a Frozen ride? And remember since there is so much complaining about a Frozen ride going into Norway, you have to make sure there is no uproar about a ride being removed from Fantasyland.

Next, to say Frozen has nothing to do with Norway is totally wrong. It was, in fact, inspired by Norway. The movie has created a big increase in Norway tourism.

This ride going into Epcot and World Showcase will bring people through the gates. People want a Frozen attraction. The amount of children wearing Elsa shirts or dresses was incredible when I was there a few weeks ago. The Frozen event at DHS, esp the fireworks, is drawing people away from Epcot. So, there is a demand for this in the parks.

This will draw people into the World Showcase and Norway, in particular.

And, really, is the Maelstrom really that much of a classic ride? Is the consternation about the ride more nostalgia than anything else?

And I read these threads that complain about Disney being a business. Well, unfortunately, that is what they are. They are focused on bringing people through the gates so they can make money for the company and their investors. If putting in a Frozen attraction in Norway bring people through the gate, then it needs to be done.

If you don't like the attraction, then don't ride the attraction. But these changes happen and will continue to happen.

When this ride opens, the next complaint will be how short it is. Just like the new Mine train ride. Alot of hype, people loved the effects, but big disappointment on the length. Maelstrom is only like a 2 minute ride. Removing the theater maybe adds 30 seconds. This ride is gonna be two minutes of quick forced in scenes and songs mashed up as you go through it. This movie is pretty scenic, and would be a nice fit for a ride the size of Small World. Its slow moving so you have time for songs. And it has nice size rooms to elaborate on. Maelstrom is somewhat faster flowing so the scenes will be quick and songs short. And its a small narrow building. Which makes the sets smaller. Whats disappointing is that they arent building new and expanding Epcot. They are refurbishing and patching for short term fixes.

kbean;2434342 wrote: When this ride opens, the next complaint will be how short it is. Just like the new Mine train ride. Alot of hype, people loved the effects, but big disappointment on the length. Maelstrom is only like a 2 minute ride. Removing the theater maybe adds 30 seconds. This ride is gonna be two minutes of quick forced in scenes and songs mashed up as you go through it. This movie is pretty scenic, and would be a nice fit for a ride the size of Small World. Its slow moving so you have time for songs. And it has nice size rooms to elaborate on. Maelstrom is somewhat faster flowing so the scenes will be quick and songs short. And its a small narrow building. Which makes the sets smaller. Whats disappointing is that they arent building new and expanding Epcot. They are refurbishing and patching for short term fixes.

This is why I wish they'd do omnimover.

And yes, I agree...I never like the idea of closing one to open another. Just open another! Wasn't that what Walt wanted with the Florida project? More land...more freedom. HAHA! I went the "what would Walt want?" route. I don't really care anymore. Now it's just wait and see.

RBrooksC;2434334 wrote:
This ride going into Epcot and World Showcase will bring people through the gates. People want a Frozen attraction.

Oh, I did not realize that was what Epcot was about. Perhaps that is the cynical truth that was being disguised by the books, shows, and films produced about Epcot (by Disney and Imagineers themselves) over the years.

I hope the next big change in World Showcase isn't predicted by 9 or 10 months here at Intercot. It will be nice for Disney to lead & set the table themselves by delivering something we didn't know we wanted and would never have seen coming down the pipeline, but are impressed by nonetheless.

RBrooksC;2434334 wrote: It is so funny to read the comments on this thread.

It is a natural fit for a Frozen ride to go into the Pavilion. First off, for those who want it in Fantasyland. Ok, where do you put it? Since it has been rebuilt there is no room. So, please, tell everybody, what are you going to close to open a Frozen ride? And remember since there is so much complaining about a Frozen ride going into Norway, you have to make sure there is no uproar about a ride being removed from Fantasyland.

Next, to say Frozen has nothing to do with Norway is totally wrong. It was, in fact, inspired by Norway. The movie has created a big increase in Norway tourism.

This ride going into Epcot and World Showcase will bring people through the gates. People want a Frozen attraction. The amount of children wearing Elsa shirts or dresses was incredible when I was there a few weeks ago. The Frozen event at DHS, esp the fireworks, is drawing people away from Epcot. So, there is a demand for this in the parks.

This will draw people into the World Showcase and Norway, in particular.

And, really, is the Maelstrom really that much of a classic ride? Is the consternation about the ride more nostalgia than anything else?

And I read these threads that complain about Disney being a business. Well, unfortunately, that is what they are. They are focused on bringing people through the gates so they can make money for the company and their investors. If putting in a Frozen attraction in Norway bring people through the gate, then it needs to be done.

If you don't like the attraction, then don't ride the attraction. But these changes happen and will continue to happen.

Good post and I agree.
I'm not going to lie, I'm a little dumbfounded as well. If Disney is really getting that bad or a ride is going to be that horrible, then thankfully we are not obiligated to ride, or even go to Disney. I know people don't like when I say this and I realize it *is* all opinions including mine. But I see more and more negative on a Disney board. I don't get it. Why continue then?
I admit, I don't always like every change, but at the end I don't lose sleep over it and I still adore Disney and will continue to visit.

Again, I realize it is all our varying opinions though.

RBrooksC;2434334 wrote:

The movie has created a big increase in Norway tourism.

Sorry I find this very hard to believe..... "Hey we love that Frozen movie so let's go to Norway for vacation this year". We have traveled outside of the US a lot and have never based our travel on a animated movie...... Norway isn't a place that you just go on a whim, maybe if the weather there was a little more favorable I might buy it.

NJGIRL;2434500 wrote: Sorry I find this very hard to believe..... "Hey we love that Frozen movie so let's go to Norway for vacation this year". We have traveled outside of the US a lot and have never based our travel on a animated movie...... Norway isn't a place that you just go on a whim, maybe if the weather there was a little more favorable I might buy it.

It sounds crazy but it is actually true. Norway saw an increase of 28% over the past year in American tourism. Part of this is due to Disney offering Adventures by Disney trips to Norway. Additionally, it has become a stop for a few different cruise lines this past summer. A 28% increase is nothing to ignore.