Farewell Maelstrom

TheVBs;2436284 wrote: You know, I just realized that I don't think we've ever gotten any pictures of this ride. :( I'll have to look back through our photos. I am glad that we rode it and stopped to watch the movie (for the first time in years) when we were there in the spring.

I never did either. I didn't think we were allowed to take flash pictures and I think that's all that would show up with my camera. LOL.

I'm such a geek, I think I"m the only one who actually loved the film. I love coastal towns so that part of the movie really was my favorite.

Terra;2436285 wrote: I never did either. I didn't think we were allowed to take flash pictures and I think that's all that would show up with my camera. LOL.

Yup, no flash photography. But, we can turn our flash off. It's not like we get great pictures that way, but I like to try sometimes. Even a blurry/dark picture can be a good memory. And, sometimes I get lucky. :mickey:

TheVBs;2436290 wrote: Yup, no flash photography. But, we can turn our flash off. It's not like we get great pictures that way, but I like to try sometimes. Even a blurry/dark picture can be a good memory. And, sometimes I get lucky. :mickey:

When we got to the village, I was using my iPhone without the flash. I was surprised how well the pictures were turning out and made a comment about the quality without flash. The CM standing there must have misunderstood because she kept telling me I was allowed to use the flash. I wonder if it's because the ride was heading for closure and they were allowing exceptions.

I had three favorite parts of this ride -- the swirling sparkles overhead when the trolls sent you over the falls, looking backwards over my shoulder out into the park at the turn, and splashing down into the oil drilling area with the storm.

Thank goodness for YouTube.

Was able to take one more plunge on Saturday. Woke up early to get there before it opened so I could get in before the massive F&W crowds got there haha.

I really loved the whole ride but my favourite parts were splashing down into the North Sea and looking up at the oil platform.

After that, pulling into the disembarking area always made me long for being back in Sweden at my uncles place as he is right on the Norwegian border and there is a village that looks exactly like that.

I will miss this ride so much.

INTERCOT on FB/Twitter/Instagram has some good pictures of Maelstrom. I was feeling nostalgic looking at them yesterday.

I still just don't get this. Even my wife, who isn't nearly as much of a Disney geek as me said, "Why didn't they put that in Fantasyland? The World Showcase is supposed to be like a worlds fair!" I told her that argument has been made again and again, but no one listened (that mattered). On the other side of the coin, my five year old granddaughter will probably love it....IF they don't go "C&C*" on us.

*Cheap and Cheesy

Eric87;2436165 wrote: I'll miss the narration the most.

I'll miss the narration too! We were so lucky to get to ride it one last time last week but I'm still so sad they're closing it. So stupid!
:(

This makes me tear up! Maelstrom was one of my all-time favorite rides. I remember being a little girl when it opened, and it was the coolest thing. I LOVE the mural and the flags, and it breaks my heart!

I have one of the best Disney stories there...I went with my sister and her best friend for their senior trip. We had a blast, had park hoppers, and everything was perfect. One night we were making our way around the world, all dressed up, and the line was pretty long for Maelstrom. We were near the entrance debating what to do, and the cute Norwegian guy at the FP entrance said "Hey girls, Mickey said he was expecting you. Come on in." (in his cute accent!). It was the best. We were giggling the whole way through.

Oh, Disney! Why did you have to "Let it go"!?

ah man...you brought tears to my eyes with this one.
I am only 20, but have such fond memories of this ride. As a child (i know im not far out), this was a ride that my family would ride multiple times. One of my favorite rides to this day, and just thinking about it being gone brings a tear to my eye. I just want that feeling one more time, that i had as a child, being scared to death that we were actually going over backwards. I would long for that.

Farewell, Maelstrom. You will be missed.

SBETigg;2436384 wrote: INTERCOT on FB/Twitter/Instagram has some good pictures of Maelstrom. I was feeling nostalgic looking at them yesterday.

Thanks! I'll have to look at those. :mickey:

I have got to ask. When the last boat pulled out, did the sound track still say "You are not the first to pass this way, and you will not be the last!"

Speedy1998;2436962 wrote: I have got to ask. When the last boat pulled out, did the sound track still say "You are not the first to pass this way, and you will not be the last!"

They didn't change that for the last boat. You can also see the last ride on youtube. :(

texas211;2436159 wrote: Long live the high seas adventure. In memory, I thought it would be fun for folks to post either what they'll miss, or a good memory of the ride.

Good memory:

I was at EPCOT with one of my friends from high school in 1988 on Opening Day for the attraction. He was leaving for the military the following week. We were both like, "Finally! Another RIDE in World Showcase! Hope it's not like Mexico (right next door...:P " Even though it was a "boat ride", it was nothing like El Rio del Tiempo. This was a "thrill ride" in EPCOT Center! At the time, there were no "thrill rides" at all at the park. And only the four other attractions that were so...well, I *loved* all of them, but, my friend wasn't as into Disney as I was. :mickey:

Its just wrong. Is World Showcase doomed to be a character land? I agree more can be done and should be, but I just don't see why we have to be immersed in princesses all over Disney World.
I am heartbroken.