New Frozen ride

There was a soft opening on sunday. The walls were still up but they were taking people in through the doors for much of the day

wiltsan;2486718 wrote: "You are not the first to pass this way, nor will you be the last..."
Just watched ride video with family and have to say that we were disappointed. The animatronics are undeniably incredible but too much wasted space (ala spaceship earth) in the area that is just screens after visiting Elsa's castle. Even my 11 year old daughter just said,"As much as I love Frozen, Maelstorm was better." And for the record, I am also a major fan of Frozen. We really enjoyed the former ride a lot and appreciated the culture/educational components of the pavilion. Now this has turned into a princess pavilion hawking merchandise. I get that they need to attract the 4-7 year old set to Epcot but think there could have been better ways than to desicrate a beloved (by my family) attraction. "Norway, it's spirit is in its people."

Yes! But a better way to desicrate an attraction?? I don't think so...

I watched the POV video the day it opened. Love it, and so did my sons.
So sad that currently we are unable to go as usual [as per my thread in Mousellanous].
But watching it is enough until hopefully one day we can get back when my son is better and life is better. Changes at WDW are the least of my worries. I'd rather be there than going through what we are any day :mickey:
I loved Maelstrom as well, but also love the update. Looks like they lengthened the ride a bit which is nice. Love the theming as well.

Altair;2486716 wrote: EPCOT never was anything like what Walt envisioned. His plan was for a self sufficient city and not a theme park, but at least what we got was somewhat educational.

Initially...

Seems to becoming just another 'theme park'

(Yes, I preferred the original EPCOT)

I actually didn't realize how much I wood miss Maelstrom until I saw your thread. Well done. *sniff*

I think we are seeing the natural progression/evolution of Epcot. It's time Disney realizes that the park is no where near what the original purpose was: to be a permanent World's Fair.

Rededicate the park with a new purpose statement. Have the park be a spark of imagination for all who come. Make it show the sense of wonder and amazement the world has. Instead of actual education have the rides show the possibilities of the world and of the individual. It has been years since the park actually educated visitors and the only remaining attraction that does is Spaceship Earth. It's time to let that purpose die and reinvent the park.

After AK and Studios are done Epcot is in need of a make over. I really think this is the start of a new Epcot. I wouldn't be surprised if we get a Remy ride for France. That would fit nicely. They need to add another country. Australia would be great with a gamey restaurant and and E Ticket attraction about a walk about.

I don't see characters invading World Showcase as a bad thing. I think it would boost attendance and bring life back to a park that saw an almost zero increase in attendance figures.

I agree with Donald. I'm fine with characters invading the World Showcase, as long as it fits. I understand the waits stink, but Frozen is a good fit for Norway.

So...I could stand in line and watch the movie two and three quarter times before a three and a half minute ride........
I will mostly miss the troll who said "Disappear! Disappear!" that guy always cracked me up....

Aren't the country pavillions in Epcot designed and built by the boards of travel and tourism from their respective countries? I didn't think WDW could unilaterally change the type of attraction(s) featured. Unless I am mistaken with that understanding, it seems like Norway must have believed that a Frozen ride was very good for it's tourism industry.

I'll probably never get over the loss of "NorVEY....." and we always watched the movie even when everyone else just walked through.

mermaidmarian;2486935 wrote: Aren't the country pavillions in Epcot designed and built by the boards of travel and tourism from their respective countries? I didn't think WDW could unilaterally change the type of attraction(s) featured. Unless I am mistaken with that understanding, it seems like Norway must have believed that a Frozen ride was very good for it's tourism industry.

I'll probably never get over the loss of "NorVEY....." and we always watched the movie even when everyone else just walked through.

Norway doesn't really have any stake in the pavilion anymore, from what I recall reading.

No countries' governments ever had anything to do with the World Showcase (at least until Morocco came along). Disney wanted them to, but they couldn't interest any governments in participating. Norway was originally sponsored by Norwegian companies- not their government.

The idea of a Frozen ride is great and all but why does Disney assume that we wouldn't rather see a ride that is tied to the culture of the country. That's the whole point of world showcase. We actually want those things.

We also ALWAYS watched the movie. "Norway, it's spirit is in its people. 😢

I was always a big fan of Maelstrom and have yet to see the Frozen ride ( I do have a FP+ for August 15) . I have always been a big Viking fan and loved the concept behind Maelstrom and the small building in the front of the pavilion.
I liked the trolls and also liked the Oil Rig section. BUT the ride did need some upgrades, it was not up to the standard of other Disney rides and I know if I could have re-imagineered it there were a dozen things I would have enhanced.
My assumption always was that there was a decision to either fix it up or else add something new ( Frozen) and the Frozen frenzy probably made it an easier decision to make. There was no real big opportunity for any merchandising and it was not a ride that took any crowds away from Soarin or test track.
I never based any part of my day around " Hey we need to make a bee-line for Maelstrom." It was a nice ride, pretty unique but it wasn't really even marketed ( I do think there is a pin). When I figured out my Epcot must-do's I think it ranked just below trying Beverley.
I would rather they fix up Figment, upgrade Ellen's adventure, find a way to bring Sum of all Thrills back and add a few more countries.( or bring back Horizons), get the Piggy game and the Burning house activites from Innoventions back. Epcot does need some TLC I think we can all agree.

Yes, I will definitely miss Maelstrom, but I also wish that they had used Frozen as a way to educate the populace on Norwegian culture ( the best of both worlds) maybe even have Anna and Elsa battle Ragnar Lothbrook It will now only be in our memories. 20 years from now our children will be complaining when they refurbish the Frozen ride with something new. There isn't much we can do.

In retrospective, I will miss Off-Kilter more than Maelstrom, but I am sure after I see the Frozen ride my scale may change . Hopefully I get a positive experience.

Mackflava99;2487207 wrote: BUT the ride did need some upgrades, it was not up to the standard of other Disney rides and I know if I could have re-imagineered it there were a dozen things I would have enhanced. My assumption always was that there was a decision to either fix it up or else add something new ( Frozen) and the Frozen frenzy probably made it an easier decision to make. There was no real big opportunity for any merchandising and it was not a ride that took any crowds away from Soarin or test track.

There was a plan, a great grand plan, to fix Maelstrom... Disney wasn't kidding anyone by trying to portray Maelstrom as some top of the line E ticket anymore... They knew it needed help, and Imagineering came up with a great plan for the ride... Sadly, another Imagineer, who is obviously smart enough to read the tea leaves and know how today's WDW management (and Disney management as a whole) works, came up with a plan to shove Frozen into a spot it doesn't belong, so they could make even more money off merchandise, and potentially save his/her job... Of course, since today's Disney management lack any kind of creativity, and only worship att he alter of the almighty dollar, they loved the idea... And, well, a real country has been pillaged and plundered and turned into a fictional land... Thus killing World Showcase...

but I also wish that they had used Frozen as a way to educate the populace on Norwegian culture ( the best of both worlds)

If they had to have Frozen in Norway, and they didn't, then the best concept would have been to use the characters as a way to, maybe not educate, but showcase Norway... A modern Norway, not a Norway stuck in the 80's... But instead they build a castle park dark ride...

Look, no one can deny Frozen's popularity... No one can deny the business Frozen has generated, and still does... If anyone does deny, well, we need to check to see what rock they been living under or make sure they are still alive... Frozen, whether you are a fan or not, deserved better... it deserved more... And so the Frozen fans... But Disney today thinks so little of their guests, of their fans... They think their fans will just eat up any piece of garbage they are fed... Truth is, they aren't wrong.. I mean look on this site, look elsewhere... Die hard fans can't see past their nose... They just say DISNEY RULEZ and accept the trash heap they are given... Frozen deserved it's own land... With an E ticket ride... Not to be shoe horned into a spot it doesn't belong in...