Disney confirms 'Frozen' makeover coming to Epcot's Norway Pavilion

[Bocabear]

Look I get why they don't do it at Mk now, but 1. they didn't need a frozen ride 2. they shouldn't have changed the theme of Norway and 3. Epcot is now slowly flooding with Disney characters

I actually don't get why they did not do it in the MK... aside from this being easier and adding a kid friendly attraction to World Showcase... Why could they not have built this in the MK instead of the Circus crap?

 

[orlando678-]

There are a lot of ways to make epcot a fun place for children too, and in these ways I don't necessarily see characters

 

[Bocabear]

There are a lot of ways to make epcot a fun place for children too, and in these ways I don't necessarily see characters

I agree! The biggest problem is that World Showcase has not seen any additions since Norway was added 25 years ago... If EPCOT had been continually developed that way it was planned, there would be more attractions in the park by now...More Countries to see...more to do. Unfortunately they just let it stagnate and have actually reduced the amount of attractions... I guess they felt they had to do something. Though I think adding the Remy ride to France would have been a better fit...at least that character does live in Paris, not a fictional country...

 

[orlando678-]

I don't even think that Mexico needed Donald, but it's okay there. Disney trusted on movies the countries and yes at the first years of Epcot this was interesting because people travelled way less than now. People know the countries and now they want to explore it in a fun and still educative way

 

[dgp602]

Currently, 1 meet & greet and 1 show in DHS which is kind of a placeholder anyway until they can put up something more permanent. Not very large at this point.

Ya, I guess you're right... It just seems like so much more though with the Christmas parade re-name, and the Daily Frozen Holiday show....

 

[danlb_2000]

So. Just watched WFTV do a news story on Frozen coming to Epcot and they suggested the NEW building would house the ride and the Maelstrom building will house the meet and greet.

Can we get some insider confirmation on this? I know they can sometimes get their wires crossed when telling a Disney news story on a new attraction/etc.

Just thought I'd share what they said.

The permits for the new building clearly state that it is for a Meet and Greet.

 

[doctornick]

An overlay shouldn't involve gutting the entire building. Not defending the project but I think we need a clear definition of "overlay". Overlay to me means everything remains but animatronics are switched out and we get new music but everything else remains the same. Not saying we get a different ride system but they've gutted the building. That to me isn't an overlay but a new ride, whether it uses the same track/system.

I agree. I think the term "overlay" seems to be used in an overly dismissive manner as though the new ride is going to be cheap looking or boring or nonsensical (Olaf waving to vikings or such). This seems much more like a complete overhaul of the ride to me rather than what I would think of with an "overlay".

 

[GhostHost1000]

EPCOT being "taken over by characters" whether we like it or not was bound to happen eventually...

some could also argue EPCOT is being taken over by alcohol which I'm sure wasn't the original intent either

 

[flynnibus]

at least this disbelievers will stop with the whole 'it's just a cheap overlay' ****...

Yeah.... because building new M&G buildings sure beats building new attractions!

 

[danlb_2000]

So, to be clear, your position is the fictional land of Arendelle with its ice and Vikings and Norweigan mythology has nothing to do with Arendal, Norway with its ice and Vikings and Norweigan mythology? They are two completely different things in your mind and you can't see how Disney made the connection?

It's one thing to say that you don't want this theme to be a part of the World Showcase. Or to mourn the loss of Maelstrom. I can see opposing the change in lots of ways. But to say that Frozen has nothing to do with Norway is a bit of a stretch.

The creators of Frozen took inspiration from Norway but did not attempt to make an accurate representation of Norway and it's culture, they just picked and chose what they want to use. For this reason I feel it is inappropriate to have this ride be part of the Norway pavilion. If it turns out that they are going to use the Frozen characters to teach you about the real Norway then I might not have as big a problem with it, but all indications are that this is not what the ride is going to be.

This topic has been beaten to death in this thread so that is the last I intend to say about it.

 

[Mawg]

Can't wait for World Show Case to be turned into Fantasylands from around the World. Will be freak'en awesome!!!!! Great job Disney.

 

[Sped2424]

Donald is at least in actual Mexico, not a fictional land named "GualOlajarO" or something.

Nope. If Frozen doesn't get a thematic pass neither do the three sentient birds who were never created by mexico in the first place. As much as I love the three caballeros they don't represent mexico just cause panchito was made to be one.

 

[Unplugged]

At least they plan on addressing the obligatory restrooms with the new building. Where would we be joke-wise without a reference to highly themed restrooms? That said....will they be putting in chillers for the toilet seats?

 

[rangerbob]

So the new country lineup is going to be:

Mexico
Frozen
China
Germany
Italy
US
Japan
Morraco
France
UK
Canada

 

[Bolt]

yay - another 250 more pages about this! At least everyone voices a unique opinion on it...

 

[Wall-e]

Things need to change to stay relevant and you'll never be able to get everyone to agree with what change or how much is acceptable. When I was a kid we went about every 2 or 2.5 years to the world and every time there was something new to look forward to. I think if we saw the world through our child's eyes (or our child eyes) we would be more willing to except these things and more excited for them.

 

[dstrawn9889]

and as for the supposed enlargement of the mens restrooms into the ladies space, did i not see in the subterranian blueprint where the lift station for the ladies side was to be removed? that should preclude any more toilets.

yup, southeast corner of the blueprint

:::EDIT::: oh, this may only be the lift for the companion resttroom...

 

[RayTheFirefly]

Nope. If Frozen doesn't get a thematic pass neither do the three sentient birds who were never created by mexico in the first place. As much as I love the three caballeros they don't represent mexico just cause panchito was made to be one.

I'm not saying they represent Mexico, but at least they talk about Mexico in the ride and show Mexican people on the screens. You really think they're going to show Norwegians or even pictures of real Norway in this Frozen ride?

 

[Spectro shire]

The new meet and greet is probably a shop too because a whole building just for meet and greet is stupid.

But the original Epcot is dead. Has been for a while. Mexico. Living Seas and now this.

Ps. Can Norway get a bigger bakery with this?

 

[Sped2424]

I'm not saying they represent Mexico, but at least they talk about Mexico in the ride and show Mexican people on the screens. You really think they're going to show Norwegians or even pictures of real Norway in this Frozen ride?

It's the same thing to me if the focus is on the cartoons instead of the country. You get peeks of mexico on the ride, which are almost always interrupted by a cartoon asking where is donald.