Confirmed Closing Date for Maelstrom?

Chef Mickey

Chef Mickey

Well-Known Member
FettFan said:
Yeah...retarded kiddies who sit in front of an idiot box/panel for hours on end.
To quote Voltaire, "He ain't using his brain, he's just watching TV."


Epcot is supposed to be a celebration of communities....about learning about a bigger world than what we are regularly exposed to. That's why I didn't complain when they put Kim possible and Perry the Platypus in WS; in each of those instances, kids were encouraged to actually explore each country, looking for clues and such. Those events supported Epcot's overall theme of building a better worldwide community.

And while I complain about the Three Caballeros taking over El Rio, at least the ride still somewhat showcases Mexico...even if it's overrun by cartoon birds. This is in complete contrast to Frozen, where all aspects of Norway's history and heritage would presumably be stripped away to make way for yet another rendition of 'Let it Go'.

Ultimately, integrating Frozen into Maelstrom proves two things:
1. DisneyCo does not care about Epcot's mission statement and will throw anything and everything under the bus in order to wring another dollar out of park guests. (Presumably while rubbing its hands together with a devilish sneer towards "those suckers")

2 Disney doesn't really care about Frozen enough to give it a proper treatment in the parks....Frozen is Disney's goose laying golden eggs, and unfortunately Bob Iger and Co. have all got knife sharpeners.
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Right on...terrible job in both respects.

If they really want to "run" with Frozen, give it its own attraction at the MK. I don't care where they put it, but leave EPCOT alone. The movie tie in is so tiring and ends up ruining the long term prospects of the ride. Let's see, Maelstrom has been around since 1988, but let's put the movie Du Jour that will almost assuredly not warrant its own attraction in 10 years. And let's say it does...simply re-theming an existing ride system (In a completely barbaric and lazy manner) isn't the way to give Frozen the respect they act like it deserves.

Just sheer cheapness, laziness, and incompetence. It's not the right way to do it. It's a band-aid and that's becoming too common with Iger and this administration. The parks are really going to be dated in 20 years if they don't start investing in some real long term solutions that don't rely on popular culture to get traction. One could argue the parks are already severely dated in many areas.

I am very upset with the way the parks have been handled since Iger and team took over. There has been no meaningful investment in EPOCT, wrong direction taken at HollyWood Studios, little done at AK(Avatarland is not the ticket, IMO),a ho-hum but needed expansion at MK, and an overly expensive MagicBand money squeezer are the major highlights.

As I've said...the parks are currently a "cash cow" with management standing on the shoulders of geniuses. Look at the attractions that stand the test of time: Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Spaceship Earth, American Adventure, Hall of Presidents, etc etc etc. What is the last "great" E-Ticket attraction to go in that was built from the ground up and no expense spared? I do like 7DMT, but it's too short and obviously not all it could have been.

Don't take away great things....add new things to keep up with growing attendance and maintain the original vision. World Showcase is NOT about movies and pop culture tie ins. sigh...
 
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mf1972

mf1972

Well-Known Member
Seafury31 said:
Too bad. The movie at the end inspired me to visit Norway. Even went to the museum where the little boy was looking at the boat....stuck in Cali so no chance of riding before closing. Wonder wher the bear will end up?
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probably in a coke commercial
 
mf1972

mf1972

Well-Known Member
I wonder how it'll change the gift shop. obviously a frozen makeover. we normally go there. overpriced, but will buy a fleece once in awhile. wonder what they do with the troll too.
 
F

Figaro928

Well-Known Member
stevehousse said:
I didn't even think of the shop! I hope they still have that really good expensive lotion! It smells so good!
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Hope you like the scent of warm hugs.....But don't worry -it'll be expensive
 
GrumpyFan

GrumpyFan

Well-Known Member
The fact that Disney hasn't made any kind of official announcement leaves just a bit of hope.
Although, I think when attractions closed in the past, they were done quietly without any advance notice.
Are there any scheduled news conferences in the next 60 days? I would guess if they're going to do this, they would make an announcement at least of the the future plan is, especially if it involves Frozen.
 
Goofnut1980

Goofnut1980

Well-Known Member
I am going to take a minute and call shenanigans. Why is everyone moaning a groaning one second about them not doing anything to Epcot. But then when they do, people moan and groan to leave it alone. If you want it left alone, then nothing new will ever come and it will be the same. Then you will moan and groan that they arent doing anything to improve Epcot.

It's an attraction. While yes, it is sort of original, it is old and dated. It doesn't represent Norway 25 years later. Let them Disney-fy what they want. At least they are spending money on the place. The countries now-a-days do not want to sponsor anything and that is why there are no new countries. If Disney has to be the one to do something, then Disney gets to make the call.

I would rather see them improve, even if it is tacky, then let it sit and rot like they did to places like River Country or Spectromagic. At least it is something new to look at.

edit: **end rant** ha
 
FettFan

FettFan

Well-Known Member
catfury said:
1000x1000.jpg


Hope you like the scent of warm hugs.....But don't worry -it'll be expensive
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"Frozen Body Wash"?

I'm sorry but I can't look at that without immediately thinking about getting "Frozen" by that first blast of cold water when you jump in the shower without letting it warm up first.
 
steamboatjosh

steamboatjosh

Well-Known Member
I'm going to make sure that I ride it when I'm in Epcot next month, but as someone who has never ridden it before I am actually excited for the Frozen overlay. Although that's mostly just because I really wanna see a Frozen ride. I do believe that instead of Epcot, it should have a brand new ride built in Fantasyland. Would be a amazing to see Elsa's Ice Palace join Cinderella Castle, Prince Eric's Castle, and Beast's Castle. But alas, this is what we are getting.

At least it will bring some much needed attention to Epcot. I really hope to see the Ratatouille ride brought to the France pavilion and hopefully the rumors of a Future World makeover starting within the next 5 years are true.
 
FettFan

FettFan

Well-Known Member
Goofnut1980 said:
I am going to take a minute and call shenanigans. Why is everyone moaning a groaning one second about them not doing anything to Epcot. But then when they do, people moan and groan to leave it alone. If you want it left alone, then nothing new will ever come and it will be the same. Then you will moan and groan that they arent doing anything to improve Epcot.

It's an attraction. While yes, it is sort of original, it is old and dated. It doesn't represent Norway 25 years later. Let them Disney-fy what they want.
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Ahem.
1. World Showcase is not supposed to be overly Disney-fied. It's supposed to expose American families to other cultures.

2. Frozen takes place in a fantasy realm called "Arendelle". It has nothing to do with actual Norway. Would you be equally defensive if Disney decided to shove a Winnie the Pooh ride into the O Canada building? Or how about "Fineas and Ferb's American Adventure"?

3. Maelstrom is a short ride followed by a short film. The entire experience takes less than 15 minutes from boarding the boat to exiting the theater. There is absolutely no way that they could condense Frozen down that much and still make it a meaningful experience, especially with as fast as the boats move. They would need at least twice the area and an Omnimover system to do the film any kind of justice.

There is a right way and a wrong way to update the Norway pavilion.

It doesn't take a thousand year old Crusade knight to know when Disney is choosing poorly!
 
Haymarket2008

Haymarket2008

Well-Known Member
I am in total agreement with the obvious fact that World Showcase was not designed for character advertisement or showcasing. If the Maelstrom rumors are indeed true then we can expect the opposite. I can only hope that the attraction is respectful to Norway and its pavilion.
Also Winnie the Pooh takes place in the UK so it wouldn't be located in Canada, btw. Frozen was inspired by predominantly Norwegian and Scandinavian culture. The only reason I would be okay with the "Character Takeover" of the entirety of World Showcase is if it is done respectfully and doesn't interfere with the main integrity of the pavilion. I think that Gran Fiesta Tour is a perfect example. It does little harm at all to the Mexico Pavilion. Maelstrom is one of my favorite attractions at Epcot, and I happen to also strongly dislike the overrated and hardly groundbreaking film that was Frozen. But if I take a step back and think about the prospect of, say, a Mulan dark ride showcasing China, for instance, it sounds like perfection. BUT I AM in the boat of people saying 'no' to this change. If it is indeed an inevitable one I just strongly hope they are respectful to the mission of World Showcase while giving us exciting new attractions of quality.
 
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
Goofnut1980 said:
I am going to take a minute and call shenanigans. Why is everyone moaning a groaning one second about them not doing anything to Epcot. But then when they do, people moan and groan to leave it alone. If you want it left alone, then nothing new will ever come and it will be the same. Then you will moan and groan that they arent doing anything to improve Epcot.

It's an attraction. While yes, it is sort of original, it is old and dated. It doesn't represent Norway 25 years later. Let them Disney-fy what they want. At least they are spending money on the place. The countries now-a-days do not want to sponsor anything and that is why there are no new countries. If Disney has to be the one to do something, then Disney gets to make the call.

I would rather see them improve, even if it is tacky, then let it sit and rot like they did to places like River Country or Spectromagic. At least it is something new to look at.

edit: **end rant** ha
Click to expand...
Sometimes doing nothing is better than doing something.
 

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