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

[GetAPaperBag]

We wouldn't have the "overlay" confusion problem if everyone would just finally start using "refurd" like I do

You know, these could bring more families in too. And not just the ones with little princesses.
View attachment 79420 View attachment 79421
But who am I kidding. Those are way too expensive and fit World Showcase too well. Gotta do it cheap because as we all know Disney needs to use those billions of dollars on stock buybacks. ALL HAIL THE INFINITE WISDOM OF BOB IGER!!!!!!!

Believe it or not, a lot of people, not just "little princesses" like Frozen and are excited about a larger presence in the parks.

 

[Kman101]

While true, not a really good point as that philosophy applies to the quality of the experience not what experiences are built. In terms of what new attractions are built, Disney has almost always been about giving people exactly what they want. I can throw around the "Disney said' or "Disney did" logic too.

Disney also was adamant that the parks weren't museums.
Disney was always about capitalizing and promoting the latest and greatest IP. (See Sleeping Beauty castle being built 3 years before the movie came out)

Just a couple examples.

Not trying to have it be "well Disney said" ... it was simply me responding to the other poster.

 

[Kman101]

Believe it or not, a lot of people, not just "little princesses" like Frozen and are excited about a larger presence in the parks.

And some aren't. It's OK to not like it. And it's OK if you do like it. It's called respecting other's opinions if you don't agree with them.

 

[kap91]

We wouldn't have the "overlay" confusion problem if everyone would just finally start using "refurd" like I do

You know, these could bring more families in too. And not just the ones with little princesses.
View attachment 79420 View attachment 79421
But who am I kidding. Those are way too expensive and fit World Showcase too well. Gotta do it cheap because as we all know Disney needs to use those billions of dollars on stock buybacks. ALL HAIL THE INFINITE WISDOM OF BOB IGER!!!!!!!

70million isn't exactly cheap. Everest only cost $100 million and they needed to build an entire mountain and ride system. While we can debate the appropriateness of what is being built, I really don't think there's anything pointing to this being done on the cheap or half-baked. Fast yes, but isn't that what people here have been clamoring for for years?

 

[Bocabear]

I wonder if the new 13000 sq ft building housing the M&G is part of that budget...that will end up being a significant expense...even if they do their usual "hotel function space" interior decor.

 

[ThemeParkTraveller]

70million isn't exactly cheap. Everest only cost $100 million and they needed to build an entire mountain and ride system

I remember reading EE actually cost closer to $200 million. Given the extensive show building, I can't imagine it costing the same as TLM.

 

[dgp602]

Believe it or not, a lot of people, not just "little princesses" like Frozen and are excited about a larger presence in the parks.

How much larger can it get????

 

[Matt_Black]

How much larger can it get????

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.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I hope they do a great job on theming this new M&G building since Norway seems to be loosing it's Norwegian roots. It just seems sad that once a Viking ship sat in that space and was a play area for kids and now it will be a Frozen M&G.

 

[RayTheFirefly]

So, let me get this straight. Maelstrom is being gutted for a cartoon ride. And, they are going to use the pad between Norway and Mexico to build some sort of Arendelle themed building for a new restroom and a large meet and greet?

Has the entire concept of World Showcase and EPCOT just gone out the window here? This belongs in the Magic Kingdom. It would be GREAT for the Magic Kingdom.

Then again, Nemo and his lame ride belonged in DAK, not The Living Seas.

That's what I was going to ask. Is the "World Showcase" concept just being abandoned? If so, that's one thing. But if it's not, this makes no sense.

 

[RayTheFirefly]

Which was strongly influenced by Norway. There's even a coastal town named Arendal.

Then why didn't they just say Arendal, Norway, in the movie? Lol. That would've changed everything.

 

[Kman101]

I'd say Disney California Adventure has a very large presence. Two stage shows (one at Disneyland replaced the other ones), the animation academy is all about drawing Olaf, a Frozen dance party, Frozen banners everywhere, an out of place Frozen sign on Buena Vista Street, meet and greet with the girls, Olaf AND Marshmallow, a snowground ... yes a lot of it's temporary but that's a pretty large presence. Heaven forbid some don't like it.

 

[orlando678-]

Well I would still be having mixed feelings about this ride but probably less then now

 

[Kman101]

I'd say it is as well. Sad, but true. It was honestly abandoned in 2007 with Where's Donald? and Future World is a thematic mess.

 

[orlando678-]

I wish this were just a big fake and that they are actually building Frozen in Mk while maelstrom is just getting a huge refurb so we wouldnt have problems with the worldshowcase theme and still have frozen

 

[DisDan]

Honestly, when you look at this from Disney's perspective, it doesn't seem like they had much choice but to do this. Putting Frozen in MK right now would only put further stress on the capacity balance issues plaguing WDW at the moment. MK is already the most popular park and I can't imagine adding a themed Frozen area there right now would be a wise move.

DHS is already getting a makeover and I am not sure they could put Frozen there anyhow with the rumors of Pixar and SW IP's going into DHS. AK is out of the question, so you have EPCOT, which is is desperate need of some love. The dilemma Disney faces is this, they can fix all the parks by adding new attractions and capacity then plan WAAAAAY down the road for a Frozen land somewhere in MK (which could still happen someday) OR they can use the ONLY place in EPCOT where adding a Frozen IP would make any sense (even if it's thematically out of place to begin with at EPCOT) and put it where Norway is since there is already a connection with the Film to Norway.

This will bring a lot of people to EPCOT and alleviate some of those issues with the crowds at MK. It adds something to a park that, honestly needs way more than this, but will take anything at this point and with Disney's, currently, strongest IP it is sure to attract crowds while the other parks get renovated/enhanced. Hopefully down the road EPCOT will see a lot more investment on a large scale, but the way I see it, Disney did not have a lot of options for Frozen.

Anyhow this is just my logical reasoning. I might be way off base....

 

[wdw71fan]

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

 

[RayTheFirefly]

I'd say it is as well. Sad, but true. It was honestly abandoned in 2007 with Where's Donald? and Future World is a thematic mess.

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

 

[orlando678-]

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

 

[Bocabear]

Unfortunately it seems easier to re-theme rather than build a new experience in the Magic Kingdom where this belongs...and EPCOT has fewer rides for children... So I guess that was the motivation.... Hollywood Studios only has 5 actual rides....talk about light...