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

[Mr. Peabody]

So Oft Kilter's <20% Canadian band sings songs depicting Scotland...
because Nova Scotia, the second smallest province in all of Canada, is into that...
It's an ideal representation of Canada?

I disagree.

Non-Canadian musicians in the Canadian band...that's where you draw the line?

Canada is a large, diverse country. The rest of the pavilion depicts French Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Off Kilter (and the pipe band before it) was a way of giving the Maritime provinces some representation. It's a more authentic cultural experience than what Disney has planned for the Norway Pavilion.

Thanks for playing.

 

[Matt_Black]

2 Floridians, an Irishman, a guy from Kentucky, and a puerto rican forming a celtic band and representing Canada isn't very thematically appropriate either, but no one seems to have a problem begging them to come back and replace the loggers.

Hey, that's not fair!

The Puerto Rican guy left the group a while ago, if I'm not mistaken.

Disney always had bagpipers in the Canada pavilion. Apparently based on the heavy amount of Scottish immigrants/descendants in Canada.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Canadian

 

[Travel Junkie]

I'm going to precursor what I'm going to say with this... I am a huge fan of the original Epcot Center and an advocate for the original idea. However, times change. Attitudes change. Guests change. Therefore, parks need to change. I wholeheartedly believe that if Epcot were to open today in 2015 as it did in the 80's, it would not be popular at all. Can you imagine what the millenials would think of a theme park wher they had to learn?! The horror! Again, having said that, I'm not sure that changing Epcot's entire identity to an IP-centric park is the right path either. All I know is, I love Epcot. It's my favorite park. It alway has been my favorite park, and it needs LOTS of TLC. Do I think Frozen is a good fit for Norway? Meh. I think I'll be upset if the ride sucks. If they do a nice job, and it's a "plus" over the Maelstrom, then I'll be happy. I don't think that the addition of this ride marks the end of Epcot's vision. I do however think it means that Epcot is changing, and it might not be for the worse.

It just gets enormously tiring to come on the forums day after day and read the same complaints about Disney losing original visions and WDW doesn't do anything worthwhile any longer. We get it, things are different now, and we want them to go back to the way they were. Will they? Who knows. I just don't know why we can't be kinda, sorta excited that Disney is taking a (tired) ride that was left largely untouched or changed in decades, and turning it into something people actually want to ride. It may be like trying to shove a square peg into a circular hole to make it "fit" thematically, but I'm in the mindset that at least they're doing SOMETHING. Epcot will never be what it once was. So if it takes some IP's to get some fresh rides and fill the empty buildings, I'm sorry, but my nostalgia can take a back seat.

It’s inaccurate to believe people today and more specifically younger people have no interest in learning. If Disney wants to get out of that for their theme parks fine, rebrand it, but if you create great experiences people will come. Museum’s all over the country and the world draw millions per year.

As far as the at least they are doing something argument, that’s a cop out.

 

[dizneycrazy09]

It’s inaccurate to believe people today and more specifically younger people have no interest in learning. If Disney wants to get out of that for their theme parks fine, rebrand it, but if you create great experiences people will come. Museum’s all over the country and the world draw millions per year.

As far as the at least they are doing something argument, that’s a cop out.

And I feel like if some people had it their way, that's exactly what Epcot would be...a museum. I also should have qualified the "at least they're doing something argument." At least they're doing something that 98% of guests (even returning ones) would deem a "plus" to what was there.

 

[Skippy]

So if it takes some IP's to get some fresh rides and fill the empty buildings, I'm sorry, but my nostalgia can take a back seat.

WoL, Odyssey, Innoventions. There is a continuing history of closing full buildings in EPCOT and reimagining full ones. Hopefully Innoventions won't have the same fate as the previous two, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Mr. Peabody]

It may be like trying to shove a square peg into a circular hole to make it "fit" thematically, but I'm in the mindset that at least they're doing SOMETHING.

Refreshing Maelstrom or replacing it with something more thematically appropriate to World Showcase would also "at least be doing something".

So if it takes some IP's to get some fresh rides and fill the empty buildings, I'm sorry, but my nostalgia can take a back seat.

The Frozen ride is not filling an empty building.

 

[bhg469]

2 Floridians, an Irishman, a guy from Kentucky, and a puerto rican forming a celtic band and representing Canada isn't very thematically appropriate either, but no one seems to have a problem begging them to come back and replace the loggers.

According to whom?

Celtic music is very popular in western canada and has been for a long time. The nationality of the performers has little to do with the genre of music, not to mention the fact that it is a thousand times more pleasant for park atmosphere than small engine noise and the smell of the fuel..

 

[wdisney9000]

So your opinion is the only one that matters, no one else's is valid. Got it.

Allow me to clarify a few things about those, or at least myself, who believe this is a bad decision.

Did this statement from my post not help you distinguish that I was speaking about my personal beliefs?

You selectively misinterpret things. Got it.

 

[Matt_Black]

According to whom?

Celtic music is very popular in western canada and has been for a long time. The nationality of the performers has little to do with the genre of music, not to mention the fact that it is a thousand times more pleasant for park atmosphere than small engine noise and the smell of the fuel..

And meanwhile, over in another thread, people argue for the Tomorrowland Speedway to stay unchanged because driving is every little boy and girl's dream of what they'll do in the future.

 

[dizneycrazy09]

The Frozen ride is not filling an empty building.

I was referring to other possible IP's refilling empty space (inside out, BH6, etc)

 

[dizneycrazy09]

Refreshing Maelstrom or replacing it with something more thematically appropriate to World Showcase would also "at least be doing something".

You're also completely missing the point of my original post. I'm not one of the people waving the flag and screaming, "Bring Frozen to Epcot." I am however simply pointing out that had Frozen not been made or had not been as popular, there would have been no thought of a replacement or upgrade. We'd be left with an unrefurbed, un-plussed Maelstrom for the next x number of years.

 

[bhg469]

So Oft Kilter's <20% Canadian band sings songs depicting Scotland...
because Nova Scotia, the second smallest province in all of Canada, is into that...
It's an ideal representation of Canada?

I disagree.

And you'd be wrong. That is not the only province that celebrates this heritage. Newfoundland does as well.... Also the greatest dogs in the world.

 

[aladdin2007]

You're also completely missing the point of my original post. I'm not one of the people waving the flag and screaming, "Bring Frozen to Epcot." I am however simply pointing out that had Frozen not been made or had not been as popular, there would have been no thought of a replacement or upgrade. We'd be left with an unrefurbed, un-plussed Maelstrom for the next x number of years.

No, there were plans for a Maelstrom redo as still Maelstrom.

 

[bhg469]

You're also completely missing the point of my original post. I'm not one of the people waving the flag and screaming, "Bring Frozen to Epcot." I am however simply pointing out that had Frozen not been made or had not been as popular, there would have been no thought of a replacement or upgrade. We'd be left with an unrefurbed, un-plussed Maelstrom for the next x number of years.

WDW doesnt need overlays, it needs more attractions. This isnt more, its a temporary boost in Epcot attendance nothing more.

 

[dizneycrazy09]

No, there were plans for a Maelstrom redo as still Maelstrom.

The best laid plans of mice and men...

 

[dizneycrazy09]

WDW doesnt need overlays, it needs more attractions. This isnt more, its a temporary boost in Epcot attendance nothing more.

I completely agree. Should more/other things be happening in Epcot? Absolutely.

 

[FigmentJedi]

And I feel like if some people had it their way, that's exactly what Epcot would be...a museum. I also should have qualified the "at least they're doing something argument." At least they're doing something that 98% of guests (even returning ones) would deem a "plus" to what was there.

Yeah. Museums are so boring bro. Just look at these dull places

If anything, Epcot should embrace Museum-ness again.

 

[Matt_Black]

As someone who live in the Philadelphia area, I am obligated to point out that museums can often be terrifying, unsettling places.

 

[djkidkaz]

No, there were plans for a Maelstrom redo as still Maelstrom.

That's contrary to everything I heard before frozen. The story was that the Norway pavilion was falling apart and maelstrom was in dire straits but Disney expected Norway to pay for updates and returns and they weren't interested. So disney was just ignoring the pavilion. Never once did I hear about a maelstrom refurb.

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

That's contrary to everything I heard before frozen. The story was that the Norway pavilion was falling apart and maelstrom was in dire straits but Disney expected Norway to pay for updates and returns and they weren't interested. So disney was just ignoring the pavilion. Never once did I hear about a maelstrom refurb.

I would also like to see the source for this so-called refurb. Not saying it isn't true, because I'm not sitting in a position to know. I mean, they could have had plans, as in a blueprint, etc. but I don't think a Maelstrom refurb was on the books.