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

[lazyboy97o]

Yes. Exactly. Disney is a business. They are making a business decision to make money where money can be made. That's exactly what businesses do.

Marvel Studios is raking int eh cash because they are fans making films that fans appreciate. They're not trying to make films that some imagined John Everyman would like. You're philosophy only kills creative enterprises.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Yes. Exactly. Disney is a business. They are making a business decision to make money where money can be made. That's exactly what businesses do.

Yes, but Disney used to be a business that was willing to invest in quality, even if it cost a little more, to provide a great experience for the guest. It used to be a business that sought to win long-term, repeat visitors. Unfortunately for those of us who are, or once planned to be, long-term repeat visitors, we're seeing the quality diminish in favor of a quick buck, and a shift in focus from repeat visitors to the one-time guest. I don't think anyone blames Disney for wanting to be profitable -- and it is, raking in billions -- but it used to be (or at least, the perception used to be) that Disney made decisions that preserved its reputation for quality and thematic consistency and loving attention to detail, AND made money, too! Now it seems to be forsaking those ideals in exchange for slightly-larger short-term profits.

 

[JWG]

So over a year to convert Maelstrom?! What the heck could possibly take so long?

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Obviously it doesn't matter if people have heard of this site. That's not the point. The point is that the people on here complaining are not the majority of guests.

Disney never called anyone bitter. I did. And the "fans" are not the "biggest supporters." Biggest complainers maybe but you don't represent anything but a small percentage of customers and an equally small source of revenue.

Rubbish. Of course we are supporters of WDW. But being a "fan" does not mean we can't/won't call Disney out when they make a boneheaded move like this. An attraction based on a fictional, animated film does not belong in World Showcase. Period. This is just basic theming and continuity and Disney, the company that set the standard for amusement park theming, should know better.

Highly themed lands where everything (rides, restaurants, shops) complements each other was/is what set Disney apart from all its competitors. When Disney willfully ignores something as basic as this, its fans need to speak out and say so.

Theming is what makes Disney parks the best in the world and is their greatest strength. To see decision makers just throw that so completely aside should alarm anyone who calls themselves a Disney fan.

 

[Mike S]

So over a year to convert Maelstrom?! What the heck could possibly take so long?

The spreading of budgets across multiple quarters.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

So over a year to convert Maelstrom?! What the heck could possibly take so long?

the changing exterior of the attraction.

 

[Lucky]

So over a year to convert Maelstrom?! What the heck could possibly take so long?

It will be a totally different attraction, not an overlay.

 

[peter11435]

Rubbish. Of course we are supporters of WDW.

Everyone who visits WDW is a supporter. I never said "fans" weren't. I said "fans" were not their biggest supporter. Which they are not.

 

[DisUniversal]

So over a year to convert Maelstrom?! What the heck could possibly take so long?

They can't build a parking garage in that amount of time anymore, let alone any sort of attraction.

 

[Mike S]

Everyone who visits WDW is a supporter. I never said "fans" weren't. I said "fans" were not their biggest supporter. Which they are not.

What about my earlier point which you seem to have so conveniently glossed over? What would you call the fans who've been going for 20-30 or more years if not big supporters?

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Everyone who visits WDW is a supporter. I never said "fans" weren't. I said "fans" were not their biggest supporter. Which they are not.

Financially? No, fans are not the biggest supporters (ie, the biggest source of income).

But fans are certainly the biggest supporters of the values and ideals and standards of Disney. We only complain so much because Disney has stopped holding itself up to its own standards.

 

[peter11435]

What about my earlier point which you seem to have so conveniently glossed over? What would you call the fans who've been going for 20-30 or more years if not big supporters?

Obviously they have spent a lot of money visiting WDW. I never said you or anyone else were not supporters of WDW. I said that "fans" ( referring to the vocal minority seen here) were not WDW's biggest supporters. There is a difference.

 

[Dwarful]

Very sad to see this happen. We go every year sometimes 2 - 3 trips per 12 months. Sometimes buy APs sometimes not. With all of the changes to Epcot it is quickly becoming a half day park for our family. I "Let it Go" not long after this movie was released. I enjoyed the film but the overload killed it for me. I will be very sad if they expand to the castle in MK.

Many years ago when our oldest daughter was young we used to stay on site but split our time between WDW and Uni/SW. Then by the time our second daughter arrived we were at WDW only. Now I can see us going down to 4 or 5 days at WDW and the rest of the trip 4 or 5 days at Uni parks, SW and the beach. NOT because of Frozen...but because of ALL of the little cuts and changes over the years.....

I don't see this as an improvement but I do see it as a change. An improvement would be giving us a new attraction without taking away from the already limited options in WS. Keep Maelstrom and add Frozen somewhere....maybe not WS but somewhere.

 

[cosmicray]

So over a year to convert Maelstrom?! What the heck could possibly take so long?

Destroying beloved attractions takes time, you know

 

[ryan1]

30 years for me

 

[Tigger1988]

Destroying beloved attractions takes time, you know

Beloved is a strong word for an attraction that was mediocre from day one.

 

[GoofGoof]

It may explain it but it doesn't make it right.

I'm not sure if it's a right or wrong question. It's a matter of who they are trying to please. I don't like the concept any more than you, but they aren't running the parks for just me and you. The general public will eat this up. They loved the Frozen summer thing at DHS and lined up 3+ hours for the meet and greet.

Whether or not a better Frozen Land could be built in MK or DHS is not debatable...it most definitely could.

 

[Mike S]

Obviously they have spent a lot of money visiting WDW. I never said you or anyone else were not supporters of WDW. I said that "fans" ( referring to the vocal minority seen here) were not WDW's biggest supporters. There is a difference.

Still don't see your logic since we've most likely spent more money than any of these once in a lifers or tourists over the years. Keep the longtime fans happy and returning and the tourists will still come.

 

[cosmicray]

Beloved is a strong word for an attraction that was mediocre from day one.

Well, I disagree. I ride Maelstrom every time I visit Epcot and consider it a must-do. Sad I won't be able to ride it again before it closes.

 

[GoofGoof]

So over a year to convert Maelstrom?! What the heck could possibly take so long?

An optimistic fan will say that there is more to this than a simple overlay like the Christmas Jungle Cruise thing. In another thread someone posted the pessimistic view that they will leave the ride vacant for a year to save overhead costs and then do a quick overlay.

I'm leaning slightly optimistic. There has to be some meat to this thing. I'm not expecting an expansion of the show building - which they have room for. At least the rumored move to 1 load/unload to add another show scene. The current ride is short. Frozen has a few pretty popular songs and based on Stagg's comments in the park blog the ride will tell the story of the movie. I'm skeptical they can do that well in 4 minutes. Maybe they can slow the boats down