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

[cw1982]

That's the point, though - there isn't much "Norway" there to begin with to all of a sudden be eviscerated.

You can't rip out what isn't there to begin with.

True enough, but the fact that the pavilion was so small to begin with, and now the only thing left that still says "Norway" more than "Frozen" is a bakery, still makes the statement being challenged a fair one. The ride, the church, and the shop all used to be more culturally accurate (or about to no longer be that way). It's hardly justifiable to call the pavilion the Norway pavilion if the only thing that truly showcases Norway is one bakery.

 

[cw1982]

Just curious, how many on here who really dislike this move are planning on riding the new ride when it opens? I mean is it something you are interested to experience at all or just bypass that part of WS going forward?

I like the move, I of course will ride it but I will wait for a good FP chance or for the hype to die down some and the lines to level out. It should be utter chaos at first when it opens, I don't want to experience anything that much

I won't be down there regardless for a few more years (at the very least), but I'll probably ride it once just so I can experience it firsthand, assuming I can work it into our plans. I won't be going out of my way for it, and I won't be taking up a large chunk of my day waiting to ride it, but if it's convenient to the rest of our day, then might as well.

FWIW, though, I don't really "dislike" the movie. I'm just annoyed with it in a little more intense way than I would be annoyed with whatever song is currently being overplayed on the radio because the hype is overstaying its welcome in my mind. Much like those songs, a few years from now I likely won't be as annoyed with the film, although I probably will still dislike the location of the ride at the very least, and my opinion of the film has nothing to do with my distaste for the location of the ride.

 

[GoofGoof]

Right, but you're still talking apples and oranges. Others have already listed numerous projects that have taken far longer than they should have, and the Frozen Summer is just not on the same scale as any of those things.

18 months should be plenty of time for a new, high quality ride. With this bunch? I'm not holding my breath.

This bunch intentionally delays projects to spread costs over multiple quarters or years. It's not that they can't build faster it's a matter of financial planning not construction limitations. If they wanted to, they could construct a brand new ride from scratch in 18 months. I'm not saying that's what they are doing, but the 18 months is not a limitation for the project from a construction standpoint.

I'm not saying that this ride and Frozen summer are apples to apples. My point in bringing up the summer event is that it was fast tracked. Insiders here reported that Staggs was demanding a Frozen presence in the parks right away. This is obviously not the case with things like Avatar and Star Wars which are not fast tracked. Staggs and Iger are pushing for more Frozen in the parks. If the long construction time lines for most projects are the result of intentional delays coming down from senior management then the only thing that could remove those delays is a push from senior management to get more Frozen in the parks.

 

[Cesar R M]

If you could have wings... was 'transformed' into Buzz Lightyear in under a year... yet I'd bet 99% of the posters on this site now have no idea how the old attraction maps to the new and aren't held back knowing its limits based on the reuse. It uses the exact same ride system and track.

Imagination was also gutted and redone in under a year.

I'm not saying either of these things are great - I'm showing what Disney can do in a year's timeframe when they want to.

another example in building when they want at the speed they want.. was the castle of the festival of the lion king building.
They did it very good, in a very speedy timeframe.

 

[ryan1]

That said, I do think that Disney disagrees with internet fans about what WS is all about. The more I read folks talking like this, the more I realize that what happened was very early on they tried to sell WS as something more than it was, and folks bought into it and expect some marketing stuff from 30 years ago that wasn't real in the first place. It's like the "working studio" fallacy of MGM - folks buy into this past that was never really was to begin with.

You do realize that MGM WAS a working studio, to a point, right? Part of the Lion King was hand drawn there and The Mickey Mouse Club was filmed there as well as a couple of other things. Also the wardrobe department was also a functioning place (still is).

What WS was sold as was a showcase of other countries around the world at a time when world travel wasn't as popular or easy as it is now. Countries used those pavilions as "showcases" to promote travel to said countries.

 

[afar28]

I think this might work IF Disney would use the cast of Frozen to help you along a tour of Norway. If this ends up being a four minute Frozen movie dark ride then it fails Epcot.

It doesn't appear that will be the case. From the Disney parks blog post announcing it:
"will take our guests to Arendelle and immerse them in many of their favorite moments and music from the film"
So it appears as if it will have little to no Norwegian influence unfortunately

 

[pumpkin7]

You know, I liked Frozen, but the songs, like, totally sucked. More the lyrics that, like, totally got on my nerves. Like, totally every young kid like, totally talks like this now!

 

[Donald96]

You do realize that MGM WAS a working studio, to a point, right? Part of the Lion King was hand drawn there and The Mickey Mouse Club was filmed there as well as a couple of other things. Also the wardrobe department was also a functioning place (still is).

What WS was sold as was a showcase of other countries around the world at a time when world travel wasn't as popular or easy as it is now. Countries used those pavilions as "showcases" to promote travel to said countries.

The Newsies was filmed here too.

 

[JEANYLASER]

Frozen will be awesome! And I can't wait to ride Frozen in 2016!

 

[Phil12]

It doesn't appear that will be the case. From the Disney parks blog post announcing it:
"will take our guests to Arendelle and immerse them in many of their favorite moments and music from the film"
So it appears as if it will have little to no Norwegian influence unfortunately

They won't have to change very much of the existing ride. They'll have to change the polar bear into Olaf and if they hang a few icicles on the oil rig then it will pass for the ice palace. The trolls can remain the same since there are trolls in Frozen too. I think they'll equip the existing boats with laser guns (similar to Buzz) and the premise of the ride will be that Elsa has lost control again and frozen everything in sight. It's your job to thaw out the kingdom with your laser gun. The trolls will pop up and warn you that Elsa has frozen Anna's heart (again) and that you must take a harrowing backwards detour to save Anna. You shoot your laser gun to melt Anna's heart while Hans is imprisoned in the ice tower and palace (former oil rig) for his just punishment.

 

[Figments Friend]

-

So i guess this pin i have had for some time is about to become rather valuable.....




I shall have to wear this on 'Maelstrom's' final day of operation.

A request for those who will be visiting the Attraction before the changeover -
Please take photos of the fabulous painted mural in the loading area!
One of EPCOT's last great murals...likely to be painted over during the upcoming overlay.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Tom Morrow]

One thing I think some people need to stop doing is acting as if Maelstrom was a great ride that's a tragedy to have removed. Let's be real here, it has been a mediocre ride since day one. If you go around complaining about what a "great" ride Maelstrom suddenly is, then all that conveys to Disney is that you hate any change at all. Focus on the real issues:

1. A ride in Epcot, a park already lacking in rides, should not be replaced when there is plenty of expansion space. There's an expansion plot right next to the Maelstrom building, in fact.
2. A ride in Epcot based on a real country and real culture and history should not be replaced by something completely fictional and fantasy.
3. Nobody would take issue with a Frozen attraction in the MK where it belongs, or maybe even DHS which also desperately needs new and more attractions.
4. Seemingly zero attempt is being made here to mask the greed, laziness, and cheapness of this decision which, while not the first time, completely disrespects the history, vision and purpose of Epcot. "You want a Frozen ride? Fine, we'll put one in in the cheapest, laziest, least appropriate possible way."

Or, alternatively, if you are okay with Frozen in Norway:
1. They have made it clear already that there will be no attempt to tie this into Norwegian culture and it will just be another Fantasyland-style recap of the film.
2. The Maelstrom ride and queue have terrible capacity. The Maelstrom ride itself is too short to begin with and this will leave people who were looking forward to a Frozen attraction underwhelmed. The Norway pavilion is in no way equipped to deal with this increased demand unless this is NOT an overlay and the building is completely gutted and rebuilt.

And if its completely gutted and rebuilt, why not just use open land and build a new attraction instead?

 

[SirLink]

It's not the first time. In the original stories, Aladdin is Chinese, and Kaa the snake is a friend to Mowgli. It's Disney. Calling them out that Frozen deviates too far from the source material is a bit... well, I don't know.

The comic explicitly takes place in Japan, and the characters are all based on Japanese pop-cultural archetypes. In fact, I think the main reason the film doesn't take place in Japan is to make it more appealing to the lucrative Chinese market, as China and Japan don't really get along.

1)The source material is better than what Disney creates.
2)Big Hero 6 film explicitly takes place in 'San Fransokyo' which is them trying to make it more Americana and Japanarama. Not because of the Chinese market but to make the money back at the domestic box office.

So in a sense Maelstrom needs to be kept pure and not glorified with Toons, and destroy it like Disney has done to literature.

 

[Mike S]

One thing I think some people need to stop doing is acting as if Maelstrom was a great ride that's a tragedy to have removed. Let's be real here, it has been a mediocre ride since day one. If you go around complaining about what a "great" ride Maelstrom suddenly is, then all that conveys to Disney is that you hate any change at all. Focus on the real issues:

1. A ride in Epcot, a park already lacking in rides, should not be replaced when there is plenty of expansion space. There's an expansion plot right next to the Maelstrom building, in fact.
2. A ride in Epcot based on a real country and real culture and history should not be replaced by something completely fictional and fantasy.
3. Nobody would take issue with a Frozen attraction in the MK where it belongs, or maybe even DHS which also desperately needs new and more attractions.
4. Seemingly zero attempt is being made here to mask the greed, laziness, and cheapness of this decision which, while not the first time, completely disrespects the history, vision and purpose of Epcot. "You want a Frozen ride? Fine, we'll put one in in the cheapest, laziest, least appropriate possible way."

Or, alternatively, if you are okay with Frozen in Norway:
1. They have made it clear already that there will be no attempt to tie this into Norwegian culture and it will just be another Fantasyland-style recap of the film.

I did like the ride but I can focus on the bigger issues and put my personal feelings aside. Also you're missing one:

5. The ride being put in such a small space will be a capacity nightmare.

 

[Cesar R M]

One thing I think some people need to stop doing is acting as if Maelstrom was a great ride that's a tragedy to have removed. Let's be real here, it has been a mediocre ride since day one. If you go around complaining about what a "great" ride Maelstrom suddenly is, then all that conveys to Disney is that you hate any change at all. Focus on the real issues:

1. A ride in Epcot, a park already lacking in rides, should not be replaced when there is plenty of expansion space. There's an expansion plot right next to the Maelstrom building, in fact.
2. A ride in Epcot based on a real country and real culture and history should not be replaced by something completely fictional and fantasy.
3. Nobody would take issue with a Frozen attraction in the MK where it belongs, or maybe even DHS which also desperately needs new and more attractions.
4. Seemingly zero attempt is being made here to mask the greed, laziness, and cheapness of this decision which, while not the first time, completely disrespects the history, vision and purpose of Epcot. "You want a Frozen ride? Fine, we'll put one in in the cheapest, laziest, least appropriate possible way."

Or, alternatively, if you are okay with Frozen in Norway:
1. They have made it clear already that there will be no attempt to tie this into Norwegian culture and it will just be another Fantasyland-style recap of the film.

this meme image I did a few months ago, again becomes relevant.

pardon the writing mistakes, I remember doing this one at 3:00 am.

 

[WondersOfLife]

Uh...you are newish, so I will give you a pass - but seriously, half that stuff was NOT well received at all by the community when announced.

When announced.. per say... But the community apparently enjoy all of them at moment very much so.

What half wasn't?

 

[wm49rs]

Nothing of the sort is happening. They are replacing the ride and sticking a meet and greet in (which is SORELY needed as the Frozen M&G at other parks have 3-4 hour lines).

The Stave Chutch has already been converted to Frozen. The M&G earlier in the year closed down a third of the gift shop. Akerhus is essentially a Princess-themed establishment. With Maelstrom being changed, just how much is actually left to preserve?

 

[Tom Morrow]

I did like the ride but I can focus on the bigger issues and put my personal feelings aside. Also you're missing one:

5. The ride being put in such a small space will be a capacity nightmare.

Edited my post to add that! I liked the ride too, but I don't want to pretend its a great ride.

The Stave Chutch has already been converted to Frozen. The M&G earlier in the year closed down a third of the gift shop. Akerhus is essentially a Princess-themed establishment. With Maelstrom being changed, just how much is actually left to preserve?

The bakery. That's about it. Akershus is already just princess dining.

 

[Figments Friend]

One thing I think some people need to stop doing is acting as if Maelstrom was a great ride that's a tragedy to have removed. Let's be real here, it has been a mediocre ride since day one. If you go around complaining about what a "great" ride Maelstrom suddenly is, then all that conveys to Disney is that you hate any change at all. Focus on the real issues:

1. A ride in Epcot, a park already lacking in rides, should not be replaced when there is plenty of expansion space. There's an expansion plot right next to the Maelstrom building, in fact.
2. A ride in Epcot based on a real country and real culture and history should not be replaced by something completely fictional and fantasy.
3. Nobody would take issue with a Frozen attraction in the MK where it belongs, or maybe even DHS which also desperately needs new and more attractions.
4. Seemingly zero attempt is being made here to mask the greed, laziness, and cheapness of this decision which, while not the first time, completely disrespects the history, vision and purpose of Epcot. "You want a Frozen ride? Fine, we'll put one in in the cheapest, laziest, least appropriate possible way."


Or, alternatively, if you are okay with Frozen in Norway:
1. They have made it clear already that there will be no attempt to tie this into Norwegian culture and it will just be another Fantasyland-style recap of the film.
2. The Maelstrom ride and queue have terrible capacity. The Maelstrom ride itself is too short to begin with and this will leave people who were looking forward to a Frozen attraction underwhelmed. The Norway pavilion is in no way equipped to deal with this increased demand unless this is NOT an overlay and the building is completely gutted and rebuilt.
And if its completely gutted and rebuilt, why not just use open land and build a new attraction instead?

Great post, and some important points made here.

Yes, 'Maelstrom' was more a diversion then a major draw...but i for one enjoyed it for what it was.
I can understand the need to refreshen it, but in my opinion this is not the answer.

The other point is one i was going to bring up ....but you have touched on it here - the capacity issues.
Norway is about to become a foot traffic nightmare between the Princess Fairy Tale Dining crowds and the soon-to-be crowds lining up for the 'Frozen Expedition'.
The area was originally built to be small and cozy, to evoke a small Norwegian village.
The massive amount of people that will now be trying to get into that tiny area are going to make it quite a mess.
Disney is going to have to pave over the Lagoon just to hold all the stroller parking that will be needed!

The ride queue is another matter, but perhaps this might be addressed somehow with the reboot.
If it remains pretty much as it is, it will be a tight fit for people waiting.
I am interested to see what Ops has in mind for where to place the extended waiting line outside of the small Pavilion area.

But maybe...just maybe...the whole 'Frozen' mega-obsession will die out over the next year and there will be NO crowds to worry about.
Then again, even if that were to happen i am sure the fact it is a 'new Attraction' will draw lines no matter what the final result inside will be.

 

[Figments Friend]

this meme image I did a few months ago, again becomes relevant.

pardon the writing mistakes, I remember doing this one at 3:00 am.
View attachment 65796

I like this version better.......