Frozen ride replacing Maelstrom?

[Magenta Panther]

On the latest episode of the Unofficial Guide's Disney Dish with Jim Hill and @lentesta Jim mentioned that Disney is considering adding a Frozen sequence to Mickey's PhilharMagic.

That would be...maybe...okay if the "Frozen" song was an ADDITION, and not a REPLACEMENT, for one of the songs that are already there. But really, the Philharmagic show is actually pretty damn perfect the way it is. EXCEPT for the quality of the 3D film. It's fuzzy and antiquated. The show desperately needs a technical update. Here's hoping that if the Frozen song is added, TDO will also include a long-overdue refurb.

 

[RSoxNo1]

That would be...maybe...okay if the "Frozen" song was an ADDITION, and not a REPLACEMENT, for one of the songs that are already there. But really, the Philharmagic show is actually pretty damn perfect the way it is. EXCEPT for the quality of the 3D film. It's fuzzy and antiquated. The show desperately needs a technical update. Here's hoping that if the Frozen song is added, TDO will also include a long-overdue refurb.

@lentesta threw out the idea (I know I've thrown this out in the past as well) about having random sequence in PhilharMagic. Think of having all of the current songs available and then having alternates for each song. This would be the best of both worlds.

 

[jdmdisney99]

Wrong. "Least favorite Disney animated film since Meet the Robinsons" means exactly that. After that movie, which was released well after Home on the Range, we have liked nothing less than we liked Frozen. The word "since" establishes that the pertinent frame of reference begins with the release of the only other film I mentioned, without any commentary on what preceded it. We liked Meet the Robinsons very little. After it was released, we liked no other Disney film less than Frozen. How does what came before even enter the discussion?

For example:
Frozen was my least favorite since Meet the Robinsons.
Meet the Robinsons was my least favorite since Chicken Little.
Chicken Little was my least favorite since Home on the Range.
Home on the Range was my least favorite since Atlantis.
Atlantis, I think, was my least favorite ever.

Therefore, Atlantis < Home on the Range < Chicken Little < Meet the Robinsons < Frozen

See?

I'm just not going to respond...

 

[Sped2424]

That would be...maybe...okay if the "Frozen" song was an ADDITION, and not a REPLACEMENT, for one of the songs that are already there. But really, the Philharmagic show is actually pretty damn perfect the way it is. EXCEPT for the quality of the 3D film. It's fuzzy and antiquated. The show desperately needs a technical update. Here's hoping that if the Frozen song is added, TDO will also include a long-overdue refurb.

Who says they have to stop with just adding frozen, lets get some other songs in there, I think Princess and the frog needs some love somewhere. Also I agree, make the show longer and update the animation, if these new cgi films are anything to go by they could make the animation in this ride beautiful and stunning. And some hd screens wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Matt_Black]

Who says they have to stop with just adding frozen, lets get some other songs in there, I think Princess and the frog needs some love somewhere. Also I agree, make the show longer and update the animation, if these new cgi films are anything to go by they could make the animation in this ride beautiful and stunning. And some hd screens wouldn't hurt either.

Well, not a song, but I would love to see Donald get converted to 8 bits and and "invade" Fix-It Felix Jr..

 

[Sped2424]

It's already circulating around tumblr that Disney is thinking about doing this, and folks seem to be pretty positive about it.

 

[Sped2424]

Well, not a song, but I would love to see Donald get converted to 8 bits and and "invade" Fix-It Felix Jr..

I would to, but this is Philharmagic! and seeing how all the films in the set list are very music heavy I feel only musicals should count! Here is a list of what I want them to do.
1. Upgrade the Animation
Long ago it was okay, but now its nothing short of TV quality, and seeing the animation department is clearly capable with CGI today and could make something beautiful they really need to upgrade it.
2. 4k Projector upgrade
Universal did it Disney, 2 years ago when 4k was even more expensive, there is no reason that the technology at my local theater should be more advanced than the projector system used for this film, visually that is.
3. Add more than just frozen, put in some Almost there from Princess and the frog you could have the scents of her food flow through the seats. Put in some Tangled with I see the light! Maybe have lanterns drop down just like the spiders in bugs life? Without replacing any of the current scenes.
4. Refurb the entire attraction, new carpets and chairs because the old chairs look straight up musty at this point not to mention the area where the scents and water come out on the chairs looks disgusting.
That is all I want, this attraction hasn't been touched in 11 years, its time for an upgrade.

 

[Fleis76]

That would be...maybe...okay if the "Frozen" song was an ADDITION, and not a REPLACEMENT, for one of the songs that are already there. But really, the Philharmagic show is actually pretty damn perfect the way it is. EXCEPT for the quality of the 3D film. It's fuzzy and antiquated. The show desperately needs a technical update. Here's hoping that if the Frozen song is added, TDO will also include a long-overdue refurb.

Well, if they are going to update the cg, adding frozen into it is as good a time as any. I for one wouldn't mind seeing it. I enjoy Philharmagic a great deal but it is true that Disney's cg has come a long way since they first started the attraction.

 

[Fleis76]

I would to, but this is Philharmagic! and seeing how all the films in the set list are very music heavy I feel only musicals should count! Here is a list of what I want them to do.
1. Upgrade the Animation
Long ago it was okay, but now its nothing short of TV quality, and seeing the animation department is clearly capable with CGI today and could make something beautiful they really need to upgrade it.
2. 4k Projector upgrade
Universal did it Disney, 2 years ago when 4k was even more expensive, there is no reason that the technology at my local theater should be more advanced than the projector system used for this film, visually that is.
3. Add more than just frozen, put in some Almost there from Princess and the frog you could have the scents of her food flow through the seats. Put in some Tangled with I see the light! Maybe have lanterns drop down just like the spiders in bugs life? Without replacing any of the current scenes.
4. Refurb the entire attraction, new carpets and chairs because the old chairs look straight up musty at this point not to mention the area where the scents and water come out on the chairs looks disgusting.
That is all I want, this attraction hasn't been touched in 11 years, its time for an upgrade.

I especially agree with #1. Maybe it's just me, but I think starting with Tangled Disney finally nailed getting their cg models to have the same look as the "hand-drawn" classic look of their earlier films.

 

[Matt_Black]

I would to, but this is Philharmagic! and seeing how all the films in the set list are very music heavy I feel only musicals should count! Here is a list of what I want them to do.

Oh, if only there were a song they could play for that... WAITASEC!

 

[aladdin2007]

I'll believe it when I see it if they do anything inside Gran Fiesta, but would most def welcome it....Adding frozen to philharmagic would probably be a quicker way to get it included somewhere.

 

[WDWDad13]

a few different philharmagic shows that randomly play would be very neat

if there was a better exit path from the maelstrom... they could turn the Norway movie into a frozen 3d movie attraction with spraying snow as effects as well like they do at the Christmas parties and Osborne). That would probably be the less costly

other ideas are using the land between mexico and Norway to expand maelstrom into a frozen ride or build a NEW frozen ride in that area (that would be preferred)

 

[Next Big Thing]

@lentesta threw out the idea (I know I've thrown this out in the past as well) about having random sequence in PhilharMagic. Think of having all of the current songs available and then having alternates for each song. This would be the best of both worlds.

I would hope if they do go in to add Frozen they could add a Tangled part as well. I wouldn't really want them to replace anything though so maybe two different versions would work well.

And either way, Philhar is in desperate need of a film quality update.

 

[Magenta Panther]

Who says they have to stop with just adding frozen, lets get some other songs in there, I think Princess and the frog needs some love somewhere. Also I agree, make the show longer and update the animation, if these new cgi films are anything to go by they could make the animation in this ride beautiful and stunning. And some hd screens wouldn't hurt either.

Yeah, it'd be great if "Almost There" could be added. Love that song.

 

[Matt_Black]

Yeah, it'd be great if "Almost There" could be added. Love that song.

Honestly? I'd like to see Donald get his fortune read by Facilier while he sings "Friends on the Other Side", if we're going to have anything from P&F.

 

[Sped2424]

Honestly? I'd like to see Donald get his fortune read by Facilier while he sings "Friends on the Other Side", if we're going to have anything from P&F.

I would agree with that, but there are no villain songs featured in this attraction, so I wouldn't expect them to suddenly make that leap.

 

[Matt_Black]

I would agree with that, but there are no villain songs featured in this attraction, so I wouldn't expect them to suddenly make that leap.

That's why you need one! Have Donald get all scared by the masks, but then Facilier waves some cards showing money, and you get the Donald "greedy eyes" going on....

 

[NoChesterHester]

Unscientific poll conducted tonight - asked our dinner party, most of whom traveled to WDW with us last year, what they thought of Maelstrom being replaced by Frozen. Not one objected. Many stated something to the effect of "well that ride was kind of dated in the 80's." These are all educated intelligent people.... Well most of them.

That response is probably a decent cross section of the general populous' feelings toward this sort of thing. Only the Epcot purists believe that characters don't belong in Epcot. Most people welcome them. A Frozen boat ride would instantly become a top three draw in the park. That doesn't make it right, but it is why they would do it.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Judging by the box office - I'd say the general public believes Frozen is fantastic. Enough inane bickering about movie preferences.

People need to learn brevity.

I personally just hope that the financial success of Frozen actually spurs them into action. Perhaps it won't be 20 years before we see a Frozen attraction.

It's officially time that I eat my words critizng Frozen before it was released.

Seeing as this morning, having a few hrs to myself... I saw it. Again. For the third time.

I'm pretty sure this has become my favorite movie, if not, then extremely high on the list.

That said, I would be all in favor of a Frozen redo of this ride. It's standing well on its own. We all know disney won't make a brand new ride (and if they did it would take four years to build) but the possibilities of rehabbing an old ride seem much better.

My two cents, for what it's worth. Epcot needs some love. I hope it gets it.

 

[The MadHatter]

I'm in the minority, but I would be excited if they turned maelstrom into a frozen attraction. I loved the movie and the music, and think it could be a great ride. I also really liked the nemo, and three caballeros additions to epcot. I know I'm in the minority but I don't have a problem with them making Epcot more kid friendly.

Lol