Frozen ride replacing Maelstrom?

[dadddio]

C'mon, we all know that if this ride gets built that the gift shop you get dumped into will be renamed as Oaken's Trading Post. But if they add a sauna, that will be worth it.

Let me start by mentioning that I have never actually seen Frozen. I've listened to bits of it when the kids were watching it in the car, but I've never actually watched the movie. Because of this, I had no clue who Oaken was. So I google it up. The first thing that popped in my search was the Disney wiki. This pearl jumped off the screen:

In the film, it can be noted that Oaken is the only person in Arendelle who speaks with a Scandinavian accent, as a homage to the film's setting in Norway.​

Set in Norway? How could that be? I had two thoughts about this: First, that this is a wiki and anybody can type whatever they want, so take it with a grain. Second, perhaps Arendelle was a fictional kingdom that was located in part of what is now Norway. That theory is satisfying enough to me, but it did beg one more Google: "Frozen Norway".

This search resulted in numerous VisitNorway.com links with such titles as 'Visit Norway in the footsteps of Disney's Frozen', and 'Disney's Frozen - Inspired by Norway'. It also gave links to Adventures by Disney with quotes such as 'Visit the quaint towns and majestic Norwegian fjords that inspired the move Frozen.'

So basically, Norway and Disney both claim that there is a link between Frozen and Norway. It seems that locating a Frozen attraction at the Norway pavilian is appropriate.

 

[FrankLapidus]

I would still be upset at the thought of a cruddy frozen overlay of maelstrom. Removing mention of an entire country in world showcase is just ignorance though.. I laugh about how out of touch they are but come on, they need to wake the hell up!

I'd be upset if this was out of character, I did used to get upset about things like this. But it isn't anything that I haven't come to expect from WDW today. I still love the place but I don't think the same can be said of the people who are in charge of it. This is just the latest in a long line of decisions that make it pretty clear that the powers-that-be at TDO quite simply have no love or respect from what they have been made responsible for. The writing has been on the wall that something like this would happen because they just don't care, why would they let the original purpose of Epcot and World Showcase get in the way of them making a bit of money?

They aren't going to wake up, the sad truth is that for WDW to return to its former glory there would need to be a purge of the penny-pinching bean counters in charge now. That isn't going to happen, if a bean counter leaves or gets fired they get replaced by another bean counter graduate of strategic planning. I hope things will change for the better but I don't think it will happen anytime soon so I've resigned myself to things like this Maelstrom mess for the time-being and hope that one day WDW will return to the standards that made me fall in love with the place two decades ago.

 

[bhg469]

I'd be upset if this was out of character, I did used to get upset about things like this. But it isn't anything that I haven't come to expect from WDW today. I still love the place but I don't think the same can be said of the people who are in charge of it. This is just the latest in a long line of decisions that make it pretty clear that the powers-that-be at TDO quite simply have no love or respect from what they have been made responsible for. The writing has been on the wall that something like this would happen because they just don't care, why would they let the original purpose of Epcot and World Showcase get in the way of them making a bit of money?

They aren't going to wake up, the sad truth is that for WDW to return to its former glory there would need to be a purge of the penny-pinching bean counters in charge now. That isn't going to happen, if a bean counter leaves or gets fired they get replaced by another bean counter graduate of strategic planning. I hope things will change for the better but I don't think it will happen anytime soon so I've resigned myself to things like this Maelstrom mess for the time-being and hope that one day WDW will return to the standards that made me fall in love with the place two decades ago.

2 decades ago was the last time I was at universal before I went in march this year.

Guess where I regret only getting a one day pass for?

I got a 1 day park hopper for wdw which would have been plenty if it wasn't for fp+ and those wait times that I know were caused by it.

 

[aladdin2007]

It does if the characters don't have anything to do with that country....

exactly and that downhill slide started years ago with Akershus, characters that have no business being in Norway.

Let me start by mentioning that I have never actually seen Frozen. I've listened to bits of it when the kids were watching it in the car, but I've never actually watched the movie. Because of this, I had no clue who Oaken was. So I google it up. The first thing that popped in my search was the Disney wiki. This pearl jumped off the screen:

In the film, it can be noted that Oaken is the only person in Arendelle who speaks with a Scandinavian accent, as a homage to the film's setting in Norway.​

Set in Norway? How could that be? I had two thoughts about this: First, that this is a wiki and anybody can type whatever they want, so take it with a grain. Second, perhaps Arendelle was a fictional kingdom that was located in part of what is now Norway. That theory is satisfying enough to me, but it did beg one more Google: "Frozen Norway".

This search resulted in numerous VisitNorway.com links with such titles as 'Visit Norway in the footsteps of Disney's Frozen', and 'Disney's Frozen - Inspired by Norway'. It also gave links to Adventures by Disney with quotes such as 'Visit the quaint towns and majestic Norwegian fjords that inspired the move Frozen.'

So basically, Norway and Disney both claim that there is a link between Frozen and Norway. It seems that locating a Frozen attraction at the Norway pavilian is appropriate.

maybe, but its still shoehorning it in and value engineering something on the cheap, instead of creating a big new attraction for it with space that can handle the mass hordes they are going to have to deal with. The issue now is losing Norway all together being replaced with Arendelle. Is this the trend? Taking out the countries of Epcot and replacing with with mini fantasyland fictional pavilions? curses Disney!! If they must do this at Epcot at all use the land between Mexico and Norway and make arendelle an extension of Norway. It would sure be better than losing an actual whole pavilion to a cartoon. But no they refuse to spend on anything worthwhile, something loved always has to get the ax. In this scenario its even worse, doing away with world showcase pavilions in place of fictional movies.

Im still hoping were just going to end up with frozen maelstrom and not Arendelle. (they could do this right and link the ride theme to Norway somewhat in the same way they did with the stave church exhibit, and sorta in the way the Norwegian Tourist Board has been doing,,, without booting out Norway) it would be a huge loss and prove they have no respect for the history of the park not to mention theming all together. I can see it on guidemaps now, Mexico, Arendelle, China, and so on. Horrible.

 

[dadddio]

I can't believe that you guys actually believe that they plan on not having a Norway pavilion and having a 'Arendelle' pavilion there.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

So basically, Norway and Disney both claim that there is a link between Frozen and Norway. It seems that locating a Frozen attraction at the Norway pavilian is appropriate.

The only link between Norway and Disney is that both charge a fortune for a beer.

 

[EricJ]

I can't believe that you guys actually believe that they plan on not having a Norway pavilion and having a 'Arendelle' pavilion there.

Oh, I once had to fight off two months of equally paranoid fans claiming that Disney "hated" Blu-ray, was trying to "phase out their disk industry", and "was getting ready to eliminate 3-D", just because the company had to delay the Frozen 3D disk to October without telling us.
You can BELIEVE that they actually believe it.

You can't stop the delusions of a Disney fan--especially a Frozie or Anti-Frozie--who wishfully thinks their anti-corporate grudges have finally come true, any more than you can stop a charging African white rhino by saying "No running in the hallways".

 

[alissafalco]

I can't believe that you guys actually believe that they plan on not having a Norway pavilion and having a 'Arendelle' pavilion there.

Why cant you believe that?

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Im impressed, How good are you.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Why cant you believe that?

Corporate loyalty.

 

[dadddio]

Why cant you believe that?

Because there is absolutely no indication that they would do this or plan on doing this.

 

[EpcoTim]

Oh, I once had to fight off two months of equally paranoid fans claiming that Disney "hated" Blu-ray, was trying to "phase out their disk industry", and "was getting ready to eliminate 3-D"

You had too, as in your life was on the line?

 

[dadddio]

You had too, as in your life was on the line?

Life, sanity, sense of dignity, whatever.

 

[EricJ]

You had too, as in your life was on the line?

I'm a warrior for Reality, friend. On our battlefields, situations get out of control quickly.

(Y'know, over on the "What character are you most like?" thread, when I said I kept getting stuck on the tests with "Jiminy Cricket"? Oh, you know it. I'm out to stop Bad Influences.)

 

[alissafalco]

Because there is absolutely no indication that they would do this or plan on doing this.

And how do you have this knowledge?

 

[Gomer]

There is an Arendal in Norway. If you squint, it sort of looks like the unload location after the ride. So, maybe Arrendale is based on an actual Norwegian location after all. Or maybe they just dont think we'll notice the change in spelling.
http://www.arendal.com/en/

More likely though, I think Disney might be playing a smart game here. Leak that Frozen is taking over Maelstrom and Norway is turning into Arrendale. Everyone freaks out and starts calling it the end of Epcot. Then when the project hits, just do the ride overlay and people will be so pleased the pavilion is remaining as is, the complaints will be muted. It’s like saying, “I hit your cat with my car and I stole 20 dollars from your wallet.” Then I say “Oh, never mind that was the neighbor’s cat”. 20 dollars doesn’t sting as much when Fluffy is still alive to cuddle with.

Look how many people are already saying they’ll accept the new overlay, just not the replacement of the pavilion. Very shrewd Disney…

 

[dadddio]

And how do you have this knowledge?

Really?

Because there has been no indication shown by anyone that the actual company would do this or plans to do this.

I love how when you speak against these paranoid theories that people expect you to prove the negative. Like I'm supposed to pull Iger out of my pocket and have him slap around the forum for a while.

 

[dadddio]

There is an Arendal in Norway. If you squint, it sort of looks like the unload location after the ride. So, maybe Arrendale is based on an actual Norwegian location after all. Or maybe they just dont think we'll notice the change in spelling.
http://www.arendal.com/en/

More likely though, I think Disney might be playing a smart game here. Leak that Frozen is taking over Maelstrom and Norway is turning into Arrendale. Everyone freaks out and starts calling it the end of Epcot. Then when the project hits, just do the ride overlay and people will be so pleased the pavilion is remaining as is, the complaints will be muted. It’s like saying, “I hit your cat with my car and I stole 20 dollars from your wallet.” Then I say “Oh, never mind that was the neighbor’s cat”. 20 dollars doesn’t sting as much when Fluffy is still alive to cuddle with.

Look how many people are already saying they’ll accept the new overlay, just not the replacement of the pavilion. Very shrewd Disney…

Another theory is that Disney has no such plans to change the pavilion from Norway and the so-called insider information wasn't.

Of course, when the real plans are released, the faux insider will just decry it as Disney changing it's mind again. 'Walt would never do this.'

 

[wm49rs]

Oh, I once had to fight off two months of equally paranoid fans claiming that Disney "hated" Blu-ray, was trying to "phase out their disk industry", and "was getting ready to eliminate 3-D", just because the company had to delay the Frozen 3D disk to October without telling us.
You can BELIEVE that they actually believe it.

You can't stop the delusions of a Disney fan--especially a Frozie or Anti-Frozie--who wishfully thinks their anti-corporate grudges have finally come true, any more than you can stop a charging African white rhino by saying "No running in the hallways".

Or, apparently those on the flip side....

 

[EpcoTim]

I'm a warrior for Reality, friend. On our battlefields, situations get out of control quickly.

(Y'know, over on the "What character are you most like" thread, when I said I kept getting stuck on the test with "Jiminy Cricket"? Oh, you know it.)

Completely off-topic, but seriously? A for-real two months? Spent arguing over people's irrational Disney blu-ray claims? I can't even imagine caring enough about anything to argue for 2 months about it. Especially what some people on the internet believe about dying media format.

That's either some serious dedication or some sort of serious mental issue. Nice work.