Frozen ride replacing Maelstrom?

[MerlinTheGoat]

A google search suggests that Norway (at least the travel board) embraces Frozen as their own.

I suspect as said above, any travel related sites posted for Norway (until i'm given evidence otherwise) are America-endorsed. If someone knows of any Norway run ones then i'm fine with that.

Well this thread has been fun. Sorry I haven't been keeping tabs on all developments here, but I usually only post things here when, you know, I actually have something worthwhile to say.

Frozen for Maelstrom is not a rumor. It is a confirmed attraction with a budget that was reduced by 40% before receiving approval to go ahead. Epcot is preparing to close Maelstrom in short order to make way for it. This is reality. This is what Disney is doing.

With respect to re-theming Norway into whatever the kingdom was from Frozen, this is an issue they are going to have to deal with. Whether or not they want to half- this or refresh the land and do it right, Norway is finished when Maelstrom closes. Again, reality. This is what Disney is choosing to do with their theme parks.

Sounds like an announcement is imminent then? If they want to get this done by 2015 (even on the cheap), they'll have to close it well before the end of the year.

Let me ask this- if one disregards the awfulness of the idea and base the redo fully on its own stand alone merits as just a ride (lets pretend it was built in an appropriate place like Fantasyland for example), is there any actual quality behind the ride itself? Or would this version of the ride suck even had it been a new Fantasyland ride? You say the budget was cut 40%, but what kind of budget are we talking about here? And can you comment on whether the ride track will be expanded to be longer than Maelstrom currently is?

I'm guessing the answer to all of those are no. Besides the inherently terrible idea of replacing Maelstrom with it, I just don't see a chance in hell of even having the ride itself being any good if it's being rushed through development for opening next year and already having its budget mutilated by 40%...

 

[pheneix]

So, it will be a half-assed overlay instead of an actual new ride since you said the budget was cut 40%?

Pretty decent sets and some new AAs. But same flume. If they *want* to extend ride flume the theater is obvious candidate for use but that unload dock as it currently is can be transformed into quite a neat little indoor environment to explore. What happens to the theater itself, that's a good question....

 

[dadddio]

Well this thread has been fun. Sorry I haven't been keeping tabs on all developments here, but I usually only post things here when, you know, I actually have something worthwhile to say.

Frozen for Maelstrom is not a rumor. It is a confirmed attraction with a budget that was reduced by 40% before receiving approval to go ahead. Epcot is preparing to close Maelstrom in short order to make way for it. This is reality. This is what Disney is doing.

With respect to re-theming Norway into whatever the kingdom was from Frozen, this is an issue they are going to have to deal with. Whether or not they want to half- this or refresh the land and do it right, Norway is finished when Maelstrom closes. Again, reality. This is what Disney is choosing to do with their theme parks.

By 'finished', are you trippling down on your assertion that they will remove the 'Norway' designation from the pavilion and instead make it officially a 'Allendele' pavilion, or are you backing off that and simply speculating that no one will go to the Norway pavilion if it has a Frozen-themed ride?

 

[doctornick]

It could work, if they are showing how animation, has changed over the years, and how it was done for this film. But if they just simply put a dark ride that immerses riders in the story, has a castle, character restaurant and M&G with the characters, I don't see how that fits with DHS. Of coarse as I am typing this I understand that is what, Star tours, and TSM already do that so maybe I am wrong. My opinion is that MK is where you meet the Princesses, they live there it is magical, it seems to cheapen them if they are at DHS. But as the park changes with Star wars, and more pixar,(both just rumors) maybe it will be a place for them

Yeah, I think that's a very impractical view of what DHS should be. And I think that overemphasizing the "behind the scenes" aspect of movie-making and bing show heavy is why the park is the least attended in WDW. The reality is that people going to a theme park want rides. That's pretty much the foundation of a theme park and if you are too shallow on rides, it's a problem. Certainly, it's reasonable to have some shows and behind the scenes type attractions in a "studio" park but you have to compliment it with appropriate rides.

Uni does this a lot better with their Orlando Studios park. DHS should be able to match it in overall quality and number of attractions/rides (it doesn't, sadly).

In the process of expanding the Pixar and Star Wars areas of DHS, they will hopefully add new rides. I'm hoping this comes sooner rather than later. I'd advocate expanding Animation Courtyard as well.

 

[pheneix]

is there any actual quality behind the ride itself? Or would this version of the ride suck even had it been a new Fantasyland ride? You say the budget was cut 40%, but what kind of budget are we talking about here? And can you comment on whether the ride track will be expanded to be longer than Maelstrom currently is?

I think if you stripped any context away the ride would be a half-decent attraction on its own merits.

 

[CheekBoys]

Pretty decent sets and some new AAs. But same flume. If they *want* to extend ride flume the theater is obvious candidate for use but that unload dock as it currently is can be transformed into quite a neat little indoor environment to explore. What happens to the theater itself, that's a good question....

As long as it is as good or better than the current Maelstrom i'm fine with it.

 

[pheneix]

By 'finished', are you trippling down on your assertion that they will remove the 'Norway' designation from the pavilion and instead make it officially a 'Allendele' pavilion, or are you backing off that and simply speculating that no one will go to the Norway pavilion if it has a Frozen-themed ride?

I don't mean any disrespect, but you can draw whatever conclusion you like from my posts. This is a news and rumors board, not a courtroom.

 

[doctornick]

Sounds like an announcement is imminent then? If they want to get this done by 2015 (even on the cheap), they'll have to close it well before the end of the year.

Someone mentioned a timeframe of Sept/Oct for ride closure and then a late 2015 opening for the new ride.

 

[pheneix]

As for me, I'd be quite pleased.

The WDI ppl working on this are surprised that guest feedback has been kinda angry at the notion of Maelstrom being replaced by a Frozen ride. I suspect they feel that most of their guests will be agreeing with you in the end. They might be right.

 

[Bocabear]

I think I read on here someone posted that they are claiming the story was inspired by the fjords of Norway...So it is a mythical kingdom in the land that became Norway...kind of thing. Which is kind of like the characters from Main Street USA be hosts for an attraction about America....fictional place tied into a real country... That could work.

 

[NormC]

I kind of agree with you. This is the rumor board and we should be free to have fun discussing the pros and cons of each rumored change. The problem is when self-styled 'insiders' present rumor and speculation as fact. When this happens, each person has to determine for themselves whether the claim is plausible. I see nothing wrong with someone calling shenanigans when an apparent whopper is thrown out as fact.

No one threw it out as a fact until post 1872 but this is also the news board so facts are welcome as well. Why can't we have discussions without arguing or calling out someone's integrity? You can call out the information but why beat up the person?

 

[Lee]

If Buzz and Woody hosted it, at least the theater wouldn't be only a quarter filled at most performances.

I disagree.
I certainly wouldn't be taking up a seat, that's for sure.

 

[bhg469]

If Buzz and Woody hosted it, at least the theater wouldn't be only a quarter filled at most performances.

And then what? The whole idea of world showcase goes out the window? How about freshening up attractions rather than dumbing them down so the kiddies can gawk at cartoons?

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I think if you stripped any context away the ride would be a half-decent attraction on its own merits.

I'm just kind of baffled at how there could even be anything half decent on its own merits with an already 40% reduction in budget (though unknown what that budget was) and apparently wanting to rush it through to get it open by next year. Disney can barely even make solid attractions when they're given 3-4 years to do it (even the long term ones such as those in FLE are hit or miss). And there's immensely more to be altered in such an idea than even the Tiki Room's redo a few years back. I'm just not sure how they could create anything "half decent" (even if you disregard the poor placement of the ride and base it on its own merits) with only about a year or less. Doesn't even sound like this idea has been on the imagineering table for that long compared to other ideas, given the short time the movie has been out.

I disagree.
I certainly wouldn't be taking up a seat, that's for sure.

What, you wouldn't rather hear Randy Newman music than Golden Dream?

If American Adventure were ever removed or toonified, i'd probably die from all the vomiting i'd be doing. My soul would die far sooner than that...

 

[Lee]

The WDI ppl working on this are surprised that guest feedback has been kinda angry at the notion of Maelstrom being replaced by a Frozen ride. I

Then they are WAY out of touch...which we kinda already knew.

When they try to vandalize Matterhorn like that, I'm hoping effigies get burned in the esplanade.

 

[Alektronic]

I'm actually curious as to how Norway (the country, its people and its government) in general feels about Frozen. And especially the idea of their EPCOT pavilion being transformed into a Frozen attraction.

I know a lot of Norway CM's don't like it when parents show their kids the Norway pavilion and instead telling them about Norway they just say "This is where Anna and Elsa live"

 

[doctornick]

The WDI ppl working on this are surprised that guest feedback has been kinda angry at the notion of Maelstrom being replaced by a Frozen ride. I suspect they feel that most of their guests will be agreeing with you in the end. They might be right.

There's also the middle position of folks who might be fine with a Frozen addition to Epcot but are ed that TDO chooses to relace an existing ride instead of building an additional one.

Myself, I think losing Maelstrom is the really bad news. I would be more tolerant of a Frozen addition if it were a brand new ride.

 

[pheneix]

Then they are WAY out of touch...which we kinda already knew.

When they try to vandalize Matterhorn like that, I'm hoping effigies get burned in the esplanade.

WDI is more out of touch with the theme park experience than the park operations executives that are vilified here on the internet.

Just so I can make that point abundantly clear with one example: PHIL HOLMES CARES MORE ABOUT THE MAGIC KINGDOM THAN ANY IMAGINEER EVER WILL.

Okay, so that was a little over the top. But sometimes the hard facts have to be shared with big letters.

 

[Lee]

WDI is more out of touch with the theme park experience than the park operations executives that are vilified here on the internet.

Just so I can make that point abundantly clear with one example: PHIL HOLMES CARES MORE ABOUT THE MAGIC KINGDOM THAN ANY IMAGINEER EVER WILL.

Bold statement, right there...

 

[dadddio]

I don't mean any disrespect, but you can draw whatever conclusion you like from my posts. This is a news and rumors board, not a courtroom.

People ask you questions about your statements and rather than giving a simple answer, you give them smarmy dodges. I'm just trying to figure out what it is that you are claiming that the rumor is. Earlier, you claimed that they would be removing all reference to Norway from the WS pavilion and retheming the entire pavilion as Arendelle. I'm merely asking you whether you still assert that this is the plan or not.