Maelstrom's crappy new exit

[minniemickeyfan]

Easy solution would be the people that don't want to watch the film could have the walkway to the left of the theater.
Then those that don't want to ride Maelstrom could go straight to the theater from outside and watch the show.
Seems simple to me.
But, yes I am one of the ones who would bypass the show because I have seen it soooo many times. But no, I would not walk in front of those watching just to skip it..that would be really rude to me.

 

[Timekeeper]

The queue should be reworked and the movie should be placed at the beginning/middle of the queue (like the stretching room in HM, which requires a few more minutes of queueing after exiting the room).

(1) It's time people would be waiting in line anyway,
(2) It would provide a pre-show for an attraction that has no pre-show,
(3) It would require people to watch it (don't we all agree that Disney attractions should be experienced the way that Disney intented, without shortcuts?), and
(4) It would put the country into perspective before the ride, which would raise some degree of appreciate for the ride and the details contained therein.

:sohappy:

 

[RSoxNo1]

Entertainment should be job #1, if it can be educational as well that's a bonus.

As for the situation at hand - this was a horrible set up to begin with. There should not be a holding area at the end of the ride. If anything the video should be a pre-show.

 

[ChrisFL]

(4) It would put the country into perspective before the ride, which would raise some degree of appreciate for the ride and the details contained therein.

While I understand your other points (and detracting from my own point that I raised earlier about putting the movie in the preshow)...I can see one issue with it.

Currently, you start out with the historical Norway, and you go forward through time until you reach "present day" and watch the movie. It would be a bit backward seeing the movie first (however, the large mural at the front of the ride shows past and present so maybe that's out the window also)

 

[CThaddeus]

Why do you glare at people who dont want to watch the movie. What if your glaring at someone who has been a passholder for years, and has seen the movie so many times that it is no longer interesting to them (like myself). Im sorry but at some point the nearly 22 year old movie loses some of its original luster.

I am one of the biggest supporters of the vision that was EPCOT Center, but after so many views the movie loses its educational effect.

I glare for two reasons: 1) They're usually quite rude and loud about not wanting to stay for "some boring film," and 2) there are so precious few attractions in World Showcase that to skip one - especially one that could provide some insight into the people of the pavilion you're visiting - seems, as others have put it, disrespectful.
And I personally disagree about the loss of the educational or entertainment value after repeated viewings. I've probably seen the movie 100 times or more thanks to my video camera, yet I still continue to enjoy it. It's a part of the whole attraction, and while I dislike the first part (Maelstrom), and I wish there was a way to skip it and go straight to the movie, I also know I'm enough of a Disney Geek that I'd still have to go on Maelstrom once just to say I did. Of course, if I could skip Maelstrom, I'd probably visit The Spirit of Norway more than once...
But, to each his own. A sepaarate exit for those who just can't stand to watch a ten minute movie really is the only solution, I guess.

 

[MarkTwain]

Although I don't care either way about the Norway movie (although an update would be nice), I don't understand the hate for the holding room. :shrug: I find it a really atmospheric and interesting place to linger around for a minte. I always enjoy going up to the windows and listening to the Norwegian conversations going on inside the houses, or talking to the (often attractive :lookaroun) cast members about their home country.

 

[Phonedave]

Although I don't care either way about the Norway movie (although an update would be nice), I don't understand the hate for the holding room. :shrug: I find it a really atmospheric and interesting place to linger around for a minte. I always enjoy going up to the windows and listening to the Norwegian conversations going on inside the houses, or talking to the (often attractive :lookaroun) cast members about their home country.

Yeah that

My grandmother was born in Norway. I find talking to the CM's very interesting (and if they are attractive ladies, so much the better)

-dave

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Norway no longer pays to maintain the pavillion, right? Why should Disney keep making guests wait around to watch a promo video for the country?

 

[Timekeeper]

Currently, you start out with the historical Norway, and you go forward through time until you reach "present day" and watch the movie. It would be a bit backward seeing the movie first

So? :shrug:

Plenty of attractions either directly or indirectly incorporate a theme of taking you back in time. One literal example is Dinosaur. Granted, guests are not riding time-traveling boats, but that's not to say that going back in time is completely off limits. Tower of Terror, anybody? Despite the notion that "the time is now," guests are placed "in an episode of the Twilight Zone," which obviously ran during the 1960's (the original Serling version).

It would also be simple enough to provide a transition between a "modern day" preshow film and a historical-toned ride experience. Something as simple as a recorded spiel narration as guests exit the pre-show theater; "We now invite you to go back........" etc. Accompanied by some simple decor, the notion of "going back" would work just fine.

Moreover, the "going back" and then "comign back" makes perfect sense given the ride itself. The ride ends with the oil rig, which is obviously not "ancient Norwary," thus bringing guests "back" to present day.

:sohappy:

 

[CDavid]

Norway no longer pays to maintain the pavillion, right? Why should Disney keep making guests wait around to watch a promo video for the country?

The precise same reason that guests wait around to experience a ride for the country.

 

[JEANYLASER]

it's really dumb exit! Disney needs to bring Thor preshow I'm all for it.

 

[Timekeeper]

Why should Disney keep making guests wait around to watch a promo video for the country?

Lest we not forget, some countries' attractions are "promo videos" per se. France, Canada, etc.

The precise same reason that guests wait around to experience a ride for the country.

Exactly :sohappy:

 

[T-1MILLION]

Lest we not forget, some countries' attractions are "promo videos" per se. France, Canada, etc.



Exactly :sohappy:

And some countries don't even have that.

Someting EPCOT's Worldshowcase needs to work on. We live in an age of where google can find some basic video information and a peak into the culture. I enjoy Circlevision theaters and 180 theaters but enough is enough.

 

[Timekeeper]

We live in an age of where google can find some basic video information and a peak into the culture. I enjoy Circlevision theaters and 180 theaters but enough is enough.

True. Disney needs to implement more interactive attractions at EPCOT (for the countries). Whether that's attraction format (ride versus show), or technology (which now ages rapidly), the park will continue to lean on its E-tickets and special events to draw attendance.

It would be interesting to see how EPCOT would perform today, in attendance, without Test Track, Mission Space, and Soarin.

 

[Epcotian]

My guess is that if this change is going to stay this way, that it's a preliminary move toward dumping the film altogether.

Just seems Disney is signaling as loudly as it can that this film is not something it values, and this is its way of hinting to ALL guests to proceed to other shops... er, experiences.

 

[JimboJones123]

I glare for two reasons: 1) They're usually quite rude and loud about not wanting to stay for "some boring film," and 2) there are so precious few attractions in World Showcase that to skip one - especially one that could provide some insight into the people of the pavilion you're visiting - seems, as others have put it, disrespectful.
And I personally disagree about the loss of the educational or entertainment value after repeated viewings. I've probably seen the movie 100 times or more thanks to my video camera, yet I still continue to enjoy it. It's a part of the whole attraction, and while I dislike the first part (Maelstrom), and I wish there was a way to skip it and go straight to the movie, I also know I'm enough of a Disney Geek that I'd still have to go on Maelstrom once just to say I did. Of course, if I could skip Maelstrom, I'd probably visit The Spirit of Norway more than once...
But, to each his own. A sepaarate exit for those who just can't stand to watch a ten minute movie really is the only solution, I guess.

This is the most self important post I have seen in a long time.

Here is the truth. People visit theme parks for rides. Sure Epcot breaks the mold more than any theme park ever in offering rich experiences. That doesn't change the mentality that the attraction ends after you exit the vehicle. It is built into our subconcious. The Norway Boat Ride is NOT the ride that will overcome that mentality. It just isn't. In fact, because of the hackish nature of the postride show -- added to the fact that it is a fairly rude way to treat guests, how could you expect anything more than a few chattering guests as they walk through the theater. They didn't ask for the film to be there.

In fact, b!+c#!ng about how rude these "other" guests are is quite hypocritical.

The post Norway is not sacred ground. People are loud in theme parks. If it upsets you, you are causing yourself a much less than magical experience than necessary. Next time, instead if glaring, take a 20 minute informal poll of the average guest. Maybe sample 20 people as they exit. Find out if the give a crap about the film. Find out if those that do are very bothered by walk byers. I think you will find that getting upset puts you in an extreme minority.

 

[mcstensrud]

Although I have seen the movie more times than I want to admit,have you seen the seats in that Theater?They are not really saying "sit here for a few minutes and chill while watching a movie" Any one Have a Photo?

 

[jjharvpro]

This is just bad service if they do that. For those who want to watch it, they need to enjoy it to the fullest. I've seen this movie once, so if I ride Maelstrom again, I'd skip the film, but still...come one..Hope this isn't permanent..

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Hope this isn't permanent..

I'm sure it won't be...one way or another.

 

[Epcotian]

I can't see how it wouldn't disturb someone's enjoyment of the film to have: 1. people walking between them and the screen, 2. noise from guests who are talking after leaving their boat entering the theater through an open door (without realizing a film is being displayed beyond the open door they are walking toward, why would anyone make any effort to be quiet?), and 3. light entering the theater from the two open doors.

It seems to me it would be a very challenging environment in which to watch a film and I am guessing that even fewer people will make the effort than before if it stays this way. And, as I said, I think that may be the goal Disney is wanting to achieve.