The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[Nemo14]

I wouldn't even call it classic.. it was added so much later (basically 5 years later) and wasn't in progress during the original opening. Felt like an expansion to me at the time. Only personal opinion...

I remember seeing Willard Scott touting the praises of Maelstrom when it first opened and thinking it was going to be just spectacular. When we finally got to ride it, it was quite a letdown. However, that being said, at least it fit the World showcase atmosphere by highlighting parts of the culture of Norway. To replace that with cartoon characters that are very loosely "inspired by" a story that may or may not have even been based there is just a total abomination of all that WS should and could be.

 

[WDW1974]

I think that is a very relevant quote. It stands out to me in that sense as well. The feeling of 'meh.. pass' is the most lasting memory of its early days for me. But that was followed by Wonders of Life not too long after which left the same kind of 'meh' feeling too.

I agree with you guys on the Maelstrom feelings. I shared them as well. it was truly the first new WDW attraction that had left me underwhelmed. I didn't hate it. I just thought it was OK and too short.

I did like WoL at opening though. Full pavilion with multiple attractions, retail and food and beverage. But it sure aged quickly.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Given the absurd amounts of money WDI costs to build and promote things... I've wondered if it would be cost effective to make 'direct to Disney channel' short subjects or 30min animated films that could be used to introduce kids to original IP for the parks. I mean, if it's going to cost WDI millions to make the most rudimentrary signs and landscaping... why not take some of that money and create some direct marketing on Disney channel and build up a pull demand there. Get figment into their minds before they leave home...

I believe there was a Dreamfinder/Figment animated program in the 1980's.

 

[spacemt354]

Right, hence the quotations. Some act like it's some classic attraction we need to preserve, though.

The only thing classic is the pavilion itself, imo.

If Norway itself was tampered with (as was being rumored and blown out of proportion before) then we need to preserve it.

But Maelstrom? Not really. It's not a classic and isn't in the same league as other Epcot classics such as World of Motion, Horizons, etc.

 

[asianway]

I believe there was a Dreamfinder/Figment animated program in the 1980's.

That was part of the old Disney educational series they produced for schools

 

[Seabasealpha1]

I guess I'll go glass half-full here...maybe...if it draws enough people into EPCOT they'll finally spend some money to get it back to where it should be...

I'd be willing to sacrifice Maelstrom for that...that's about the only way...

They had better not half-a** it like they did The Seas or Mexico though!

 

[flynnibus]

I did like WoL at opening though. Full pavilion with multiple attractions, retail and food and beverage. But it sure aged quickly.

IMO.. The interactive exhibits felt played out because Communicore had stuff (lots of junk.. but some diamonds in there), and it couldn't hold a candle to the Imageworks. The ride the bikes to light a lightbulb/etc we all had at our science center back home so it was more of the same to us. And BodyWars felt like the worst of the sims in town (BTTF>ST>BW). I have no real memories of Cranium Command.. so it couldn't have left that much of an impression.

Lucky for me, about 1993 was when I started my Disney hiatus so I was spared the stagnant and then bad reworks of the mid to late nineties. I have a solid decade plus hole in my Disney visiting history.. and it's sad to say I don't think I missed much

 

[sshindel]

I guess I'll go glass half-full here...maybe...if it draws enough people into EPCOT they'll finally spend some money to get it back to where it should be...

I'd be willing to sacrifice Maelstrom for that...that's about the only way...

They had better not half-a** it like they did The Seas or Mexico though!

Nah. If it gets more people to come, it'll just justify it to the suits that cheaply done half arsed product tie-in overlays are the way to go forward at Epcot.

 

[flynnibus]

I believe there was a Dreamfinder/Figment animated program in the 1980's.

Yeah, I remember the company producing stuff outside of the parks.. and that and seeing just how much they promote stuff on Disney Channel (Disney 365 and more) it still seems like a huge opportunity.. and given the size and cost of park investments, seems like a cost effective way to stage your audience.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

I have no new info on Avatar and/or RoL. I have strong rumours that Pandora's C-Ticket boat ride has been axed and that Cameron was told that Disney will add it later when they can ''do it right'' ... but that hasn't been confirmed.

RoL will apparently follow the piecemeal (i.e. half-arsed) New Fantasyland model of opening everything separately and will open 12-18 months before Pandora.

Which, if true, is Disney speak for, "We're never going to build it."

I guess I'll go glass half-full here...maybe...if it draws enough people into EPCOT they'll finally spend some money to get it back to where it should be...

I'd be willing to sacrifice Maelstrom for that...that's about the only way...

They had better not half-a** it like they did The Seas or Mexico though!

It's TDO - thats exactly what they would do.

 

[Seabasealpha1]

Nah. If it gets more people to come, it'll just justify it to the suits that cheaply done half arsed product tie-in overlays are the way to go forward at Epcot.

Eh...crud...

That's true too...

I dunno...I really did feel like the movie could have been better...I suppose if I were still 7 or 8 I'd like it more. But it seemed to lack something...

I guess I'll just cross my fingers that Tomorrowland w/ George Clooney is a crazy success then too...

 

[sshindel]

I agree with you guys on the Maelstrom feelings. I shared them as well. it was truly the first new WDW attraction that had left me underwhelmed. I didn't hate it. I just thought it was OK and too short.

I did like WoL at opening though. Full pavilion with multiple attractions, retail and food and beverage. But it sure aged quickly.

It's a shame that the WoL pavilion is going to stay barren convention space with Inside Out coming up. Seems they could cram in another Pixar overlay of Cranium Command for cheap.

 

[flynnibus]

I remember seeing Willard Scott touting the praises of Maelstrom when it first opened and thinking it was going to be just spectacular. When we finally got to ride it, it was quite a letdown

I remember it being quite vague what the actual attraction was beyond it was a boat ride.. and they were throwing the thrill/fear thing around alot. It's kind of fun to think back to that era where we didn't have POV videos, we didn't have much beyond the tour books to know what to expect. So that unknown and build up.. and then bam.. flat. Maybe we can blame Disney a bit for how they promoted the attraction.. but it's interesting to hear other people's recollections from the period.

I was a kid who liked EPCOT quite a bit and have found memories of it being one of the first places my parents really let me explore on my own and meet up with them at fixed times. The seating in the communications hub after SSE was a great meeting place for a young teen like me

 

[sshindel]

Eh...crud...

That's true too...

I dunno...I really did feel like the movie could have been better...I suppose if I were still 7 or 8 I'd like it more. But it seemed to lack something...

I guess I'll just cross my fingers that Tomorrowland w/ George Clooney is a crazy success then too...

What's funny is the only real emotional connection I have to Maelstrom is to the highly outdated post-film. I love that thing for some reason. Then again, I'm the kinda EPCOT fanboy that'll get all misty at the word "deluge"...

 

[flynnibus]

I spend a lot of time in Norway and I wish the pavilion did more to showcase the culture and attitude of the Norwegians. It really is a stunning place that the people alone really make an impression on people. I wish they had a whole lodge for people to stay in where people could immerse themselves with Norweigans.

Plus, it would be even more reason to import more CMs from Norway They stimulate both the boys and girls.

 

[Mike S]

I agree with your Frozen comments. I'd much rather see an E-Ticket at MK or even Studios than this. But, rest assured, some park(s) will get that. Maybe TDL or SDL or even DL ... but not any WDW park.

I have no new info on Avatar and/or RoL. I have strong rumours that Pandora's C-Ticket boat ride has been axed and that Cameron was told that Disney will add it later when they can ''do it right'' ... but that hasn't been confirmed.

So not only would we have the super cheapo Frozen ride while other parks would possibly get the true E-Ticket I wish for, but now the only ride in Avatar Land that would have had physical sets and possibly animatronics got the axe? Why is TDO constantly ing me off?!?!?!?!

 

[PhotoDave219]

Did that little coaster ever open at the MK?

(sorry, couldn't resist)

You also missed the great cheesesteak debate of 2014.

It was ...... Heated.

 

[doctornick]

Right, hence the quotations. Some act like it's some classic attraction we need to preserve, though.

I would argue that it's a classic attraction that we need to preserve (update, yes, but keep the content without Frozen). I personally am shocked that people don't like. It's short but a ton of fun, having all of the elements you'd want in a cultural ride -- myths/legends, history, nature, and modern day. When we were in WDW for a high school trip in the early 90's, my friends and I kept going on Maelstrom repeatedly because it was so much fun (we also rode old school Imagination a bunch).

Maelstrom isn't an E-ticket, but I think it a great execution of a smaller scale family ride. Not every ride can be 15-20 minutes long. It's certainly different in scope than most "classic Epcot" rides, but that shouldn't intrinsically make it bad or not worthy of preserving.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Disney DVDs and Blu-Rays are sold pretty much at every Disney "venue", I've noticed. They're even sold at the Ghirardelli's in Hollywood. Anytime there's a chance to make a dollar, they take it.

You'd be surprised how hard it was to see any DVDs or Blu-rays anywhere in DLP. Not even in the movie studios theme park! Maybe a tiny selection in World of Disney and that's it, and that wasn't even recent titles.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Let's not pretend that the reason people dislike the idea of Frozen in Norway is because Maelstrom is a great ride. It isn't. Maelstrom is a C ticket boat ride that hasn't been updated in 25 years. The objection is that there are at least two better parks for a Frozen attraction.