But there are still a few original rides that remain throughout the parks - you can check them all out in our video below! Check Out the Hidden Maelstrom Details You Can Still Find on Frozen Ever After!ĭisney’s choice to re-theme the Norway attraction continues to be controversial among fans (along with changes to other original park attractions). Let It Go sceneįor what it’s worth, we do enjoy the attraction however, the fantasy tale does still seem a little out of place in the pavilion. While this certainly is a fun and entertaining ride for kids (and many adults), some critics still feel that the Disney story takes away some of the authenticity that used to be featured in the pavilion, as the fairytale is simply based in a fictional Scandinavian country (Arendelle) rather than being specifically about Norway. Now instead of a journey through Norway mythology, guests go on a boat ride through scenes featuring Olaf, Sven, Anna, Kristoff, and Elsa as they celebrate the anniversary of the day that Anna saved Elsa with her unselfish act of true love (aka, the end of the movie). They also closed the ride in completely so you no longer get a peek outside at the pavilion as you used to on Maelstrom. Instead, they simply changed all the theming to be based on Frozen with the track and boats remaining nearly the same. Frozen Ever Afterĭisney didn’t really create a new ride for the Norway Pavilion. And, overall, Disney-goers (including many who weren’t in favor of the switch) were happy with the change, though some protest continues. Into The Unknownįrozen Ever After became the new Norway boat ride attraction, opening in 2016. In 2014, it was announced that Maelstrom would be closing to make way for a brand new attraction themed after the popular animated movie, Frozen. The news was immediately met with an outcry from fans who criticized Disney for closing a “classic World Showcase attraction” and replacing it with an “out of place” IP-based attraction - but the ride still closed in 2014 for its overhaul. The ride remained a fan-favorite for its authentic portrayal of Norway, but that didn’t save it from Disney’s vision for the future of EPCOT. Plus, it was the only EPCOT attraction to include a flume drop. Disney wanted to immerse guests in the “past, present, and mythological world of Norway,” so guests loaded into a 10th-century warrior’s longship with a dragon head bow to journey through scenes of ancient wall carvings (known as “petroglyphs”), yellow-eyed “Nokken” or river troll, a polar bear measuring 10 feet tall, and more. Located at the back of the pavilion, the attraction itself was a water ride that highlighted many parts of the Scandinavian country. The delayed opening didn’t make it any less popular! ©Disney It wasn’t for another two months (on July 5th, 1988) that the highly-anticipated attraction - Maelstrom (though it was originally named SeaVenture before opening) - opened. It had a “soft opening” on May 6th, 1988, with just the stores and the Akershus restaurant open for business on most days. The Norway Pavilion was the eleventh and final country (so far) added to EPCOT’s World Showcase. We’re asking: Was Frozen Ever After Really Worth the Demise of Maelstrom in EPCOT? Magical Trolls and Ruthless Vikings New attractions have rolled in, replacing the old, and one of the most controversial changes takes us over to the Norway Pavilion. After all, who doesn’t want to travel around the world in just one day, right? World Showcase - JapanĪlmost 40 years later, World Showcase remains one of the most popular places to be in the park, but over time there have been quite a few changes to the World Showcase we once knew. When EPCOT first opened in October 1982, World Showcase quickly became a fan-favorite spot for Disney-goers. Was Frozen Ever After Worth the Demise of Maelstrom in EPCOT?

Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.Epcot International Festival of the Arts.

Maelstrom ride disney world