Frozen will probably take over maelstrom

[Annalisk19]

I'm not happy to hear Maelstrom is getting rehauled to be Frozen-Themed. I personally love that ride as it is and hate they are going to change it. Frozen -- whether you like it or not -- is NOT a cultural or historical showcase of Norway, and Maelstrom is. I realize Mexico's ride is based off a classic Disney movie, I just don't like this one going the same route.

I'd love to see a new Frozen themed ride, but I wish they actually create a new attraction in Hollywood Studios (or use the extra land next to Norway in Epcot to build it) before butchering a classic.


I know, I know. "Disney World is not a Museum, it will be ever-evolving". But I know I'm not the only one who'd like to see Maelstrom stay as it is. It is a ride unique only to Epcot. It's not like one exists in another Disney theme park.

 

[rteetz]

I'm not happy to hear Maelstrom is getting rehauled to be Frozen-Themed. I personally love that ride as it is and hate they are going to change it. Frozen -- whether you like it or not -- is NOT a cultural or historical showcase of Norway, and Maelstrom is. I realize Mexico's ride is based off a classic Disney movie, I just don't like this one going the same route. I'd love to see a new Frozen themed ride, but I wish they actually create a new attraction in Hollywood Studios (or use the extra land next to Norway in Epcot to build it) before butchering a classic. I know, I know. "Disney World is not a Museum, it will be ever-evolving". But I know I'm not the only one who'd like to see Maelstrom stay as it is. It is a ride unique only to Epcot. It's not like one exists in another Disney theme park.

I agree world showcase should stay as a representation of the that country. Arendale the city in the movie is a made up kingdom where they live that is Scandinavian. This is showing that Disney is trying to save money. An overlay and refurb to an existing ride costs less than building an entire new attraction. It's only people like us that understand these things. The common Disney guest will say hey look frozen I want to ride that.

 

[Annalisk19]

Sorry, Double Post

 

[Annalisk19]

I agree world showcase should stay as a representation of the that country. Arendale the city in the movie is a made up kingdom where they live that is Scandinavian. This is showing that Disney is trying to save money. An overlay and refurb to an existing ride costs less than building an entire new attraction. It's only people like us that understand these things. The common Disney guest will say hey look frozen I want to ride that.

The irony of the whole thing is they are going to spend 18 months refurbishing the ride, yet it would probably take the same amount of time to just build a new one (yes it'd cost more, but it'd help spread the line wait times out elsewhere).


I just hope that the concept for the Frozen Maelstrom will not be so much about the movie story, but perhaps Anna and Elsa telling us about Norway. If they can do that, and not make it like Journey of the Little Mermaid, I might not be so inclined to forever boycott my favorite ride at Epcot.

 

[2littlestitches]

Here's the thing I don't get about just doing an overlay on the ride....there is a pretty decent height requirement right now for Maelstrom, so will there still be one for the Frozen ride??? I think there would, if they are only doing an overlay. This seems to be a big problem, because can you imagine the disappointed little kids who won't be allowed on the ride?

Therefore, I think the rumor might not be totally correct. Why would they want to alienate most of their target audience with a big height requirement? If Maelstrom is indeed turning into a Frozen ride, I think they must be planning a complete re-do of the ride.

Just my opinion, of course!

 

[myadventurebook]

Here's the thing I don't get about just doing an overlay on the ride....there is a pretty decent height requirement right now for Maelstrom, so will there still be one for the Frozen ride??? I think there would, if they are only doing an overlay. This seems to be a big problem, because can you imagine the disappointed little kids who won't be allowed on the ride?

Therefore, I think the rumor might not be totally correct. Why would they want to alienate most of their target audience with a big height requirement? If Maelstrom is indeed turning into a Frozen ride, I think they must be planning a complete re-do of the ride.

Just my opinion, of course!

Hmm, I didn't think about this. Any thoughts anyone?

I had read about all this on WDWMagic as well, and I would be fine with it if it were like the Mexico ride, just characters coming in and out for a few seconds and maybe redoing the trolls in at the end. That's how I understood it was going to be done when I read Spirit's post, and I had kind of come to terms with it. A complete redo though... just no. Maelstrom is one of my favorite rides and I hate that the current hype over a movie that will certainly not keep up for decades to come like other classics is going to take away from what WS is supposed to be. Just sad.

Worse still for myself personally is if the refurb timeline is correct than I have ridden Maelstrom for the last time. That just makes me angry.

 

[rteetz]

Here's the thing I don't get about just doing an overlay on the ride....there is a pretty decent height requirement right now for Maelstrom, so will there still be one for the Frozen ride??? I think there would, if they are only doing an overlay. This seems to be a big problem, because can you imagine the disappointed little kids who won't be allowed on the ride? Therefore, I think the rumor might not be totally correct. Why would they want to alienate most of their target audience with a big height requirement? If Maelstrom is indeed turning into a Frozen ride, I think they must be planning a complete re-do of the ride. Just my opinion, of course!

Well I agree they seem to be looking at a full redo but I guess most of the track would stay the same. New ride vehicle or a redo of existing ones. This isn't like they are just adding a Olaf animatronic or anything. This is an 18 month refurb. They did test track redo in less time.

 

[rteetz]

Hmm, I didn't think about this. Any thoughts anyone? I had read about all this on WDWMagic as well, and I would be fine with it if it were like the Mexico ride, just characters coming in and out for a few seconds and maybe redoing the trolls in at the end. That's how I understood it was going to be done when I read Spirit's post, and I had kind of come to terms with it. A complete redo though... just no. Maelstrom is one of my favorite rides and I hate that the current hype over a movie that will certainly not keep up for decades to come like other classics is going to take away from what WS is supposed to be. Just sad. Worse still for myself personally is if the refurb timeline is correct than I have ridden Maelstrom for the last time. That just makes me angry.

I can't see how this ride would work with Anna and Elsa just coming in every little bit it's either going to have to be all frozen or all maelstrom not both. The rumored 18 month refurb would mean lots is going to happen that a long time for refurb.

 

[skier_pete]

Well I agree they seem to be looking at a full redo but I guess most of the track would stay the same. New ride vehicle or a redo of existing ones. This isn't like they are just adding a Olaf animatronic or anything. This is an 18 month refurb. They did test track redo in less time.

I guess if I lack trust in the actual refurb rumor, I lack even MORE trust in the length. 18 months would indicate a whole new ride, not a overlay. But I don't buy that they would devote the expense that would go along with an 18-month refurb. Nope, don't buy it at all.

 

[rteetz]

I guess if I lack trust in the actual refurb rumor, I lack even MORE trust in the length. 18 months would indicate a whole new ride, not a overlay. But I don't buy that they would devote the expense that would go along with an 18-month refurb. Nope, don't buy it at all.

I don't know we will have to wait and see this rumor has been out for a while now and it just won't die it keeps getting stronger that usually means something will probably come. I agree 18 months is a long time and would mean a practically new ride which Disney should do in the MK with frozen but I guess they aren't.

 

[jamarmiller]

With the money that the oriental company puts into their parks I wouldn't doubt they would buy more land or do something to get that third park.

Yeah I dont doubt they seriously would want too but there is just no more room. the area around the place is packed already.

http://www.olc.co.jp/en/ir/annual/InterimReport/2005/images/03_pic5.jpg

If they want to put it in Tokyo as part of the Tokyo resort, they are going to have to MAKE the land and push tons and tons of dirt into the sea.

 

[rteetz]

Yeah I dont doubt they seriously would want too but there is just no more room. the area around the place is packed already. http://www.olc.co.jp/en/ir/annual/InterimReport/2005/images/03_pic5.jpg If they want to put it in Tokyo as part of the Tokyo resort, they are going to have to MAKE the land and push tons and tons of dirt into the sea.

Who knows I know it's being talked about tho.

 

[quikah]

Here's the thing I don't get about just doing an overlay on the ride....there is a pretty decent height requirement right now for Maelstrom, so will there still be one for the Frozen ride???

There is no height requirement for Maelstrom.

 

[rteetz]

There is no height requirement for Maelstrom.

I was wondering this it's just a boat ride like pirates same type of drop.

 

[mjallemand]

I realize I'm almost three weeks late to this thread but I wanted to put in my 2 cents here:

I really, really, really hope this doesn't happen.

Anyone remember way, way back when in the mid-80s shortly after Epcot opened? World Showcase and much of Epcot was actually devoid of Disney characters. Can you imagine that? A whole theme park that's actually themed to looking towards the future, with a second half themed to a celebration of world culture?

How awesome is that? If you want a dose of Disney characters and theming, head over to Magic Kingdom. Want something new and completely different to that? Head over to Epcot.

Of course, as we all know, this wasn't to last. Disney characters eventually flooded into Epcot for Meet & Greets, merchandise, and other more nefarious purposes. The most egregious of these was the complete tone change to El Rio del Tiempo, a boat ride through the Mexico pavilion. What was once a informative history and culture experience of Mexico has now become "Here's some Mexico pictures with Donald & Friends". Absolutely disgusting.

The Maelstrom in Norway is the only other "ride" in World Showcase, and it too shows a bit of Norway's culture, though it's not nearly as informative as El Rio del Tiempo was.

And now they're threatening possibly ripping that out and replacing it with a Frozen attraction? ********! What utter ********! Frozen is making Disney cash by the handfuls right now but that won't necessarily always be the case. By the time a rumored Frozen attraction opens Disney's fanbase may have already moved onto the next big thing, just as with Tangled.

This is making me really bitter like you cannot believe. If this comes to pass it's just one more nail into the coffin of Epcot. What was once a imaginative and educational theme park is becoming a ****ty version of Magic Kingdom.

For the record, I'm not particularly crazy about the Ratatouille attraction if it makes its way to World Showcase either, but it's existence likely won't involving removing an attraction that's been there for over two decades, so I'm more willing to give it a pass.

I apologize if this is sounding a bit rambling.

 

[luisov]

I realize I'm almost three weeks late to this thread but I wanted to put in my 2 cents here:

I really, really, really hope this doesn't happen.

Anyone remember way, way back when in the mid-80s shortly after Epcot opened? World Showcase and much of Epcot was actually devoid of Disney characters. Can you imagine that? A whole theme park that's actually themed to looking towards the future, with a second half themed to a celebration of world culture?

How awesome is that? If you want a dose of Disney characters and theming, head over to Magic Kingdom. Want something new and completely different to that? Head over to Epcot.

Of course, as we all know, this wasn't to last. Disney characters eventually flooded into Epcot for Meet & Greets, merchandise, and other more nefarious purposes. The most egregious of these was the complete tone change to El Rio del Tiempo, a boat ride through the Mexico pavilion. What was once a informative history and culture experience of Mexico has now become "Here's some Mexico pictures with Donald & Friends". Absolutely disgusting.

The Maelstrom in Norway is the only other "ride" in World Showcase, and it too shows a bit of Norway's culture, though it's not nearly as informative as El Rio del Tiempo was.

And now they're threatening possibly ripping that out and replacing it with a Frozen attraction? ********! What utter ********! Frozen is making Disney cash by the handfuls right now but that won't necessarily always be the case. By the time a rumored Frozen attraction opens Disney's fanbase may have already moved onto the next big thing, just as with Tangled.

This is making me really bitter like you cannot believe. If this comes to pass it's just one more nail into the coffin of Epcot. What was once a imaginative and educational theme park is becoming a ****ty version of Magic Kingdom.

For the record, I'm not particularly crazy about the Ratatouille attraction if it makes its way to World Showcase either, but it's existence likely won't involving removing an attraction that's been there for over two decades, so I'm more willing to give it a pass.

I apologize if this is sounding a bit rambling.

Countries are not sponsoring their pavillions anymore. Children are not interested in nostalgia, so those old rides do nothing for the new generations. Children nowadays are not interested in culture, a healthy lifestyle or 360 films. They want to see their favorite characters and have interactive experiences with them.

It's sad, yes, but you simply can't impress most kids with educational materials anymore. I'm sure there are many exceptions, but at the end of the day those Olaf plushies and expensive character meals are what keep the parks working.

 

[Disney Junkies]

Years ago there was an area of Norway that had a Viking Ship playground on it. That area has now been reclaimed by foliage. Maybe they will clear that area and just add a Frozen "ride" or attraction. To me that would be better than losing Maelstrom!

 

[skier_pete]

What was once a informative history and culture experience of Mexico has now become "Here's some Mexico pictures with Donald & Friends". Absolutely disgusting.

I could not disagree with this more. There was nothing more about Rio Del Tempo. It was a giant advertisement for travel to Mexico. And boring one at that.

Have you ever seen Saludos Amigos and the Three Caballeros? These movies were essentially a travelog of Latin America, including Mexico. These were trips/movies that the US Government asked Walt Disney to do as a favor to help stem the spread of communism, but they were part of the Walt Disney history. The changes to that ride take what was a terribly boring ride and transform it into something that both celebrates the nation of Mexico and also celebrates a piece of history within the Walt Disney company, albeit subtly to the casual Disney fan.

This isn't to say I am desperate for them to work Frozen into Norway, but if they keep much of the original intent while just using the Frozen characters to introduce folks to the history of Norway, I think that would be great.

Truth is, I can't bring myself to get worked up about rumors like this. 90% of them are wrong.

 

[nuts]

Truth is, I can't bring myself to get worked up about rumors like this. 90% of them are wrong.

More like 99%

 

[rteetz]

More like 99%

Well one it makes sense. Two it's coming from a source that has been right many times in the past.