Maelstrom-- what is it?

[disneyandme]

I've been to Epcot half a dozen times, but have never been on Maelstrom. Could you tell me about it please? Would a timid 5 yr old like it?

 

[Ilovestitch]

It's similar to Pirates of the Caribbean- dark boat ride w/a small drop. The drop goes backwards, but its short and not bad at all. -Stephanie

 

[tartangirl]

There are a few trolls but not that scary even for a timid 5yr old

 

[Robmom]

I really wanted to get on it, but DD chickened out. DH and I asked the CM if it was scary and she said "not at all". But DD refused anyway. Maybe next time!

 

[MartDM]

It's boring (at least in comparison to the first incarnation of it - anyone remember that from about 12 years back?)

 

[patrickbrian184]

Where is it? I was actually looking around for it last time I was at Epcot.

 

[DebbieB]

It's in Norway in the World Showcase, you go back past the bakery and restaurant. There is a waterfall outside. I always liked this ride even though it's short. I love to see the expression on first timers faces when it goes backwards!

 

[PanamaMike]

Originally posted by Ilovestitch
It's similar to Pirates of the Caribbean- dark boat ride w/a small drop. The drop goes backwards, but its short and not bad at all. -Stephanie

Although the boat does travel backwards at one point, it comes to a stop, pivots several degrees and then moves forward before the drop occurs. You drop into rough seas of the coast of Norway, next to a large oil rig.

 

[MikeWazowski]

Originally posted by MartDM
It's boring (at least in comparison to the first incarnation of it - anyone remember that from about 12 years back?)

Whats the difference now? I don't recall it changing in the past twelve years. Thanks

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by MikeWazowski
Whats the difference now? I don't recall it changing in the past twelve years. Thanks

I remember very well. I liked it that way, but a lot of guests were pretty scared.
What happened was when you are going backwards and you came to the place where it stops now, you didn't stop quite there. You went a little further over the falls and you were going faster when you went. People who were outside could actually see a good portion of the boat. You stopped abruptly and felt like you might actually go over the falls. There were lots of screams at that point. Then the boat pivoted to move forward for the drop.
The first time we were on the ride was when Norway first opened in 1988and I think the ride was on "soft opening". By the next year when we came to Epcot, I think the ride had been tamed. If it wasn't in 1989, it was tamed not too long after that.
Other than that, the ride is the same as when it opened.

 

[SnackyStacky]

As I recall, there are two drops - both VERY inconsequential.

The first is backwards, the second is forward.

 

[SueM in MN]

As I recall, there are two drops - both VERY inconsequential.

The first is backwards, the second is forward.

That's what I remember too. The actual drop is not that much, it's more like you are going over a hill.
If the timid 5 year old is OK with dark (there are lots of things to see, but it is fairly dark) and trolls (one has 3 heads and sends you on a drop), he should be OK.