Maelstrom

[StuckInKS]

We have been to WDW twice and managed to miss this ride both times. I don't even quite know where it is located in Norway, even though we have toured it well.

1) where the heck is maelstrom?

2) I assume it has a hill. How does that compare to the one on POTC.

My 6 and 7 year olds won't get back on POTC, so I need to avoid this ride if the hill is comparable. Maybe without the darkness it won't seem as bad?

 

[Robo]

We have been to WDW twice and managed to miss this ride both times. I don't even quite know where it is located in Norway, even though we have toured it well.

1) where the heck is maelstrom?

2) I assume it has a hill. How does that compare to the one on POTC.

3) My 6 and 7 year olds won't get back on POTC, so I need to avoid this ride if the hill is comparable.
4) Maybe without the darkness it won't seem as bad?

1) Smack-dab in the center of the pavilion, inside the central building, next to the Akershus Restaurant.
2) About the same.
3) In that case, avoid it.
4) That's something only you can decide.
I suggest that you ride it alone first, then explain it to them, if you like.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

The drop is a little steeper, and you take the first part of it backward. It's a terrific ride, but many consider it a thrill ride. My 3yo nephew loved it.

 

[AllieBoo]

If they are scared of the drop in POTC, then I don't think they will like Maelstrom. My 5 year old loooves POTC, but for some reason, does not like Maelstrom. She will ride it, but she's a little scared of the drop and the troll.

If you can do it by yourself, try it - I love it!

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

The drop is deff steeper on Maelstrom as compared to POTC, It is a really fun ride tho!!!


Robo is right, It is in the big building in the middle of Norway, just walk back into the pavilion and you are at Maelstrom.

 

[doconeill]

I'd actually say it is at the BACK of Norway...all the way to the back.

 

[dolphindan1]

Do you remember seeing the waterfall in Norway...well the opening in the building is the drop...you go right up to the opening the boat swivels and goes down the hill....its a pretty tame ride but it is dark and can be a bit scarier than POTC...If you turn into Norway and go straight back you will see the ride...It offers FP but is usually not needed

 

[Art 1]

Fun ride. I don't stay to watch the movie at the end.

 

[Technosavant]

Fun ride. I don't stay to watch the movie at the end.

The movie is interesting to see once. After that, no reason to stay unless you just want to cool off in some A/C a little longer. But yeah, this ride is enjoyable.

 

[dolphindan1]

entrance is to the right of this but the boat comes right to the opening of the waterfall

 

[shocker]

Good to see you're also Stuck in KS!! I'm the one living right next to the tornado.

I'll agree with the others that it's at the BACK of Norway. Everythings pretty gray around there but there is an overhead sign and the walkway sort of narrows as you get closer so there isn't much chance of missing it once you leave the main walkway and move into the country.

Like all other attractions, there is a CM as you enter the line to answer any questions you may have. When my kids were 2 1/2 (I know I think they recommended 3 for riding) I thought they'd be bothered by the backwards riding portion but both took it in stride. How long has it been since the unfortunate POTC hill incident? Any possibility of having outgrown that or now being more comfortable since experiencing it once and realizing there's no harm? or of course there's the reverse option of totally freezing up and never giving up that frightful experience, ever.

 

[AppleSister1]

Hi!

I agree with others, it's straight back through Norway...if it's crowded, easy to not see where to go...just head straight back.

When my nephew was small....he was cool with POTC but Maelstrom really freaked him out. The drop is steeper, the backwards thing made it worse. HOWEVER...now he loves it! I think it's about prepping them...we prepped him for the POTC drop; not so much for Maelstrom.

I agree with a PP...is the POTC drop still a big point of convo with them? Or are they over it?

 

[Bullseye]

There's a giant bear in there!! Pretty mild ride though, lots of fun!
Hills about the same as POTC. Actually IMO, a good ride for a 6 or 7 yr old to "test the waters"!

 

[ThreeKMom]

This was the first ride my dd went on during our first trip to Disney!

We arrived to the YC about 4:30 in the afternoon and headed straight to Epcot (to eat!). She was amazed by everything as we passed by Norway I remembered this ride and there was no wait so we went on, at first she was a little nervous but I assured her she was safe, (they don't even have seat belts, it can't be that bad!) and she LOVED it!!

That was two years ago she is almost 9 now and it is still the first ride we do on every trip! And, she makes us do it at least once or twice every time we hit Epcot (we have dinner there a lot!)

There is a hill, it is dark - so if your kids are afraid just skip it until they are ready. The way I look at it - everything we don't get to do gives us a reason to book the next trip!

 

[AlabamaBelle]

Like others have said, ride it first and then prep your kids for it. I remember riding it when I was little, and kinda being freaked out...but after we went back a few years later I loved it. I think if the kids knows what's coming they'll be okay.

 

[M&C]

We've been to Epcot many times BUT never knew of this ride. I'd better look for it this weekend!

 

[wdwislife]

To my extremely ride-phobic mother the Maelstrom drop was less scary than the PotC one! I think it was because there was more light shining through from the waterfall opening.

 

[Miaka]

my Then 4 year old son loved it last year. I love the ride it's one of my favorites It has some dark parts, and the drop is different but we all love POTC as well. I will say though, my then 4 year old LOVED Dinosaur too and he can't wait to do it again, but his then 6 year old sister and then 9 year old brother are terrified of Dinosaur and won't do it again. So I might have a thrill seeker. (but the older boy did TOT and RRC, and my daughter did EE.)

 

[AlabamaBelle]

We've been to Epcot many times BUT never knew of this ride. I'd better look for it this weekend!

Yeah, they've hidden this ride very well. lol I didn't know that Mexico had a boat ride either.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I find discussions here on the Dis very enlightening sometimes. Until I joined the DIS I never even had a conscious memory of the "drop" on POTC, until I started reading the many threads and how people were scared of the "drop" and mathmatically how the POTC "drop" is more steep than the Splash drop (no, I'm not kidding). And I guess Maelstrom falls into this category too, it technically, has a "drop" but it is also very minor. I wonder if people here on the Dis who had never read these threads would even notice the "drops" on their first visits? I think it might be more of a mental thing than a physical thing . . . . . anyway, for anyone new to WDW or to the DISboards, please dont' be scared away from either of these rides - they are both family friendly and VERY tame.