Norway A.M. (After Maelstrom)

[jhaig]

Now that our beloved Maelstrom has departed the Norway pavilion, what it the Norway experience like right now? Is the gift shop still the same? Can you still find the troll and the scent of Laila?

 

[loves to dive]

The shop is still there. They have taken the viking exhibit out of the chapel and put a Frozen inspired one in.

 

[BrianL]

As long as Kringla Bakery is still there then it's a must visit for me!

 

[xmansmom]

As long as Kringla Bakery is still there then it's a must visit for me!

Right! School bread is my very most favorite thing to eat at WDW. YUM!

 

[jhaig]

So we can still get our traditional Troll picture?

 

[Planogirl]

Hasn't part of the shop been taken over by Frozen merchandise too?

I'm worried about the bakery. I hope that they don't change it or that it becomes difficult to get to after the new attractions open.

 

[elgerber]

So we can still get our traditional Troll picture?

Yes, the troll was still there a couple of weeks ago, being photographed with his many adoring fans.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

The shop is still there. They have taken the viking exhibit out of the chapel and put a Frozen inspired one in.

Ugghh! I hope that this doesn't turn into a Frozen attraction in World Showcase... I want to be able to still feel the "world showcase" aspect. I'm okay with characters being integrated and I get updating the ride (although I don't like it), but making the whole pavilion Frozen themed will really ruin the idea behind World showcase in EPCOT. Please keep some Norway- without Elsa & Anna!

 

[JimmyV]

Is there any chance that once the Frozen attraction opens, they will open up all of Norway at 9:00? (Akershus is already open in the mornings). Rope Drop at 8:55 is bad enough and that takes place when only about half of the day's guests arrive by that time and they split between at least two attractions. Can you imagine what the 11:00 Rope Drop to World Showcase will look like with most of the day's guests in the park at that time? RD with 10,000 people heading to two rides is one thing. A second RD with 30,000 people heading to one attraction is something else entirely. Yes, some people will have a FP with no need to rush. But the math suggests that the majority of guests will not have a FP. I can't imagine what the area outside of Mexico is going to look like at 10:45 if they don't open up Norway at 9:00.

 

[Dreamin192]

Is there any chance that once the Frozen attraction opens, they will open up all of Norway at 9:00? (Akershus is already open in the mornings). Rope Drop at 8:55 is bad enough and that takes place when only about half of the day's guests arrive by that time and they split between at least two attractions. Can you imagine what the 11:00 Rope Drop to World Showcase will look like with most of the day's guests in the park at that time? RD with 10,000 people heading to two rides is one thing. A second RD with 30,000 people heading to one attraction is something else entirely. Yes, some people will have a FP with no need to rush. But the math suggests that the majority of guests will not have a FP. I can't imagine what the area outside of Mexico is going to look like at 10:45 if they don't open up Norway at 9:00.

I booked an 8am Akershus ADR for our upcoming trip just incase this happens. Hoping if they do start opening Norway at 9am that may be a benefit. Of course our trip is mid May so there's a chance the ride won't even be open yet :-\

 

[Skullcrusher]

I ag

Ugghh! I hope that this doesn't turn into a Frozen attraction in World Showcase... I want to be able to still feel the "world showcase" aspect. I'm okay with characters being integrated and I get updating the ride (although I don't like it), but making the whole pavilion Frozen themed will really ruin the idea behind World showcase in EPCOT. Please keep some Norway- without Elsa & Anna!

While I agree with you, I firmly believe that the whole "world" aspect of Epcot is probably living on borrowed time. As far as I know there haven't been any efforts to add more countries even though they have the room, and they have sacrificed Norway for make believe country to sell merch.

 

[mom2rtk]

Is there any chance that once the Frozen attraction opens, they will open up all of Norway at 9:00? (Akershus is already open in the mornings). Rope Drop at 8:55 is bad enough and that takes place when only about half of the day's guests arrive by that time and they split between at least two attractions. Can you imagine what the 11:00 Rope Drop to World Showcase will look like with most of the day's guests in the park at that time? RD with 10,000 people heading to two rides is one thing. A second RD with 30,000 people heading to one attraction is something else entirely. Yes, some people will have a FP with no need to rush. But the math suggests that the majority of guests will not have a FP. I can't imagine what the area outside of Mexico is going to look like at 10:45 if they don't open up Norway at 9:00.

When the A/E m/g was there before, they started with the 11 AM rope drop to the area but eventually went to 9 AM. I'd be shocked if they didn't just start with the 9 AM opening with the rest of the park.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Especially if/when they move the A&E M&G from MK. Doing it from 9AM-10PM there are lines and full FP+ bookings all day. Going 11-9PM would reduce capacity.

 

[JimmyV]

When the A/E m/g was there before, they started with the 11 AM rope drop to the area but eventually went to 9 AM.

They started to let people in to Norway at 9:00, but the M&G didn't start until 11:00 meaning that the very first person in line had a 2 hour wait, and the 150th person to get in line (about 10 minutes after the first person), was looking at a 4 hour wait. I sure hope that if they start letting people in to Norway at 9:00 after the new M&G and attraction open, that they open all those areas in earnest and not just for the purpose of getting in to a 2 hour line. As noted above, opening the ride at 11:00 will greatly cut into ride capacity and FP allocation.

 

[mom2rtk]

They started to let people in to Norway at 9:00, but the M&G didn't start until 11:00 meaning that the very first person in line had a 2 hour wait, and the 150th person to get in line (about 10 minutes after the first person), was looking at a 4 hour wait. I sure hope that if they start letting people in to Norway at 9:00 after the new M&G and attraction open, that they open all those areas in earnest and not just for the purpose of getting in to a 2 hour line. As noted above, opening the ride at 11:00 will greatly cut into ride capacity and FP allocation.

Agreed, and I could be wrong. But I think after doing it that way for a while, they finally started opening the meet and greet at 9.

 

[Disneylover99]

Laila and all the other Geir Ness products are still for sale.
When we were there in December, we noticed that all the Frozen merchandise had been moved from the front of the store to the back.

 

[chasingthtdream08]

Oh the sweet smell of Laila!

 

[mymartianromance]

*cough* If we need another country, do Scotland! Brave is based in Medieval Scotland so you could easily make Disney themed Scotland and still look authentic. No love for my Merida, just Elsa and Anna.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I am so disappointed by the Frozen takeover. It just doesn't make sense to replace a perfectly fine ride that represents the Norwegian culture. The gift shop pretty much looked the same this week as I remembered it five years ago. The Frozen merchandise is all in the back of the store. Just an FYI- the expensive Norwegian jackets can be found online for MUCH cheaper. Don't waste your money buying it at Disney!

 

[vakamalua]

*cough* If we need another country, do Scotland! Brave is based in Medieval Scotland so you could easily make Disney themed Scotland and still look authentic.

OMG! No more kiddie Disney-centric stuff in World Showcase! Walt would be horrified...

I am so disappointed by the Frozen takeover. It just doesn't make sense to replace a perfectly fine ride that represents the Norwegian culture.

Couldn't agree more! Especially unhappy about inserting an attraction from one of the most OVERRATED (though inexplicably popular) movies of all time.