Norway College Program kids alerted to pavilion closing?

[Miskey]

I'll miss our pictures with the troll if he disappears

 

[DisneyGuy]

While I love Frozen.... I am VERY sad about this... I really like Maelstrom & the Norway Pavilion. They should leave it alone (IMO)... Frozen doesn't belong in World Showcase! Bring Frozen elsewhere (I think it is a perfect fit right where it is in DHS, add a M&G near the skating rink... it isnt like they don't have any empty space there!

I agree. I don't dislike "Frozen", and I certainly understand this from a business perspective - however, with HS lacking in rides and outdated shows, "Frozen" could have easily had a home there - or in MK. The world showcase is just that - the world showcase. I get that it isn't "real", but adding a "Frozen" theme really doesn't help.

 

[BugsDaddy]

1. They may not be supporting it, but they sure aren't turning away the Disney Adventures and tourism $$$ that are coming to Norway. Take that FWIW.

2. This is the worst thing Disney could do. If Disney wants to rollover this quickly and give everyone more Frozen, then what's going to happen in a few months or over the next year or 2 when the Frozen fad dies... and Disney is stuck with Anna/Elsa and a ride that they can't get people to walk onto...

Frozen has exceeded a billion dollars in box office revenue and that is not even counting merchandise. It is now the most financially successful animated film in the history of the movies, passing Toy Story 3 and moving into the top 10 of all movies, all time. There is already very strong talk of a sequel which could exceed the original in terms of revenue. I don't think it is a fad that is going away in a few months. That being said, I don't necessarily think that World Showcase is the right spot for it either but it will divert some of the crowds from MK to Epcot if it happens.

 

[DisneyGuy]

You know, I'm thinking about how we see Mary Poppins in England, and Belle in France - I've always loved that - because it's where their from. I don't care if A&E are in Norway, I think it's just the thought of the country being pretty much gone and a fictional place in it's spot. Add A&E to the princess meal and I'd be fine with it - in fact, I can't believe Disney hasn't cashed in on that yet! But to remove what I think they are going to remove is removing the spirit of the World Showcase - maybe I'm speaking to soon though.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I know I'm in the minority but I'm not upset about this. From everything I've read, here and elsewhere, it sounds like it's still going to be called Norway and there's going to be some Frozen theming added such as in the store and on Maelstrom, and part of it changed to a meet & greet.

People are upset about not getting to see Anna and Elsa, and I think Disney is responding to the demand. The fad will sure die down but it won't go away. People are still in love with Peter Pan and Snow White and those movies came out AGES ago.

I also don't remember a Disney movie being THIS popular before. I don't think people can shut up about it and it's approaching the year mark in a few months. It's still on people's minds and kids are still in love with the movies and the characters. Not only that, everyone I've met that seems to love the movie, LOVES it. Like they're obsessed, always quoting the movie, playing Let It Go as much as possible. It's kind of annoying because I didn't love it so I'm getting sick of hearing about it, however it has it's fan base.

I really just think Disney is appealing to what the general population wants. Especially since this is being done significantly after the movie came out, they realized how much people want to see Frozen.

The only problem I have with it is that the movie doesn't take place in Norway. It's Norway-like but not Norway so that part kind of seems weird.

 

[LovingDisney2012]

Let me say, I love Frozen, my kids love Frozen, even my husband thinks it's a great Disney movie. However, I love World Showcase, it is one of my favorite areas at DW. A huge reason that I love it is that it feels different from everything else at DW. I go to WS when I need a break from everything feeling animated and chaotic. Leave WS alone, sure take care of repairs and updates as needed, but leave it as WS. It does not need to feel like the other parks, or even the other half of Epcot, it is special in its own way. Well, there's my rant about the subject.

 

[Jennasis]

Put in a meet and greet spot to handle the crowd, but leave NORWAY alone.

 

[mousehockey37]

Frozen has exceeded a billion dollars in box office revenue and that is not even counting merchandise. It is now the most financially successful animated film in the history of the movies, passing Toy Story 3 and moving into the top 10 of all movies, all time. There is already very strong talk of a sequel which could exceed the original in terms of revenue. I don't think it is a fad that is going away in a few months. That being said, I don't necessarily think that World Showcase is the right spot for it either but it will divert some of the crowds from MK to Epcot if it happens.

Just because it is the most financially successful movie doesn't mean squat. In a time, probably not too far off in the future, when the NEXT movie comes out and surpasses Frozen, and Disney is going through this same process, what will be left of Frozen? 2 characters you'll be able to wait in a small line for and a ride that will be of walk on status or at least a minimal wait.

There will always be a Disney sequel... whether it's released or not in the theaters is another story (a lot are straight to DVD), but I'm pretty sure just about every (not all) Disney film has a 2nd to it...

 

[JJsmama]

If this is the plan, then why did they just build all the frozen stuff at DHS? Doesn't make sense.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

As long as this only affects the ride and they don't change the exterior I think this is a great idea. As a previous poster mentioned there are already several characters associated with countries that do meet and greets plus Mexico already has the 3 Caballeros so this isn't exactly new territory for the WS.

If Norway has stopped funding the pavilion and Maelstrom is in need of any type of overhaul it makes sense for Disney to use their dollars in a way that gets the biggest bang for the buck.

If they touch the bakery or Stave church though I'll be incredibly disappointed.

 

[crazymomof4]

Let's just hope it's a vicious rumor... https://www.facebook.com/TheEpcotExplorersEncyclopedia?fref=nf



If it's for a refurb, fine. If it's for FROZEN, then it's a disgrace and an outrage.

Could not agree more!!!

 

[ArwenMarie]

This seemed like a forgone conclusion when they ruined the Stave Church exhibit by Frozen-ing it.

I will really miss Maelstrom, one of my favorites

 

[fancifull]

This is pretty lame. If Disney needs to do this and Norway doesn't care about the pavilion's upkeep, well then fine. But why don't we have any official announcements about this yet if it's getting so close? Rumors have been circulating for months and months and its getting ridiculous.
I'm happy I will be in Disney the last week of Sept and be able to experience Norway as it is one more time. I will be trying school bread for the first time and riding Maelstrom with no Frozen attached~

 

[Elizamarie763]

From the facebook page cited in the OP

Note: Major increases for wait times at Maelstrom as word of the closure spreads. 60-80mins during peak daytime hours

Is this true? Maybe I should switch one of my FP+ to Maelstrom for my upcoming trip I've never ridden it before and I'd really like to before it's potentially gone. Somehow I missed it in my childhood/high school trips.

 

[crazycatlady]

I really hope that this doesn't happen. I love the Norway pavilion and would be very sad to see a pretend country take the place of a real country in the World Showcase. Even if Disney still calls the pavilion Norway, but turns it into A&E land, I will still feel that Disney ruined what WS is about and what makes it so special to a lot of people. There is plenty of room in all of the other parks for pretend places; why can't they have one part of one park for people to get a taste of what different countries in our real world is like?

 

[BugsDaddy]

Just because it is the most financially successful movie doesn't mean squat. In a time, probably not too far off in the future, when the NEXT movie comes out and surpasses Frozen, and Disney is going through this same process, what will be left of Frozen? 2 characters you'll be able to wait in a small line for and a ride that will be of walk on status or at least a minimal wait.

There will always be a Disney sequel... whether it's released or not in the theaters is another story (a lot are straight to DVD), but I'm pretty sure just about every (not all) Disney film has a 2nd to it...

I think it certainly does mean something. If it is the most successful movie in the history of Disney, that says a lot about its popularity amongst the masses. Both here and abroad. And any Frozen sequel will be widely released and will probably break all sorts of box office records on its own. I think you vastly underestimate this movie's popularity if you think in a few months everything Frozen is going to be yesterday's news.

 

[Jennasis]

I just don't get it. How on Earth is this movie so popular? Is it like when a starving person comes out of the desert and eats a cracker and the cracker is suddenly the most amazing delicious thing ever? Are we so starved for entertainment that this tasteless Saltine of a movie is the best meal of our lives?? I just don't get it. The film was mediocre at best, and embarrassingly lousy at worst. It makes me angry that they're even considering changing up classic goodness like World Showcase for it.

Yew are not de first to pass dis vay...but apparently yew may be de last.

Le sigh...

 

[benji2012]

If I was a Disney exec, I would make the push for making Norway more Frozen. Both Toy Story rides are still immensely popular years after the movies came out. And I think Frozen will be popular for many, many years.

As someone who didn't totally "get" Frozen..and someone who LOVES the Norway Pavilion as is, I'm a little sad.

 

[jctwizzer]

Despite rumors, I find it hard to believe Disney will destroy the theme of
the world showcase.....the countries pay to have the representation and
unless Norway is bailing out the rumor shouldn't be taken seriously.....and
even if Norway bails, another country would be happy to be represented at Epcot....there are plently other places at WDW where Frozen would be more appropriate....JMHO...

 

[cheshirecatattack]

I hope they don't change the exterior of the pavilion, or loose the unique merch that is available and makes the pavilion a special piece of WS. I love going through the countries and perusing through the different shops. Yes, I think the Frozen crew should be present, but no more then Mulan is in China or Belle in France. It will detract from the whole point of WS.