Norway College Program kids alerted to pavilion closing?

[snowweisz]

I'm not happy about this because I adore World Showcase and I'm sick of Frozen stuff everywhere.

But that being said, I also cannot take seriously a lot of the criticism people throw at Disney over this.

So many people are furiously BEGGING for more A&E meets, for more Frozen presence (I mean, go have a look at that thread from the UK couple who got trampled because they had A&E fp+). And Disney is using an already built in place that is no longer supported by its original sponsor to give you all what you want.

And you're gonna be mad that it's not happening where you want it? Disney is in the business of making money and it makes all the sense in the world to give their big money maker movie a place where currently no money is being made.

Idk, I don't mean to say that unless you dislike Frozen you aren't entitled to hate this change. But this was all coming since people raced each other across Future World and then stood in a ridiculous line for 4 hours to meet A&E. You all made this happen.

Will this also be the end of School Bread?

Probably not because Disney has been operating Food & Beverages at Norway for years.

But I agree it's beyond annoying that Disney still isn't making an announcement about this. The cat's out of the bag omg, let it go

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I personally think Disney needs to stop the overlay crap... stop the bandaid of lets throw a popular character onto an existing ride and BUILD SOMETHING NEW! Heck, that's what everyone wants anyways and they totally missed the bar with Avatarland... I bet they are punching themselves over committing to that now "Oh Sh**T we should've waited and invested in Frozen!"

Because... no matter your opinion of Frozen.... Frozen > Avatar.

 

[fancifull]

Because... no matter your opinion of Frozen.... Frozen > Avatar.

everything >>> avatar

 

[RyannB]

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.

Le sigh...

No kidding.

 

[MsLisaG]

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...

Norway bailed on the pavilion when their contract ended circa 2002. I agree though, Frozen would be more appropriate elsewhere. I'm still holding out a tiny glimmer of hope since nothing has been officially announced, but I see where this is going. Screw Frozen, it really wasn't that good. It doesn't belong as a main focus in the world showcase.

 

[Planogirl]

Do any of the countries (besides Morocco) have anything to do with their pavilions now? Following that logic, should all of them be changed to fantasy? Should the theming of World Showcase just disappear because of a movie that is a big deal right now?

I've been protesting this for a long time but it's pointless. I've written polite letters and emails to Disney and all I get is form letters and a generally cold "who cares what you think" attitude. This is today's Disney in a nutshell.

 

[snowweisz]

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...

I think it's true that people were so starved for a female driven, different kind of story that they fell head over heels for this.
Brave probably paved the road in a lot of ways but this was a peak of everything that entertainment is lacking as far as female protagonists go.

And to be quite honest, as far as that goes, I'm glad that it is Frozen that's doing so well as opposed to Cars or Monsters. Execs are coming to the realization that female driven films sell and that they SELL BIG! It may take quite some more time for them to get to acting up on it (looking at you Kevin Feige) but at least they're noticing.

Besides, I can stomach Frozen in Norway way more than I'd be able to stomach Cars in like, Japan.

 

[snowweisz]

I've been protesting this for a long time but it's pointless. I've written polite letters and emails to Disney and all I get is form letters and a generally cold "who cares what you think" attitude. This is today's Disney in a nutshell.

What else are they gonna give you?
Frozen crazed parents made the movie's sales worth 27% of the whole increase of revenue for the last quarter. That's what came out on last week's earnings call.

People made this happen. Tons of them are gonna be complaining about it now but they lined up Disney stores waiting to snatch that Frozen merch away. Their Frozen craze got out of control and Disney execs are no fools, they're gonna cash in on it.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

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...

I feel the same way about the movie. I finally watched it in June and when it was over I was confused about why people love it so much. It seemed kind of sub par for Disney.

 

[Planogirl]

What else are they gonna give you?
Frozen crazed parents made the movie's sales worth 27% of the whole increase of revenue for the last quarter. That's what came out on last week's earnings call.

People made this happen. Tons of them are gonna be complaining about it now but they lined up Disney stores waiting to snatch that Frozen merch away. Their Frozen craze got out of control and Disney execs are no fools, they're gonna cash in on it.

The old Disney tried to make everyone happy. That's why I fell for the place. They didn't just try to cash in on whatever the flavor of the month was. They didn't destroy theming to make a quick buck.

A lot has changed and people might not agree when I say it's not for the better. That's fine but I'll always remember what once was.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I think it's true that people were so starved for a female driven, different kind of story that they fell head over heels for this.
Brave probably paved the road in a lot of ways but this was a peak of everything that entertainment is lacking as far as female protagonists go.

And to be quite honest, as far as that goes, I'm glad that it is Frozen that's doing so well as opposed to Cars or Monsters. Execs are coming to the realization that female driven films sell and that they SELL BIG! It may take quite some more time for them to get to acting up on it (looking at you Kevin Feige) but at least they're noticing.

100 % Yes

 

[MattRyan]

This decision can only make sense financially, but I don't approve.

 

[tony609]

I think it's a smart move. I think frozen is going to go down as Classic Disney like lots of newer movies like Aladdin, Toy Story and The

Little Mermaid have. They could probably put it elsewhere though. There has to be space in DHS or even somewhere else in EPCOT.

 

[snowweisz]

The old Disney tried to make everyone happy. That's why I fell for the place. They didn't just try to cash in on whatever the flavor of the month was. They didn't destroy theming to make a quick buck.

A lot has changed and people might not agree when I say it's not for the better. That's fine but I'll always remember what once was.

There's no way to make everyone happy.

Nobody's saying that this is for the best but it's also naive to see how ridiculously people flock to this movie and everything about it and expect Disney to ignore the perfect opportunity of converting a pavilion that no longer has an investing government behind it.

 

[Love Tink]

Eh. I can't really understand the outrage (not saying anyone shouldn't feel it, just saying I don't get it).

As a previous poster mentioned, they already did pretty much the same thing in the Mexico pavilion - took a country-themed ride and added a Disney-themed overlay.

These pavilions aren't the actual countries. They are tiny, idealized, fantastical, fun, theme park versions. Adding a ride overlay or changing a percentage of the merchandise just doesn't rise to the level of travesty in my opinion

 

[Disneytam]

I feel the same way about the movie. I finally watched it in June and when it was over I was confused about why people love it so much. It seemed kind of sub par for Disney.

Totally agree. I watched it with my husband one night (he fell asleep) and when it was finally over I was like Did I miss something? I get that the song is catchy and well written, but a song that alludes to divorce does not make a great classic Disney movie. So glad that other people agree that this is not the greatest movie of all time. I was even thinking about sitting through it again to see if I was really missing something but I think I'll just " Let It Go".

 

[plumsiren]

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.

I'm sorry, but this is very short-sighted. What are all the other Disney movies that were 'the most successful movie in the history of Disney'...until they were toppled by something else?

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Totally agree. I watched it with my husband one night (he fell asleep) and when it was finally over I was like Did I miss something? I get that the song is catchy and well written, but a song that alludes to divorce does not make a great classic Disney movie. So glad that other people agree that this is not the greatest movie of all time. I was even thinking about sitting through it again to see if I was really missing something but I think I'll just " Let It Go".

Yeah this is how I felt. I also felt like the story was choppy and rushed. Like it went from one thing to another too quickly so I didn't get invested in that part of the story, or the overall story. I wish I could just let it go but it's everywhere!

 

[Viva Las Disney]

even if Norway bails, another country would be happy to be represented at Epcot....

I don't think any countries are lining up pour money into Epcot, they've had several expansion pads available since the WS opened, if a country was offering Disney money for a pavilion I don't see them turning it down unless it would be politically controversial.

There's no way to make everyone happy.

Ain't that the truth. Half the people complain the parks are falling apart and the other half complain there are construction walls everywhere. Half complain the rides are falling apart and half complain if a single ride is down for refurb during their trip. Half complain there isn't anything new and half complains if anything is changed. Everyone complained that Disney needed to add rides at AK and now everyone is complaining that Disney is adding rides at AK. No matter what Disney does people complain.

 

[Bellanota]

Eh. I can't really understand the outrage (not saying anyone shouldn't feel it, just saying I don't get it).

As a previous poster mentioned, they already did pretty much the same thing in the Mexico pavilion - took a country-themed ride and added a Disney-themed overlay.

These pavilions aren't the actual countries. They are tiny, idealized, fantastical, fun, theme park versions. Adding a ride overlay or changing a percentage of the merchandise just doesn't rise to the level of travesty in my opinion

I have been reading this wondering when someone would bring up just what you said. Its already been happened in other countries the only difference is Frozen is in a Norway based land and not Norway itself. Dont remember them ever out right telling you were Snow White took place at but she is sure at Epcot. Disney has been doing this for a while this is just the most in your face example.