Norway not happy with Disney wanting to replace Maelstrom with Frozen ride

[fairytalelover]

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2014/07/24/frozen-norway-disney-epcot/

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

This potential Frozen makeover for Norway pavilion is lazy thinking by Disney. Norway should oppose it. Frozen can be well represented in the park without undoing Norway

 

[fairytalelover]

I think they have to have Norway's permission to do this which is why Disney offered them all of that money. I hope they stick to their guns.

 

[Dano13]

I like the Norway pavilion a lot, I really hope they rethink this.

 

[MuddyTires]

Nowhere in the article does it say that Norway isn't happy. In the video, a Norwegian who works at Disney is aggravated with the Norwegian government, not Disney, because he says the government doesn't care.

 

[sonofanarchy]

This potential Frozen makeover for Norway pavilion is lazy thinking by Disney. Norway should oppose it. Frozen can be well represented in the park without undoing Norway

Lazy and short-sighted.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This potential Frozen makeover for Norway pavilion is lazy thinking by Disney. Norway should oppose it. Frozen can be well represented in the park without undoing Norway

I agree. Cheap and lazy - a bit of a ongoing theme recently.

It doesn't fit in the world showcase and if they want a Frozen attraction it more appropriately belongs in DHS which could really use it or else MK.

 

[fairytalelover]

Nowhere in the article does it say that Norway isn't happy. In the video, a Norwegian who works at Disney is aggravated with the Norwegian government, not Disney, because he says the government doesn't care.

This is from the article:

A news report out of Norway details the country's reluctance to continue funding the pavilion

However, the movie is set in the fictional land of Arendelle. Animators went to Norway to flesh out Arendelle with a bit of Scandinavian sensibility, but one can sympathize with the aggravation in Norway as it's compelled to help bankroll a pavilion that's doing more to promote an imaginary country than its own rich culture.

 

[DWillowBay]

This would be a shame, if the very essence of the World Showcase…which is to provide an opportunity to experience the actuality of cultures from around the World, is undermined to provide a misrepresentation of the nation of Norway. The movie is fine, but it's fictitious. Walt's concept was to expose people to various cultures so that more understanding and harmony could grow between the Earth's people. There is plenty of opportunity elsewhere to capitalize on the success of the film, even for monetary gain, which I am not opposed to. However, can we keep to the original goal of the WS?

 

[Dano13]

I don't like the thought of a fictional place in the World Showcase. The World Showcase should remain tributes to countries around the globe.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I found this part of the article particularly hilarious...

The report claims that Disney has offered Norway the opportunity to pay roughly $9 million to update and maintain the pavilion as a promotional platform for the country -- instead of the hit movie

Seriously?? Am I reading that correctly? They want Norway to pay 9 million to help finance the makeover??

 

[DWillowBay]

This would be a shame, if the very essence of the World Showcase…which is to provide an opportunity to experience the actuality of cultures from around the World, is undermined to provide a misrepresentation of the nation of Norway. The movie is fine, but it's fictitious. Walt's concept was to expose people to various cultures so that more understanding and harmony could grow between the Earth's people. There is plenty of opportunity elsewhere to capitalize on the success of the film, even for monetary gain, which I am not opposed to. However, can we keep to the original goal of the WS?

 

[Chickkypoo]

I hope they leave the ride alone. I was so upset when they gave the ride in Mexico the Disney makeover.

 

[fairytalelover]

I found this part of the article particularly hilarious...

The report claims that Disney has offered Norway the opportunity to pay roughly $9 million to update and maintain the pavilion as a promotional platform for the country -- instead of the hit movie

Seriously?? Am I reading that correctly? They want Norway to pay 9 million to help finance the makeover??

Oh, I misread it. I thought it said that Disney wants to pay Norway $9 million to get permission to change the ride......

 

[AndreaA]

I found this part of the article particularly hilarious...

The report claims that Disney has offered Norway the opportunity to pay roughly $9 million to update and maintain the pavilion as a promotional platform for the country -- instead of the hit movie

Seriously?? Am I reading that correctly? They want Norway to pay 9 million to help finance the makeover??

No, I think that means Disney is basically blackmailing Norway! "Pay 9mil or your country's pavilion turns into FrozenLand!"

 

[speedo]

But Norway pavilion does need TLC. Norwegians should be embarrassed by the video they still show. I watch it once a year and made my cousins from Norway sit through it once. But when they talk about a country of cutting edge technology they show images of computers from the 80s. Plus it's great that they were so fashion forward in the 80s. The film is so obviously dated. It really needs an update.

So I agree with Disney telling Norway to either put up the money or step aside and let Disney put in the money to update the pavilion.

Oh and i do like what disney did with the displays in the Stav Church. It shows how Frozen was inspired by the traditions of Norway. It is a good way of showing how the imaginary came from realty. So it is still educational but in a way that strikes a chord with more because of the movie's popularity.

 

[hallie]

I wish they'd replace the movie with a new updated one! I also miss the extra retail space.

 

[fairytalelover]

No, I think that means Disney is basically blackmailing Norway! "Pay 9mil or your country's pavilion turns into FrozenLand!"

Oh wow! I didnt read it that way either! They're blackmailing Norway????!

 

[PinkBudgie]

We went on Maelstrom for the first time this June. We thought the ride was too short. I would have loved for it to be longer. And I thought they could have done more to the ride to "see" the country better. I didn't read the article, but they could have Anna and Elsa be the tour guides through the country of Norway. That would please the "Frozen" crowd and keep it real for World Showcase.

 

[speedo]

Oh wow! I didnt read it that way either! They're blackmailing Norway????!

No it's not blackmail more of a threat. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but i believe the money for each pavilion comes from the actual county. But Norway has decided not to support its pavilion anymore and hasn't for the last few years. So basically they are getting a fee ride in terms of tourism advertising at Disney. So Disney is now forcing their hand by threatening to put in the money themselves for a frozen overhaul. I remember a couple years ago the Norwegians working at the pavilion were worried that it was going to become generic Scandinavia because Norway had pulled its support. That didn't happen But it does look like the frozen overhaul is definitely a probability unless the country of Norway supports its pavilion again.