Say Good Bye to Maelstrom....A 'Frozen' Ride is Definite

[Pumbas]

Sad to see Malestrom go. I enjoyed the ride and fit perfectly in Norway. Frozen does deserve a ride but there are so many other places it would fit better. I like the countries as they provide a change from the traditional animated themed rides. I'm sure the Frozen will be a great attraction but.. Couldn't they have kept Malestrom too? Boowho!!!

 

[jeters_boy]

Anyone know/care to speculate whether they will keep the same boat track?

 

[DanBoris]

Anyone know/care to speculate whether they will keep the same boat track?

I think it's highly likely.

 

[swarlock]

Sad to see Malestrom go. I enjoyed the ride and fit perfectly in Norway. Frozen does deserve a ride but there are so many other places it would fit better. I like the countries as they provide a change from the traditional animated themed rides. I'm sure the Frozen will be a great attraction but.. Couldn't they have kept Malestrom too? Boowho!!!

It's fair to say that absolutely no one saw the huge success coming and the plans for New Fantasyland in The MK were already into the last phase of construction. It would be a waste of time and resources to gut out an existing attraction for this one.

I'll be honesat I only did Maelstrom twice during the 18 years I've lived here and I really don't find it all that compelling. And since The Sponsors from The True Norway itself is no longer financing its existence what would be the point of keeping it out of Nostaglia.

I hate to say this but all the theme parks are not museums and weren't designed that way. I remember the outrage when Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was taken out for Winnie The Pooh. A huge campaign was done to save the attraction but by the end of the year nothing came of it.

Moving forward is painful but you can't stop it from happening.

Something to think about.

 

[swarlock]

From a 2012 article: Epcot was Disney World’s second park, which opened its doors in 1982, featuring staple rides and attractions with an emphasis on culture and tradition in order to educate patrons.
“Epcot is and has always been a theme park of discovery for guests curious about the people, places and progress of the real world,” Epcot Vice President Erin Young told BizJournals. “Epcot’s experiences make science, technology and world cultures fun, and the richness of these experiences inspire guests to discover things they didn’t know before.”

Whatever changes are made to Maelstrom, I just hope they stay true to the original concept of Epcot as stated above. Magic Kingdom is fantasy... Epcot is the "real world" park. I like it that way!

Every country has its inherent problems. It's basically an ideal vision of the countries in World Showcase but even that's not real.

 

[circus4u]

I'll be honesat I only did Maelstrom twice during the 18 years I've lived here and I really don't find it all that compelling. And since The Sponsors from The True Norway itself is no longer financing its existence what would be the point of keeping it out of Nostaglia.

I hate to say this but all the theme parks are not museums and weren't designed that way. I remember the outrage when Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was taken out for Winnie The Pooh. A huge campaign was done to save the attraction but by the end of the year nothing came of it.

Moving forward is painful but you can't stop it from happening.

Something to think about.

Have to agree with you on both counts. We lived in Brandon and as many times as we went, rode Maelstrom maybe twice. Rode it for the first time since about 1994 about a year ago and couldn't figure out why I put myself through it one more time. The only plus was that you didn't have to stay for the movie like the old days.

As for Mr. Toad, that was one ride I was glad to see go. Could find that type of dark ride in any carnival; didn't think it (or Snow White) belonged in the Magic Kingdom. Always reminded me of a cheap ride.

 

[Planogirl]

Why can't some understand that it's not only about Maelstrom? It's about ruining the theming of World Showcase too.

However I think that that ship has sailed. I expect more nations to follow suit over time until there is little left of WS.

 

[wilkeliza]

Why can't some understand that it's not only about Maelstrom? It's about ruining the theming of World Showcase too. However I think that that ship has sailed. I expect more nations to follow suit over time until there is little left of WS.

Most nations aren't involved in their pavilion any more besides the cultural exchange programs.

 

[strangebutspecial]

Why can't some understand that it's not only about Maelstrom? It's about ruining the theming of World Showcase

That's what concerns me. Trolls are a part of Norwegian culture. I agree the attraction needed updating, but I hate to see it replaced with something that's only marginally related to Norway. Why not invite Norwegian artists and storytellers to make something new?

 

[jcnewton]

Why can't some understand that it's not only about Maelstrom? It's about ruining the theming of World Showcase too.

However I think that that ship has sailed. I expect more nations to follow suit over time until there is little left of WS.

That's just it, it's a slippery slope. And now they'll just keep pushing that line further and further until Epcot is another movie tie-in park. I'm still not thrilled with Nemo in The Seas.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That's just it, it's a slippery slope. And now they'll just keep pushing that line further and further until Epcot is another movie tie-in park. I'm still not thrilled with Nemo in The Seas.

Your concerns are well founded.

I'm an " EPCOT purist"...that's not to say I don't think change is good and understand that what the park can achieve has been reduced over the years...

But Disney is lying if they start selling the line that their "only choice" is to make it full of cartoon tie ins meant for my 5 year old daughter in her Elsa costume.

It's simply not true.

And what with this "the countries don't participate anymore" as an excuse nonsense? They had some decent up front sponsorship when it was built and opened... But it's not as if Maggie thatcher at 10 Downing St called up and told Card Walker to build her a thatched roof tea hut in Orlando...

This was DISNEY'S idea to build homages to other countries - even if fictionalized a bit or stereotypical.

Remember also that many execs and imagineers were adamantly against the American pavilion...because the concept of the park was exposure to other things in a park within Los estados unidos...

Now with arrendale...they're "exposing" us to walmart isle 13

 

[Andrew015]

I can't help but think that on some level, the lack of Disney's ability to deliver a new offering quickly is going to impact their 2015 performance. How many families will be putting off a trip in 2015 just to wait until 2016 when Frozen is operational? Maybe not a significant number, but even if it is a few percent, that would be huge. EPCOT will be down a ride for all of 2015. DTD will still be a complete mess. Nothing new will coming to HS, and rumors of more rides coming off-line appear imminent. AK will still have construction walls everywhere. I just don't see too many tweenies clamoring at the notion of visiting the expanded MK hub anytime soon...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I can't help but think that on some level, the lack of Disney's ability to deliver a new offering quickly is going to impact their 2015 performance. How many families will be putting off a trip in 2015 just to wait until 2016 when Frozen is operational? Maybe not a significant number, but even if it is a few percent, that would be huge. EPCOT will be down a ride for all of 2015. DTD will still be a complete mess. Nothing new will coming to HS, and rumors of more rides coming off-line appear imminent. AK will still have construction walls everywhere. I just don't see too many tweenies clamoring at the notion of visiting the expanded MK hub anytime soon...

By the time they get anything open...frozen will be a "popular" animated Franchise similar to little mermaid, lion king, and toy story...

Not a "cultural phenomenon"

People are basing this on attention spans. That is risky to bet on. And an uncharacteristic move by disney. Unless your using it for immediate stock bump...which I think you're getting at.

These things do fade more quickly than ever.

Universal has surprised with Harry potter a little...while the pop culture popularity has declined.. They have propped up the IP at studios with amazing technological innovation/integration into the rides.

Ingenious... And exactly the opposite of Disney current philosophy.
"As long as the label is slapped on it, they buy"

I've said it before:
I don't believe WDI could pull off splash mountain now or tower of terror... Adjusted for time if building from scratch.

At Least not in the US...where innovation is at a low point. RSR is well done... But not innovative at all.
Just relying on brands.

A formula they obviously feel will never change.

Frozen in epcot...has about a 98% chance of
Being a cheap overlay.

I think "surprisingly cute" is the best we can realistically hope for.

 

[clsteve]

I can't help but think that on some level, the lack of Disney's ability to deliver a new offering quickly is going to impact their 2015 performance. How many families will be putting off a trip in 2015 just to wait until 2016 when Frozen is operational? Maybe not a significant number, but even if it is a few percent, that would be huge. EPCOT will be down a ride for all of 2015. DTD will still be a complete mess. Nothing new will coming to HS, and rumors of more rides coming off-line appear imminent. AK will still have construction walls everywhere. I just don't see too many tweenies clamoring at the notion of visiting the expanded MK hub anytime soon...

You're hitting on that "stick in the anthill". Things are churning without an obvious rhyme, reason or any continuity with each other. So, what is it?

Is Uni the stick? Or something in the current and/or future numbers that's got them moving?

Don't know. But there's more activity right now than we've seen in a long time.

All of it without that patented Disney "dog and pony" show they're so good at - Exec's with models, fancy artwork, etc.

There's just no evident plan, as you point out. Disjointed projects everywhere

Let's not forget that this is the group that mastered the "Five Year Plan" NFL, Avatar, etc. Lots of pictures and info - but slow progress

It just reeks of a group that's not used to the hurry up. A group that now has to execute with a "blue sky" that hasn't seen the light of day in awhile.

Activity for activity's sake rarely works. And half this stuff could stay vacant for quite awhile.

But I have no doubt that the 3D model and pretty picture folks are working overtime to get something together that makes sense by EOY and the Earnings Call.

At least a 50,000 ft level grand plan that's perfect for the street.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It could be that they like the attendance bump after the FLE and want to push that into EPCOT...

Or it could be that EPCOT had stagnated and they are really not liking paying the operational costs without more buzz to get people in there.

Or it even could be that they are planning solid additions to studios and in 5 or so years EPCOT would be the only location of 5 to not get anything to draw gate and that is too expensive of a concept as well.


My money is on a combination of 1 and 2.

I think from a TWDC company standpoint... It's all about Iger's golden parachute or his legacy of ego.
He has just as much autonomy as
Eisner did before roy turned on him... And he can
Pump the brand up, suck the life out of Star Wars, marvel, Etc...and leave with big bags of money and his legacy in tack in a few years.

Not bad for a guy who used to oversea all my children and family matters, huh?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Activity for activity's sake rarely works. And half this stuff could stay vacant for quite awhile.
.

You just summarized wdw history 12/31/2000-10/01/14

Before I get the "come on...look at all the additions"...it really does. Outside of DVC...which really serves the masters..."begrudgingly" would be a generous label.

Mostly overlays, refits and small scale additions (spinners, spinners, spinners). And closures/mothballs...which the apologists never give any credence to.
Did river country suck? Was PI stale? Did wonders of life look dated?
Absolutely...but they slashed services in canning all of them for a significant portion of time if not Permenantly.

The fantasyland addition... When the dust settled...added one family ride, one bad restaurant with heavy theme, and came in at about half or less of the original grandiose press release numbers


Oh yeah... They built Everest... That changes everything.

Second thought...the prosecution rests.

 

[clsteve]

Not bad for a guy who used to oversea all my children and family matters, huh?

And the scary synergy between those and TWDC? The storylines are always in maintenance mode.

You only change it up - kill somebody off, have a main character have a kid with their neighbor, bring in a hip young pool boy........

When you need a ratings boost

 

[lockedoutlogic]

And the scary synergy between those and TWDC? The storylines are always in maintenance mode.

You only change it up - kill somebody off, have a main character have a kid with their neighbor, bring in a hip young pool boy........

When you need a ratings boost

Not quite Aristotle...
But definitely Plato or Socrates...

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Why can't some understand that it's not only about Maelstrom? It's about ruining the theming of World Showcase too.

However I think that that ship has sailed. I expect more nations to follow suit over time until there is little left of WS.

I agree totally, the issue is all of World Showcase!

AKK

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I agree totally, the issue is all of World Showcase!

AKK

I pity those that can't see this...

Is this all about getting an iPhone pic of a daughter in an Elsa dress?

(And to be clear, I have an iPhone and a daughter in an Elsa dress...but I'll "sacrifice" to not ruin the best theme park ever built)