Tell me about Maelstrom

[bangzoom6877]

Next week we will be back at WDW. One of our Epcot days for our third FP+, I got Maelstrom for the 4 of us, so we could ride it before lunch. It will be me, DH and our 2 sons (ages 7 and 9). We have never been on Maelstrom before.

Due to neck surgery I had 3 years ago (cervical spine, for a herniated disk), plus a bad lower back, my physical therapist told me a while ago that I could never go on Test Track or Big Thunder again. Those were the only "thrill" rides I used to go on at WDW. Is Maelstrom as rough as those two would be? Is there a big drop or anything like that? Even though I used to go on those two rides, neither one has a huge drop...I never went on Splash, I was always scared of the drop at the end. So, how much if a thrill ride is Maelstrom? I'm trying to decide if I should go on or not. DH and the boys love the thrill rides, but I was never one for the huge ones and I also have to be careful with my neck and back.

So, could someone please describe the ride to me? Thanks in advance!

 

[g-dad66]

No thrills on this ride except for one small drop in the dark which I find to be almost exactly like the Pirates of the Caribbean.

So if you're OK with the Pirates drop, I think you should be OK with Maelstrom. If not OK with Pirates, then I would say Maelstrom should also be a no-go.

 

[agavegirl1]

No thrills on this ride except for one small drop in the dark which I find to be almost exactly like the Pirates of the Caribbean.

So if you're OK with the Pirates drop, I think you should be OK with Maelstrom. If not OK with Pirates, then I would say Maelstrom should also be a no-go.

I was going to post exactly this.

 

[bangzoom6877]

No thrills on this ride except for one small drop in the dark which I find to be almost exactly like the Pirates of the Caribbean. So if you're OK with the Pirates drop, I think you should be OK with Maelstrom. If not OK with Pirates, then I would say Maelstrom should also be a no-go.

I love Pirates! The drop on that ride doesn't bother me at all and I've gone on it several times.

So, Maelstrom isn't a rough ride? Not considered a thrill ride? Is it dizzying at all?

 

[jco_direwolf]

If you are okay with trolls chanting "GO away Go Awy." you'll be okay..

 

[siskaren]

Well, since it doesn't have a height requirement to it, I can't see how it could be a problem.

 

[jco_direwolf]

Well, since it doesn't have a height requirement to it, I can't see how it could be a problem.

Maelstrom is unique at WDW as it has a AGE restriction on it. Or at least for years it did, I think it was 3+ or 5+, but it was posted. I just looked at the Map and it doesn't look like it's there any more (the age restriction.)

 

[artofanimation]

I love Pirates! The drop on that ride doesn't bother me at all and I've gone on it several times.

So, Maelstrom isn't a rough ride? Not considered a thrill ride? Is it dizzying at all?

maelstrom is a dark boat ride, similar to pirates as far as execution. there's one drop, and i'd say it's a little tamer than the drop on pirates. the boat does go backwards for a small portion, but it's not fast or anything. if you can do pirates, you can easily do maelstrom. i hope that answers your question!

 

[g-dad66]

So, Maelstrom isn't a rough ride? Not considered a thrill ride? Is it dizzying at all?

Nope, nope, and nope.

 

[jco_direwolf]

Nope, nope, and nope.

You failed to mention the 10 minute Norway travelogue at the end of the attraction

 

[mom2jcg]

You failed to mention the 10 minute Norway travelogue at the end of the attraction

Haven't ridden this in years...is it still possible to duck out before the travelogue?

 

[Pirate Me]

Haven't ridden this in years...is it still possible to duck out before the travelogue?

Yes, you can just walk right through the viewing room after the ride.

 

[smidgy]

try not to blink, you'll miss the ride.....lol

I can't believe they made this a fast pass.

 

[bucky1023]

Haven't ridden this in years...is it still possible to duck out before the travelogue?

They now just leave the doors open so you can skip the movie altogether if you want, not like before when they use to hold everyone in the little space after the ride for the doors to open to the theater

 

[csmith041177]

I agree with what everyone else has said on thinking you should be fine on this ride. It is actually one of my favorites!

 

[Ava]

Maelstrom is unique at WDW as it has a AGE restriction on it. Or at least for years it did, I think it was 3+ or 5+, but it was posted. I just looked at the Map and it doesn't look like it's there any more (the age restriction.)

The age restriction was no longer in place (or at least not enforced) as of at least 3 years ago. We took my DD on it in 2011, and she had just turned 2 at the time. It may have been posted as a "recommendation" but not a hard and fast rule.

 

[Acedink]

try not to blink, you'll miss the ride.....lol

I can't believe they made this a fast pass.

I got on this while waiting for my wife and daughter to arrive for Akershus lunch, and somehow the ride took forever, and I got in trouble for trying to have some fun while I waited.

small thrill factor, but a great ride IMHO. And yeah, I just walk right through the video room after the ride, and into the *SURPRISE* gift shop.

 

[jco_direwolf]

The age restriction was no longer in place (or at least not enforced) as of at least 3 years ago. We took my DD on it in 2011, and she had just turned 2 at the time. It may have been posted as a "recommendation" but not a hard and fast rule.

As far as I can tell it was never enforced I took my son on it multiple times over the last 5 years he has been to the parks at least 3 times per year since he was 12 weeks old.

Never enforced but it was listed and posted