Are you a Frozen Fan?

Deb's Digest Blog

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If you are a huge Frozen fan, you may be rejoicing at recent announcement by Tom Staggs to bring more of Frozen into Walt Disney World. To briefly recap:

** Epcot’s Maelstrom is closing (last day of operation is October 5, 2014) and will be replaced by a new Frozen “attraction” (sometime in 2016).

** Anna and Elsa will resume meeting guests in Epcot.

** Anna and Elsa will continue to meet guests in the Magic Kingdom.

** Elsa will transform Cinderella Castle into an ice palace each evening during the holiday season.

** Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf will be part of “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.”

** Parts of Frozen Summer Fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be extended through the holiday season – the Frozen Singalong and Wandering Oaken’s Funland with a larger play area for “building a snowman”. Frozen Summer Fun has been hugely successful and very well done. It is a great addition to the Studios.

Most of these components have been rumored for a few months now.

From a pure business standpoint, I understand the Disney Company wanting to maximize all things Frozen in the parks. The question is, at what cost? What is the appropriate balance of integrating an animated movie into Disney’s theme parks.

While everyone may not be a fan of Frozen, have you seen how folks react to Frozen in the parks?

Just last week at the Hoop Dee Doo, 2 small Frozen quotes brought several young girls sitting nearby immediately to their feet with laughter and excitement. I’m sure they were expecting a sing-a-long next.

Have you gone to the “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-along Celebration Show”? It is a great show, well written and performed. Look around you during the sing along portions to watch the audience. The enthusiasm keeps growing until the huge finale of Let It Go!

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Stand on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom when songs from Frozen are part of the Castle show and fireworks. I couldn’t believe how many people I saw that stopped walking, turned around and sang. And I’m not just talking about kids!

The announcement of Queen Elsa turning the Magic Kingdom Castle to the ice palace is a great idea, nice integration with the existing holiday castle “icing”.

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Likewise, the Frozen characters becoming part of Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, is also a good fit. Parts of the Christmas Parade have been part of Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome Parade at the Studios.

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Doubling on the Meet and Greets (one in Magic Kingdom and one in Epcot) should finally ease the long wait times.

However, the one thing about the announcement that saddens me is the closing of Maelstrom.

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For me, World Showcase is all about learning and experiencing the individual countries, their art, architecture, and culture. It is about seeing and understanding more about countries one may never get to visit in person. Even with a movie that desperately needed and should have been updated years ago, the Norway experience in Epcot provided a glimpse into the history and culture of the people and their country. Time will tell how much of the history and culture of Norway will remain in Epcot.

Your thoughts???

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67 Replies to “Are you a Frozen Fan?”

  1. Norway has always been one of our favorites so my family hates to see it go. I liked Frozen but it is not a favorite. Don’t get me started on Avitarland, yuk.

  2. As an ex-cast member who worked at the Rose and Crown in 1990 and a fairly regular visitor to WDW over the past 10 years, I was disappointed to read about the closure of Maelstrom. Over the years I’ve collected a number of favourite quotes from Disney rides and, with the closure, have now lost two of my top three. I lost one with the changes to the Chinese film in 2003. Li Po used to say ‘People ask me why I live in the Green Mountains, I smile and say nothing’ (or it might have been ‘I laugh and answer not’ my memory is sketchy after all this time). ‘My soul is serene.’
    I’m now just left with the one about the Phoenicians in Spaceship Earth. I wonder though, do you think they changed my quote in Norway for the final boat ride: ‘You are not the first to pass this way, but you are the last’?

  3. I’m normally a lurker but wanted to add my thoughts.

    I’m a fan of both Frozen and the kitschy pleasure of Maelstrom. Though we can all lament at the loss of the nostalgic ride, we can at this point only speculate as to what will replace it. Though there are some details here and there, we really don’t know what it will be. We know it will have the characters and the songs and feature a tie-in to the movie, but really that’s it. Also, the ride is speculated to be complete in 2016 which is a long time away and given Disney’s track record with deadlines, it’ll probably be a long time after that. By then, a lot of the oversaturization will have dissipated and I think there might be a resurgence of interest.

    I know many feel that having a movie-tie in goes against Walt Disney’s original vision for EPCOT, but I feel that 1) we are not Walt Disney and can’t say what his vision is/would evolve to be 2) he did feel that EPCOT would evolve over time to fit the current landscape.

    Bottom line, I think we can speculate and perhaps be upset or disappointed with those speculations but ultimately wait until you’re able to sit in that boat (or reindeer or snowball or whatever) and judge first hand.

  4. I am a Disney purist but change is inevitable and EPCOT has seen its share. I went to Universal this summer to see the Harry Potter areas and they were well done and PACKED with a 6 hour wait for the new ride. What Universal does not do well and Disney does,is appeal to families with small children. I use to have to bribe my son to get him to head over to the World Showcase for something other than dinner. It would have been nice to have the new attraction along with keeping Maelstrom.Having a ride that small children will love and if they can incorporate the history and beauty of Norway, the better. Plus, the ride took longer to load and unload and to sneak out of the movie at the end (that no one watched) than it took to ride. I loved the world of motion and was angry when they replaced it with Test track but it turned out to be a great ride.

  5. I’ve read every single comment in this thread and no where else in the entire universe have I ever heard anyone say anything positive about Maelstrom.
    It was always a walk-on ride with little or no wait. The first time I saw a line that spilled out of the building was after Anna and Elsa were added to Norway, which increased traffic.
    I just don’t think its that good of a ride.

    I will agree with everyone that I do not think a pavilion at Epcot is the best place to put a fantasy ride, however there is little room at Hollywood Studios to add a major attraction, especially with all of the Star Wars Land rumors… If they want to put something at Magic Kingdom, they would have to remove something, and everyone will complain about that.

    I think having Elsa light the castle at Christmas time is a cool idea.
    I visited Disney the first week of December last year and the ‘Celebrate the Magic’ show was pretty new. When the Let it Go part came on, no one cared. When I returned for another trip in March 2014, the second Let it Go started to play, 30,000 people screamed and cheered, and then again at the conclusion of the song.

    So basically with this rambling post, I’m not sure to be happy or sad. I’m not a Maelstrom fan, I think the remake of Test Track is awful, and the Mission Space ride is not that good either. But I really like Soarin and Nemo. Disney has been changing and updating since my first visit in 84, and all changes bring different reactions. They were all about the money long before Igor took over (think Roy making the rides empty out into stores). They keep raising the prices and people keep going. They have to keep up with Universal, who’s 2 new Harry Potter areas are fantastic.
    If I was in charge, I’d build a 5th park and make Arendelle and Elsa’s castle the centerpiece and go from there.. but I guess that’s why I’m not in charge…

    Going to Disney for 11 days starting Saturday, so I guess I’ll get to ride Maelstrom one or two last times…

  6. Maelstrom may be old, but it’s a classic! My kids have been riding it since they were 3 or 4 years old (now in their 20’s). EPCOT, although a Disney park, has never been based on Disney movies- until they brought Finding Nemo to the Living Seas and Three Caballeros to Mexico (they really ruined that one!) I haven’t seen Frozen and think it’s a great marketing idea to base a ride on it – but at Hollywood Studios, not at EPCOT. They’re ruining the purpose and flavor of EPCOT. The park should remain a World Showcase where you can learn about and experience the flavor of each country represented.

  7. I remember the Norway Pavilion in the early 90s when Restaurant Akershus was still relatively new. It offered a traditional Scandinavian smorgasbord that was absolutely wonderful. The koldtbord as it is called featured a variety of cold and hot traditional dishes. You began with the cold fish dishes of herring and salmon, along with salads and other cold dishes. Then you rounded off your meal with the hot dishes; the mashed rutabagas were to die for. What I loved, aside from this great food, was that the restaurant was never crowded. You could walk up and get a table any time of the day. Once inside it was always a quiet, enjoyable meal. And, of course, that was the problem. So little by little the smorgasbord changed and then all but disappeared. The menu was “dumbed down” as the podcasters like to say, but no one seemed to mind; the princesses had arrived!

    When Maelstrom first opened the wait lasted for hours (think Soarin’). Now there are times when it is a walk on. Norway was the inspiration for the location of Frozen, so in that respect it still fits. The attraction will pull in more people who will do more than just eat, see the princesses, and leave. Perhaps once in Norway they will view the shops and even go into the Stave Church which does address the history of Norway. I hope they keep and maybe even update the film; despite what others say, I have always liked it. That will do Norway much more justice than the princess dine and dash that is happening now.

  8. This is so sad. EPCOT’s World Showcase is supposed to be learning about the individual cultures, not about a fantasy land of ice and snow. I love the movie Frozen, but include it at the Studios or in the Magic Kingdom. If they added elements of Frozen TO the Maelstrom, I would be OK with that, but to take away one of the most popular rides??? What are they thinking?? They really need to listen to visitor feedback before they make this change. The larger percentage of Disney loyalists and visitors, would never replace Maelstrom, especially since Frozen will eventually fade off, they always do!

  9. I am incredibly disappointed by the closing of Maelstrom, as it is one of my family’s favorite rides at EPCOT. I would be perfectly fine with having a meet and greet at the Norway pavilion, but I stand by the fact that the main attraction is supposed to directly reflect the nation’s culture. And I fear that focus on the animated story will distract from, if not entirely replace that. Similar to when Disney added characters to the Mexico boat ride – for me it lost some of its magic by becoming cheesy instead of a glance into the culture. I think the other incorporation of Frozen are just fine – I especially think linking Frozen to the standard icing of the castle is a great one. But overall I hope Disney realizes what is at stake by replacing the Maelstrom ride.

  10. Looks like most of us are in agreement that a Frozen ride does not belong in World Showcase. Most people were up in arms when Mickey’s gloved hand holding a wand greeted us at Spaceship Earth welcoming all to Epcot and the new millennium. Most thought it too cartoonish for Epcot. It isn’t there anymore, is it?!

  11. I also completely agree, Deb! I think its appropriate for Disney to capitalize on the “Frozen” franchise but disrupting the culture of Epcot was not necessary. I’m disappointed at this latest decision and hope this doesn’t become a trend.

  12. When I first heard this rumor (back in June from a cast member near Norway)I thought “well that’s cool” (no pun intended!). But now that I’ve given it more thought, a Frozen ride in Norway just doesn’t FIT!! The World Showcase is all about learning about the countries, not being immersed in a Disney movie. I did like Frozen and enjoyed the music, but a Frozen ride in World Showcase is not right…and what comes next? I love WDW, but it seems like more and more attractions are being linked to a movie (and marketing there of)and that just takes away the magic!

  13. People, people….you can’t compare the Three Caballeros in Mexico to what they are doing with Frozen. Some of you seem to think that they are simply adding some Frozen elements to Maelstrom…. Wrong. They are totally removing Maelstrom and building a new Frozen ride-thru attraction. There will be No trace of Maelstrom left.
    They didn’t actually take anything away from the boat ride in Mexico. They only added 3 birds and changed the name, is all….

  14. I enjoy Frozen although I do not count it as my favorite Disney movie but I can understand the appeal and feel it’s very appropriate for Disney to introduce it into the parks. However I also feel it’s a very bad choice by Disney to bring it into the World Showcase on the scale of an entire attraction. If nothing else Disney has a history of the detail and theme which in my opinion is a large part of what elevated it to the top of theme parks and this is a very sad misstep in that area. World Showcase is an area to celebrate select nations of the real world and is one of the most inappropriate places to place an animated movie showcase. Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom are the parks that were designed to incorporate and celebrate that aspect of Disney. If this is the path chosen to refresh Epcot it’s truly disappointing. It is a faster and less expensive way to capitalize on the Frozen popularity but the cost is extremely high in theme and Disney history. An extremely poor decision indeed.

  15. I love the movie Frozen and so does my daughter. But we also LOVE Maelstrom. If they’re not going to make it a real ride, and make it a simulated ride, I think that would be a big mistake! Yes Frozen is a big deal right now, but people young and older love Maelstrom. My kids are 6&8 and that’s one ride they look forward to every year. It’s a big reason we even go to Epcot. At first I think the Frozen ride will bring people to Epcot, but I think the crowds will die down after all the hype is over. PLEASE DON’T GET RID OF MAELSTROM!!!!!

  16. I for one am on the side of “sure, why not, replace Maelstrom with Frozen”. Maelstrom is old, needs updating. Frozen is the 5th highest grossing film of all time. Frozen is Scandinavian. It all kinda makes sense. Hubby and I also take time to visit every little cultural thing in Epcot, including the little Morocco museum and the Japanese toys exhibit. Love them.

    If the ride is only down for less than a year, I doubt it is a complete rebuild, rather a new story with the same water track. From what I remember of the maelstrom ride, the Let it Go denoument might precede the backwards waterfall. The forwards waterfall may be either the snow monster scene or the movie climax scene with the sword.

    My personal gripe is with the princess dining in Norway, never understood that one except for the $$$.

  17. Disney as a company would be stupid if it didn’t try to get as much out of “Frozen” as they could. That’s just business sense. Put it where it belongs, though. Hollywood Studios is in need of more attractions. I understand Norway, the country, has pulled sponsorship from Norway, the pavilion. Rather than go carte blanche against the theme, why not try to find another county to sponsor the pavilion? If the Norwegian government doesn’t want involvement, replace them with somewhere that does. Sweden or Denmark maybe? How about Spain? Australia? Greece? Brazil? India? Has to be some country that wants to promote tourism.

  18. Really…Replace Maelstrom with a “Frozen” ride. Where is the history and culture in that. It’s bad enough that they replaced a perfectly good Norwegian dining experience with Princess dining, but this,what’s next? I suppose that after the ride the short movie of the history of Norway will be replaced by “Frozen” clips. I wish I had more that two hands so I could give this more than TWO thumbs DOWN!!!!!

  19. are we forgetting that there are already charachters in some of the pavillion rides.. the three caballeros in mexico

  20. Norway likes ‘Frozen’ as much as Disney does. Tourism is up 35% in Norway because of the movie, according to news articles. If they send Joe Rohde or someone like him and his team to Norway for inspiration, the new ride just might be magical. I hope so. I think I trust the Disney team on this one.

  21. I have read many opinions here and, even though most every arguement (both pro and con) has been made, I would still like add my two cents. I have to confess that at first I really didn’t get all of the insanity over “Frozen”. My 16yo and 21yo had come back from seeing it in the theater singing the songs and calling it “awesome”. I watched the blue-ray three times with my family and while it was a good movie, it certainly wasn’t Disney’s best. Then we went to DHS and did the Frozen Summer activities. As I watched the Sing-along and the crowd (the theater was packed and there were several shows) I began to see just how powerful the music and characters were affecting people. My daughter had only seen snow once in her entire life and thoroughly enjoyed building a “snowman” and for $20 I was able to take her ice skating for the first time. The Frozen fireworks were also incredible. I now better understand the attraction of Frozen and Disney’s desire to capitalize on it’s popularity. That being said, I don’t believe that REPLACING Maelstrom with Frozen is necessarily the best option for the space. I think that there is much more to Norway than depicted ala Arendale. I did like the addition of the Three Caballeros to Mexico as attendance to the original version (at least when I rode) had dwindled down to nothing and I was afraid that Disney would simply close it. Now it actually often has crowds waiting to ride. Unlike Mexico, Maelstrom still needs FastPass and always has crowds waiting to ride. It just needs to be refreshed, not replaced. I agree that they should move Frozen to DHS. Still, WS needs MORE rides! Other than Mexico and Norway, there is little to interest riders in the rest of WS (especially if you don’t drink alcohol or eat the various cuisines). I believe they should add rides to some of the other WS pavillions (even a Mulan ride at China as some have facetiously suggested. After all, Mulan did take place in China!) At any rate, I hope they do more than just keep the same track. Maelstrom is much too short for the time you spend in line waiting to get on.

  22. I can understand Disney jumping on each and every way possible to maximize the success on Frozen but as the author says above to come at the expense of Malestrom I wonder….
    Many “say” that Epcot is an adult type park, so of course this will be a draw for those with children. But it won’t be scene until 2016. Will the Frozen icicles be melting by then? I mean it is 2 years away and while the love for Anna and Elsa will continue will is still garner the same draw that they are getting today?
    Hearing the narrator just say “Noorrway” will be greatly missed, glad I did a couple extra rides in July when I visited. Now knowing it will have been my last.

  23. I completely understand that Disney is a business & has to change with the times to stay relevant. For the most part, they do a great job with that. Any new addition tends to bring in new technology, and I love to see how far the imagineers have advanced. As an example, I can’t wait to see the AA Dwarves in the Mine Train. And I do think that Malestrom desperately needed a reboot. I don’t even mind Frozen replacing it, it seems to fit the theme nicely. What I don’t understand is Frozen everywhere, all the time, 24/7. I saw the movie, I liked it, but I didn’t think it was the greatest thing ever created. I truly do not understand the hysteria. I have to wonder what Disney will do with all these Frozen rides/events when the fever dies down.

  24. I liked Frozen, but I didn’t LOVE it. I don’t understand the hysteria and I don’t like how much time and attention the Parks are giving to Frozen at the expense of doing other projects.

    I’m with you: while I agree Maelstrom needed attention, I enjoy the cultural aspects of each pavilion with a little Disney on the side. Having this movie consume the Norway pavilion is very disappointing.

  25. I agree they have gone too far by redoing Maelstrom to Frozen! Frozen has created Disney so much money that it deserves its own ride in a building that can do it justice. I love Maelstrom but it isn’t a very long ride. The queue to the LM ride in Fantasyland and a ride like that one is what Frozen needs. I keep saying they need to take the technology from Tokyo Disneyland’s Pooh Hunny Hunt and bring it to WDW and this would have been the prefect opportunity to do something like that with Frozen.

  26. Lets be real about this. Disney is a business, and like any other business, needs to have a healthy bottom line. Disney is the most popular family resort in the world and employs the most people (your extra friendly cast members). That is a lot of paychecks to cover.

    Maelstrom has been in Epcot sixteen years and isn’t a terribly exciting ride. The pavilion needs updating, which Norway has refused to do. A “Frozen” theme will be a good shot in the arm and will attract more children to Epcot, something Disney has been trying to accomplish for years. More children will also result in increased sales from merchandising.

    Admission prices will continue to rise even if nothing is done. Historically, that has been the case. I believe it is the right time for change, and “Frozen” is the right vehicle. It shouldn’t be that big a deal. After all, we’ve adjusted to other changes. (Except that horrible birthday cake Castle. Just couldn’t do it.)

  27. I told my children about this news this weekend (Son-5 years and Daughter 2 years) and thought they would be delighted. However, my son is absolutely devastated that Maelstrom is going away. All weekend we heard about how it was his favorite ride and he wants just one more chance to ride it. Has anyone heard timing on this? When will Maelstrom close? We are planning on a trip next August but I fear it will be too late.

    DEB: Last day of operation is scheduled for Oct 5, 2014.

  28. I’m in agreement with so many… I love Maelstrom and incorporating a bit of Frozen into the ride would be fine but to eliminate it totally….?! Oh I’m sure the replacement will be great – Disney always goes over the top however…. to lose Maelstrom instead of merging the new and old….. sigh

  29. I must admit I’m not the biggest frozen fan, but that said the film has grown on me and Disney need new films that will become this generations classics such as the lion king and little mermaid were for me.
    I do love the songs and will sing along, I’m also looking forward to the sing along in DHS, but I do feel that (and I’m stealing a quote from another forum here) that people are getting a little ‘frozen to death’
    It is my 1st trip to the world soon and maelstrom will be closed by then, I do feel though that I would like the WS part of Epcot to stay as a country specific place and not an additional movie fest, because at the end of the day that’s why I can’t wait to see MK!

  30. I think I might be the only person on the planet who hasn’t seen “Frozen”, and possibly have the only six year old girl, who while enjoying the film, doesn’t get all the hoopla surrounding it. Personally, I would rather “Maelstrom” remained, but I can see the financial sense in turning it into a “Frozen” themed ride.

    If you’re reading AllEars blogs by definition you’re going to be a Disney parks fan, and we fans care a lot about the parks and the changes made to them. I suspect there are many people on here who still mourn the passing of “Horizons”, however ultimately we are the minority. Most people who visit WDW aren’t long standing fans, and if like me they come from outside the US they may only ever make one visit in their lifetime. While we would rather keep the integrity of the parks intact “they” rarely give two hoots for Walt’s vision of EPCOT, and would rather experience something based on a recent popular movie.

    However much we would like the parks to retain their original character, I think we have to accept that they’re not world heritage sites and they are going to change as visitors tastes and expectations change.

  31. One of the things that has consistently made Disney special was the emphasis on storytelling. Unfortunately, that has become replaced over the years by product placement. I agree with other posters that what has made Epcot so fantastic was the ability of Disney imagineers to tell a country’s story not pervert it so it fits their movies or characters, I wonder if the Frozen ride, Avatar Land or “new test track” will have the timelessness of other Disney rides? Maybe they can re-engineer the Carousel of Progrees to have the old man from UP? What does a made up land have to do with a real place? Instead of dumbing down the experience, they should have made it more culturally immersive and accurate. The Jorvik Viking Center is York is better example or how Disney could have stayed true to the original mission and not pandered to product placement and retail sales. Let’s replace the more authentic shop goods as well because everyone really needs more opportunities to purchase Frozen T shirts.

  32. I’m curious how much will this Update cost the park goers? it seems with every new attraction, park tickets go “up” to make up for the cost of the new attraction.

    I was never really a Maelstrom fan so any update to this ride would be good.

    I too am sad to learn that the education part of the World show case is slowly coming to an end. But perhaps the frozen theme characters will narrate educated info about Norway, that way it’s a win win?

  33. Personally, I hate ‘Frozen’. I found nothing about it enjoyable or in keeping with the ranks of classic Disney animated films. On the other hand, I’ve always enjoyed Maelstrom in Epcot (never missing a chance to ride when I could) and feel it’s perfect as a companion to the educational and cultural attraction of the Norway pavilion as a whole. To replace it with overly commercialized garbage like “Frozen” is an insult to me personally as a frequent visitor and guest in WDW. Everything about “Frozen” is fantasy, so why put it in place of something that is far more fitting for educating people on Norway? If anything, it should be in Fantasyland in MK.

  34. My jaw just dropped last time I was at the MK fireworks show and “Let It Go” came on. Nearly everyone just stopped what they were doing and sang along or mouthed the words. I’m a musician myself and I’m amazed how quickly the frozen songs have imbedded themselves in our culture worldwide. Robert Lopez was already a genius to me for having composed “Avenue Q” and “The Book of Mormon” broadway musicals (winning Tony’s for both) as well as the “Finding Nemo” musical at Animal Kingdom. Anyway I believe Frozen wouldn’t have been such a hit without “Let It Go;” a song which made them change the character of Elsa immensely. If I was CEO of Disney I’d integrate Frozen wherever I could and what better place than Epcot’s Norway? The real Norway already has Frozen tours…

  35. I enjoyed the movie also, but World Showcase is about the countries. The history and its people, getting to know the real people of Norway. Experiencing the food, cultures, the language etc. Frozen should be kept in Fantasyland because if some of us ever visit Norway we will find the real people of Norway, not a talking, moving snowman, but the inner beauty of Norway and its people.

  36. While I understand the enthusiam around Frozen, I am part of the group that thinks Maelstrom is a step too far. If the plan involved a small part of the ride being dedicated to stories that evolved from Norse culture, then fine, but they are talking about a Frozen-only attraction. I fear it will go the way of the Mexico attraction: El Rio del Tiempo. The mythology and culture was replaced with the Three Caballeros and instead of taking away some interesting facts, the only thing most people remember is Donald Duck being chased through the ride. There has to be a way to incorporate popular characters without destroying the original purpose of these pavilions — to learn about other cultures from around the world.

  37. I LOVE frozen. It’s my favorite Disney movie hands down. I’m thrilled to see all of the exciting things happening that have to do with the movie, except the closing of the Maelstrom and it’s replacement with a Frozen attraction. The Maelstrom is about Norway and how it fits in to our diverse world. It shows us a small glimpse of that country’s culture and people. I think Disney needs to stay true to the world showcase and continue to do exactly that, showcase countries of the world. The real countries, not the ones depicted in a movie, no matter how great the movie is.

  38. I love the movie “Frozen”. That being said, I agree that Disney and the world are going overboard with it. I’m glad that Disney has such a solid hit on it’s hands, don’t mind that they want to turn it into a Broadway play (Broadway is one of my hobbies), but somewhere there has to be a line drawn. Maelstrom is a weak attraction – the ride is very short, doesn’t really get much of a point about the culture across and the film which does show some of the culture is desperately in need of an update. HOWEVER – while the Imagineers are not infallible, I think we should wait a while before judging. If Anna and Elsa can be incorporated into the attraction in such a way that they are used to showcase the Norwegian culture, that would not be so bad (yes, I know the argument that they are not Norwegian, but it would seem that they can represent Norway well as seen in the Adventures by Disney tour of Norway). As for Cinderella’s castle, I feel that the poor Fairy Godmother is getting a raw deal, but I can see a scenario where Anna and Elsa are visiting Cinderella and Cinderella asks Elsa to show off her abilities, leading to the icing of the castle (which has always been beautiful!). Let’s groan and mourn, but give Disney a chance – if something doesn’t work, they will many (not most) times quickly change it as evidenced by that horrible stage show in Tomorrowland with Stitch that lasted all of 3 weeks!

  39. I have no problem with Frozen although it is really being over exsposed so I figure in a years time everybody will be sick of it and moved on to something else. What I do have a problem with is placing a fantasy ride in Norway. Replacing a real place and a culture with pure fantasy is catering to the lowest common denominator and blatant grab for cash. The fact they are just going shove Frozen into an exsiting ride on the cheap suggests that they are going to milk it for a fast buck. If Disney really has faith in Frozen they should build it its own ride from scratch in Fanatsy Land where it belongs. Putting it in Norway is wrong. It is just that simple.

  40. While I like the movie and the music I have two thoughts.

    1- The World Showcase concept is one of a continuous world’s fair. Sadly, this vision has gone stale and we see several revisions to the WS loop. I really am not a fan of this change but I do understand how the decision was made. The ride needs overhauled – so a reimage falls in nicely. Reportedly, the host country bailed on supporting an overhaul – so it pulls the focus away from the original Norway concept. There is a loose tie to Norway.

    2- “Let it Go” is on the FAST TRACK to becoming the most mind numbing song in the parks; eventually replacing It’s a Small World – if it has not already

  41. I LOVE Frozen. I am excited about the summer experience being extended so we can see it when we are there in October. I think Anna, Elsa, and other Frozen characters being incorporated in to the holiday festivities works. I even think Anna and Elsa having some meet and greets at the Norway pavilion is fine (after all there are meet and greets with Jasmine and Aladdin in Morocco, Belle and Beast in France, and Mulan in China). HOWEVER, I do not think that replacing Maelstrom with a Frozen themed ride is a good idea. I have no problem with Maelstrom being updated (it needs to be) or even replaced with another ride that reflects Norwegian culture. Put a Frozen ride somewhere else (Fantasyland or DHS). I also think Disney needs to be careful with how much Frozen they incorporate in to the parks. As much as I love the movie and songs, the inundation of it at the parks is getting to be a bit much.

  42. Whenever the decision is made to add, remove, or amend an attraction, there will always be folks on both sides of the fence- that’s just human nature.

    However, I have trouble when one supports his/her position by claiming that “Walt would have never allowed that.” or a similar sentiment.

    Walt Disney died nearly 50 years ago, and the world has changed dramatically during that time. To attempt to interpret the mindset of someone who never witnessed so many advances and innovations that we use in everyday life, is disingenuous.

    Deb, I believe all of your readers are entitled to their opinions, but should support them based on their own beliefs and observations.

  43. NO. I’m NOT a Frozen fan. I may be a Scrooge, but I absolutely hate this. All of it. This is Walt Disney World, not Frozen World, and for one movie to have such a huge impact on the parks is really unnecessary. If they want to make changes, lets see some variety. If they want huge amounts of Frozen, build Frozen Land instead of Avatar, but please leave all the special things alone! Maelstrom has been a favorite of many, and it’s heartbreaking to think of losing that to Frozen. The World Showcase is most certainly not the place for attractions like this. We should be allowed to learn about the countries we’re visiting there, not be subjected to more mediocre computer animation. Adding parades and shows so that we have to hear more of Idina Menzel’s shrieking is just wrong. The FAIRY GODMOTHER should be the one to decorate CINDERELLA’S castle for the Holiday season, who is this Elsa chick anyway, but a moody, whiny screechy self centered jerk? IMO, her voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard, she doesn’t sing, she yells. Because of her voicing Elsa, I didn’t enjoy the movie at all, nor did any of the group of people I went to the theater with. The movie, itself isn’t a bad story, but I simply can’t understand why people are so obsessed with it. Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Tangled, Wreck it Ralph and just about anything else released since the company was born have better storylines. Why not bring in a huge influx of shows and attraction changes that involve any of these other movies? What makes Frozen different, other than the fact that many long time Disney fans weren’t overly impressed by it. I’m so sad about these changes.

  44. I am honestly getting sick of the overexposure of Frozen( do not get me wrong, I enjoyed the movie a lot) . I do understand it is adding tons of popularity ( not to mention the financial aspect of it as well) to Disney and a maybe never before seen frenzy. In case of the Studios, a much needed piece of news. But seriously, Frozen has no business taking over the Maelstrom ride. I totally agree on your thoughts Deb. I also think the post ride movie was old and needed a new version, but killing the Maelstrom to add a Frozen ride is too much. Arendelle does not even exist. What cultural aspect is there to a place that is purely fictional ?

  45. I have been reading all the comments, on multiple sites. I have no problem with updating and improving a ride. But like the Mexician pavilion and the 3 Caballeros, while tastefully done, it is fantasy in the real world. The World Showcase, is about visiting foreign lands while still in the US, at least that how WDW advertises it. I believe if Frozen is to replace “Maelstrom”, they have introduced fantasy into reality and fantasy belongs in “Fantasyland” or at the least in the “Studios”. Walt is turning in his grave at the mixing of the worlds.
    It would be sad to see this happen, cause it is the PERFECT example of money taking priority over imagination and that is exactly what Walt was against. If ‘they” present day rulers of “Walt’s world” continue on this course, where money is the most important item(example like the villians soriee and other recent ideas), then we lose the MAGIC. I do not know about the rest of you, they will lose me.
    Walt build Disney for CHILDREN period, to help them build with their parents. Walt knew money was important, but children with their parents, far more. He wanted them to learn, to imagine and to grow TOGETHER. If they kill the magic as they continue along this path, they will evidently kill Walts dreams and that would be very, very sad.

  46. When I’m in the parks I don’t feel like I’m at Disneyworld anymore…I feel like I’m visiting “Igerworld.”
    Last month we get the news of the Fife & Drum Corps being taken away and now this!
    They are slowly destroying WDW….

  47. I love Disney World. Pretty much everything about it brings me immense joy. That said, my two favorite things, probably in all of Disney World are the Canada Circlevision movie (don’t ask why, I don’t know, I just love that thing. I will literally ask to stay for a couple back to back showings.) and Maelstrom. I even watch that adorably dated movie at the end of the ride! I could have accepted an update, but Frozen? That movie is taking over everything, and I can’t say I love it. Frozen doesn’t even make my top 20 Disney movies, and I can’t believe they are sacrificing my beloved Maelstrom at the altar of jarring singing voices and poor character development.

  48. I think they should put the Frozen attraction in future world in between mission space and Test Track. Maelstrom should stay

  49. I’ve never seen Frozen. I am happy about the upgrade to Maelstrom. I didn’t like that scene where we are in the desolate ocean and around are the oil rigs and it was creepy. I did love the village setting at the end though so I hope they can keep that in the storyline. I will miss the trolls sort of. The giant viking eye was creepy too – like Ojo, so I do like the Frozen idea a lot. I loved the courtyard though where Maelstrom is located and the tranquil serene setting with what looks like aspen trees and the little pond with the bridge and that is all going to be an Anna and Elsa meet and greet? I am not fond of that idea and hope they can place it somewhere in the back near the restrooms instead of that beautiful little courtyard. I suppose I really should see the movie since it is everywhere in the parks these days. I do love the song, “Let it Go”, even though they are really overplaying it.

  50. I am the OPPOSITE of a crazed “Frozen” fan…truly believe Disney should have stuck to hand-drawn animation and left CG to Pixar, and the songs in the movie are lame ( and I am a huge Idina Menzel fan, so that says something). This is over-saturation! Not upset about Maelstrom….Walt said “keep moving forward” and that ride was old and tired, but WS is meant to focus on countries and Arandale or wherever those CG-grotesque huge eyeballed queens are from is NOT a country! Our upcoming holiday-time trip to WDW will be saturated with Frozen elements….NOT pleased about the castle lights at all. It is Cinderella Castle! First that 25th Anniversary cake overlay, then Stitch covering it in toliet paper….grrr, do not mess with the castle!!!! I realise people are insanely in love with this film, but it is starting to feel like Walt Di$ney World. Cannot wait for the mania to stop.

  51. I am a 44 year old woman and I love Frozen. I hated Maelstrom and yes I know it is a legacy ride but Walt never intended on his vision to become stagnant. He wanted to give the people a fun and learning experience. The parks were intended to change with the times and I also trust the Imagineering team to make sure that learning opportunity still exists. Now if someone can explain to me why Agent P is such a huge hit that would be great. I love P & F but really couldn’t they have done better than that in Epcot? And Duffy just annoys me. Here’s the soapbox. Next! ;).

  52. I am so disappointed that Disney is replacing Maelstrom. It is not the place for Frozen. No one is going to go to the Norway area to learn about the area. They will just be crowding in for the Frozen addition. People who are actually interested will not be able to get in. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Frozen movie. The smile on my granddaughter’s face when she watches it is priceless. It just doesn’t belong in the world showcase.

  53. Couldn’t agree more!!! While Frozen was a lovely film, a fantasy film about an imaginary country does not belong in a pavilion dedicated to Norway. It just seems Disney is taking the easy way out in the parks and instead of creating new very cool stuff (like Figment or the Adventurers Club, for example) they just take something that exists and tweak it (American Idol Experience, Avatarland, etc.). Have to wonder if the Frozen frenzy will abate before the Frozen attraction is opened (much like AIE).

  54. I agree with everything except about Maelstrom. I think they can do wonderful things with the ride space, probably still keeping the track and just building new stuff around it. I doubt very much they will built a ride a la Magic Kingdom, but that they will have a story filled with Norwegian culture with a Frozen twist and hopefully even a new film.

    However, I will never forgive them for thinking lumberjacks can replace Off Kilter! And I’m still upset about Millionaire. 🙂

  55. This is disappointing. Frozen belongs in Fantasyland, not the World Showcase. It was entertaining, but most people will be tired of it long before this ride opens.

  56. I confess: I’ve seen “Frozen”, and can’t understand what all the hoopla is about. Yes, it’s a good movie, but no better than several other Disney movies I could name. Doing away with Maelstrom in favor of a “Frozen” attraction is not really in keeping with the overall spirit of World Showcase. It’s as others have said before me, this area of WDW is meant to give the feeling of visiting the actual countries represented, not fictitious places. This is why the updated Mexico ride works, it actually takes place IN Mexico.

    BTW, we were in DL Paris recently, and from what we could see, “Frozenmania” hasn’t hit there. We saw more little Rapunzels than any other princess, and the shops had LOTS of Anna and Elsa costumes/dolls/etc. for sale, nor were there any meet ‘n’ greets with them. This whole “Frozen” thing seems to be a strictly US phenomenon.

  57. I am mixed. As I have 3 daughters who ,of course, can sing all Frozen songs frontwards and backwards, I love/hate the idea of a ride. I think Disney didn’t realize at first how much of a hit it was going to be and now are scrambling to make it more a part of the parks. As I write this, I am gearing up for my trip starting tomorrow and look forward to riding Malestrom at least one more time. I think it has needed an update for some time though. We do Malestrom every trip, even if just to get out of the heat and do a ride so mommy and daddy can shop around the world showcase. I like the idea of having more “Frozen” opportunities and I think this could fit well, IF done right and not over the top movie-esque. Now, off to go stand in line for an hour to meet Anna and Elsa!

  58. I think you’re 100% right. As a fan of the movie and the music of Frozen myself, I’m finding myself a little torn about the changes coming to WDW in the near future. I’m excited about the meet and greet coming back to Epcot and I also hope that it eases those four and five hour waits to meet Anna and Elsa in the Magic Kingdom. I think that the additions to the Studios were very much needed. They’ve needed an energy shot in the arm over there for a while. But what worries me too is Maelstrom. When they changed over the ride in the Mexico pavilion to include the three caballeros it lost all of it’s charm (at least for me) and the history that the ride provided was completely lost. I love Maelstrom and I hope that they don’t try to cut corners and just ruin such a historic ride with a few new gimmicks. Guess we just have to wait and see huh? At least my mom and I will get to ride it on our trip next week.

  59. I agree as well. I love Frozen but it has no place in World Showcase. I’m old school. I think Epcot was perfect the way it was originally. The change to Imagination was horrible. The Nemoization of the Living Seas looks like it was done on the cheap and I’ll never forgive them for getting rid of Horizons. The countries should be about the countries. That was the fantasy. Feeling like you saw a little of a place you’d never been. I’m not a fan of the change in the ride in Mexico. It’s just distracting. Frozen in Norway will be as well. Sigh.

  60. I have to agree. I enjoy ‘Frozen’ as much as the next person. I loved the sing-a-long. But the overtaking of Maelstrom is just wrong. Disney is making too many changes, all at once. I have loved walking from country to country, watching the various live shows….don’t get me started on the removal of Mo-rockin and Off-Kilter (to name a few)!!! The edu-tainment value isn’t what it used to be. No, kids didn’t love Epcot or WS. It was more an adult thing, but kids still got something from it. My 20 year old daughter is very upset with this new turn of events….but she did admit she is a wee bit excited to see what they do with Maelstrom.
    I’m just worried that Disney is going to really make each country the same, with minimal cultural/historica value at all! I’m not sure how wonderful this is all going to be in 5 years! But, I’m no business genius.

  61. 1. Adding the Three Caballeros to the Mexico ride did not harm World Showcase
    2. If Norway does not want to pony up the funds to maintain their pavilion ( a business magazine ran the story recently) then this does not surprise me
    3. I trust Imagineering to do a good job

  62. Over saturation is dangerous. Next thing you know Olaf will be visiting other snow locations and we will have
    Entrenched
    Places
    Could
    Olaf
    Travel
    with Olaf sightings shows and attractions in every country and the princesses taking over countries with monarchies.

  63. My children and I read about the closing of Maelstrom and we felt terrible. We just came back from Disney this summer and the first thing we did in World Showcase was to go on the ride. We even had a fast pass for it. My children are 15 and 11 and they still love to go on the ride.
    Frozen is a beautiful movie but Disney is going a little overboard now by taking away an icon from the World Showcase like Maelstrom.
    My family and I are Disney fans and a little magic has just been taken away from us. I truly don’t seeing us going back to look at the Norway Pavilion the next time we visit Disney.
    A very sad day!!

  64. I could not agree more.wth you, Deb. World Showcase is about experiencing different countries without having to leave the US. Everything I know about Norway is really due to my visits of the Norway pavilion. I thoroughly enjoy Frozen but it has no place taking over Norway. What next? A Mulan attraction in China? How about Brother Bear booting out Martin Short in Canada? Maybe Impressions de France should be replaced by a Beauty and the Beast sing-a-long? The meet and greets are a great idea in WS but that should be the extent of the presence of Disney movies in WS. Disney executives should “go crazy” in HS with Frozen as it makes perfect sense to promote movies in a movie themed park. “Avatarland” being created in AK was a hard pill to swallow but swallow it I did. The removal of Maelstrom just to hear and see more singing princesses is going to take someone shoving that pill down my throat. Two thumbs down, Disney, two thumbs down…..

  65. I could’t agree more with you Deb. I am afraid that this will start a trend that will slowly change the cultural aspects that the pavilions – in my opinion – where meant to be. What’s next Mulan ride inside the Chinese Temple? Disney is all about protecting the brand and rightfully so. I hope somebody is protecting the vision of Epcot and World Showcase.