Originally Posted By Mr F So, apparently, according to Screamscape.com, WDW is considering turning the Maelstrom attraction at EPCOT into an attraction themed to the film "FROZEN". WDW his a history of "cartoonifying" attractions, sometimes even ruining them. Examples include "Stich's Great Escape", "The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management", "The Seas With Nemo & Friends", "Grand Fiesta Tour Starting Three Cabarellos", etc. So what are your opinions? Please Discuss.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I think it would be impossible to make Maelstrom any worse than it is at present... any change would be a plus. On the other hand, I have a hard time imagining that Norway would go along with the idea.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: As much as my sisters and I love FROZEN, we'd prefer that an attraction based on that particular movie be built somewhere other than World Showcase's Norway section. The Magic Kingdom still has room for something like that, after all. ORWEN: In the meantime Malestrom should be re-done into a longer ride.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I'm not at all surprised that they're considering something like this, but I really hope they don't do it. Maelstrom could use some work, but this isn't the best solution by a long shot (fixing the air conditioning would be a great first step). The building isn't nearly large enough to expand the attraction, and they're fairly limited with what can be done, considering the awkward backward portion of the ride The exhibit in the stave church makes it clear that the movie is set in Arendale, which was partly inspired by Norwegian elements. The movie doesn't take place in Norway at all, but rather used certain things from Norway as well as other countries. Installing a high-profile Frozen attraction would be like plopping Radiator Springs in the middle of a theme park about California...oh, wait... And for what it's worth, they wouldn't need to get any sort of approval to redo the ride. The consortium of businesses that originally sponsored the pavilion decided many years ago (possibly as early as 1998, 10 years after it opened) to not renew their sponsorship. That's why we have the princess buffet in Akershus (no idea why they didn't change the name to something more English-friendly during the conversion) and the post-ride film/infomercial is no longer required viewing. While I'm not sure it's directly related, I suspect it's also why the Viking ship playground was removed instead of refurbished and Maelstrom has its maintenance issues For now, the meet & greet seems to be incredibly popular. I've read reports that it's consistently pulling in a 2+ hour wait, and thoroughly clogging up the pavilion's walkway. I wouldn't be opposed to them using the former playground space to build a more permanent meet & greet location, like Snow White's well in Germany or the princess gazebo in France. This would give them a place to hold the characters and a decent size queue without blocking the main walkway, while still keeping them nearby. It would also allow them to return the current meet & greet space to the merchandise team, which I'm sure would be a popular decision for the powers that be!
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: What they REALLY ought to do is have a new meet and greet area just for Jim in Merced CA whenever he decides to blow in from out of state. ORGOCH: I can only imagine the long lines fer that one...
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< ... they're fairly limited with what can be done, considering the awkward backward portion of the ride >>> Nothing that a bird on a stick can't solve.
Originally Posted By u k fan ^^^No, it would be entitled "Jim and Friends" and you might see Jim or any other LPer who fits the theme!!!
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I was involved in the opening of Maelstrom during the last 4 months of construction through opening and in my opinion, while a nice attraction, it never really delivered the way it was supposed to. Now many years later I still believe that. I like the up hill portion and the troll with the fiber optic effect is cool, but the rest of the ride is a dud. The backward part is missing some of the elements that were originally intended because of the lack of money and in the end adds nothing to the story. I would love to see Disney take a stab at something new there and at this point I would have no problem with Frozen IF they did it right.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn I could see that coming when I was watching the movie. I even suspect some of its screenwriting was done sitting on benches at EPCOT, just to make sure the pavilion could be transformed.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>I like the up hill portion and the troll with the fiber optic effect is cool<< I agree that the lift hill is pretty neat. I assume it's a fairly simple effect, but it gets me every time The fiber optics are incredible, but they're really poorly placed in the scene, since they're directly above the boat. I had ridden it dozens of times before I looked up to see it, since I had seen images of the effect being tested in an Imagineering book. Even with the book, it probably took me 4-5 times through to realize where it was. The focal point in that scene is the troll in front of you, yet the best effect in the ride is directly above you. Odd placement at best
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Why not?" It's finally happened. Jim has joined me on the dark side.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb The last few times I rode, I found Maelstrom underwhelming and dated... really dated. It needs something and at this point why not use Frozen and make it the true Princess Pavilion.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I can think of a million reasons why I'm philosophically opposed to this, but Disney jumped the shark years ago, so as jim said, why not.
Originally Posted By dizneed << The last few times I rode, I found Maelstrom underwhelming and dated... really dated. >> The kids we see in the film at the end of the ride are probably retired already! LOL!
Originally Posted By phruby Wasn't there an article a few years ago where Jim Hill said there was going to be a Frozen ride (back when it was named, the Snow Queen) that would replace the Wonder Bra theater in DL Fantasy Land with a full size creation of the Snow Queen's castle with a Small World-type boat ride through it? Maybe a smaller version is going in at Epcot?
