Not Pony Related: Stabbed in the Heart by a Mouse · 7:26pm Sep 12th, 2014
It's no secret to any of you that I am a huge Disney fan. Walt Disney is one of my heroes, the media put out by the company has helped shape who I am essentially from birth, and Walt Disney World is one of my favorite places on Earth. This past year has been amazing, since it's been my first year as a Passholder. I've vistited so many times... it's been unreal.
I am always the first in line to defend Disney. When they bought Star Wars and reclassified thirty years worth of Extended Universe media as fanfiction, I stood by them. When they announced the closure of Snow White's Scary Adventures in the Magic Kingdom, I was heartbroken... but I defended them. I somehow knew that the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train would be a worthy successor, and my trust was rewarded with a wonderful new ride.
...They've never lied to me before.
My favorite theme park in the World is Epcot. Yes, it's a shadow of its former self. Yes, the rides aren't very thrilling (Mission: Space and Test Track the obvious exclusions.) But there's something about it... I don't know. I just love it.
And my favorite ride is Maelstrom.
The back half of Epcot is the World Showcase, a 1.25 mile long walk through pavilions representing various countries, from Canada and China to Japan and Mexico. The architecture is delightful, the food is outstanding, and it's just a pleasant place to walk.
Norway's Maelstrom is one of only two rides in the Showcase (the other being the Gran Fiesta Tour in Mexico) and is a slow boat ride. After boarding a Viking longship, you are transported by a statue of Odin into Norway's distant past. You pass a Viking village and watch as they set sail. Your ship passes into a forest and right into a den of trolls. The trolls don't take kindly to intruders and cast a spell that sends you flying backwards into the North where you're attacked by polar bears. Narrowly escaping into a peaceful forest on a spring day, the trolls catch you again and set you forward once more. Their magic sends you plummeting back into modern times and onto a stormy North Sea, narrowly dodging a massive oil platform. Your ship pulls into a peaceful harbor at night and you disembark at the dock.
Rumors began circulating a few months ago that Disney was looking for a cheap way to integrate the film 'Frozen' into the theme parks. I can understand Disney's logic. Back in 1989 when 'the Little Mermaid' became a money monster, Disney canned plans for a dark ride that would have capitalized on the film's popularity. The ride was eventually built in 2010, but that particular iron was no longer hot.
Since 'Frozen' became the highest grossing animated film of all time, merchandise is EVERYWHERE in the World. Anna and Elsa's meet and greet at the Fairytale Hall often has lines exceeding 3 hours. Disney Hollywood Studios has hosted the Frozen Summer Celebration all year featuring a live stage show, ice skating, and even a special fireworks display. Also, MORE MERCH.
Clearly, Disney learned their lesson.
And they set their gaze on Maelstrom.
The logic made sense. The design of 'Frozen' is clearly inspired by Norway, so much so that the pavilion already plays host to a showcase of how Norway's art shows up in 'Frozen.' And it's not like this sort of thing has never happened. Mexico's Gran Fiesta Tour was originally El Rio Del Tiempo. The ride is essentially the same, but now has an added story featuring the Three Caballeros. No issues there. The Living Seas saw it's thirty second dark ride extended and re-themed to characters from 'Finding Nemo.' That's fine too.
But the idea of transforming Norway into Arendelle? A fictional country settling into the World Showcase? The idea disgusted me.
I was upset... but I trusted Disney. I've always trusted Disney. They make mistakes, they stumble... but they've always been there for me.
Last week, my wife and I took a trip to the World. It was our last for a few months, as due to financial issues we have to let our passes expire until January. While Disney had not made an official announcement, I rode Maelstrom with the belief that it would be for the last time. I saw special effects I had never noticed before, tried to memorize the smell that attraction had... when I disembarked at the dock, I lingered. I did my best to memorize every detail of an attraction I had loved so much for so long.
I started to cry.
In the gift shop, my wife bought a pair of earrings so that she would always have a piece of the attraction with her. We thanked the people running the ride and told them how much we would miss it.
They laughed and said it wasn't going anywhere. They said due to fan outcry (and sales of an exclusive shirt that I have one of) Disney had reconsidered. The park's managers had been out a few days before to make a final decision (that was why every effect was in to working order.) The reason there had been no announcement yet was because Maelstrom was staying.
I was overjoyed and spent the rest of my vacation with a spring in my step.
I'm a bit of an arm-chair Imagineer, so I immediately started figuring out where they would put the inevitable 'Frozen' ride. There was still plenty of room left in Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland. A new 'Frozen' ride would be most welcomed there. Or what about Disney Hollywood Studios? They already had 'Frozen' everywhere AND they just closed the American Idol Experience (good riddance) which took up an enormous amount of space. It would fit right in there.
This morning, Disney announced the imminent closure of Maelstrom. The entire Norway pavilion will receive a 'Frozen' makeover that will include a new ride and a permanent Elsa and Anna meet and greet. Disney has not announced a closure date yet, but it looks like October 5th will be the last day of operation.
...Disney lied to me.
"But Disney didn't lie." Some will say. "Those cast members lied." But those cast members ARE Disney. They say what Disney tells them to say.
I loved 'Frozen.' I still do. It's a wonderful film with amazing music and animation. I am not at all opposed to a ride.
But this hurts.
I have hopes that Disney will do right by me once again. Maybe the ride replacing Maelstrom will be spectacular, with astonishing visual effects and ground-breaking animatronic figures. Maybe the popularity of the ride will convince Disney to pour more money into Epcot and finally fix the Imagination pavilion.
But right now, two facts stand;
1. Maelstrom is going away, and I won't be there to say good-bye.
2. Disney, the one company on Earth I would do anything for, lied to me.
Walt Disney once said that you have to get older, but you don't have to grow up.
Today, I feel like a little bit of magic died in me.
I guess I grew up a little.
Yeesh.
Pity I never went on that.
Odd title to see on my feed two days after I had to scoop a dead mouse out of the corner right outside my bedroom.
How would you have felt if they said that they didn't know? Just curious.
Honestly, retheming Norway to Arendelle seems... wrong. Mostly because it is terribly off-theme for that part of Epcot. Or really Epcot in general, which is all about the world as it is and was and will be. I've been there, and it has a very distinct sort of flavor to it.
Admittedly, some parts of Epcot were a little bit tepid relative to the rest of Disneyworld, but on the other hand, I don't think putting Frozen in the middle of Epcot is the right choice - Frozen BELONGS in The Magic Kingdom. That's where it needs to be, thematically - near Cinderella's Castle, not in the World Pavillion, not in Epcot.
Of course, regarding the cast members... it is very much possible that they lied. Or it is entirely possible that they didn't, and that the people who came down to go through Maelstorm said "No, we should keep this and do something else with Frozen," or possibly just pointed out that sticking Arendelle in the middle of The World Pavllion was a bad idea, or that it would lead to weird traffic problems (which is a serious concern; major attractions like that grab a lot of people, and if I remember the layout of The World Pavillion properly, that's going to lead to a lot of people wandering to basically the extreme back of the park), and then someone overruled them. Disney has that happen sometimes.
Though I'll be real honest here - I didn't actually like Frozen very much. Let It Go was a great song, and the movie was very pretty, but on the whole, I didn't actually think that much of it. The snowman didn't really work for me, and it really felt oddly stilted in many places. The conclusion was cute enough, but... eh. I dunno, it left me feeling kind of empty. I wouldn't put it super high in my list of best Disney movies. Not that it was BAD, per se, just... not great. It was okay.
I enjoyed the Lego Movie much more.
Also Wreck-It Ralph. Because I am a giant nerd.
Crud...Well maybe it will change back
*shoulder pats*
I'm sorry to hear that Jade. Too bad they couldn't put Frozen somewhere else... Somewhere.... not being used... abandoned if you will... A place set aside from the normal park where snow could be placed as If Its an Island or something....
I know how you feel... and you aren't the only to cry over a lost ride. There is a little amusement park near where I live that closes down Sunday. It was a big park of childhood, and i wanted to share it with my children. And I found it this summer that its it last summer.
I never even got a chance to share it my kids. The first rollar coaster I've ever been on. And the first one I ever enjoyed. 
2449637 Would've been bummed, but acceptance would have come easier. I was ready to say good-bye, they just lead me to believe I wouldn't have to.
2449930 Frozen Discovery Island? There's an idea...
2450279
Fair enough.
2450279 Or Frozen River Country. That brain eating bacteria can't survive in cold right?
I myself have never been to Walt Disney World, but I've been going to Disneyland since before I can remember. From what I know about the park, it doesn't seem right for Arendelle to take the place of the Norway theme in Epcot. It sounds like it should be more in the Magic Kingdom. I understand that Disney is a money making company and that they need to update the parks to appeal more to this generation to continue making money, but I don't think its a good idea to take out existing rides that people have grown to love. Its not really worth taking out, since there is going to most likely be a backlash. (unless if the ride is unpopular, I have no idea since I've never been there) It really is a shame though.
Frozen definitely belongs in the Magic Kingdom and I'm sure there's probably a decent amount of room there because I've heard that everything is more spread out than it is in CA. For example, The Little Mermaid ride @ Disneyland is in California is in a less fitting park than it should have been. I think that it would have been better in Fantasyland, but there's not a enough room for new rides there. Besides, I'd rather it be in a less fitting park than have a ride I love taken out.
I've never had a ride I loved taken out of a park in my life, so I can't really relate. However, I'm pretty sure that Disney could have worked something out in Magic Kingdom though. (sorry about my long winded comment
)