Confirmed: Frozen Attraction to Replace Maelstrom, Which Closes on October 5th

Yesterday darthmaz314 reported about continued speculation and rumor regarding the imminent closure of the Norway pavilion's Maelstrom ride to make way for a Frozen themed attraction at Epcot. Hours later, on the official Disney Parks Blog, Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, confirmed that Maelstrom is closing and will be replaced by a Frozen attraction slated to open in 2016. Maelstrom's last day of operation will be October 5. 

Staggs hearkened back to the words of Walt Disney himself, who when speaking about Disneyland once commented that the park would never be truly finished as long as there was imagination left in the world. Walt's words prove prophetic once again as the imagination that inspired Frozen continues to infiltrate all aspects of the Disney brand. 

Frozen's initial introduction to the parks came with Elsa and Anna character greetings and the guest response was voracious and insatiable. With Stand-by wait times at Walt Disney World during the peak summer days reaching four-plus hours, it was clear that more Frozen was desperately needed in the Disney Parks. Disney responded with the Frozen Summer Fun Live campaign at Hollywood Studios, which darthmaz314 will cover in upcoming posts. Guest response was again overwhelming, causing Disney to extend the "Frozen Fun" beyond "Summer" and through the month of September. 

In his blog post yesterday, Tom Staggs also announced the indefinite extension of certain elements of Frozen Summer Fun Live. Also announced was the introduction of Elsa, Anna, and the Frozen gang into the parade at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. In addition, starting in early November, guests of the Magic Kingdom will be able to witness the Queen of Arendelle "letting it go" to transform Cinderella castle into an icy palace each night. 

Frozen Summer Fun Live Stage Disney's Hollywood Studios

Maelstrom was a great Epcot attraction for over a quarter century and will be sorely missed. Like other Disney attractions that have been retired, after October 5th, it will have to live on in our memories and in any photos or video that we may have taken while it was in operation. Time to dust off those photo albums and videotapes!
  
Click the link below to read the full Disney Parks Blog post. 

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/09/frozen-attraction-coming-to-epcot/    

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Will Maelstrom Be Replaced By a Frozen Attraction? - Update

Back in April, darthmaz314.com reported that rumors were circulating about the possible re-imagining of the Maelstrom ride in Epcot's Norway's pavilion into a Frozen-themed attraction (click to read Will Disney Turn Maelstrom Into a Frozen-Themed Attraction? ) Although Disney was able to bring Frozen into the parks with this summer's Frozen Summer Fun at Disney's Hollywood Studios, capitalizing on the blockbuster movie in the parks with a permanent attraction is something Disney absolutely must do.

Will the Maelstrom Soon Be Sucked Into the Frozen Vortex?

Rumors continue to swirl about which further support the departure of Maelstrom to make way for a Frozen attraction. Specifically, Disney internet chat boards have been reporting that cast members at the Norway pavilion have been given notice that they will soon be relocated as the pavilion is nearing a shutdown. Could it be that there is merely a major refurbishment pending for Maelstrom and not a Frozen revamp? While that is possible since Maelstrom is over a quarter century old and rehabs are needed for many Future World and World Showcase Attractions, it more likely that Disney is about to say "let it go" to Maelstrom, to make way for the kingdom of Arendelle. 

So if you are a Maelstrom fan you may want to put the attraction on your list of "must dos" if you plan to be at Epcot in the very near future. To borrow a line from the attraction, you may not have been "the first to pass this way," but you may soon be the last.

Will "Frozen Fractals" Soon Be "All Around" Norway?

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