Tom Staggs Announces Frozen Attraction Coming To Epcot , Norway Pavilion Maelstrom Ride Will Close October 5

It's official, Tom Staggs announced today that a Frozen attraction is coming to Epcot, and as the rumor said it, it will be in the Norway pavilion, the Maelstrom attraction will close October 5. Here is the full statement of Tom Staggs from The Disney Parks Blog, and Tom also announced more about Frozen:

"When Walt Disney promised that Disneyland would never be completed, so long as there is imagination left in the world, he made a promise to our guests that we take seriously at all our locations around the world. This year, one particular product of imagination — Disney Animation’s blockbuster hit “Frozen” — captured the hearts and minds of people around the world and gave us a new opportunity to make good on Walt’s pledge.
We’ve made “Frozen” a part of the guest experience in a number of ways already and our guests have both loved them and asked for more. So I’m pleased to say that we’re starting construction at Walt Disney World Resort on a brand new “Frozen” attraction at the Norway Pavilion in Epcot. The new attraction, which replaces Maelstrom, will take our guests to Arendelle and immerse them in many of their favorite moments and music from the film. The pavilion will also include a royal greeting location where Anna and Elsa can meet our guests. We think these “Frozen” elements are great complements to the Norway Pavilion, which showcases the country and region that inspired the film.

“Frozen’s” popular characters will also have a bigger presence at Magic Kingdom Park this holiday season. In addition to the ongoing character appearances, Queen Elsa will use her powers to transform Cinderella Castle into an ice palace every night starting in early November. And Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party-goers can see Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf in “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.”

We’re extending some favorite elements of Frozen Summer Fun LIVE!, too, so that guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios can continue singing along to “Frozen” songs with Queen Elsa and Princess Anna. Wandering Oaken’s will set up shop closer to the show through the holiday season and will feature a larger play area with real snow (in Florida!).
From the moment we screened the film several months before its release, we were inspired by the possibility of bringing this great story to life for our guests. Frozen Summer Fun LIVE! has been extremely popular, and now we’re looking forward to doing even more to allow our guests to experience the “Frozen” phenomenon."

Picture: copyright Disney

Will Epcot World Showcase Become "Cartoon Showcase" ?

We saw in D&M yesterday's article that apparently Disney has plans to remove the Norway Pavilion Maelstrom ride and replace it by a Frozen ride. As i explained yesterday, although there is nothing official yet,  there are quite a lot of elements that push in favor of it. But is it really a good idea? For Frozen fans i'm sure it will be, but it seems that someone somewhere is forgetting what World Showcase really is, and why it was created. World Showcase is a place where different countries of the world are presented, introduced to Americans and international guests. A kind of World Expo that will never end. It did the job pretty well until now, even if some of the rides require to be updated. The movie about France, for instance, in the France pavilion always makes me laugh as it shows the "Douce France" of famous song writer Charles Trenet, but a France which no longer exist since a long time.

The problem is that little by little Disney seems to be no longer interested to preserve the original World Showcase concept. There might be another reason - a "money" reason"- why and it's may be because the countries are not willing to pay for new rides, as they did when Epcot opened 31 years ago. Anyway, a few years ago the first cartoon characters - the Three Caballeros - were introduced in the Mexican pavilion ride and now if this Frozen ride rumor is true it's another attraction based on Disney animated characters that will take the place of a ride which was originally totally based on a country history and myths. In the case of the Three Caballeros it was not so problematic as the new version called "Gran Fiesta Tour" still "showcase" the Mexico country itself  (if you've not seen the ride you have the video of it below ). But in the case of Frozen it's something totally different. Although the kingdom and landscape of Arendelle is inspired by Nordic regions it's not supposed to be "Norway". They probably can find a way in the post-show to have a link with Norway but it will be difficult to create a link with Norway in the ride itself...




The question is: if they bring a Frozen ride at World Showcase will they stop here or will they introduce more rides linked to animation characters in World Showcase? Knowing that Epcot is in need of new attractions they could be tempted to bring at the France pavilion the same Ratatouille ride that will open this summer at DLP Walt Disney Studios. After all,
"Impression de France", the France pavilion movie is showing such an idealized vision of France that it's getting old and what could push in favor of bringing the Ratatouille ride is that they won't even have to build a Paris quarter like they currently do at the WDS as it's already built at World Showcase. The Ratatouille ride needs a huge show building but, luckily for Epcot imagineers, they do have the room available backstage to build it as you can see on the Google Earth screen capture below.  The current french restaurant of the France pavilion could easily be transformed in a "Ratatouille" themed restaurant, and there we go!

To be honest, if they were building the Ratatouille ride at World Showcase - and i would be surprised if no one at Disney didn't already think about it - the theme of the ride will be closer to Paris and France cultural aspect - specially cooking - than a Frozen ride would be with Norway.

Still, they have to think about all this with cautious because if they don't, Epcot World Showcase might lose its original concept and quickly become "Cartoon Showcase"...