I personally am not a fan of change when it come to the Disney parks. Maybe I'm a traditionalist, or maybe I just think things are great the way they are. Recently a lot of changes have been announced to Epcot, but most recently it was announced that the beloved Norwegian boat ride "Maelstrom" would be closed and replaced with an attraction themed to the newest Disney cash cow, "Frozen".
Before I get into this post too far, let me start out by saying I actually enjoyed "Frozen". It was a great story, filled with great characters, and even better music. "Let it Go" has gone from good to bad so many times with me I've lost count. That being said, I liked "Tangled" better. Sorry, but I did. However, it was "Frozen" who blew up at the box office, and therefore gets all the theme park love that comes with being a runaway hit. The wait to meet Elsa and Anna is still 4+ hours. Hollywood Studios had a successful "Frozen Summer", and even their own limited edition Magic Bands. So it came as no shock that "Frozen" would get an attraction. Norway in Epcot seems like the perfect spot. Arendelle, while fictional, is a Norwegian village after all. I guess I, and many other Epcot purists, just didn't want to see them take our beloved trolls and vikings away. Much like the fans of rides like World of Motion and Horizons hated to see their favorites leave to make way for Test Track and Mission: Space.
Personally, I hate this idea simply because of this. When the new ride opens in early 2016, will "Frozen" be the classic they want it to be? Will it be worthy enough of it's own attraction? While many will say yes, I say it won't. Yes it was a fantastic film, but I think as time ticks on the demand for "Frozen" in the parks will diminish. The lines to meet Elsa will get shorter, and the merchandise won't sell out as fast. "Frozen" has made a mark on the history of Disney animation, but in my opinion, not one that will last a life time to merit a theme park attraction.
Also, does this mean that Norway will now be known as Arendelle, thus taking away from the original "World's Fair" theme of World Showcase? I feel the presence of a "Frozen" attraction will do just that. No longer will be celebrating the heritage of Norway, but now the storybook fantasy of a mythical village. It will take some time, but as long as I can get my Geir Ness cologne in the gift shop, I can look past this eventually.
I hope for the success this will most certainly bring Epcot, but personally I think it's a bit too presumptuous. Meanwhile, I will begin to look for crow on eBay, and have it ready to eat should the necessity arise.
Before I get into this post too far, let me start out by saying I actually enjoyed "Frozen". It was a great story, filled with great characters, and even better music. "Let it Go" has gone from good to bad so many times with me I've lost count. That being said, I liked "Tangled" better. Sorry, but I did. However, it was "Frozen" who blew up at the box office, and therefore gets all the theme park love that comes with being a runaway hit. The wait to meet Elsa and Anna is still 4+ hours. Hollywood Studios had a successful "Frozen Summer", and even their own limited edition Magic Bands. So it came as no shock that "Frozen" would get an attraction. Norway in Epcot seems like the perfect spot. Arendelle, while fictional, is a Norwegian village after all. I guess I, and many other Epcot purists, just didn't want to see them take our beloved trolls and vikings away. Much like the fans of rides like World of Motion and Horizons hated to see their favorites leave to make way for Test Track and Mission: Space.
Personally, I hate this idea simply because of this. When the new ride opens in early 2016, will "Frozen" be the classic they want it to be? Will it be worthy enough of it's own attraction? While many will say yes, I say it won't. Yes it was a fantastic film, but I think as time ticks on the demand for "Frozen" in the parks will diminish. The lines to meet Elsa will get shorter, and the merchandise won't sell out as fast. "Frozen" has made a mark on the history of Disney animation, but in my opinion, not one that will last a life time to merit a theme park attraction.
Also, does this mean that Norway will now be known as Arendelle, thus taking away from the original "World's Fair" theme of World Showcase? I feel the presence of a "Frozen" attraction will do just that. No longer will be celebrating the heritage of Norway, but now the storybook fantasy of a mythical village. It will take some time, but as long as I can get my Geir Ness cologne in the gift shop, I can look past this eventually.
I hope for the success this will most certainly bring Epcot, but personally I think it's a bit too presumptuous. Meanwhile, I will begin to look for crow on eBay, and have it ready to eat should the necessity arise.
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