Changes
/* Attraction History */
Although fairly well developed, the Norway pavilion's sponsors wanted their attraction to be more of a travelogue, which would show all that Norway had to offer, as opposed to a mythological adventure <ref name= "book"> The EPCOT explorer's encyclopedia: R. Pedersen - Epcyclopedia Press - 2011 </ref>. They also gave the Imagineers a list of things that they wanted included in the attraction including: Vikings, a fishing village, a polar bear, a fjord, and an oil rig <ref name= "book"/>. In order to meet the demands of sponsors, Imagineers eventually decided that the ride would take guests on a time-traveling boat tour through Norway's history. The attraction would now begin with a Viking scene, before going through Norwegian folklore and ending in modern day Norway <ref name= "Martin"/> <ref name= "mouseplanet"/>. With this new concept in place, plans for a Sherman Brothers song were scrapped <ref name= "mouseplanet"/>. Adding to the attractions appeal however, would be various drops and visual effects. The new designs also called for a full scale replication of a North Sea storm which would include wind, waves, rain, thunder and real lightning <ref name= "Martin"/>. In order to create the lightning effect, Imagineers initially hoped to use a large Tesla coil. When Imagineer Jim Mulder attempted to use the coil however, it became clear that it would be unsafe for guests and the idea was scrapped <ref name= "part3"> https://www.mouseplanet.com/7133/Walt_Disney_Worlds_Maelstrom_Part_3/</ref>.
During its development, the name of Norway’s attraction changed from SeaVenture to Maelstrom. Construction began on the Norway pavilion on May 27, 1986 and the ride was installed shortly after <ref name= "Martin"/>. Although the rest of the Norway pavilion opened on June 3, 1988, Maelstrom's opening was delayed. According to an Orlando Sentinel article published at the pavilion's opening, the attraction was delayed by unspecified technical issues. Although Disney would not elaborate on the attraction's problems, it was Maelstrom's North Sea storm scene that caused the delay (due to guests getting soaked or even tossed out of the boat)<ref name="Korkis"/>.
Finally, on July 5, 1988, Maelstrom opened to the public <ref name= "parksblog"> http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/05/this-day-in-disney-history-norway-pavilion-debuts/ </ref>. At it's opening, Imagineer Randy Bright noted that:
{{Quotation| "Norway will present several firsts for this organization as a ride. It's the first ride that actually goes backwards, and the first ride that will utilize Audio-Animatronics in a black light environment."<ref name= "Korkis"> https://www.mouseplanet.com/11423/The_Story_of_the_Norway_Pavilion_Before_Frozen </ref>}}
Following Maelstrom's opening, the attraction saw a relatively small number of changes. Over time, the smoke effects in both the Troll scene and the reverse scene were been toned weretoned down. Furthermore, the wave and rain effects in the North Sea Storm scene were also diminished.
Maelstrom permanently closed on October 5, 2014 in order to make way for a new attraction titled [[Frozen Ever After]] <ref> http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-farewell-to-norway-maelstrom-ride-at-epcot-20141005-story.html </ref>.
