Changes

When an attraction for the Norway pavilion was originally being developed, Imagineers wanted to give the pavilion EPCOT Center’s first thrill ride. Under the name Named “SeaVenture”, Norway’s attraction would take guests through a 946 ft. flume ride<Ref name= "Martin"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?tag=norway-pavilion </ref>. Along the waytheir journey, guests would encounter mythical creatures such as trolls and gnomes as they searched for the Rainbow Bridge to Valhalla<ref name= "Martin"/>. The attraction’s thrill was to come from a new ride system, developed by Imagineer Dave Van Wyck<ref name= "book"/>, which allowed Imagineers to reverse the direction of the boat during the ride. During the development of SeaVenture, the Sherman Brothers were also called in to create a song for the attraction<ref name= "Martin"/>.

Although fairly well developed, During the sponsors from Norway wanted their attraction to be more development of a travelogue showing all that Norway had to offerSeaVenture, as opposed the Sherman Brothers were called in to create a mythological adventure. They also gave the Imagineers a list of things that they wanted included in song for the attraction including: Vikings, a fishing village, a polar bear, a fjord, and an oil rigalthough this was never used. In order According to meet Imagineer Paul Torrigino:{{Quotation| "Bob and Randy were talking about getting the demands of sponsors, Imagineers eventually decided that the ride would take guests on Sherman brothers to write a boat tour through Norway's historysong for it, beginning in Norwegian Folklore and ending one day they got them to come in modern day Norwayfor a meeting at the model. Adding I was really excited to the attractions appeal would be various drops meet them and visual effects, as well as we explained the aforementioned direction changeride concept to them. The new designs also called for They were very interested and were ready to go off and write a full scale replication of a North Sea stormsong. The storm was to include wind, waves, rain, thunder and real lightning" <ref name= "mouseplanet"> https://www.mouseplanet.com/7131/Walt_Disney_Worlds_Maelstrom_Part_1 </ref>}}

Although SeaVenture was now fairly well developed, NorShow (the Norway pavilion's sponsors) wanted their country's 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 reporting on the pavilion's opening, the attraction was delayed by unspecified technical issues <ref> Vaughen, Vicki. “Norway Pavilion Opens -- Without Viking Ride.” Orlando Sentinel , 2 June 1988 </ref>. 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 with <ref name= "parksblog"> http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/05/this-day-in-disney-history-norway-pavilion-debuts/ </ref>. At its opening, Imagineer Randy Bright noted that:{{Quotation| "Norway will present several firsts for this organization as a ride. It's the rest of first ride that actually goes backwards, and the Norway pavilionfirst ride that will utilize Audio-Animatronics in a black light environment. Since " <ref name= "Korkis"> https://www.mouseplanet.com/11423/The_Story_of_the_Norway_Pavilion_Before_Frozen </ref>}} Following Maelstrom opened in 1988's opening, there have been a few minor changes to the attractionsaw a relatively small number of changes. The Over time, the smoke effects in both the Troll scene and the reverse scene have been were toned down. Furthermore, the wave and rain effects in the North Sea Storm scene have were also been diminished. Maelstrom permanently closed on October 5, and 2014 in order to make way for a new attraction titled [[Frozen Ever After]] <ref> http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the Tesla coil that originally created the lightning effect has been replaced with strobe lights-daily-disney/os-farewell-to-norway-maelstrom-ride-at-epcot-20141005-story.html </ref>.

Imagineers that worked on the development and creation of Maelstrom included:

'''Randy Carter'''- Producer<ref name= "mouseplanet"/>

'''Bob Kurzweil'''- Ride Designer<ref name= "mouseplanet"/>

'''Dave Van Wyk'''- Head Engineer<ref name= "book"/>

'''Joe Rohde'''- Concept Art<ref name= "mouseplanet"/>

'''Paul Torrigino'''- Production Designer<ref name= "mouseplanet"/>

'''Jim Mulder'''- Special Effects<ref name= "part3"/> '''Ron Bowman'''- Interior Construction <ref name= "Part4"> https://www.mouseplanet.com/7134/Walt_Disney_Worlds_Maelstrom_Part_4 </ref>

Maelstrom begins began with guests boarding a Viking boat longboat and sailing off into the distant past of Norwegian folklore. After being set in motion, the boat ascends ascended up a lift, which is was surrounded by hieroglyphics. On top of the hill, a large mask of Odin is was seen. As guests approach approached the mask, light radiate radiated from Odin's only eye, as and wind howls howled in the background. Odin then speaks spoke to guests saying :

{{Quotation| "You are not the first to pass this way, nor shall you be the last. Those who seek the spirit of Norway face peril and adventure. But more often find beauty and charm. We have always lived with the sea, so look first to the spirit of the seafarer."}}

Heeding Odin's advice, guests would then enter a scene which depicts depicted a coastal Viking settlement, where various Vikings are were shown preparing their boats. After seeing the settlement, the scope of the scene is was expanded and guests witness various witnessed Viking ships sailing off into the distance , as a nearby man blows blew a horn to seemingly announce their departure.

After traveling through the Viking village, guests enter entered the next scene which depicts depicted a Norwegian forest. As guests travel the boats traveled ahead, a large three headed troll emergesemerged. The troll has had been angered by guests guest's intrusion in the forest (which he calls called Troll Country) and casts he then cast a spell on the boat, telling guests to go "Back! Over the falls!". At this point in the attraction, the boat begins began to move backwards and guests go went down a small decent.

After the drop, guests find found themselves in Norway's polar region. Here, guests float their boat floated past a polar bear menacingly standing on its hind legs. Continuing backwards, guests head headed towards the pavilion's exterior waterfall, giving them a view of world showcaseWorld Showcase. Just as it seems seemed that the boat will would go plunging down the waterfall however, a large tree-stump troll rises rose up , and changes changed the direction of the boat boats once again. At this point , guests fall fell (forward) down a 28 foot drop, before finding themselves in the middle of a North Sea storm. As wind and rain howl howled around the their boat, guests come came dangerously close an oil rig. Eventually however , the boats pass boat passed through the storm and arrive arrived safely at a harbor in a small fishing village. Before unloading, guests hear heard one last narration which concludes concluded that, "Norway's spirit has always been, will always be, adventure!”

When Maelstrom initially opened, after disembarking from the ride, guests would stay be held in an intricately themed nighttime plaza while waiting to enter the [[Spirit of Norway]] theater , which is was located in the attraction's exit. In recent the years before the attraction closed however, the doors to theater have had remained open, allowing guests to enter and exit the theater at will<ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/walt_disney_world/theme_parks/epcot/world_showcase/norway/ M</ref>. This also gives gave guests the option of skipping the film altogether.

* The large troll that emerges in Maelstrom was inspired by Theodor Kittelsen's painting "The Monster of the Lake" <ref> https://twitter.com/EpcotLegacy/status/1544477274023645186/photo/2 </ref> * The boats used as ride vehicles in Maelstrom were designed to look like those from in the time of Eric the Red<Ref name= "parksblog"/>.

* As quests go guests went down the attraction's largest drop, they can could see a cruise ship sailing nearby. This was done there due to the fact that Norwegian Caribbean Lines was once one of the pavilion's sponsors<ref name= "Jack"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2012/01/norway_pavilion_part_two.html </ref>.

* In the village that serves served as the attraction's unloading area, guests can notice could see that the buildings have had company signs on them. These companies were the original sponsors of the pavilion before their contract expired<ref name= "Jack"/>.

* The turntable effect used in Maelstrom to reverse the direction One of the boats buildings in this area had the address '129'. This was engineered done by Dave Van Wyk. Imagineer Paul Torrigino whose birthday is January 29 (1/29) <ref name= "Part4"/>

* The large polar bear found in the attraction was sculpted by Peter Kermode and covered in fur by Helena Hutchinson<ref name= "book"/>.

* The trolls in Maelstrom were also sculpted by Peter Kermode<ref name= "part2">https://www.mouseplanet.com/7132/Walt_Disney_Worlds_Maelstrom_Part_2 </ref>.

* When Maelstrom opened, it featured Disney’s Walt Disney World's largest smoke machine system used to date<ref name= "Martin"/>.

* 5.7 million people rode Maelstrom in its first year of operation <ref name==References=="book"/>.

http:* Some of the Viking Audio-Animatronic figures were reused molds from other [[EPCOT Center]] attractions such as [[Spaceship Earth]] and [[World of Motion]] <ref name= "part2"//www>.mouseplanet.com/7131/Walt_Disney_Worlds_Maelstrom_Part_1

http://www* The Maelstrom boats were some of the last work done by Imagineer Jack Ferges before his retirement.mouseplanet.com/7132/Walt_Disney_Worlds_Maelstrom_Part_2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z05WeWfs7tw http://progresscityusa.com/2010/07/13/you-are-not-the-first-to-pass-this-way/=References==