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Norway is a pavilion located within World Showcase in [[Epcot]]. It is located between the [[Mexico]] and [[China]].
==Pavilion History==
==Pavilion History==
The history of what would one day be known as the Norway pavilion, actually began its development in 1978 as the Denmark pavilion. One of World Showcases' original concepts, the Denmark pavilion was originally going to be Scandinavia's representative in the park. Before EPCOT Center opened in 1982 however, the pavilion was dropped, reinstation, and then moved and moved around World Showcase Lagoon (at one point the pavilion was to be located where [[China]] sits today). Eventually, Disney decided that the Denmark pavilion would be built at a later date, as part of EPCOT Center's Phase II. Although not present on the park's opening day, a shortage of restrooms in World Showcase led Disney to create Danish themed restrooms, with the idea that the rest of the pavilion would eventually be built around these structures. In fact, in 1983, the Washington Post reported that Disney was still in discussions with LEGO about sponsoring the pavilion <ref> http://progresscityusa.com/2010/01/27/neverworlds-lost-lands-of-lego/ </ref>.
{{Quotation|"Ladies and gentlemen, wishing the best of luck to Disney World and those who will be responsible for the operation of the pavilion, I hereby declare the Norway pavilion open. Thank you,"}}
When Norway opened, the pavilion featured 58,000 sq ft of interior space. When complete, the Norway pavilion consisted of a Stave Church (which holds various exhibits), the original 1982 Denmark bathrooms, a counter service restaurant named [[Kringla Bakeri OG Kafe]], the table service [[Restaurant Akershus]], as well a series of interlinked stores including the Puffins Roost and Fjording. The star of the pavilion, however, was not yet operational. [[Maelstrom]], EPCOT Center's first thrill ride, would not welcome its first guests until July, 5. Initially, the boat ride attraction was to be titled SeaVenture, and early in its development, the plot would have focused on Norway's mythology, as guests searched for a rainbow bridge to Valhalla. This concept was eventually broadened, so that Maelstrom instead took guests on a trip the country's history, beginning in folklore and ending in modern day Norway. After disembarking from [[Maelstrom]], guests could watch the [[Spirit of Norway]] film, before exiting into the pavilion's shops.
[[Image:MaelstromConcept.jpg|400px|thumb|Concept art for SeaVenture (later renamed Maelstrom)]]
Since Outside of changes to the pavilion opened's Stave Church exhibits, the first major change to the Norway has seen a few significant changespavilion occurred in 1992, when NorShow ended their sponsorship of the pavilion. The exhibits inside At this time, the Stave Church have been updated over Norwegian government assumed sponsorship of the yearspavilion, and the live band “Spelmanns Gledje” which once played contributing $200,000 a year until ending their sponsorship in 2002. Since that time, the pavilion no longer appears has remained sponsorless. The first real addition to Norway, came in 1998, when a new outdoor playground shaped like the famous Viking ship "Osenberg" opened to guests <refname= "yesterland"> httphttps://landwww.allearsyesterland.net/blogs/michaelbachand/2009/11com/a_walking_tour_of_epcots_norwanorwaytn.html </ref> <ref> http://thedisneyblog.com/2011/05/31/epcots-shabby-norway-film-making-waves-in-norway/ </ref>. Furthermore In 2005, in 2005 Norway's [[Restaurant Akershus ]], changed its name to Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and began to offer offering character dining <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/guide/282/Walt-Disney-World/Epcot/World-Showcase--Norway/Akershus-Royal-Banquet-Hall </ref> and it changed its name to [[Akershus Royal Banquet Hall ]] <ref> http://allears.net/din/restnews05.htm </ref>. The next change came More changes to the pavilion occurred in 2008, when the outdoor playground shaped like pavilion's live band “Spelmanns Gledje” ceased their performances <ref> http://epcot82.blogspot.com/2008/10/no-love-for-norway.html </ref> <ref> http://allears.net/2009/11/19/a-walking-tour-of-epcots-norway-pavilion/ </ref>, and the famous Viking ship “Oseberg” outdoor playground was removed <ref> http://allears.net/ae/issue790.htm </ref>.
On Following the massive success of the 2013 Disney film "Frozen", the Norway pavilion began to be infused with characters from the film. The integration of Frozen into the Norway pavilion began in late 2013, when the exhibit “Norsk Kultur, Inspiration for Disney Frozen” replaced the "Vikings, Conquerors of the Sea" exhibit in the pavilion's Stave Church <ref name= "yester"/> and Frozen merchandise began to appear in the pavilion's shops. Subsequently, on October 5, 2014, both [[Maelstrom ]] and the [[Spirit of Norway film ]] closed to guests in order to make way for a new Frozen 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>. The ride will be replaced with Furthermore, during the renovations, the Norway pavilion was expanded into an attraction based on adjacent lot in order to facilitate the 2013 Disney film "construction of a new Frozen"meet and greet. Disney subsequently announced that the attraction would be titled "Frozen Ever After" <ref> http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/06/first-look-frozen-ever-after-at-epcot/ </ref> and it would open in Spring This new area, which opened June 17, 2016 <ref> http://blogs.disney.com/oh-my-disney/2015/11/02/we-just-found-out-so-much-more-about-epcots-frozen-ever-after-attraction/ </ref>.===Sponsorship , features a small courtyard consisting of the Pavilion Anna and Elsa's Royal Sommerhus (the meet and greet), the Wandering Reindeer shop, a small stage, and expanded restrooms <ref name= "martinYesterland"/>===[[Image:Vikingstatue2.jpg|200px|thumb|A statue of Olaf II- King and Patron Saint of Norway]]In order to add a new pavilion to World Showcase, Disney required 30 million dollars to come from outside sponsors. The following companies contributed to the Norway pavilion's creation:
* SelmerOn June 21, 2016, Frozen Ever After officially opened to guests <ref> https://d23.com/a-Sande Constructionto-z/frozen-ever-after/ </ref>. On the new boat ride attraction, guests take a tour through the kingdom of Arendelle on a “Summer Snow Day”, with Queen Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and friends.
* Den Norske Creditbank * Vesta-Gruppen Insturance/Finance * Norcem Industrial * Kosmos Shipping * Det Norske Veritas Marine Insurance * Frionor Norsk Frossenfisk Seafood * Norsk Data Technology * Norway Foods LTD '''Note:''' SAS (Since the largest Scandinavian airline) also sponsored "The Spirit opening of Norway" film which guests see after exiting Frozen Ever After, the MaelstromNorway pavilion has not seen any major changes. In 19922018, all however, the pavilion's Stave Church received a new exhibit titled "Gods of the sponsors sold their stake in Vikings", which replaced the Norway pavilion to “Norsk Kultur, Inspiration for DisneyFrozen" exhibit <ref> https://www. Following that sale, the government of Norway agreed wdwmagic.com/attractions/norway/news/27feb2018-new-exhibit-coming-to give Disney $200,000 a year until their contract ended in 2002-epcots-norway-pavilion-stave-church-gallery.htm </ref>.
==Attractions==
