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What The history of what would one day become be known as the Norway pavilion , actually began its development in 1978 as the Denmark pavilion. Denmark was one of the original concepts for World Showcase, with the idea that it would be the park's Scandinavian representative <ref name= "martinMartin"> http://vimeo.com/13283957 </ref>. Between 1978 and 1982 howeverOne of World Showcases' original concepts, the Denmark pavilion went through a series of changeswas initially going to be Scandinavia's representative in the park. Before [[EPCOT Center’s openingCenter]] opened in 1982 however, plans for the pavilion was were dropped, reinstated, and then moved next to around World Showcase Lagoon (at one point the China pavilion was to be located where [[China]] sits today) <ref name= "martinMartin"/>. Eventually, it was Disney decided that the Denmark pavilion would open with Phase II of Epcot, which was scheduled to take place shortly after the park opened <ref name= "martin"/>. Due to the fact that World Showcase needed more restrooms however, some were be built in the planned location of Denmarkat a later date, with the idea that the other buildings would be constructed around them <ref> http://progresscityusa.com/2009/12/03/retro-neverworlds-the-lost-potties-as part of-denmark/ </ref>EPCOT Center's Phase II.

By 1983 plans for Although the Denmark pavilion had been cancelled. Instead, it was decided that Norwaynot present on the park's opening day, Sweden, and Denmark would open a shortage of restrooms in the "Scandinavian World Showcase" which was scheduled for 1987 <ref name= "martin"/>. The pavilion was designed by WED and "Norman International"- one of Oslo's largest construction companies. Due led Disney to create Danish themed restrooms on the fact plot allocated for Denmark, with the idea that most the rest of the funds were coming from Norwegian sources however, plans for the pavilion changed once againwould eventually be built around these structures. One year later, and in June of 1985 it 1983, the Washington Post reported that Disney was announced that still in discussions with LEGO about sponsoring the pavilion would be named "Norway, Gateway to Scandinavia"<ref name= "martin"/>. [[Imagehttp:MaelstromConcept//progresscityusa.jpg|400px|thumb|Concept art for SeaVenture (later renamed Maelstrom)]]The original Norway pavilion was designed with 58,000 sq. ft. of interior space <ref name= "martin"com/>. This area was then divided up into stores, an exhibition, a restaurant, and EPCOT Center’s first thrill ride2010/01/27/neverworlds-lost-lands- SeaVenture. The plans for SeaVenture called for an interior boat ride attraction, on which guests would encounter trolls and gnomes as they searched for a rainbow bridge to Valhalla (an earlier idea would have had guests traveling through a day in the life of a Viking) -lego/ <ref name= "martin"/>. This storyline was deemed too short however, and the concept was expanded so that it now included a history trip that took guests from the folklore of Norway, all the way through modern times<ref name= "martin"/>. The thrill part of the attraction was planned to come from a new ride system where the boat’s direction could be reversed during the ride.

Construction began on the Norway pavilion on May 27By late 1983, 1986. Over the next two yearshowever, the pavilion began to take shape around the original 1982 plans for an autonomous Denmark restroom building. When complete, the pavilion consisted where shelved in favor of a Stave Church (which holds various exhibits)new "Scandinavian Showcase". On October 3, a counter service restaurant named Kringla Bakeri OG Kafe1983, the table service Restaurant Akershus, as well Disney announced that it had reached an agreement with Scanshow A/S (a series subsidiary of interlinked stores including the Puffins Roost Norwegian company Selmer-Sande and Fjording. The pavilion’s attraction was renamed Maelstrom shortly before Kloster) to create the new pavilion opened<ref name="Korkis"> https://www.mouseplanet.com/11423/The_Story_of_the_Norway_Pavilion_Before_Frozen </ref>. Scandinavian Showcase, which would represent Norway, Sweden and itDenmark, was to be built in-between the [[France]] and [[United Kingdom]] pavilions, along with Imagineers Claude Coats and Tim Brunner tasked with heading the rest of project <ref name= "Lou"> http://www.wdwradio.com/2007/04/lou-mongellos-walt-disney-world-wayback-machine-the Norway -epcot-that-never-was/ </ref>. Aesthetically, the Scandinavian Showcase pavilion opened was to guests on May 6, 1988be made up of architecture from all three of the represented counties. On July 5Egeskov Castle and houses from Odense and Copenhagen would represent Denmark, of that yearStockholm Stadshus and buildings from Gamla Stan would represent Sweden, and finally Bryggen i Bergen and Akershus Festning would represent Norway <ref name="Korkis"/>. By 1984, plans for the pavilion was officially dedicatedwere were nearing completion, with Crown Prince Harald on hand for the festivitiesa planned opening date of 1987 <ref name= Lou/>.

Since Of the pavilion openedthree countries that were to make up the Scandinavian Showcase, only Norway has seen provided the funding necessary to create the pavilion. Because of this, the focus of the pavilion shifted away from Scandinavia as a few significant changeswhole and solely to Norway. The exhibits inside At this time, the Stave Church have been updated over name of the yearspavilion changed to "Norway: Gateway to Scandinavia". In order to fund the pavilion, an organization named NorShow as formed by the Norwegian companies: Aker, Norsk Data, Norway Foods, Den norske Creditbank, Det Norske Veritas, Frionor, Kosmos, Vesta Group, Selmer-Sande, SAS and VARD <ref name="Korkis"/>. Their funding, combined with contributions from the live band “Spelmanns Gledje” which once played in Norwegian government, raised $34 million dollars for the pavilion no longer appears. FurthermoreThis paid for more than two-thirds of the pavilion's cost, in 2005 Restaurant Akershus began to offer character diningwith Disney picking up the rest. The next change came in 2008Norway pavilion was then designed and built by Walt Disney Imagineering, with the help of Scandinavian architects. At this time, One point of contention between Disney and NorShow, involved the pavilion's lighting. The other World Showcase pavilions were wired to a grid that allowed them to light up during the park's nighttime firework show (originally Laserphonic Fantasy, soon to be Illuminations). While NorShow believed that the spilled light from the [[Mexico]] and [[Canada]] would suffice, Disney knew better, but was unwilling to pickup the cost (assuming that NorShow would cave) <ref name= "Korkis"/>. With neither entity willing to budge, Norway was built without the nighttime lighting given to the other World Showcase pavilions. [[Image:ScandavianShowcase.jpg|500px|thumb|Concept art for the unbuilt Scandinavian Showcase pavilion.]]Construction on the Norway pavilion began on May 27, 1986, when Minister Kurt Mosbakk laid the outdoor playground shaped like pavilion's foundation. When constructing the famous Viking ship “Oseberg” pavilion, Norway's exterior was removedoverseen by architect Birger Lambertz-Nilsen, while the interior was under the responsibility of Ulla S. Ujort. On June 3, 1988, the Norway pavilion was officially dedicated by Crown Prince Harald V and his wife Sonja. The opening ceremonies were broadcast in prime time to all of Norway on the station NPK. At the dedication Harald V declared:

On October 5{{Quotation|"Ladies and gentlemen, 2014 Maelstrom and wishing the Spirit best of Norway film located in the attraction's exit closed. The ride luck to Disney World and those who will be replaced with an attraction based on responsible for the 2013 Disney film "Frozen". ===Sponsorship operation of the Pavilion===[[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 I hereby declare the Norway pavilion's creation:open. Thank you"}}

* SelmerWhen Norway opened, the pavilion featured 58,000 sq ft of interior space <ref name= "Martin"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=648 </ref>. When complete, Norway 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]], and a series of interlinked stores including the Puffins Roost and Fjording <ref name= "Martin"/>. The star of the pavilion, however, was the not yet operational [[Maelstrom]] attraction. EPCOT Center's first thrill ride, Maelstrom would not welcome its first guests until July 5th <ref> https://d23.com/a-Sande Constructionto-z/maelstrom/ </ref>. Initially, the boat ride attraction was to be titled SeaVenture, and early in its development the plot was to focus 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 through the country's history, beginning in folklore and ending in modern day Norway<ref name= "Martin"/>. After disembarking from [[Maelstrom]], guests could watch the [[Spirit of Norway]] film, before exiting into the pavilion's shops.

* VestaFollowing 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= "yesterland"/> and Frozen merchandise began to appear in the pavilion's shops. Subsequently, on October 5, 2014, both [[Maelstrom]] and the [[Spirit of Norway]] closed in order to make way for a new Frozen attraction titled [[Frozen Ever After]]<ref> http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-Gruppen Insturancedaily-disney/os-farewell-to-norway-maelstrom-ride-at-epcot-20141005-story.html </ref>. During the renovations, the Norway pavilion was also expanded into an adjacent lot in order to facilitate the construction of a new Frozen meet and greet. This new area, which opened June 17, 2016, features a small courtyard consisting of [[Anna and Elsa's Royal Sommerhus]] (the meet and greet), the Wandering Reindeer shop, a small stage, and expanded restrooms <ref name= "yesterland"/Finance>.

* 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 Frozen Ever After, the Norway" film which guests see after exiting the Maelstrompavilion 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.wdwmagic. Following that sale, the government of Norway agreed 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>.

'''Disney Phineas and Ferb: Agent P's World Showcase Adventure[[Frozen Ever After]]'''- On this interactive adventureboat ride, guests use are invited to celebrate a "F.O.N.E." (Field Operative Notification Equipment) to help Agent P. stop Dr. Doofenshmirtzspecial “Summer Snow Day” with Elsa, Anna, by looking for clues throughout World Showcase. The adventure is based on the Disney cartoon Phineas Olaf and Ferbother characters from Frozen.

[[Image:FrozenEverAfter.jpg|400px|thumb|Frozen Ever After opened to guests in 2016]]'''[[Maelstrom]]'''- This boat ride attraction took guests on a historical tour of Norway. The ride began within the ancient folklore of Norway’s past, and ended in modern times. Along the way guests encountered trolls, fell down a waterfall, and sailed through a North Sea storm. Maelstrom operated from July 5, 1988 until October 5, 2014.  '''[[The Spirit of Norway]]'''- This travelogue film allowed guests to get an idea of the many things that "modern" Norway had to offer. Guests viewed the film after exiting Maelstrom. The Spirit of Norway film was shown from July 5, 1988 until October 5, 2014.

'''Creating the World Gods of Frozenthe Vikings'''- Found inside the pavilion's Stave Church, Creating the World Gods of Frozen the Vikings showcases how authentic Viking artifacts, which help teach guests about the culture Viking gods Thor, Odin, Freyja and aesthetics of Norway influenced the creation of FrozenLoki.

'''Restaurant [[AkershusRoyal Banquet Hall]]'''- This buffet style restaurant serves traditional Norwegian foods. In 2005, Restaurant Akerhus became a character dining location where guests can meet various Disney princesses while they eat.

'''[[Kringla Bakeri og Kafe]]'''- This counter service restaurant specializes in pastries and sandwiches.

* The Norway pavilion's dedication was broadcast all over Norway.<ref name= "Spence"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2012/01/norway_pavilion_part_one_1.html </ref>

* The Stave Church that serves as the focal point of the pavilion was based on Gol Stave Church in Norway, which dates back to 1212.<ref name= "Spence"/>

* Outside of the church, guests can see a statue of Olaf II, king and Patron Saint of Norway.<ref name= "Spence"/>

* The backdrop of the Norway pavilion is based on Akershus Fortress which was built in Oslo in the year 1290.<ref name= "Spence"/>