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/* Fun Facts and Trivia */
{{Infobox Disney ride
| image=Maelstrom.jpg
| caption='''The entrance to the Maelstrom'''.
| pavilion= Norway
| opened= July 5, 1988
| closed= October 5, 2014
| vehicle_names=Boat
| park= Epcot
| guests_per_vehicle=15
| duration=4:47
| type=Interior Boat Ride
}}
Maelstrom was an attraction located within the [[Norway]] pavilion in [[Epcot]].
==Attraction History==
When an attraction for the Norway pavilion was originally being developed, Imagineers wanted to give the pavilion EPCOT Center’s first thrill ride. 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 their 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 <ref name= "Martin"/>.
During the development of SeaVenture, the Sherman Brothers were called in to create a song for the attraction, although this was never used. According to Imagineer Paul Torrigino:
{{Quotation| "Bob and Randy were talking about getting the Sherman brothers to write a song for it, and one day they got them to come in for a meeting at the model. I was really excited to meet them and we explained the ride concept to them. They were very interested and were ready to go off and write a song." <ref name= "mouseplanet"> https://www.mouseplanet.com/7131/Walt_Disney_Worlds_Maelstrom_Part_1 </ref>}}
===Imagineers===
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>
==Attraction Plot==
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 the 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 (giving <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/walt_disney_world/theme_parks/epcot/world_showcase/norway/ M</ref>. This also gave guests the option of skipping the film altogether).
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
* 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 the 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 "large" 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 One of the buildings in this area had the Maelstrom to reverse the direction of the boats 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 the Maelstrom were also sculpted by Peter Kermode<ref name= "part2">https://www.mouseplanet.com/7132/Walt_Disney_Worlds_Maelstrom_Part_2 </ref>.
* When the 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"/>.