Farewell Maelstrom

[texas211]

Today Maelstrom will be closing. I'm glad I had a trip planned for late last month and was able to ride a couple more times.

I'll miss the memories I had waiting in the same line, riding the same ride as I did w/ my parents as a kid, and doing the same thing all over with my family.

I'll miss looking at the big mural, waiting to board. I also really like cruising past the early days in Norway.

Long live the high seas adventure. In memory, I thought it would be fun for folks to post either what they'll miss, or a good memory of the ride.

[Eric87]

Today Maelstrom will be closing. I'm glad I had a trip planned for late last month and was able to ride a couple more times.

I'll miss the memories I had waiting in the same line, riding the same ride as I did w/ my parents as a kid, and doing the same thing all over with my family.

I'll miss looking at the big mural, waiting to board. I also really like cruising past the early days in Norway.

Long live the high seas adventure. In memory, I thought it would be fun for folks to post either what they'll miss, or a good memory of the ride.

I'll miss the narration the most.

[1DisneyNut]

I really liked the narration too. I will always have the memory of traveling up the hill and the light coming out of the eye while the story is being told.

[TheVBs]

My favorite memory of this ride is the time our youngest DD decided she liked it. She used to get very nervous about rides and didn't like Maelstrom until she was about 8. We tried it again on a trip and when we got off she said, "I loved it!" It was great to know on trips after that, that it we'd all enjoy the ride.

[TikiLounger]

I love that it took years of riding before my kids accepted that we were never going to go backward down the falls. It was one of those things where they knew but were still hoping that this time, we'd actually go down. It was magical to feel their excitement and anticipation.

For me? I'll miss the trolls and the narration. I have a lot of affection for this ride.

[SandmanGStefani24]

love to see how others like the same things about the ride that I did. I always rode this at least twice each visit, and I always seemed to notice something different every time.

I always enjoyed how dark it was inside, and how cold it felt as you traveled the "Norway oceans". It was always a nice break on a warm day. It also had that very unique "WDW water ride smell" that only we here seem to get. The only thing I disliked about it was that it was too short. Still, it was an excuse to take another ride later in the day.

I'm over the whole frozen deal, and wish this didn't take over so much, but it is what it is. Maybe I can ride the new Norway ride the way I ride the Mexico ride. You know, enjoy the similar elements of the old ride while trying to ignore Donald.

[texas211]

IF they reuse the ride structure (not just the location), wow... I can't imagine the kinds of lines a Frozen ride will have, for such a short ride loop that the current Maelstrom has. Surely they'll scrap the whole thing, and just use the space (plus some more further back) to make a longer ride.

[magicofdisney]

My favorite is the village at the end. My kids and I were able to ride it one last time on Friday, September 26. When we got off in the village, we stood around taking tons of photos. We also took the time to sit and enjoy their film afterwards.

I tried to pay attention to all the details during the ride. I too will miss the journey up the hill at the start of the ride. I honestly felt remorse at the loss of this ride for future generations, but I'm a sucker for nostalgia.

Wasn't there a time when you had to wait for the film to finish before they'd let you through the doors to exit?

[Altair]

Wasn't there a time when you had to wait for the film to finish before they'd let you through the doors to exit?

Yes, and before that they would try very hard to make you stay for the film. I kind of felt sorry for them as people dodged and weaved to get past them.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Wasn't there a time when you had to wait for the film to finish before they'd let you through the doors to exit?

There was also a time when they wouldn't start the Universe of Energy or Dinosaur pre-show videos until everyone was in the show room. Now, walk in when you like right in the middle of the video playing... and loose 60% of the story...

Ah, yes, there was a time when show truly mattered in WDW... Now, it is all about money, money, money.. Show quality has taken a back seat...

[SBETigg]

There was also a time when they wouldn't start the Universe of Energy or Dinosaur pre-show videos until everyone was in the show room. Now, walk in when you like right in the middle of the video playing... and loose 60% of the story...

Ah, yes, there was a time when show truly mattered in WDW... Now, it is all about money, money, money.. Show quality has taken a back seat...

I don't know... in this case, I think it's practical. If guests are eager to move on and get through, you don't want to slow them down. No one wants to wait anymore. People want to move on and get to the next thing. It's sad that there are so many wonderful details being passed up all over the parks, but so it goes. There are still some of us who take time to appreciate, but I think we're in the minority. And even though I appreciate details, I was glad when they started keeping the doors open and letting the movie run instead of making you feel like you had to run and dodge through if you didn't want to sit through the film. You can only watch it so many times. But right now, I would love to watch it again.

[Kenny1113]

We are on a weekend vacation, I didn't even realize the date. Today, My kids and I were talking about the maelstrom ride -the trolls and going back, back as directed from the glowing eyes. This ride will be missed by my family too bad we didn't get time to plan one last ride in before it went down.

[ransam]

I will miss this attraction.


and show quality has taken a back seat? LOL

[Terra]

I don't know... in this case, I think it's practical. If guests are eager to move on and get through, you don't want to slow them down. No one wants to wait anymore. People want to move on and get to the next thing. It's sad that there are so many wonderful details being passed up all over the parks, but so it goes. There are still some of us who take time to appreciate, but I think we're in the minority. And even though I appreciate details, I was glad when they started keeping the doors open and letting the movie run instead of making you feel like you had to run and dodge through if you didn't want to sit through the film. You can only watch it so many times. But right now, I would love to watch it again.

I agree. All change is not bad. I do get nostalgic by the same token. I loved the quaintness of the attraction when I first rode it some 15 years ago. The ending in the village is my favorite part as well. I wished the ride had been more like that. The beginning [with history] and the ending are the best. The trolls portion is a bit fairy tale-ish and never really did 'fit" IMO.
So yeah, I agree

I will miss this attraction.


and show quality has taken a back seat? LOL

Agree with the sentiment. Like your other thread points out, Disney is still the best hands down. I actually think they do a great job of keeping up with what the majority customer base wants. 100% of the people will never be happy at once. So if a change makes the majority happy *and* brings a profit. More power to them!

[TheVBs]

My favorite is the village at the end. My kids and I were able to ride it one last time on Friday, September 26. When we got off in the village, we stood around taking tons of photos. We also took the time to sit and enjoy their film afterwards.

You know, I just realized that I don't think we've ever gotten any pictures of this ride. I'll have to look back through our photos. I am glad that we rode it and stopped to watch the movie (for the first time in years) when we were there in the spring.

[Terra]

You know, I just realized that I don't think we've ever gotten any pictures of this ride. I'll have to look back through our photos. I am glad that we rode it and stopped to watch the movie (for the first time in years) when we were there in the spring.

I never did either. I didn't think we were allowed to take flash pictures and I think that's all that would show up with my camera. LOL.

I'm such a geek, I think I"m the only one who actually loved the film. I love coastal towns so that part of the movie really was my favorite.

[TheVBs]

I never did either. I didn't think we were allowed to take flash pictures and I think that's all that would show up with my camera. LOL.

Yup, no flash photography. But, we can turn our flash off. It's not like we get great pictures that way, but I like to try sometimes. Even a blurry/dark picture can be a good memory. And, sometimes I get lucky.

[magicofdisney]

Yup, no flash photography. But, we can turn our flash off. It's not like we get great pictures that way, but I like to try sometimes. Even a blurry/dark picture can be a good memory. And, sometimes I get lucky.

When we got to the village, I was using my iPhone without the flash. I was surprised how well the pictures were turning out and made a comment about the quality without flash. The CM standing there must have misunderstood because she kept telling me I was allowed to use the flash. I wonder if it's because the ride was heading for closure and they were allowing exceptions.

[Aurora]

I had three favorite parts of this ride -- the swirling sparkles overhead when the trolls sent you over the falls, looking backwards over my shoulder out into the park at the turn, and splashing down into the oil drilling area with the storm.

Thank goodness for YouTube.

[R33]

Was able to take one more plunge on Saturday. Woke up early to get there before it opened so I could get in before the massive F&W crowds got there haha.

I really loved the whole ride but my favourite parts were splashing down into the North Sea and looking up at the oil platform.

After that, pulling into the disembarking area always made me long for being back in Sweden at my uncles place as he is right on the Norwegian border and there is a village that looks exactly like that.

I will miss this ride so much.