Memory 142 – A Day at Epcot: Part 11, Maelstrom

Come and join us for another installment of the WDW-Memories podcast, where I try to make it possible for you relive your Walt Disney World Memories when you can’t actually be there. Today we will pick back up with our Day at Epcot as we catch a ride on Maelstrom in the Norway Pavilion.

Podcast Type: Binaural Audio
Podcast Length: 24:57

So summer vacation has begun here in Kentucky, and all I can think about is “when are we heading to Florida?” Just to set expectations, we won’t be visiting Walt Disney World on this trip since we did spend a whole week there this year already. Instead, we’ll just enjoy making memories of the fun at the beach. Thankfully we still have plenty of memories to relive, so let’s continue with our day in Epcot shall we.

For those just joining us, we’re spending a rainy day in Epcot in early March of 2014. It’s Flower and Garden Festival, but the crowds are light (a 3/10 on TouringPlans.com), and the rain from the morning has given way to a beautiful afternoon, and a gorgeous sunsets. In Memory 141 we stumbled on a Mariachi Cobre performance inside Mexico before catching a ride on Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. As we exit the ride, we stop at the next pavilion on the Promenade, Norway, to catch a ride on the original Maelstrom.

We’ll join the memory as we’re just walking up to the Norway Pavilion. Ana and Elsa have taken a nearby building for a Meet and Greet, and the lines are insane, 4 plus hours. But we’ll manage not to let Susie hear that, so we are able to slip strait into line and in minutes we are aboard our boat. The kids are troopers, and willing to do just about anything. They’ll manage to avoid the trolls without fear, and even stick it out through the old film that begins with those harsh loud chords, all so Mommy and Daddy can enjoy a ride on this now extinct version (though we didn’t know it at the time).

As the movie ends, we’ll step right back outside into the promenade and begin to make our way around to China where we’ll meet back up with Traci’s parents who split off to go catch The American Adventure.

The old Maelstrom never made much sense. There’s always this pull between what felt like 2 attractions, and then the movies didn’t help things. It was still always fun for our family growing up though. I remember our family waiting for almost an hour for this ride. When it first opened, it was pretty much the thrill attraction Epcot had, so everyone wanted to go on it. Now, it has just fallen behind in the times with no updates and the attraction just left as it always was. And the Movie, well you’ll hear Traci and me discussing how it really doesn’t make much sense, and is really kind of hard to follow. Norway really missed the opportunity to show so much of the beautiful country. I’m hopeful that Ana and Elsa won’t remove all direct ties to Norway, but do more like Martin Short in Canada, and help us still get to experience the country of Norway.

Today’s memory is in binaural, so I’d suggest putting those headphones on to fully immerse yourself in the memory.

Now sit back. Relax. Close your eyes. And come with me as we catch a ride on the original Epcot thrill ride.