EPCOT’s World Showcase is full of intricately designed secret details that call back to the history and cultures of the countries they represent. However, the park’s Norway Pavilion is also home to a reference to one of Disney World’s most iconic rides.
From the pavilion’s opening in 1988 through 2014, it was home to one of EPCOT’s most iconic attractions: Maelstrom. The boat ride was the first comparative “thrill” ride to be built at the park, and it ushered in a new era for EPCOT. Despite closing over a decade ago, there’s still a sign of the ride left to be found… if you know where to look.
But first, it’s history time! Settle in, friends; we’ve got some ground to cover. In the mid-1980s, Disney began talking about a new pavilion for EPCOT, and the idea of Norway was solidified. The story goes that the pavilion was going to be the Nordic Pavilion, with influences from various Scandinavian countries, but Norway was the only one sponsoring the addition, so Norway it became!
The Norway Pavilion opened in the summer of 1988. The ride was a traditional water flume ride that took guests through numerous scenes of classic Norwegian maritime fishing villages, plus a group of iconic trolls that put a spell on the boat, sending it backward at a high speed.
You would then pass animatronics of polar bears, Atlantic puffins, and stylized “living trees.” One of the most memorable parts of the ride was the boat stopping at the edge of a waterfall (which could also be seen from the pavilion’s courtyard outside, but we’ll get to that in a second) while the trolls chanted “Back, Back, Over The Falls.”
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The boat moved forward again, plummeting down a 28-foot drop, then passed a massive oil rig, and finally dropped guests off at a fishing village.
While the ride was popular for 25 years, it was no match for Frozen. In September 2014, it was announced that Frozen Ever After would take the place of Maelstrom, and the rest is history. Maelstrom was completely turned into Frozen Ever After, and there’s no trace of it to this day…or so you may think.
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The waterfall that guests could see from the Norway Pavilion courtyard IS still there, to the left of Frozen Ever After. While you can’t see any section of the ride from outside anymore, you’ll want to take a close look at the waterfall itself.
To be more specific, you’ll want to see what’s BEHIND it. It’s hard to see; you have to be standing at the right angle, but on the right side of the waterfall, you can see the sword from the original ride!
I think it’s such a great nod to the original attraction to keep the sword behind the waterfall. Not many people know about it, especially newer Disney fans who have only really gotten to experience Frozen Ever After, but for the OG fans, or for those that love hidden details like me, now you know!
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What’s your favorite hidden secret or detail in Disney World? Tell me in the comments!
Am I supposed to see a sword in that picture? I do not.
The waterfall will part and show you a secret behind it if you play the Disney Play app. There are actually so many secrets that happen only if you play
The Ducktails game around World Showcase.