Maelstrom, Dark boat ride at Norway Pavilion in Epcot, Florida.
This attraction was a water ride at the Norway Pavilion in Epcot, Florida, carrying guests in Viking-style boats through Norwegian scenes with animated figures and waterfalls. The boats moved both forward and backward along the course, passing through several themed rooms with different landscapes.
The ride opened on July 5, 1988, and remained in operation for 26 years until it closed in October 2014. The space was then redesigned for the new attraction Frozen Ever After.
The ride incorporated elements from Norse mythology, featuring traditional characters such as trolls, Vikings, and seafarers while presenting scenes of Norwegian maritime history.
The FastPass service helped reduce waiting times that ranged from 5 minutes during quiet periods to as much as 130 minutes during busy seasons. The ride lasted about 5 minutes and was accessible for most age groups.
The boats went through two drops including a descent of roughly 8.5 meters (28 feet) combined with a backward section. In this part trolls appeared to push the vessels through dark passages while sound effects and fog accompanied the scene.
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