Maelstrom
Maelstrom is located at the back of the Norway pavilion’s main plaza. It is the only World Showcase attraction to offer the FASTPASS option, and at times can have waits over one hour. This can partially be affected by the nearby Reflections of China attracting letting out a show, and hundreds of people heading toward Norway at the same time. From the plaza, look up and to the left. You will see an opening with a waterfall. Watch for a bit and you will see a Maelstrom boat back up to the edge and then disappear. Once you enter Maelstrom, you will wind along the line area until you reach the loading area, which is decorated with huge murals on the walls. You will board a Viking boat, and descend slightly, about five feet, into the waterway. Your ride is designed to replicate being in the North Sea, so the water get slightly rough at times and a bit of splashing can occur on the edges. A mystical creature curses your boat and sends you backwards. After a bit, you might notice that it looks like you are going to over the waterfall out into the plaza. But instead of that, your boat corrects itself, and you quickly head down a 25 foot drop. Again, splashing becomes a possibility here. After the ride, which only lasts about five minutes, you will get off the boat in a small Norwegian fishing village. From the village you will be led into a theater, where a five minute film awaits you. The film highlights Norway’s culture and history, and basically feels like a tourism commercial. It is possible to skip the film, although we would encourage you to see it the first time you ride Maelstrom. To skip it, when the doors to the theater open, just quickly follow the crowd exiting.
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