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Pieces of Epcot's Maelstrom? Now what to do with them?


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Yesterday was the last day for the Maelstrom ride at Epcot's Norway pavilion as Disney converts it into a Frozen attraction. I wonder what will happen to the items that will not be used in the new Frozen ride that is planned to open in early 2016. Does anyone know what happens to items from closed Disney rides? It would be neat to have a Disney museum that had pieces of the closed rides with their history or even a themed restaurant similar to Planet Hollywood where they could be put on display. I bet it would be popular and another way for Disney to make some more money like they are doing especially with all the success from Frozen. What do others think?

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I'm pretty sure the parts are warehoused. In fact, Disney is known for reusing parts in other attractions. Two examples I can think of are:

1) A pirate is reused from the Pirates of the Caribbean in the Haunted mansion in the banquet hall in the dueling ghosts portraits.

2) The animals from America Sings were reused in the California version of Splash Mountain.

I'm certain there are many more, but I love the idea of reusing the ride parts in a themed restaurant and you are right it would be a really big hit with the customers I'm sure!

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1) A pirate is reused from the Pirates of the Caribbean in the Haunted mansion in the banquet hall in the dueling ghosts portraits.

It's not so much the same pirate is used, but that animatronic was just rebuilt, versus custom making a brand new one. Same with the grandma in Haunted Mansion being the grandma in Carousel of Progress.

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When America Sings opened in Disneyland, it had two trios of singing ducks (for a total of 6).

Only 4 made the move to Splash Mountain in 1989.

The other two had actually left two years earlier, in 1987. They were stripped of their feathery skins to expose their wiring and hydraulics, cast as Droids in the queue for the brand new Star Tours.

They say good ideas never die at Disney. Sometimes they don't resurface for decades. Sometimes when they do appear it's continents away from the original planned destination. Same can be said for good props.

(Did you know Disney had been working on a re-telling of The Snow Queen through most of the 20th century? Plans were reignited after Disney found unparalleled success in Hans Christian Anderson's other big name story, The Little Mermaid. A famous attraction concept earmarked for Disneyland's Fantasyland was dedicated to the Snow Queen. Wasn't until a few years ago that storytellers finally cracked the tale's icy plot and created Frozen. Good ideas never die.)

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There are huge warehouses in the Florida complex (mostly located behind MK) where such things are stored. Some are repurposed, while others sit around gathering dust until they're no longer useable (as Disney discovered when attempting to reboot SpectroMagic a few years back).

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There are huge warehouses in the Florida complex (mostly located behind MK) where such things are stored. Some are repurposed, while others sit around gathering dust until they're no longer useable (as Disney discovered when attempting to reboot SpectroMagic a few years back).

I heard that this time they trashed everything from SpectroMagic in dumpsters. Does anyone know if that is true? If so what a shame since it would cool if parts were in some type of Disney History Museum or themed restauarant as mentioned earlier in my post.

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I had heard that nothing was able to be salvaged. The floats were in terrible shape and were beyond repair. It would be cheaper and easier to just begin from scratch. No museum would want anything from that parade in the condition they were in. So, for now, the Main Street Electrical Parade parades on, until Disney can construct a new one or port one from another property.

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Yesterday was the last day for the Maelstrom ride at Epcot's Norway pavilion as Disney converts it into a Frozen attraction. I wonder what will happen to the items that will not be used in the new Frozen ride that is planned to open in early 2016. Does anyone know what happens to items from closed Disney rides? It would be neat to have a Disney museum that had pieces of the closed rides with their history or even a themed restaurant similar to Planet Hollywood where they could be put on display. I bet it would be popular and another way for Disney to make some more money like they are doing especially with all the success from Frozen. What do others think?

It depends on what the item is and if Disney minds it being available to the public. The old iconic Disneyland sign was sold at auction, a celebrity purchased it and put it in his yard. When Disney closes a retail store at a mall the figures are destroyed. They also warehouse a ton of old items they think they might want again, and used to sell a ton of stuff to Surplus companies (no idea if they still do but the biggest stores seemed to have all gone out of business).

There used to be a store near Orlando called Mouse Surplus which used to sell items from both Disney and Universal. Most of the items were from the Disney Hotels and you would find furniture from when a resort was last renovated. But they would also get items from the parks, including props, and even ride vehicles. I remember they had a monorail car, trains from space mountain etc. I think the company ended up going out of business though. I know the store closed.

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Yesterday was the last day for the Maelstrom ride at Epcot's Norway pavilion as Disney converts it into a Frozen attraction. I wonder what will happen to the items that will not be used in the new Frozen ride that is planned to open in early 2016. Does anyone know what happens to items from closed Disney rides? It would be neat to have a Disney museum that had pieces of the closed rides with their history or even a themed restaurant similar to Planet Hollywood where they could be put on display. I bet it would be popular and another way for Disney to make some more money like they are doing especially with all the success from Frozen. What do others think?

It depends on what the item is and if Disney minds it being available to the public. The old iconic Disneyland sign was sold at auction, a celebrity purchased it and put it in his yard. When Disney closes a retail store at a mall the figures are destroyed. They also warehouse a ton of old items they think they might want again, and used to sell a ton of stuff to Surplus companies (no idea if they still do but the biggest stores seemed to have all gone out of business).

There used to be a store near Orlando called Mouse Surplus which used to sell items from both Disney and Universal. Most of the items were from the Disney Hotels and you would find furniture from when a resort was last renovated. But they would also get items from the parks, including props, and even ride vehicles. I remember they had a monorail car, trains from space mountain etc. I think the company ended up going out of business though. I know the store closed.

I was thinking Disney could have the museum or restaurant on their property and be in control of it. Over time it would be neat to see the technology and innovations the imagineers have made through the years.

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Found this website....very interesting sales items for certain!

http://www.halloweenpropsdecor.com/?kw=Disney-Props&type=landing&emin=&src=Bing&term=Disney%20Props

and another

http://theme-park-connection.mybigcommerce.com/disney-props-signs/

and some interesting reading on a collectors boneyard.

http://crazedfanboy.com/spotlight/salvage.html

edit: But wait, there's more! (on page 4 you'll find a Snow White's Scary Adventure ride vehicle - for the low, low price of $8,500!!! What a steal!!!)

http://for-sale.yowcow.com/disney-world-props

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At various times, the old Odyssey restaurant btwn FW and WS at Epcot showcased artifacts from former attractions. It served as an Annual Pass processing center as well during the Food and Wine festival. Lord knows the Wonders of Life building has sat dormant for years now, aside from the occasional corporate gathering or Disney backstage tour rendezvous point so it's available as well. While an interesting concept, I don't see Disney constructing a separate building on property somewhere for a museum. They'd incorporate it into the parks.

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