Norway
Epcot

INTRODUCTION

A visit to Norway (located between Mexico and China) will put you right into Scandinavia as you enter the picturesque town square designed to represent the Norwegian towns and cities of Bergen, Oslo, Alesund and Setesdahl. 

This 58,000 square foot pavilion features a boat ride (the Maelstrom), Restaurant Akershus with all day Princess dining, a pastry shop, an outdoor deli counter, a replica Stave Church with a Viking Exhibit and shopping.

Norway was added to World Showcase in 1988.

ATTRACTIONS

The Maelstrom - Leave present day Norway to journey back in time to the Norway of old aboard dragon-headed 16 passenger boats. Travel to a 10th century Viking Village and enter the shadows of a mythical Norwegian forest populated by trolls. One of the creatures cast a spell on the boat and you suddenly are traveling backwards into the rapids of the Jutenheimen mountain country. 

Just as you are about to topple backwards over the waterfall, the boat moves forward to a rocky passageway in the North Sea where you find yourself in an ocean storm. Soon, you enter the calm fishing village where your boat docks. A door will open into the theater. There is a wide-screen movie that takes you on a tour of Norway and introduces you to its people. 

Stave Church - A replica of the Gol Stave church found in the Norwegian Folk Museum in Oslo, Norway. Many folks see the Stave Church, but not everyone realizes you can walk inside! When you go inside it has exhibit on Vikings, with authentic weapons and other artifacts, as well as figures of important Norwegians: Olaf II, Erik the Red and Rognvald, a Viking raider who invaded and colonized France. The Stave Church is totally separated from the main building. It's also very cool inside, making it a good break from the Florida sun and heat. 

Epcot Attractions At A Glance

DINING

Princess Storybook Dining - dine in the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall for breakfast, lunch or dinner with Disney's Princesses: Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Pocahontas, Mary Poppins, and Mulan. Occassionaly, Ariel will don her ball gown and circulate around the restaurant. Not all princesses/leading ladies appear at each meal, generally there are 4-5.

Kringla Bakeri og Kafe - for a great pastry, stop in here for breakfast or dessert or just a treat in the middle of your day. Desserts include Sweet Pretzels and Rice Cream, a wonderful, rich rice pudding with strawberry topping! 

Epcot Restaurants At A Glance
Menus From Around the World
Vegetarian and Other Special Diets

ENTERTAINMENT

Spelmanns Gledje  - Lively Norwegian folk music. Show is about 15-20 minutes long.

For more information on Epcot Live Entertainment, visit Steve Soares WDW Entertainment Website.

TOURING TIPS

The Maelstrom is a fun ride, but lines can get quite long.  Rather than wait, get a FASTPASS or return later in the day to ride the Viking ships! The Maelstrom is also a "dark" ride and there are several short periods of darkness.

Guests with health restrictions and expectant mothers may wish to bypass the Maelstrom. 

Check out the statue of World Class Runner Greta Waitz on the grounds of the Norway Pavilion. 

See if you can identify the four Norwegian architectural styles (explained in Interesting Facts). 

Hidden Mickey Sighting: In the Maelstrom, look at the wall mural facing the loading dock; a Viking wearing MICKEY MOUSE ears is there.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival - Norway is home to the woodlands with wildflowers and a funny Troll Topiary!

Holidays from Around the World features storytellers in each country.  At Norway, the elf known as Julenissen (Santa Claus) makes appearances throughout the afternoon. 

Read "Ice Dreams and Rice Creams" - An ALL EARS® Special Review of the Norway Pavilion at Epcot!

 

KIDS AND CHARACTERS

There are special effects in the Maelstrom ride that young children might find scary (Large Trolls that Chase you - Life Size Polar Bears - Stormy lightning - dark places).

"We were the first people through Norway when the World Showcase opened one day and my 7 year old was greeted by 10 or so Norwegians. He was pronounced "Viking of the Day" and given a hat and certificate. It was a real treat for him!" (AMBAMVT)

Each of the World Showcase countries has a special "KIDCOT" area that provides an opportunity for your child to interact with a native of the country you are visiting.

Epcot Passports are great fun for kids as they have them stamped at each pavilion around World Showcase.

Epcot Characters At A Glance 
Character Meet and Greet FAQ!

SHOPPING

The Puffin's Roost features hand-knit woolens, trolls, glass, porcelain, pewter, and toys.

(Exerpt from Shopping Around the World) "Our shoppers came up with two treasures, a Troll Crossing Sign ($7.50) actually made in Norway, and Norwegian designed stationery ($12.50). Many of the ALL EARS® Shoppers also really liked the traditional Norwegian Straw Christmas Ornaments in the shape of pine cones, stars, angels and reindeer ($3-$8.50).

The history buffs in your family might enjoy the Illustrated World History of the Viking World ($11.95), which Steve found, or the Viking Helmet ($10, or with braids for $12). For another great photo op, the ALL EARS® Shopping Team recommended having your picture taken in front of the large troll."

INTERESTING FACTS

The Maelstrom's small ships are patterned after the dragon-headed craft of Eric the Red and his fellow explorers. 

Four uniquely Norwegian architectural styles can be seen here. Setesdal style, with grassy roofs and thick logs, projects a rough woods look in The Puffin's Roost and Kringla Bakeri og Kafe. Bergen style, captured here in the Fjording Shop, is marked by gabled windows on close-set wooden buildings. Oslo style is marked by the surrounding walls of the Akershus Castle. Alesund style is typified by the white stucco and stone-trimmed information building where you find the entrance to the Maelstrom.

The Restaurant Akershus has the same name as the famous 14th century castle which stands in Oslo’s harbor and is of the same stone construction. 

A simple picturesque landscape is the key to Norway's design which uses lacy, woodsy style, with architectural elements such as stone, wood and tile.  The addition of natural elements, such as waterfalls, helps create an authentic feeling. 

The Norwegians built the first Stave Churches, or Stavkirke, around the year 1050. When St. Olaf brought Christianity to Norway, the Norwegians turned to the craft they knew best, woodworking, to build their new churches.  They blended Christian symbols with Viking images to create these impressive buildings. note the wooden dragon heads decorating the  eaves.  Other European countries built wooden churches, but only Norway's are still standing. Of the 1,000 Norwegian Stave Churches built in the Middle Ages, 28 survive today. 

At one time, a great play area for kids was located at Norway - a huge Viking ship. Disney replaced the Viking Ship play area with a flower garden but some of the remains of the ship where kept in remembrance.

"Norway has its own kind of Santa Claus - Nissen has existed in Norwegian folklore throughout the ages. He was one of the "little people". The barn nisse toiled on the farm from morning till night. He was hard working and loyal when the farmer treated him well, but vengeful if anyone insulted him. The same goes for the wood nisse, the house nisse, the church nisse, yes, even the ship's nisse. Each had his own function. And so who is this Julenissen - the Norwegian term for Santa Claus? Today many believe he is the barn nisse." (Excerpt from VisitNorway.com)