Since its 2013 release and subsequent smash success at the box office, Disney’s Frozen has had a presence in its Disney World theme park. There’s the “Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome” meet and greet with Queen Elsa and Princess Anna in EPCOT; the “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” singalong in Disney’s Hollywood Studios; the “Frozen Fireworks Spectacular” at the Magic Kingdom,” and much more, all of which has been met with great reception. So, it’s no surprise that Disney has plans to expand the world of Frozen further into their theme park.

Disney has announced plans for a Frozen attraction at the Norway Pavilion in the World Showcase portion of Disney World’s EPCOT park. Construction will begin soon to refurbish the current Maelstrom ride, which will close after October 5, 2014. The new Frozen attraction is said to bring guests to Arendelle, immersing them in moments and music from the film.

The Frozen characters will also have a larger role this holiday season in the Magic Kingdom when they take part in the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party’s “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade,” while Queen Elsa will take the Fairy Godmother’s place transforming Cinderella Castle, which will now be turned into an ice palace every night starting in early November (see concept art of that here above).

The Norway Pavilion has always been one of my favorites in the World Showcase, and during a recent trip to Disney World, I saw firsthand how popular the animated film is with theme park guests. Norway, which typically was never any more crowded than the other country pavilions, was packed this past December with guests waiting to meet Elsa and Anna. There’s not many rides in the World Showcase, so the Maelstrom, which took guests on a Nordic boat ride exploring the history of Norway and its surrounding areas, was highly frequented. The attraction was a favorite with crowds due to its showcasing of the Vikings, although its near-conclusion at the location of an off-shore drilling rig was kind of a downer for me, but then you forget all about it after the final element – a 28-foot drop. The addition of the Frozen ride will undoubtedly clog up that area of the park even more so than the meet & greet currently does and, I hate to say it, take away from the “feel” of the World Showcase, which is to highlight the culture, food, music, and more of various countries. The UK Pavilion does have a British Invasion band and characters from Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, and Winnie The Pooh, but it’s very subtle, whereas the newness and frenzy of the current popularity of Frozen (and I do love the movie) will likely turn that area into a mini Magic Kingdom.

[Source: Disney Parks]

Follow me on Twitter.