Norway Is Giving Disney the Cold Shoulder Over 'Frozen' 

Norway Is Giving Disney the Cold Shoulder Over \'Frozen\'

The success of "Frozen" has created animosity between Disney and the Scandinavian nation.

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Rick Aristotle Munarriz has been a Motley Fool contributor since 1995, specializing in tech and consumer stocks. He\'s been part of the analyst team for the Motley Fool Rule Breakers newsletter service since its 2004 launch, serving as portfolio lead for the real-money Motley Fool Supernova service since its 2012 debut. Beyond amassing close to 20,000 bylines in that time, Rick still finds the time to tend to his collection of travel and entertainment websites through Siteclopedia.com and perform improvisational comedy at Miami\'s Just The Funny. Follow Rick\'s Twitter feed @market or follow him on Google+. He can also be reached at aristotle@gmail.com

You don\'t often see international politics come into play in theme parks, but there\'s an interesting brouhaha brewing between Walt Disney (DIS) and Norway.

The back of Disney World\'s Epcot in Florida is the World Showcase, where select countries host, staff and help finance pavilions that feature restaurants, stores with imported goods and attractions. Norway is one of the only two Showcase countries to feature an actual ride, but the days of the Maelstrom boat journey through Vikings, trolls and polar bears may be numbered.

Sources tell industry rumor hotbed Screamscape that Maelstrom will soon close to make way for a ride related to "Frozen." A news report out of Norway details the country\'s reluctance to continue funding the pavilion, and says that Maelstrom may close as soon as October to make way for the new ride.

The report claims that Disney has offered Norway the opportunity to pay roughly $9 million to update and maintain the pavilion as a promotional platform for the country -- instead of the hit movie.

The Norway zone has been busier than usual since "Frozen" was released in late November. Earlier this year, the pavilion\'s flagship store lost prime retail space to make room for "Frozen" merchandise and a meet-and-greet area with the film\'s two princesses.

"Frozen" is Disney\'s first animated release since "Toy Story 3" to crack $400 million in domestic ticket sales during its initial theatrical run. The only other Disney movie to do that -- "The Lion King" -- broke through $400 million in cumulative ticket sales on subsequent re-releases several years later.

Disney was taken off guard by the movie\'s success, leaving it scrambling to cash in at its theme parks.

Disney was taken off guard by the movie\'s success, leaving it scrambling to cash in at its theme parks. An official meet-and-greet area for Anna and Elsa was set up at the Magic Kingdom\'s Fantasyland. Earlier this month, several related attractions opened at Disney\'s Hollywood Studios in Florida, complete with a parade, skating rink and nighttime "Frozen" fireworks show. Guests are handed fans featuring Olaf -- the whimsical snowman from the movie -- as they enter the park, and an Olaf carrot cupcake is available for purchase.

However, before all of these "Frozen" tributes popped up elsewhere, the decision was made to feature Anna and Elsa in the Norway pavilion. It was a quick and easy fix, and long lines of families with daughters decked out in Anna and Elsa princess dresses made Norway the most popular World Showcase pavilion in a park that drew 11.2 million guests last year, according to Themed Entertainment Association.

However, the movie is set in the fictional land of Arendelle. Animators went to Norway to flesh out Arendelle with a bit of Scandinavian sensibility, but one can sympathize with the aggravation in Norway as it\'s compelled to help bankroll a pavilion that\'s doing more to promote an imaginary country than its own rich culture.

Motley Fool contributor Rick Munarriz owns shares of Walt Disney. The Motley Fool recommends Walt Disney. The Motley Fool owns shares of Walt Disney. Try any of our newsletter services free for 30 days.​

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The movie was boring. Don\'t know why the kids like it.

July 25 2014 at 12:03 AM Report abuse Permalink

Norway is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I should know...I lived there for many years. Anything Disney does could never measure up to the rich natural beauty of that northern paradise.

July 24 2014 at 9:47 PM Report abuse Permalink

Norway should just let it go while it has the chance to get out of the way of the Frozen glitz with some dignity. Better than Olaf skippering the boat and the polar bears doing a chorus line.

July 24 2014 at 8:32 PM Report abuse Permalink

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