Me? My strange Disney addiction involves an attraction in a pavilion in my favorite park on property, Epcot. In 1988, the Norway pavilion was added to the World Showcase and it featured the park's first "thrilling" attraction Maelstrom. Maelstrom is a rollicking-trip through Norway's mythic history from Viking settlement, to troll-infested wilds, to a modern-day village. From one-eyed Odin to a hidden troll to a friendly neighborhood polar bear, this ride gives a brief glimpse into the history and culture of Norway. Apparently, I'm one of the only people who really likes it.
If you could time travel back to 1988, when Maelstrom opened, you would have found me as a 2nd grader, studying Norse mythology. In 1988, nothing was cooler to me than a Viking. In class, we had made Viking helms, learned to draw our own runes, and I even had a sweatshirt with a dragon on it. (Some of this may also explain why I didn't have a lot of friends in the 2nd grade) To be able to go to my favorite place in the world and enjoy an attraction based on my favorite group of pillaging warriors was more than my little mind could handle. I'm now 30 and I've made many trips to the World since then, and I still love Maelstrom. In those moments, I'm transported back to 1988 and I'm in the 2nd grade all over again. Also, I still think Vikings are cool. I can't go to Walt Disney World without riding it. My friends snicker and my family rides just to humor me, but it's my thing. I also like to stay and watch "The Spirit of Norway" film afterwards, but that's a story for another day. What about you? What's your strange Disney addiction? Feel free to share it with us in the comments section below. Also, check out a few Maelstrom videos:
