Norway Pavilion: Vikings, Villages, & Folklore


Hello everyone, and welcome to the Where In the Park Podcast!  This is Kim, and we are continuing our journey around EPCOT’s World Showcase at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, with our next stop in Norway. 

If you missed our earlier episodes, Kevin kicked off things by diving into the history of EPCOT and why the World Showcase exists in the first place, and Amanda took us through the Mexico Pavilion last month.

Now, maybe you want to explore EPCOT - and especially the World Showcase – in a totally new way.  The Where In The Park team creates unofficial seek-and-find games designed for theme parks, which help you discover those small, easily overlooked details that are hiding in plain sight.  Each game pack includes a “Scan Before Playing” QR code that includes instructions and replacement images if any images in your deck of cards is currently missing. And, if you’re the type who wants to jump right in, there’s even a “Want to play faster?” option that reveals the land for each card, so you can sort the deck for your walk around World Showcase. 

So now, let’s get started on our journey to Norway with a little history on how this pavilion came to be.

 

How It All Began

When EPCOT’s World Showcase was taking shape in the late 1970s, the Disney Company was already in discussions with Denmark about creating a new pavilion.  Early plans would have it placed between France and the United Kingdom.  However, as the World Showcase layout evolved—especially with the introduction of the lagoon canal—the proposed location shifted to the space that would eventually become China. 

As we learned from the prior episodes in this series, Disney preferred working with corporate sponsors that operated within each represented country. This helped avoid political issues and ensured access to a skilled, country-specific workforce. Some countries secured sponsors—but others struggled to gain support, resulting in several proposed pavilions that never made it past the planning phase, including Costa Rica, Spain, Equatorial Africa, and Russia. Even as late as 1983, the Disney Company was still talking with LEGO, hoping the iconic company might help fund the Danish pavilion.

Despite the uncertainty, plans still moved ahead with Denmark. While some pavilions only had restrooms within restaurants, the park included several easier-accessible restrooms around the World Showcase, such as Germany, the American Adventure, Morocco, and the United Kingdom. Although the plans for Denmark were not officially completed for the park’s October 1982 opening, restrooms were placed within the boundaries of the planned pavilion. Besides, the plumbing infrastructure was already in place and saved on the cost of adding restrooms later.

By 1983, the Disney Company expanded their vision, and the Danish pavilion concept now would also include Sweden and Norway making it more of a Nordic Pavilion.  The three countries were approached to help fund the project, but Norway ultimately emerged as the sole focus, after 11 private investors from the country, including Aker, Norsk Data, Norway Foods, Den norske Creditbank, Det Norske Veritas, Frionor, Kosmos, Vesta Group, Selmer-Sande, SAS and VARD, who raised $30 million to fund construction. Disney contributed the remaining portion of the cost.

With Norway officially selected, design concepts began to take shape.   The pavilion spans about 58,000 square feet and is designed to make you feel like you’re walking through a real Norwegian village.  It blends four distinct styles of Norwegian architecture, representing the coastal cities of Bergen, Alesund, Oslo and the Setesdal Valley, creating a cohesive and immersive environment. 

 

Opening Day

The Norway Pavilion had soft-openings on May 6, 1988, and officially opened on June 3rd to an international crowd. At the dedication ceremony, then–Crown Prince Harald V of Norway, along with Princess Sonja, dedicated the pavilion during a ceremony that was broadcast live to Norway. Members of the Norwegian Royal Guard attended, red, white, and blue balloons were released, and fireworks followed—symbolizing Norway’s official arrival at EPCOT.

During the ceremony, Crown Prince Harald stated:

“Ladies and gentlemen, wishing the best of luck to Disney World and those who will be responsible for the operation of the pavilion, I hereby declare the Norway pavilion open. Thank you.”

From the very beginning, the pavilion was designed not just as entertainment, but as a cultural and tourism showcase. Norway’s government viewed it as a powerful promotional tool, even contributing annual funding for several years after opening. Early on, there were complaints that the pavilion did not have its main attraction fully operational on Day 1. Maelstrom opened a month later on July 5th, 1988. But, more about Maelstrom later.

For now, why don’t we take a stroll around the Pavilion as I point out the amazing architecture, provide some history of the buildings, and what you’ll discover as you wander through Norway.  We’ll start our tour as you are coming from Mexico.

The first section of Norway consists of a circular path leading back to the main World Showcase walkway. This section contains the Royal Sommerhus, The Wandering Reindeer, Rune Carvings, a statue of Grete Waitz, and the Stave Church. Let’s explore each of these in turn, then we’ll go into the main section of the pavilion.

 

Anna and Elsa Meet & Greet – Royal Sommerhus

The first building on the left is the Royal Sommerhus. This summer cabin is where you can meet Anna and Elsa from the Walt Disney Animation Studios Film Frozen. The building itself opened on June 17th, 2016, as part of the pavilion’s expansion.

The Royal Sommerhus building is inspired by the 1817 Detli House in Oppdal, Norway.  This was a unique building for its time due to it being a 2-story house, with a dedicated choir room.  In 1924, it was moved to the Sverresborg Trøndelag Folk Museum in Trondheim, which you can visit today.

While not an exact replica, the inspiration at EPCOT is clear, with the same stone foundation, the wood beams walls (almost like a wood log cabin look), grass roof, red shutters around the windows and wood carved details outlining the doorway as the original. I love the little red gate and fencing in the front of the house.  It makes it look very welcoming. 

Inside, you’ll find Rosemaling, a form of traditional Norwegian decorative folk art. This can be found in the scroll or flower patterns found around the pavilion, and was heavily used in the Frozen films.

Before the Royal Sommerhus was the Viking Ship play area, which was built in 1998, and served as a place for kids to play on the large ship, complete with shields along the outside and a large dragon head on the front. The play area was demolished in 2008 and replaced with a planter, where it sat vacant until construction began on the Frozen meet-&-greet area we have today.

 

The Wandering Reindeer

Next door is the Wandering Reindeer, which serves as the exit to the Frozen Meet-&-Greet experience, and where you can purchase your PhotoPass photos. I couldn’t find any historical references to this shop except that it’s a split-log structure, which is common in Norway’s rural communities.  One thing I wanted to point out about the Wandering Reindeer building, as well as several other buildings in the pavilion, is the use of grass rooftops.  Yes, that is real grass and is carefully maintained by the incredible Horticulture Cast Members.  I wonder how they keep the roofline so neat and lush?  Turf roofs made from birch bark and sod are documented traditions in Norway, so we love that the designers went with an authentic look of that here.

Just behind the Wandering Reindeer are the restrooms I mentioned earlier.

 

Grete Waitz

Between the restrooms and the first entrance to the Stave Church is a statue honoring Grete Waitz, a legendary Norwegian marathon runner and world-record holder.  This life-sized statue features Waitz in mid-stride, hair flowing behind her. This statue at the park was presented by the Foundation for the Promotion of Athletics and is a replica of the one found at Bislett Stadium, in Oslo, Norway, where she was from. Norwegian artist Nils Aas sculpted both statues.

Waitz was a highly-decorated runner, including a 9-time winner of the New York City Marathon, and ran in 4 Olympic games, winning the silver medal at the Los Angeles games in 1984. She cemented her place in the Guinness World Records for winning 12 World Marathon Majors, which is the most for any runner!  That was just a small fraction of the races she won, and we could do an entire episode on her life and legacy, but now you know why she has a tribute in the Norway Pavilion.  What an amazing woman! She would pass away at the age of 57 after a long battle with cancer in 2011. Her legacy lives on, as she is a legend not just in Norway but around the world. In 2021, a celebration of her accomplishments was broadcast worldwide on Facebook, with tributes from the Prime Minster, athletes, and more. Today, there are races that are named after her, and the marathons ran at Walt Disney World pass by her in the last mile of the race. 

 

Runes

In the planters in front of the Royal Sommerhus and The Wandering Reindeer, as well as the planters outside the Stave Church, you’ll find several stones that have carvings on them, some with images of Viking ships and others with marking and lettering.  There is a large column outside the second entrance to the Stave Church (which we’ll go to in a moment). This pillar has a cross carved on one side and letters carved on another side. 

 There is a sign next to it that reads:

“Runic Writings: How do you commemorate a great victory or milestone?  If you lived in 11th century Norway, the answer might be a runestone. Norwegians and Vikings raised these stones as a way to honor significant people, events and victories in battle.  Although there were many variations of the runic alphabet, it is called the “Futhark” because the first six letters are: f, u, th, a, r, and k.  This particular runestone is a replica of the Kulisteinen, or “Kuli Stone,” which was originally erected on the island of KulØy in the early 11th century.”

Now with that said, it is quite the task to translate these, even with the help of some translators found online. As the sign referenced, there were many variations of these runes, and it appears that what’s written on the stones in this area are a combination of different variations. If you know what these runes translate to, please share them with us on our Facebook Group, Where In The Park Explorers!

 

The Stave Church

Coming around to the main walkway again, you’ll find one of the most striking features of the Norway Pavilion - the Stave Church, inspired by the Gol Stave Church built in 1212 in Hallingdal, Norway. EPCOT’s version is a four‑fifths scale replica, but the craftsmanship is still incredibly detailed.

The original Gol Stave Church was nearly demolished in the late 1800s when the city planned to build a new church. Thankfully, the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments stepped in. The structure was carefully documented and relocated, with many murals and architectural elements preserved.  Most exterior elements date from the 1884-1885 restoration.  King Oscar II funded the restoration and relocation so the church could become part of his open‑air museum in Oslo. 

In 1907, the museum was incorporated into the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. Although thousands of churches like this one once existed, only about 28 remain in Norway today. Inside the Stave Church, Viking craftsmanship is on full display. Norwegian shipbuilders used their woodworking skills to construct churches using post-and-beam construction and vertical plank walls.  The exteriors of the churches were adorned with Christian symbols blended with pagan Viking imagery—dragon heads, carved finials, and intricate doorways. You’ll find these features represented at EPCOT as well.

On Facebook from the group Word of Walt, there’s a post from a November 2, 2025 talking about the Stave Church. One of the comments on the post was from Sandra Fitzgerald, who said her “late husband, Imagineer Tom E. Fitzgerald, did the exterior designs for the Stave Church.” So that’s really cool – we always love to find out who designed what we see in the parks. So thank you, Sandra, for sharing that.

A sign outside this church reads:

"Named for their wooden stave planks, Norway’s iconic stave churches were constructed using many of the same techniques used to build Norwegian ships. To help protect the medieval structures against the harsh winters, master craftsmen designed the churches with steep rooflines and elevated them onto stone foundations, which prevented the staves from rotting in the wet ground.The result is a beautifully preserved church, like the replica that stands before you today."

Note that there are two entrances of the church – one side facing the Royal Sommerhaus, and the other facing the main pavilion. Let’s walk around the building to the second entrance, as we’ll find a large wooden statue of Olaf II, King and Patron Saint of Norway.

Olaf Haraldsson began as a Viking raider, traveling across Europe. During those journeys, he converted to Christianity.  He returned to Norway, claimed the throne in 1015, unified the country, and aggressively worked to convert Norway to Christianity.  His reign was short, being exiled in 1028 by Norwegian nobles and two years later, he was killed in battle while trying to reclaim his throne.  Today, Saint Olaf remains a powerful symbol of Norwegian identity and independence. We were unable to find sources citing who carved this statue and when, so definitely reach out to us if you have any information!

A sign outside the Stave Church reads:

"Look closely at the wooden doors of any stave church, and you’ll discover an expertly carved piece of art.  The carvings, which were originally inspired by the Vikings, share many traditional designs, like beaded ribbons.However, because wide fjords and mountain ranges separated many Norwegian villages, the village woodworkers often developed their own unique carving styles and patterns, resulting in a unique fingerprint for every stave church."

The wooden carvings you see today are replicas of the original carvings on the 12th century Gol Stave Church.

I must say the details surrounding the door are like nothing I have seen before.  It is so much more than just the beaded ribbon they mention on the sign.  If you look closely, you’ll spot dragons, Vikings and floral designs. 

Alright, now let’s take a look inside the Stave Church.

This Stave Church functions as a museum, though it’s exhibits have changed over the years. Originally, the exhibit explored the life of Vikings, with displays of tools and artifacts, and information about Norwegian maritime history. In 2013, this exhibit became Norsk Kulture – or Norwegian Culture – which showcased the real-life locations and museum pieces that inspired the Frozen movie. This exhibit also got guests excited for the Frozen-themed experiences that would be under construction during this time. After construction completed in 2016, this exhibit closed, and would later reopen in 2018 as Gods of the Vikings. Yes, back to Vikings, but this time with a stronger focus on Norse mythology and artifacts related to Odin, Freya, Thor, and Loki.

There is a sign in the exhibit that is titled The Mythology of the Vikings.  It mentions that when talking about Viking mythology, we’re really talking about beliefs from stories that were told way before the Viking Age.  What we know today is just a small fraction of the myths that were once told, since stories weren’t written down and many of them simply didn’t survive.  Thankfully in the 13th century in Iceland, the versions we do have were finally written down.

The stories and images of the gods and goddesses we’re familiar with today are inspired by two ancient Norse texts: the Poetic Edda and the Snorra Edda.

The Poetic Edda is a collection of poems that feature gods and dwarfs.  These poems were performed and passed down for hundreds of years before anyone ever wrote them down. Because of that, the Poetic Edda is our only original source for understanding what the Vikings believed about their gods.

The Snorra Edda was written in the 13th century by an Icelandic scholar named Snorri Sturluson. His goal was to revive Viking Age poetry.  What makes Snorri’s work so important is that he explains the mythological references found in the poems, which helps us to understand the mythology that we know today.

There is an exhibit sign that reads:

"Welcome to the mythical world of the Vikings, where powerful gods and goddesses shaped life and death. Created from the bones of giants and held together by a gigantic tree, this world was populated by bold deities that inspired heroic and ruthless deeds. Unlike the comic book characters and blockbuster movies of today, the Old Norse gods and goddesses were as real and as important to the Vikings as the air they breathed. The legends were part of the Vikings’ daily life and rituals, from eating and drinking to fishing the icy Nordic seas. These myths influenced how the Vikings lived their lives, and helped them understand the world."

 

Featured in the exhibit are: Odin, Ruler of the Gods, Thor, the Protector God, Loki, God of Mischief and Freya, the Greatest Goddess.  Each figure has its own dedicated display that tells their backstory through artwork and authentic artifacts.  You’ll see items like Odin’s iron sword and spear, Thor’s hammer and blacksmithing tools, Loki’s arrowheads and game pieces, and Freya’s keys and brooches. 

What truly brings this exhibit to life are the incredible wood-carved likenesses of these deities.  The craftsmanship is so detailed and expressive that they look as if they could step right out of the tree they are carved in. 

I highly recommend taking the time during your visit to the Norway Pavilion to experience this exhibit up close.  As we exit the Stave Church, we’ll next head into the main pavilion and go clockwise to each building before returning to the main World Showcase walkway.


Kringla Bakeria Og Kafe

Alright, so who’s ready for some tasty treats?  Our next stop is the Kringla Bakeria Og Kafe.

From open-faced sandwiches to Cinnamon Rolls with orange cream cheese icing, to Norwegian Kringla, the pretzel-shaped pastry with sweet fondant and chocolate topping to their famous School Bread, a sweet roll filled with custard and dipped in coconut (I’ll take 2 please), this quaint little shop is one you’ll for sure want to stop by. 

The exterior looks like a wooden cottage with its carved door with glass panes and its lace curtains in the windows, it looks like a warm and inviting home.  Its design is based upon traditional farmsteads found in the Setesdal Valley.

Once inside, you’ll find hand-painted furniture, decorative plates and tin molds hanging on the walls, as well as a large stone fireplace with a stove in the middle and large wooden mantle.  Be sure to take in all the décor next time you get some School Bread!

 

The Puffin’s Roost

As we let our food settle, let’s roam around and do some shopping!

The building next store is The Puffin’s Roost Curios & Collectibles, and like its neighbor, is based on the farmsteads of Setesdal Valley. 

The Puffin’s Roost is a shop made up of several interconnected rooms, each filled with Norwegian‑style treasures.  Inside, you’ll find books covering everything from trolls and Vikings to cooking and Norwegian proverbs, and of course, the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen. 

There are plenty of edible souvenirs as well, including chocolates, Swedish preserves, and a variety of Nordic sweets.  The shop also features beautiful sterling silver jewelry from Norwegian designers, along with signature Norwegian fragrances like Geir and Laila. 

As you explore, you’ll come across trolls, Konge Tinn royal pewter, Tommeliten knives, and even bottles of Linie Aquavit, which is a potato-based spirit, with herbs and spices, such as caraway, and aged in sherry oak casks.  Clothing is another highlight here, with high‑quality outerwear from Helly Hanson and sweaters from Dale of Norway.

Side Note – The building’s name is The Puffin’s Roost because, due to Norway’s climate and offshore islands, this is a great breeding ground for the Atlantic Puffin, a bird with a bright red/orange, yellow and gray triangular beak and black and white feathers.  Although they number in the millions, the population is declining due to shortage of food, which has them now being listed as Endangered on the Norwegian Red List for Species.  The International Union of Conservation of Nature has them listed as vulnerable globally. At The Puffin’s Roost, you’ll find a wooden puffin above the sign at the shop’s entrance.

*Second Side Note* The sign and entrance may no longer be there, but the shops are still connected inside. Just go through the Fjording shop entrance instead.


The Fjording

The Fjording (meaning small horse found in fjord lands) is the next shop on our stop through the Norway Pavilion.  This too is an interconnected building with several rooms.  The shop on the left is modeled after the Old Bergen Museum, which was a collection of about 50 reconstructed wooden houses from several centuries, while the other buildings are based on the UNESCO World Heritage wharf in Bryggen in the district in Bergen.

You’ll notice a wooden three-sided face atop of the entrance to the shop. This is of King Olaf Haraldsson, whom I mentioned earlier when talking about the Stave Church.  If you recall, he brought back Christianity to Norway after his Viking travels across Europe.  This carving has three faces to represent the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

The Fjording shop itself has Norwegian imports, a section of different types of trolls and as the gift shop at the exit to the Frozen Ever After attraction, you’ll find a vast collection of merchandise from the film.

One thing that I know you can’t overlook in this shop is the Giant troll, known as “the forgotten troll”, which is a great photo op.  He is known by this name because apparently, he comes to life at night, but by morning doesn’t remember what he did and can’t even remember his name. He was designed by artist Bjorn Schultze.

Fun Fact – there are many versions of this troll around the world, including one at Flam Railway in Voss, Norway. 

You’ll find troll merchandise throughout the Norway Pavilion.  Folklore describes 2 types of trolls: the giants, known as jontar and the smaller, known as huldrefolk.  The jontar get their name and several characteristics from Norse ice giants in mythology.

Scandavian myths tell of all types of trolls that are larger than the average person and some with nine heads, living in caves, under bridges or even at the bottom of lakes.

Have you ever taken a photo with the troll in the Fjording shop? Share your pictures with us in our Where In The Park Explorers Facebook Group!

 

The Waterfall

In between the Fjording shop and the entrance of the Frozen Ever After attraction, you will find a waterfall somewhat tucked away in the corner. 

Originally part of the Maelstrom attraction, the waterfall was open at the top where you could see the boats from the ride and where the water seemed to flow out from the cave.  However, with the revision of Maelstrom to the now Frozen Ever After attraction, there is no longer a cave, but the waterfall still flows from the rock formation outside. 

It seems whenever an attraction or land gets a “makeover” or “retheme”, the Disney Imagineers will almost always hide some sort of easter egg from the prior attraction.  If you look closely, something is hiding just behind the waterfall, on the backside of the water if you will.  Sorry, little Disney pun.  It is a sword that was on the original Maelstrom attraction.

 

Frozen Ever After

When Frozen Ever After opened on June 21, 2016, the ride reused the track and boats from Maelstrom, the Norway Pavilion’s original attraction, which operated from 1988 until it closed in October 2014.

Maelstrom was a Viking‑style boat ride that took guests through Norway’s past—10th‑century villages, mythical forests, chanting trolls, polar bears, Atlantic puffins, “living trees” and even a North Sea oil rig. One of its most memorable moments came when trolls cast a spell on the boat, sending riders backward toward a dramatic waterfall drop. The experience ended in a peaceful fishing village and a theater showing The Spirit of Norway.

I could do a whole episode on this attraction, from the first concept artwork of the boats done by Imagineer Joe Rohde or the models of the boats and the polar bears that were sculpted by Imagineer Jack Ferges, but we may have to save that for another episode on past attractions. 

But after 25 years, Maelstrom made way for something new—and much more familiar to modern audiences.

The exterior of the attraction received a full makeover.  The building between the waterfall and the attraction’s main entrance is two-stories, with a light-orange wood-paneled second story, and beige stone on the first story. Above the blue arched windows and doors on the first floor is a painted sign that translates to something along the lines of “The Cold Storage Wharf”. Above this sign on the second floor is Kristoff from Frozen, carved from wood – which makes sense, as he’s an ice carver... so this would be where he stores the ice! This wooden statue has a roof over his head, and he stands on a small pedestal held up by a reindeer head. In his right hand is a pickaxe and in his left is a saw. Similar statues can be found in Bryggen in Norway. 

Stonework was added to the upper portion of the attraction’s main entrance, giving it a more castle-like appearance, with arched cathedral windows and a grand doorway and fresh paint. This stone structure is inspired by Haakon’s Hall in Norway, which is a building inside the Bergenhaus Fortress. This medieval building was used for celebrations by the royal family – which makes sense as we are entering the castle to see Princess Anna and Queen Elsa! 

Instead of traveling through Norwegian history, guests are now visiting Arendelle with a celebration that takes place, fittingly, in the middle of summer.

You’ll want to skip ahead if you haven’t ridden the attraction and don’t want any spoilers.

The experience starts before you even board. The indoor queue offers a nighttime view of Arendelle’s castle courtyard, and guests pass Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post, where Oaken can be heard calling out greetings and clearing steam from his sauna windows.

Once on the water, Olaf and Sven welcome riders and help set the stage for the festival. In Troll Valley, Grandpappy Troll explains how Anna and Kristoff first met. The boats then glide uphill to the ice palace and come across a joyful Olaf ice skating and singing alongside Anna, Kristoff, and Sven.

One of the ride’s most striking moments comes next. Doors open to reveal Elsa on the balcony of her ice palace, singing “Let It Go” as snow appears to fall around the room. This is also where the boat changes direction and begins traveling backward, allowing guests to linger longer in the scene. 

From there, guests encounter the giant snowman named Marshmallow from the original film, along with several miniature snowman, known as Snowgies who first appear in the Frozen Fever short, and later in Frozen 2. The journey ends with fireworks and a warm goodbye from the entire cast of characters.

While Frozen Ever After replaced Maelstrom, it’s about 30 seconds longer, thanks to changes in how loading and unloading are handled. The attraction also introduced new technology, including all‑electric audio‑animatronics and micro‑projectors that map facial expressions directly onto character molds, creating more lifelike movement and emotion.  However, the attraction just reopened on February 12, 2026 with updated Audio Animatronics figures with faces that no longer use those micro-projectors. This updated version was first used in Tokyo Disney Sea in 2024.  So, if you’ve ridden this before, it is time to go back and see the updates!


Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Next, we will travel to the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.

Originally named Restaurant Akershus, but now called Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, this building was designed after the 12th century Akershus Fortress and Castle which guarded the city of Oslo, Norway.  I couldn’t find the exact date/year that the construction started on the fortress in Norway but it is believed to be around the late 1290s.  The fortress was designed for military defense with thick stone and brick walls and watchtowers, built on a peninsula overlooking Oslo. 

The fortress was never captured by a foreign force, although it was under attack by Swedish soldiers 5 different times between 1309 and 1567, and was also attacked in 1502 by Scottish soldiers. 

In 1940 during World War II, the fortress was surrendered without a battle to Nazi Germany.  On May 11, 1945, the fortress was handed over to Terje Rollem on behalf of the Norwegian resistance movement.  Today, the fortress is used for both offices for the Norwegian Ministry of Defense and the Norwegian Resistance Museum and is open to the public.

The original and the replica are built with natural stone and masonry.  In the Norway pavilion, the fortress walls contain iron pieces embedded in the masonry, which is a nod to the construction of the original.  Since stone and brick walls are extremely heavy and can sag or collapse over time, in medieval times, buttresses were often used to prevent these issues and helped to stabilize the walls.  However, the iron tie-rods were more efficient and more cost-effective.  The rods connected to the parallel walls and end caps help to secure them in place.  There are gun turrets built into the walls and along the top of the structure.  They even recreated one of the fortresses’ steeples. 

For the Norway Pavilion, the lead designer was John Hench (Disney Legend and once Executive Vice President of WED Enterprises), who by then was in his late 70s. Katie Olson, along with some other architects, were in charge of the color scheme for the pavilion.  Katie recalls meeting John regarding this castle.  She suggested that they paint using very authentic drab colors.  John thought that would be boring.  He saw a photo of a pink wall in Norway and thought that should be the color of the castle.  Katie argued that she couldn’t imagine a 12th century castle would have been pink.  John replied, “Well, if you can’t imagine it, then you shouldn’t be on this project.”  Guess what color the castle is, you guessed it Pink!

Inside Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, the setting shifts from fortress to fairytale.  The main dining room features a carved wood beam ceiling and arched windows.  Another dining room feels like an ancient castle with its whitewashed stone, with a third space resembling a cozy cottage. 

Akershus offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with Disney Princesses, including Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Aroura and several others.  There are usually about 4-5 appearing at each meal. The menu hints at Norwegian cuisine, but it very much Americanized.

 

Det er alt for i dag (That's All For Today)

Wow, I feel like we took a tour around the country of Norway after this episode.  If there is anything you think we missed or any fun fact you may have about the Norway Pavilion, please join our free private Facebook group – Where In The Park Explorers to share your knowledge with us and the group.  We hope that you have enjoyed this episode and learned something new about this pavilion.

And remember, make sure to join our Park Press Newsletter to be notified when a new podcast blog is being released.  Next month we continue the clockwise journey around the World Showcase, with the next stop in China. 

Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions for further episodes you’d like us to do, send us a DM @WhereInThePark on Instagram or Facebook, or reach out on this podcast’s private Facebook Group: Where In The Park Explorers.  Be sure to share your stories and photos in the group.  We’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for listening!  And until next time, we’ll see you somewhere in the park.

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