I guess that Disney decided that Norway had too interesting of a heritage, and they just couldn’t pick only one architectural style. So they picked four. Seriously - there are four different architectural styles in the Norway pavilion, and they’re all from different parts of Norway. Which I think is cool - why only learn about one part of the country when you can learn about four?
As you enter the pavilion, look down and notice the cobblestone streets. It’s as if you’re in an ancient villiage. The wood stave church is modeled after a stave church built in 1250 AD. Some people don’t realize this, but you can actually go inside the church. Inside lies a display of Norse artifacts. The Puffin’s Roost (a store) and the Kringla Bakeri have been built in Setesday style: thick log walls and grass roofs. Interesting sidenote: the grass that is native to Norway won’t withstand Florida heat, so Disney Imagineers had to substitute. The castle, Restaurant Akershus, represents a real castle built in the fourteenth century. It is still standing in the harbor of Oslo today. The Informasjon building in built in Alesund style, with stucco and stone.
The whole feel of the Norway pavilion reflects Norway, past and present. The landscaping contains lots of wood, stone and waterfalls. And there are trolls. Lots of them. Look for the giant troll statue in the Puffin’s Roost: it makes for a great photo opportunity!
The main attraction at Norway is Maelstrom, a Viking boat ride through a mystical forest populated by trolls and waterfalls, one of which you nearly topple over backward. It’s a fun ride, and probably the most popular one in World Showcase. The crowds rise and fall with the end of the movie in the China pavilion, so if the lines seem long when you go, wait for a while and they’ll subside. After the ride, you’re led into a theatre where you experience a film about Norway. I find learning about other cultures interesting, but if you don’t…or have small, restless children…just walk through the theatre and exit out the other side. You don’t have to stay for the film.