I have a Sept 24-28 trip currently planned.
After reading the Maelstrom rumor in multiple places (being debunked/confirmed by multiple sources), someone posted here that Maelstrom was not a FPP option for Sept 28. Sure enough… it isn’t (just checked).
I can confirm that it is a FPP option for Sept 24, however I can’t check Sept 25-27 because I already have the FPPs I want at another park on those days & don’t want to risk losing them, nor can I check beyond Sept 28 (MDE won’t let me).
Can anyone confirm the FPP scenario/availability for Maelstrom for Sept 25-27, & 29 and beyond?
If so, this is a red flag that a Maelstrom closure/refurb is actually imminent.
UPDATE Aug 1:
Okay, I just got off the phone w/CM Jenny & the info is… interesting.
I asked about Maelstrom FPP availability for the week I’m there Sept 24-28.
I noted that it isn’t an option for Sept 28 & asked about availability the rest of the week.
I noted that it’s a low-crowd day & Soarin & Test Track are available.
She checked & sure enough, FPPs are available Sept 24-27, but not the 28th.
I asked if it was scheduled for refurb; she said she had no info on that & it wasn’t on the refurb schedule.
She then noted that if was being refurbed, it would show as greyed out.
However, in this case, it wasn’t greyed out… it was unavailable altogether.
It doesn’t even show as an option at all… which she thought was unusual.
She then postulated that it might be a system glitch, rather than a refurb.
She then checked for a number of dates subsequent to Sept 28, into October.
Nothing.
Then she asked, “Wait, Maelstrom’s in Norway, right?”
“Yes, indeed it is.”
“Then it might be the Frozen thing.”
(gulp)
“This is unconfirmed, but there was a meeting & were told that it might happen, that nothing is set in stone yet.”
Then I asked, “So if it’s greyed out, that means it’s a refurb, but if it’s unavailable altogether, that probably means that it’s being re-themed/discontinued altogether?”
She didn’t want to postulate on that, but said it was a reasonable assumption.
She then added that they were aware that something might be happening in Norway, but that nothing had been confirmed. There was a meeting about it. (I didn’t ask when that meeting was.)
She took my email address & said she’d follow up with her supervisor there later to confirm if the FPP situation is a system glitch, or on purpose, though evidence suggests… that they’re not allowing FPPs for a ride that won’t be there.
So that’s where it’s at as of now.
I may have to switch out my Epcot day & a MK day on my trip.
I hate possibly not being to get the FPPs I want, but Maelstrom is one of my family’s favs…
as is Carrousel of Progress, which re-opens on Sept 28 after a refurb.
UPDATE Sep 12:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/epcot/maelstrom/
October 05 is the final voyage.
Thanks to @obsessedwiththe for the update.