For the first time in... well, you know the song. On Tuesday, June 9th, Anna, Elsa and Kristoff from Disney's Frozen made their very first appearance in Norway - the land that served as the inspiration for the animated film.
Turns out the Norwegians are just as crazy about Princess Anna and Queen Elsa as any American waiting in line for hours at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom or Disneyland, but more on that later. This special royal appearance only happened due to Disney Cruise Line's inaugural Norwegian Fjord sailing that stopped in the historic Art Nouveau city of Ålesund, Norway.
Disney cruise passengers who booked the Ålesund shore excursion to the Sunnmøre Open Air Museum (an additional $359/person on top of the price of the cruise) strolled through the living history village where local children performed traditional dances, played music, and shared Norwegian dishes including lefse (a buttery sweetbread), svele (a pancake topped with sugar), and waffles [yes, no carbs on this cruise].
The Norwegian summer celebration culminated with the arrival of Queen Elsa, Princess Anna, her special friend Kristoff, and even a reindeer joined in for the occasion (although he was a little spooked by the hordes of people speaking a strange language. The Frozen sisters and Kristoff greeted cruise guests while Norwegian music and dance continued in the picturesque, woodsy setting above the fjord.
Kristoff, Anna, and Elsa from Disney's FROZEN greet guests at the Sunnmøre Museum in Ålesund, Norway, photo by Dave Parfitt
And what did the Norwegians think of this Frozen frenzy? As previously mentioned, they have the fever as much as we Americans. Tour guide and Sunnmøre Museum volunteer Sidsel Aurdal said, "we love the movie, and all the Norwegian girls want to be Anna and Elsa." Need proof? Just look at the line of braided Scandinavians waiting to meet their new folk heroes.
Norwegians lined up to meet Elsa, Anna and Kristoff from Disney's Frozen at Sunnmøre Museum, Ålesund, Norway, photo by Dave Parfitt
The Frozen characters looked at ease in their home country with their people (errr, subjects?), and one can easily see how the Disney animators were influenced by the inspiring vistas surrounding towns like Ålesund. Whatever you may think of Disney's Frozen, the joy that Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff brought to the families on Disney's inaugural Norwegian Fjord cruise was evident. For more photos and updates from the Disney Magic's inaugural cruise to Norway, the most impressive landscape on the planet, click here.
