Disney finally gave one of EPCOT’s most popular attractions the upgrade fans had been requesting for years, but only a few months after the revamped version debuted, guests are already spotting technical problems throughout the ride.
Since opening in EPCOT’s Norway Pavilion in 2016, Frozen Ever After has taken guests on a boat ride through Arendelle, replacing the former Maelstrom attraction with scenes featuring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, Sven, and the Snowgies as they celebrate a “Summer Snow Day” inspired by Disney’s Frozen.
Although the attraction quickly became a guest favorite, many fans criticized the use of projected faces on Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff instead of fully sculpted Audio-Animatronics. That changed when Hong Kong Disneyland’s World of Frozen introduced far more lifelike figures, raising hopes that EPCOT would eventually receive the same treatment.
Those hopes became reality when Frozen Ever After closed on January 26, 2026, for refurbishment. Disney Experiences had already confirmed the project, with Disney Parks Blog writing: “in a full circle moment of innovation, the Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff Audio-Animatronics figures will soon receive new updates after ten years of delighting fans in Frozen Ever After. Taking inspiration from the advancements seen in figures at World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland, the Frozen Ever After figures will face the future of Audio-Animatronics.”
According to Walt Disney Imagineering executive creative development team member Ken Ricci, the refurbishment included much more than replacing the attraction’s headline figures.
“Anytime an attraction goes down, we take an opportunity to freshen up what we can,” Ricci told the Orlando Sentinel. “So, we touched up a lot and some show lighting, so it should look refreshed.”
Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff were fitted with new articulated heads featuring silicone skin, replacing the projection technology that had been used since the attraction opened. The new figures offer more natural facial movement while matching the versions already seen in newer Frozen attractions around the world.
Installing them wasn’t as straightforward as swapping heads. “Then we literally had to modify the figures’ necks to accept the change in the heads,” Ricci explained. “And that took a few days, but we did a lot of pre-planning with technology and software to make sure that we were ready to port over these figures.”
Imagineers also refreshed lighting, show programming and scenic elements throughout the attraction before Disney reopened Frozen Ever After on February 12, 2026.
The EPCOT refurbishment is one part of Disney’s growing investment in Arendelle-themed experiences. Tokyo DisneySea welcomed Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey inside Fantasy Springs in 2024, while Disneyland Paris officially opened its own World of Frozen on March 29, 2026, as part of the transformed Disney Adventure World. Together with EPCOT’s refurbishment, the projects continue expanding the Frozen franchise across Disney’s parks.
The refreshed attraction has only been operating for a few months, but guests visiting EPCOT on July 23, 2026, reported several animatronic issues throughout Frozen Ever After, according to Kenny the Pirate.
Among the reported problems, Olaf’s head remained pointed downward during his performance, while Anna’s left eye reportedly became fixed in place as her right hand moved erratically during the scene with Kristoff and Sven.
Guests also claimed Elsa’s eyes stayed looking to one side throughout her “Let It Go” performance. Similar eye issues were reportedly visible during the attraction’s closing scene featuring Anna and Elsa together.
Although Disney attractions occasionally experience animatronic hiccups, guests noted that the number of problems appearing across several major scenes during the same ride stood out. It remains unknown whether the issues were limited to that operating day or point to a wider technical problem.
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