After EPCOT completed its Test Track refresh last year, attention quietly shifted to another attraction that has long drawn crowds in the World Showcase.
Frozen Ever After debuted in 2016 inside EPCOT’s Norway pavilion, replacing the long-running Maelstrom boat ride with a musical journey inspired by Frozen. Guests boarded Viking-inspired vessels and drifted through Arendelle during Olaf’s “Summer Snow Day,” encountering Anna, Elsa, and familiar faces along the way, all set to songs pulled directly from the film.
From the start, the attraction stood out for its ambitious use of scenery, lighting effects, and advanced Audio-Animatronics, offering a deeper level of immersion than many World Showcase rides before it. Still, one design choice quickly became a talking point among fans: the use of projected faces on several main characters.
At EPCOT, Frozen Ever After blends classic Audio-Animatronics with projection-mapped facial animation. Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff rely on internal projection systems to display expressions and synchronized dialogue. While this allowed for expressive performances, the technology has occasionally slipped out of alignment, creating moments that guests found distracting.
Although cutting-edge when introduced, the system has shown its limits over time. Characters have occasionally appeared frozen in place or partially obscured by shadows. Even so, Frozen Ever After has remained popular, thanks to its soundtrack, recognizable characters, and the way it repurposed Maelstrom’s layout.
A newer version of the experience opened at Hong Kong Disneyland in November 2023 as part of World of Frozen. While the ride closely follows EPCOT’s story beats and layout, it features noticeable enhancements, including upgraded lighting, refined scenes, and fully sculpted Audio-Animatronic faces.
Rather than relying on projections, the Hong Kong figures use physical facial features that move in sync with the characters’ bodies. Fans have highlighted the realism of these figures, along with subtle creative changes such as warmer lighting at the start, a more energetic Ice Palace scene, and a finale drop with a slightly steeper profile.
These changes highlight how Imagineering continues to evolve its storytelling tools. EPCOT’s version now feels rooted in its 2016 debut era, while Hong Kong’s attraction reflects a more cinematic approach to the same story.
That newer approach is now making its way back to EPCOT. Disney closed Frozen Ever After indefinitely in January 2026 to allow Imagineers to complete the updates. The company has since confirmed that the attraction will reopen on February 12, 2026, with operating hours already posted on Disney’s official website. The Norway pavilion staple received these updates after a decade of operation.
Since opening, Frozen Ever After has taken guests through Arendelle alongside detailed Audio-Animatronics of Olaf, Sven, Kristoff, Marshmallow, and the Snowgies.
The ride represented a milestone for Disney, as it was the first attraction to combine fully electric Audio-Animatronics with 3D-printed components. Elsa’s intricate hand movements posed one of the biggest engineering challenges, requiring Imagineers to design wrists capable of housing motors and wiring without sacrificing graceful motion during her ice-forming scenes.
Late last year, Disney Experiences confirmed that Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff would receive upgrades based on the advanced figures seen in Hong Kong Disneyland, bringing a closer match to their animated counterparts.
“…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,” Disney Parks Blog wrote. “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.”
Frozen’s presence continues to grow across Disney parks worldwide. Tokyo DisneySea introduced Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey in 2024 as part of Fantasy Springs, offering another boat-based retelling of the sisters’ story. Disneyland Paris is also preparing its own World of Frozen, scheduled to open March 29, 2026, within the newly named Disney Adventure World. Each version builds on the foundation laid at EPCOT, ensuring guests around the globe can experience Arendelle.
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