Credit: Jess Colopy, Inside the MagicAfter EPCOT refreshed the classic Test Track ride earlier this year, Disney has set its sights on another fan-favorite attraction at the park.
When Frozen Ever After debuted at EPCOT’s Norway Pavilion in 2016, it transformed the former Maelstrom boat ride into a musical journey through Arendelle. Guests boarded Viking-inspired boats to celebrate “Summer Snow Day” alongside Olaf, Anna, Elsa, and friends, with show scenes and songs lifted straight from Disney’s hit animated film.
The attraction’s mix of detailed sets, lighting, and Audio-Animatronics created a new kind of immersion for EPCOT’s World Showcase, though one aspect became particularly divisive among fans: the projection-faced characters.
EPCOT’s version of Frozen Ever After features a blend of traditional Audio-Animatronics and projection technology that brings the characters’ facial expressions to life. Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff’s faces are animated using internal projectors, allowing for expressive lip-sync and movement, but sometimes resulting in jarring visuals when misaligned or malfunctioning.
While the effect was groundbreaking in 2016, it’s also been prone to glitches–occasionally leaving characters with dark or frozen expressions mid-ride. Despite this, the attraction remains one of EPCOT’s most beloved experiences, praised for its music, heart, and reimagined use of the former Maelstrom space.
Hong Kong Disneyland’s World of Frozen, which opened in November 2023, takes that same concept and evolves it dramatically. The park’s version of Frozen Ever After closely mirrors EPCOT’s layout and story but features upgraded scenes, enhanced lighting, and most notably, next-generation Audio-Animatronics with fully sculpted faces.
Unlike the projection-based figures in EPCOT, these animatronics have physical, detailed facial features that move fluidly and match their bodies more naturally. The effect is stunningly lifelike, a significant step forward in Disney’s technology. Guests have also noted differences in the ride’s tone and pacing, including warmer lighting in the opening scenes, a more vibrant Ice Palace sequence, and a slightly steeper drop at the finale.
The shift from projection to sculpted animatronics reflects Imagineering’s continued refinement of storytelling tools–trading flexibility for realism. Where EPCOT’s version feels like a time capsule of Frozen’s early popularity, Hong Kong’s feels like a cinematic reimagining that pushes Disney’s technical artistry forward.
And now that artistry is heading Stateside as Disney has just announced that the beloved Frozen Ever After will be changing after 10 years of operation at EPCOT theme park.
Since opening in 2016, Frozen Ever After in EPCOT’s Norway Pavilion has invited guests to sail through the story of Anna and Elsa with the help of impressive Audio-Animatronics, including Olaf, Sven, Kristoff, Marshmallow, and the Snowgies.
As aforementioned, the attraction was groundbreaking for Disney, marking the first use of fully electric Audio-Animatronics and the combination of electric motors with 3D printing–a significant leap forward in theme park technology. One of the most intricate design challenges involved Elsa’s signature hand movements; Imagineers determined the perfect wrist size needed to fit all the motors and cables required to replicate her graceful, ice-casting gestures, scaling the rest of the figure and set accordingly.
Early next year, Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff’s figures will be upgraded with the latest advancements inspired by Hong Kong Disneyland’s lifelike designs, promising a truer-to-film appearance and a refreshed experience for guests.
“…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.”
Beyond these two versions, the Frozen franchise continues to expand across Disney theme parks worldwide. Tokyo DisneySea’s Fantasy Springs opened in 2024 with Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey, a newly imagined boat ride retelling the sisters’ story, while Disneyland Paris is preparing to open its own World of Frozen in 2026. Each new addition builds on the foundation set by EPCOT’s original–ensuring that no matter where you go, the magic of Arendelle will always be waiting.
How do you feel about the update to Frozen Ever After? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!