Frozen Ever After at EPCOT is reopening tomorrow, February 12, with upgraded Audio-Animatronic figures for Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff. The attraction closed on January 26 for the refurbishment, and Disney has released first-look photos of the new figures ahead of the reopening. Guests visiting EPCOT today have already been able to experience the updates as the ride soft opened this afternoon.
What Changed
The updated figures replace the original projection-based faces with articulated heads featuring silicone skin. The new technology matches what Disney developed for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and recent international park installations, including World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland and Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival at Tokyo DisneySea.
“Guests sailing through Frozen Ever After at EPCOT can now see the newly updated Anna, Elsa and Kristoff Audio-Animatronics figures,” Disney said. “Inspired by the advancements showcased at World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland, the refreshed figures offer a more true-to-film look and elevate the storytelling experience.”
The upgrade eliminates an issue that has occasionally caused the original projection-mapped faces to glitch, sometimes showing a solid black surface where a character’s face should be.
Beyond the Animatronics
The refurbishment went beyond just the character figures. Disney also refreshed the show lighting and touched up sets throughout the attraction.
“Anytime an attraction goes down, we take an opportunity to freshen up what we can,” said Ken Ricci, executive creative development for Walt Disney Imagineering. “So, we touched up a lot and some show lighting so it should look refreshed.”
Ricci described the impact of seeing the updated Elsa figure: “I was in awe and got chills seeing Elsa, because it’s literally like she stepped off the screen and it’s standing in front of you now. You will notice the improvement.”
Ride History
Frozen Ever After opened at the Norway Pavilion in EPCOT in 2016 as a replacement for Maelstrom. The original figures were considered groundbreaking at the time, introducing all-electric Audio-Animatronics and 3D-printed components. The story and ride experience remain unchanged with this update.
The attraction takes guests on a boat ride through a frozen willow forest, past Kristoff’s troll family in Troll Valley, through Elsa’s ice palace, and into a winter celebration with Anna, Olaf, and the rest of the cast.
Frozen Ever After officially reopens at EPCOT on February 12, 2026.
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