JUST ANNOUNCED: Frozen Ever After Is CHANGING at EPCOT

One of Disney World’s most popular rides is getting an update!

Now that EPCOT’s Test Track has reopened after a lengthy refurbishment that upgraded the way we experience the ride forever, and we’ve had some time to embrace the new World Celebration and its gardens, it seems Disney’s ready to turn to another EPCOT spot. If you’re a Frozen Ever After fan, there are a few changes headed to the ride that you’ll need to anticipate soon!

Back in 2016, our hearts were first warmed with the riveting story of two sisters, Princess Anna and Queen Elsa, and their journey through Frozen Ever After in EPCOT. Since then, it’s quickly become a popular slow-moving boat ride through a familiar story, filled with full-size animatronics of the Frozen characters — and those animatronics are getting some upgrades!

Yep, this is exactly where you want to head when you want to see life-size versions of Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, Olaf, and even Marshmallow (before taking a quick plunge down the North mountain back to the village of Arendale).

In fact, for their time, these figures were groundbreaking in the world of audio-animatronics as it was the first ever ride to include all-electric audio-animatronic figures, as well as the first to combine electric motors and 3D printing. Seriously, we’re talking groundbreakingly impressive kinds of advancements in technology that still “wow” us today.

But what might be most notable of the impressive features and movements you’ll find in all of these animatronics is, of course, found within Elsa. While she might be best known for her magical, ice-forming hand gestures in the movie, Disney’s Imagineers were tasked with bringing that same fluid wrist movement to her figure to life.

In order to handle the movements just like Elsa does on film, Imagineers needed enough space to run cables and motors down her arms and hands. They figured out how big Elsa’s wrist needed to be and scaled everything else in the attraction to match.

But since they’ve been in their current state for around a decade now, it’s no surprise to hear that Disney plans to give Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff’s figures new updates in Frozen Ever After. These new updates will take inspiration from the advancements seen in figures at World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland, and will help usher in the future of audio-animatronic technology as we’ve yet to see it used in Disney World. These new updates are aimed to bring a more true-to-film look for these characters and are expected to be completed for riders to witness in early 2026.

If you’re curious as to how these characters might look different after the update, here’s a look at similar animatronic figures of the Frozen character at World of Disney in Hong Kong Disneyland. If this is any indication, we’re in for a huge treat!

While Disney hasn’t given a confirmed date, it’s likely we could see the ride go under refurbishment soon to prepare for the updates. However, rest assured that once Disney has announced the dates of the change and any potential interruptions you might encounter during your visit to ride, we’ll continue to keep you updated. Stay tuned with us at AllEars for all the latest!

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Which of EPCOT’s rides are your must-dos? Tell us in the comments below!