Walt Disney World Resort has confirmed that Frozen Ever After, the boat ride attraction in the Norway pavilion at EPCOT, will be reopening on February 12, 2026, according to operating hours listed on Disney’s official calendar.
The attraction closed on January 26, 2026, allowing Walt Disney Imagineering to install updated Audio-Animatronics figures of Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff. During the closure, the Norway Pavilion has remained open, and nearby experiences such as the Royal Sommerhus meet-and-greet continued to operate.
Animatronic Face System
The most significant mechanical change involves the removal of rear-projection facial systems on the Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff figures. The original EPCOT versions relied on a small internal projector aimed at a translucent face mask, which displayed animated facial expressions. The technology was considered innovative at the time, but it often left characters in the uncanny valley if they were operational. When the technology glitched, riders could see blank or frozen facial expressions, pun intended.
Frozen Ever After is now closed for refurbishment at EPCOT and will reopen in February with updated Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff Audio-Animatronics figures!
The figures will feature fully articulated faces, which first debuted in World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland in 2023. pic.twitter.com/q3w5I8QUfk
— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) January 26, 2026
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The updated figures use fully sculpted, physical faces rather than projected imagery. Facial expressions are achieved through internal mechanical actuation, not video playback. This approach relies on precise motors and linkages beneath the face surface to control eyes, eyelids, brows, and mouth movement.
The technology being adopted for the EPCOT figures reflects advances introduced in similar attractions, notably World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland. In these versions, the animatronics use enhanced practical components that allow for a greater range of expressive motion compared with the previous projection-based system.
The shift from projection-based faces to physical sculptures is part of a broader trend in theme park entertainment toward more lifelike animatronics. Other attractions at Disney parks have introduced similar technology in recent years, and the update at EPCOT follows that pattern.
The Timeline
The refurbishment period is set to last roughly two and a half weeks, spanning the end of January into early February 2026. During that time, signage and guest engagement elements have been placed near the attraction entrance, and cast members have assisted visitors passing through the Norway Pavilion.
Marshmallow and the Snowgies in Frozen Ever After at EPCOT in Walt Disney World – YouTube, 4K WDW
Although Disney has not detailed changes to the ride’s narrative sequence or physical layout, the character updates have been described as the most significant enhancement to the attraction’s figures since its opening. Disney’s published schedule lists regular operating hours beginning on February 12, the date the ride is set to resume service to guests.
Background
Frozen Ever After originally replaced the Maelstrom attraction in the Norway Pavilion when it opened in 2016. It was designed as a slow-moving boat ride featuring scenes and music inspired by Disney’s Frozen films and has remained a popular experience at EPCOT since then.
Olaf and Sven in Frozen Ever After at EPCOT in Walt Disney World – YouTube, 4K WDW
The reopening is timed just ahead of mid-February travel peaks in the United States, a period that typically sees increased attendance at Walt Disney World Resort.
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