Disney Is Replacing the Faces on Frozen Ever After’s Animatronics—And the Ride Closes January 26th

If you’ve been putting off riding Frozen Ever After at EPCOT, you have exactly two weeks left to see the current version.

Disney just confirmed that the attraction will close on January 26th, 2026 for a major animatronics upgrade—and when it reopens in February, Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff are getting completely new faces.

What’s Changing (And Why It Matters)

Since Frozen Ever After opened in 2016, the main character animatronics have used projection-mapped faces—essentially screens that display animated expressions on static sculpted heads. At the time, this was cutting-edge technology. Disney combined all-electric motors with 3D printing to create the first attraction of its kind.

But nearly ten years later, the technology has evolved significantly.

According to Disney Food Blog, the new animatronics will feature physical, articulated faces—similar to the “really incredible” figures currently operating at World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland. Instead of projected expressions, guests will see actual mechanical movement in the characters’ faces, creating far more lifelike and emotive figures.

This is the first major character update Frozen Ever After has received since it replaced Maelstrom in the Norway pavilion.

The Timeline

Here’s what we know:

– Last day with current animatronics: January 25th, 2026

– Closure begins: January 26th, 2026

– Expected reopening: February 2026 (specific date not yet announced)

Given that only three animatronics need to be swapped out and the ride infrastructure remains unchanged, most industry observers expect the closure to last three to four weeks. That would put the reopening sometime in late February.

Why This Upgrade Was Inevitable

When World of Frozen opened in Hong Kong in 2023, Disney Parks fans immediately noticed how much more expressive and realistic the new-generation animatronics looked compared to EPCOT’s version. The feedback was loud and consistent: bring those figures to Florida.

Disney listened.

The upgrade represents more than just a cosmetic refresh. It’s a signal that Disney is willing to invest in keeping its existing attractions competitive with newer technology—even when those attractions are less than a decade old.

What This Means for Your Visit

If you have an EPCOT trip planned for late January or most of February, Frozen Ever After will be closed. The attraction typically maintains a 40-60 minute wait during peak hours, so its absence will likely push more guests toward Test Track, Guardians of the Cosmic Rewind, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

But if you can wait until late February or beyond, you’ll experience what could be some of the most advanced character animatronics Disney has ever installed in a Florida attraction.

And if you want one last look at the projection-face figures before they’re gone forever, you have until January 25th to ride.