EPCOT’s Frozen Ever After Is Closing January 26—And Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff Are Finally Getting the Faces They Deserve

If you’ve ridden Frozen Ever After at EPCOT, you might have noticed something slightly… off about Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff. Their movements are smooth and lifelike, but their faces? Let’s just say they’ve sparked some debate since the ride opened back in 2016.

Good news: Disney is finally fixing it.

According to Disney Food Blog, Frozen Ever After will temporarily close on January 26, 2026, for a quick but significant refurbishment that will give the main character animatronics fully sculpted faces—replacing the projected animation they’ve had for nearly a decade.

What’s Wrong with the Current Faces?

When Frozen Ever After debuted in 2016 as the replacement for the beloved Maelstrom attraction, it was technically groundbreaking. The animatronics were the first at Disney to run entirely on electric motors and be manufactured using 3D printing techniques. That was impressive.

But instead of traditional sculpting for the faces, Disney used animated projections. While some guests appreciated how “true to the film” this looked, many others found it gave the characters an uncanny, bulb-headed appearance that felt more creepy than magical.

Beyond aesthetics, the projection system also created maintenance headaches. Projectors occasionally failed or misaligned, and lighting conditions inside the ride could reduce the clarity of the projected faces. Not exactly the seamless Disney magic guests expect.

Hong Kong Did It Better

Fast forward to more recent years, and Disney opened similar Frozen attractions at Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland—both featuring animatronics with three-dimensional sculpted faces that more accurately capture the characters’ animated appearances. The difference is striking.

Those newer versions combined the smooth, electronic movements of modern animatronics with remarkable sculpted faces that better represent the characters in three dimensions. Suddenly, EPCOT’s version looked outdated by comparison.

The Upgrade: What to Expect

The upcoming refurbishment will bring EPCOT’s Frozen Ever After in line with its international counterparts. Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff will receive fully sculpted faces designed to provide consistent expressions without relying on finicky projection equipment.

This should improve both reliability and visual realism, bringing the ride’s human characters closer to the level of detail we’ve seen in more recent attractions. Think less “science experiment” and more “true Disney magic.”

When It’s Happening

Frozen Ever After will close on January 26, 2026, and is expected to reopen sometime in February 2026. Disney hasn’t announced a specific reopening date yet, but the relatively short closure suggests this is a targeted upgrade rather than a complete overhaul.

If you’re planning a trip to EPCOT in late January or early February, you’ll want to keep an eye on Disney’s official refurbishment calendar to see when the attraction returns.

Why This Matters

Frozen Ever After is one of EPCOT’s most popular attractions, consistently drawing some of the longest wait times in the park. For a ride that serves as many guests’ first major encounter with modern Disney animatronics technology, getting the faces right matters.

This upgrade shows Disney is willing to revisit and improve attractions even years after opening—especially when technology and guest expectations evolve. And let’s be honest: Elsa deserves better than a projector bulb doing the heavy lifting.

We’ll be watching for the reopening announcement, and we’re excited to see these iconic characters looking their absolute best when Frozen Ever After returns in February.