BAY LAKE, Fla. – For the first time since its opening, Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff are getting a fresh, more lifelike look at Frozen Ever After.
Walt Disney Imagineering is set to debut upgraded Audio-Animatronics at the EPCOT attraction on Feb. 12, bringing new life to beloved characters from Disney’s “Frozen.”
The figures, part of the attraction’s iconic “For the First Time in Forever,” “Let It Go,” and the “In Summer” scenes, have been modernized with advanced technology.
“These new faces use eyebrows, much more expressive,” said Ken Ricci, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Development executive.
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Ricci emphasized that Audio-Animatronics remain “the lifeblood of imagineering,” highlighting their essential role in Disney storytelling.
Frozen Ever After was groundbreaking when it opened in 2016, featuring the first all-electric Audio-Animatronics that combined electric motors with 3D-printing technology. However, the original figures have aged, prompting this modern upgrade inspired by advancements seen in Hong Kong Disneyland’s World of Frozen attraction.
Ricci also spotlighted other new Audio-Animatronics, including Benjamin Clawhauser from the Zootopia: Better Zoogether! show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Additionally, Scooter from the upcoming Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will be imagined as an Audio-Animatronic figure for the first time.
Building these figures takes a village, Ricci said, and he expressed excitement about continuing innovation under the leadership of Josh D’Amaro, Disney’s next CEO.
“We will continue to push forward,” Ricci said, praising D’Amaro’s vision for park development.