Disney has confirmed that the lead Audio-Animatronics in Frozen Ever After at EPCOT will be upgraded in early 2026, bringing Anna, Elsa and Kristoff closer to their on-screen look than ever before. The announcement highlights advances inspired by the acclaimed figures in Hong Kong Disneyland’s World of Frozen, which have been widely praised for their realism and fluidity.
What exactly is changing at EPCOT?
In a post dated 8 October 2025, Disney outlined that the attraction’s headline figures will receive new updates informed by the latest generation of Audio-Animatronics used internationally. The blog frames this as a “more true-to-film” presentation for the stars of Arendelle. Third-party coverage the same day characterises this as a move away from the older projection-face approach toward fully realised facial figures, matching the Hong Kong standard.
Disney has not published specific downtime dates or the exact scope beyond Anna, Elsa and Kristoff, but the upgrade timing is set for early next year.
Will Disneyland Paris launch with the newer face tech?
Disneyland Paris has already confirmed that World of Frozen opens in 2026 as part of the park’s transformation into Disney Adventure World. Disney’s official materials do not yet spell out the facial animation approach for Paris’s version of Frozen Ever After. However, given the EPCOT upgrade is explicitly “taking inspiration” from Hong Kong’s figures, it is reasonable to expect Paris to debut with the same modern, non-projection style faces seen in newer builds. We will update this story the moment Disney provides a technical confirmation for Paris.
Why it matters for fans and families
- Stronger character likeness: The latest figures deliver subtler expressions and eye movement that read beautifully in a boat ride scene. Reports from Hong Kong set a high bar for how convincing these characters can feel in person.
- Consistency across parks: With EPCOT stepping up to match the international standard, guests should see a more consistent Frozen experience worldwide.
The bottom line
- EPCOT: Anna, Elsa and Kristoff are getting upgraded figures in early 2026, aiming for a more cinematic look, with details inspired by Hong Kong’s breakthrough implementation. Official dates are to come.
- Disneyland Paris: World of Frozen opens in 2026. Disney has not yet confirmed the exact face tech for its animatronics, but all signs point to the newer approach.
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