The animatronic characters in Disney World’s Frozen Ever After ride are being upgraded with new, sculpted faces. Currently, the characters use projections to display expressions, but they’ll soon have more detailed, three-dimensional faces similar to the ones found on the ride in Hong Kong Disneyland.
Background: The Projection‑Face System and Its Limitations
Since it opened in 2016, the Frozen Ever After ride at EPCOT has combined different technologies for its animated characters. Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff have facial expressions created with rear projection, while characters like Sven, Olaf, and Marshmallow use more standard animatronic methods.
Great news for Disney fans! The Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff figures at EPCOT are getting an update to look more like the impressive versions found at the World of Frozen attraction in Hong Kong Disneyland.
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) October 8, 2025
People watching the show have noticed issues with the projection system. Specifically, faces have sometimes appeared as dark or blank screens, making it look like the characters have empty heads. Others have also pointed out that the projections aren’t always lined up correctly.
The way the figures are lit, and how their faces compare to their robotic bodies, can sometimes look strange. Guests have mentioned feeling a sense of unease, even when the animatronics are functioning correctly – a phenomenon known as the uncanny valley.
Honestly, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen problems with these kinds of effects – where they project a face onto an animatronic. It’s actually been a point of criticism in other Disney rides, like *Seven Dwarfs Mine Train*, and it’s a little disappointing to see it happening again.
Announced Upgrades for Early 2026
Disney announced on October 8, 2025, that the animatronic figures of Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff on the Frozen Ever After ride would be getting a makeover. Instead of using projected faces, they will now have sculpted or physical faces.
Disney explains that the updated figures will look more like the ones featured in their *World of Frozen* ride in Hong Kong. These figures are completely sculpted, meaning they don’t use projections to create facial expressions.
The improvements are planned for the beginning of 2026. Disney hasn’t announced if the ride will temporarily close during the update, either completely or in sections. They also haven’t shared a timeline for the work, like when it will start or how long it will take, or given any estimate of the cost.
Comparison with Hong Kong’s “World of Frozen”
The opening of World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland in November 2023 set a new high bar for attractions based on the movie *Frozen*. Unlike some other versions of the *Frozen Ever After* ride, the figures of Anna and Elsa in Hong Kong utilize incredibly detailed, mechanical faces instead of projections. These animatronic figures move and express emotions realistically thanks to precisely controlled motors and internal mechanisms, resolving common problems found in projection-based models.
People have reacted favorably to the Hong Kong installations. Experts pointed out that the sculpted figures looked more realistic within their environment. Importantly, they continued to show emotion even when the system experienced technical difficulties, a feature that sets them apart from projection-based displays, which can simply go blank or freeze up if there’s a problem.
Historical Context of Projection-Face Animatronics
In the early 2010s, Disney started using a new technology called rear-projection facial animation to make its animatronic characters more lifelike. This system works by projecting expressions onto a smooth surface inside the character’s head, allowing for realistic emotions, lip-syncing, and quick changes in expression – things that would be hard to achieve with traditional mechanical parts.
Despite being a creative idea, this technique has had some problems with reliability and how it looks in practice. Sometimes the faces appear blank or aren’t positioned correctly, which is very noticeable and can be distracting. Even when it works as intended, the glowing effect can feel unnatural. Ultimately, it never achieved the same level of realism as traditional animatronics.
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2025-10-13 23:57