Disney is always evaluating older theme park attractions. As time passes, how does a ride experience hold up? Sometimes changes are required, whether to be more mindful of cultures or upgrade outdated technology. Other times, Disney simply thinks of a better idea.
One favorite Walt Disney World ride closed yesterday so Imagineers can make some major changes inside. At Mickey Visit, we cover the latest Disney news, including attractions Disney is building from the ground up and new rules for re-entering queues.
READ MORE – Hidden Details on Disneyland Rides That You Will Completely Miss if You Don’t Know Where to Look
Frozen Ever After Now Closed at EPCOT
Frozen Ever After closed on January 26, 2026, at EPCOT in Walt Disney World so technicians can replace the ride’s outdated Audio-Animatronics figures of Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff.
Frozen Ever After, a boat ride in the style of Disney’s Fantasyland dark rides, first opened in 2016 with projected faces for the characters. The Audio-Animatronics’ heads were blank slates onto which Disney projected animated media. The projections were innovative at the time, but today don’t compare to modern figures introduced in newer rides. Imagineers have improved technology in the past decade to allow for more expressive sculpted faces.
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When Frozen Ever After reopens sometime in February 2026, Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff will all have sculpted faces rather than projected ones. Compare Anna’s projected face above to her sculpted face below.
The changes to EPCOT’s Frozen Ever After follow the precedent from the Hong Kong Disneyland version of the ride. That attraction opened in 2023 with sculpted faces from the beginning. A third version of the ride will open later this year at the soon-to-be-renamed Disney Adventure World in Paris, along with an entire World of Frozen land.
Ongoing Changes to Rides Across Walt Disney World
Frozen Ever After isn’t the only EPCOT ride to recently change its technology. Late last year, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure changed from 3D animation to 2D, no longer requiring the use of 3D glasses.
Looking ahead, Disney will change another favorite EPCOT ride in mid-2026 as the new Soarin’ Across America temporarily replaces Soarin’ Around the World in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Meanwhile at Magic Kingdom, two classic attractions — Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — are currently closed for extensive refurbishment. Both rides will reopen in spring 2026 with changes related to technology (handheld blasters on Buzz, for example, pictured below) and storytelling (a new character named Buddy).
In the near future, other attractions will retain their ride systems, but change thematically. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will swap Aerosmith for The Muppets when it closes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on March 2, 2026 and reopens this summer. Meanwhile, Dinosaur at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will close on February 2, 2026. Next year, an Indiana Jones ride will open in its place, utilizing the same Jeep-like ride vehicles. You can see all Disney World ride refurbishments here.
Frozen Ever After itself is an example of that final category. Prior to bringing Arendelle to life, its waterways previously hosted Maelstrom, a ride about Norwegian culture, history, and mythology.
READ MORE – Longest Disney Rides Ranked – You Won’t Believe Which One Takes the Top Spot!
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