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EPCOT’s Revamped ‘Frozen Ever After’ Faces Early Animatronic Breakdowns

Guest videos show repeated animatronic failures that echo earlier A-1000 troubles at Walt Disney World.

Overview

  • The ride reopened on February 12 after a months-long refurbishment that swapped projection-mapped faces for A-1000 physical-face animatronics.
  • Viral footage posted on February 24 shows the Elsa figure freezing mid-performance with a vibrating arm and mouth stuck open during the signature scene.
  • Guests report Olaf appearing in B-mode or missing, Anna and Kristoff moving out of sync with audio, and frequent system reboots that back up Lightning Lane.
  • Coverage links the issues to known A-1000 sensitivities, where protective sensors can shut figures down, recalling reliability problems seen at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in 2024.
  • The disruptions are affecting EPCOT operations heading into spring break, and commentators question maintenance readiness as Disney advances a technology-heavy parks investment plan.