A tear appeared on the face of the Elsa animatronic during a ride on Frozen Ever After at Hong Kong Disneyland. The incident was reported by a guest on March 13, 2026. This mishap highlights ongoing challenges with Disney's animatronics.
The Frozen franchise has been a staple in Disney parks since its 2013 debut, expanding into permanent attractions amid strong guest interest. At Hong Kong Disneyland, the Frozen Ever After boat ride, part of the World of Frozen land opened in 2023, encountered a visible issue recently.
On March 13, 2026, a guest riding Frozen Ever After noticed damage to the Elsa animatronic. The figure's cheek appeared ripped open. Attractions 360° shared the observation on social media, stating: "Oh no! Noticed a tear on Elsa’s face during Frozen Ever After ride today at Hong Kong Disneyland! 😮"
Hong Kong Disneyland's version of the attraction has been regarded as one of the superior implementations globally. However, this incident follows upgrades to similar animatronics at Walt Disney World's EPCOT, where Elsa's figure recently malfunctioned with a locked jaw, twitching eye, and vibrating arm during her performance.
Disney animatronics have faced other issues in recent times. In January 2026, the Tiana figure on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom experienced rapid head twitching, causing its hair to fall off. Earlier, in 2025, the Walt Disney animatronic at Disneyland malfunctioned during a complex movement, triggering an emergency stop that darkened the stage and cut the audio.
These events underscore maintenance demands for advanced figures in high-traffic environments, though Disney continues to invest in Frozen-themed experiences, including upcoming additions at Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris.
