EPCOT Anna, Elsa and Kristoff Audio-Animatronics refresh coming to Frozen Ever After in EPCOT

[HauntedPirate]

I used to visit this site daily. I’ve been a member over 15 years. I never come here anymore because EVERYTHING is negative. The one time I’ve been here in months about an upgrade I thought nobody could complain about - I immediately come here and see complaints. It’s unbelievable.

There is literally nothing WDW could do that wouldn’t get some kind of complaint at this point. Yet the ones complaining spend thousands and still go every year (because that’ll really teach ‘em). It’s sad Twitter is more positive about WDW than an alleged “fan” forum.

I have insider contacts and unreleased attraction info and I can’t even share that here anymore.

Maybe there's a reason there are more negative comments in the past few years than a decade ago?

And I'm not seeing anyone complaining about fixing the projection problem. It feels like you have an axe to grind and you chose his post to unleash your anger because he pointed out the went the cheap route originally and have other issues that are glaring but not being addressed.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I noticed that just this week on another thread. Disney releases how much was raised for Make a Wish foundation via the Florida Make a Wish plates. People were complaining about that. What are they supposed to do? Not tell you about how much was raised to enable dying kids to go to WDW? I don't get it.

Because they could cut a check if they wanted to donate (not that they don't already probably donate, unless MaW is paying them for the wishes granted), not make a splash over $5 million from license plates the public chose to buy.

 

[Comped]

I think it was tech. 2016 vs. 2025. It's about time. I hope Mickey and Minnie in MMRR are next. Those are horrible. The ones in 7DMT are passable.

Surely more difficult given that DL didn't give them a blueprint to use for new faces though?

 

[JohnD]

Maybe there's a reason there are more negative comments in the past few years than a decade ago?

And I'm not seeing anyone complaining about fixing the projection problem. It feels like you have an axe to grind and you chose his post to unleash your anger because he pointed out the went the cheap route originally and have other issues that are glaring but not being addressed.

As @Timothy_Q so astutely pointed out, if there is any complaint, it's that there should be more rides in WDW. Speaking of complaining, Kali was taken down for its annual refurbishment earlier than usual and people were complaining that there were only 5 rides available. The current construction has not affected the current total number of rides -- yet. Just the one less as usual when Kali gets taken down for refurb. (Okay, I didn't count the Dinoland rides but how many really have ridden those tinker toy rides?) But they're complaining anyway, forgetting, as usual, the animal walkthroughs and shows.

 

[James Alucobond]

I used to visit this site daily. I’ve been a member over 15 years. I never come here anymore because EVERYTHING is negative. The one time I’ve been here in months about an upgrade I thought nobody could complain about - I immediately come here and see complaints. It’s unbelievable.

There is literally nothing WDW could do that wouldn’t get some kind of complaint at this point. Yet the ones complaining spend thousands and still go every year (because that’ll really teach ‘em). It’s sad Twitter is more positive about WDW than an alleged “fan” forum.

I have insider contacts and unreleased attraction info and I can’t even share that here anymore.

You just have to figure out who the half a dozen people are who generate 90% of the mindless, rambling, unsubstantiated negativity and either put them on ignore or read what they say through a lens of detached indifference to their modus operandi.

 

[HauntedPirate]

As @Timothy_Q so astutely pointed out, if there is any complaint, it's that there should be more rides in WDW. Speaking of complaining, Kali was taken down for its annual refurbishment earlier than usual and people were complaining that there were only 5 rides available. The current construction has not affected the current total number of rides -- yet. Just the one less as usual when Kali gets taken down for refurb. (Okay, I didn't count the Dinoland rides but how many really have ridden those tinker toy rides?) But they're complaining anyway, forgetting, as usual, the animal walkthroughs and shows.

How many rides did AK have 2 years ago? If you're going to count the trails and walkthroughs, it's intellectually dishonest to not count Dinoland.

 

[flynnibus]

That sounds like a you problem

That's how I feel about all your posts in this thread. Heading to the ignore list...

 

[Po'Rich]

Fantastic! I always found the current ones creepy!

 

[JustInTime]

That's how I feel about all your posts in this thread. Heading to the ignore list...

No loss

 

[JustInTime]

You just have to figure out who the half a dozen people are who generate 90% of the mindless, rambling, unsubstantiated negativity and either put them on ignore or read what they say through a lens of detached indifference to their modus operandi.

This is a great tip. Thank you!

 

[JohnD]

How many rides did AK have 2 years ago? If you're going to count the trails and walkthroughs, it's intellectually dishonest to not count Dinoland.

Fair enough. But to complain about an annual refurbishment? Come on.

 

[flynnibus]

I'm happy Disney is refreshing here... It was kind of a double take to realize it's been 10yrs already for FEA.

The projection faces always get a lot of flack online.. and I think it's because they look so much worse on camera than they do in person. The projections allowed them to have a natural movement (even if the tone was lost sometimes) that the physical stuff just didn't allow. And more human faces have always been harder than more stylized or character faces. If they can pull it out in physical form now.. just nice to see refreshes happening.

Stale is the biggest enemy - so nice to see such efforts happening without some obscene initiative thrown on top.

 

[JustInTime]

I'm happy Disney is refreshing here... It was kind of a double take to realize it's been 10yrs already for FEA.

The projection faces always get a lot of flack online.. and I think it's because they look so much worse on camera than they do in person. The projections allowed them to have a natural movement (even if the tone was lost sometimes) that the physical stuff just didn't allow. And more human faces have always been harder than more stylized or character faces. If they can pull it out in physical form now.. just nice to see refreshes happening.

Stale is the biggest enemy - so nice to see such efforts happening without some obscene initiative thrown on top.

Perfect response.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Fair enough. But to complain about an annual refurbishment? Come on.

I don't disagree. It was happening regardless of the timing. I do think the timing is odd, though, considering how few people will likely want to ride a water ride (with apparently at least a 25% chance of getting soaked) in mid-January.

 

[Po'Rich]

I'm happy Disney is refreshing here... It was kind of a double take to realize it's been 10yrs already for FEA.

The projection faces always get a lot of flack online.. and I think it's because they look so much worse on camera than they do in person. The projections allowed them to have a natural movement (even if the tone was lost sometimes) that the physical stuff just didn't allow. And more human faces have always been harder than more stylized or character faces. If they can pull it out in physical form now.. just nice to see refreshes happening.

Stale is the biggest enemy - so nice to see such efforts happening without some obscene initiative thrown on top.

I agree. As I said just a minute ago, I find the current projection faces kind of creepy. Yet, I really like the ride (to be honest, I really like the ride queue), and the creepy faces were just something that detracted from the overall enjoyment of the experience. I figured it was what it was, and I just needed to get over the creep-factor. Now, however, it's going to be improved. I'm ecstatic about this change!

 

[Timothy_Q]

Also worth pointing out, the Clawhauser AA coming to DAK got its eyes updated to physical as well, compared to the projection eyes from the SDL version.

This seems to mark the end of projection faces at Disney

 

[Disnutz311]

There is probably a cost-related reason behind this upgrade. I can't find it at the moment, but there was a video interview with some of the imagineers who worked on the version at Hong Kong. They actually discussed some of the reasons why they went with physical faces instead of projected ones and made direct comparisons with the one at Epcot. Aside from looking a lot better, they also said that the projections were actually more troublesome to maintain and degraded much quicker.

Buy one get one free from the company that made them for Paris ride?

 

[Stupido]

How funny, my partner rode FEA for the first time last week and said he really liked it, but the projection faces ruined the vibe for him. I can't wait to tell him when he gets home today!

 

[eddie104]

A must needed change and just in time for the ride ten year anniversary of being open.

What a perfect way to celebrate that by giving it some new updates.

WDW has been on a roll lately with these announcements lately.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

All I can say is...