Frozen at Walt Disney World Tips
Any parent taking their kids on vacation wants to know where to find Anna, Elsa, and Frozen characters at Walt Disney World. Currently, Frozen Ever After and Royal Summerhaus at Epcot, plus Frozen Sing-Along Celebration at at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are the main Frozen experiences at Walt Disney World. Oh, and you practically cannot turn around in a gift shop without seeing something Frozen.
Actually, you can catch glimpses of the Frozen characters outside of these two major attractions and the meet & greet. Additionally, the Magic Kingdom’s Festival of Fantasy parade features Anna, Elsa, and Olaf as does Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire, the new stage show that plays several times per day in front of Cinderella Castle. Additionally, during the Christmas season there’s the Frozen Holiday Wish lighting show, and several characters appear in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
If you want a warm hug from Olaf (I can’t believe I typed that), you can now find him in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Celebrity Spotlight area, which is located near Star Tours. This is an out-of-the-way location and waits are usually 10 minutes or less, so we recommend this as a good character meet & greet even if your kids aren’t huge Frozen fans. Over at Blizzard Beach Water Park, you can cool off with the Summer Games, hosted by Olaf and Kristoff. Olaf is a busy (snow)man!
At Animal Kingdom there’s nothing Frozen yet, but look for Rafiki’s Planet to soon host “Sven’s Family Friends: A Meet & Pet Experience” to debut soon! 😉 Now let’s take a look at the main Frozen attractions at Walt Disney World, and some tips for experiencing them…
As a permanent holdover from the Frozen Summer Fun Live! event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that used to take place during the summer, there’s the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration.
Not having children and not being a huge Frozen fan myself (I like it, I just haven’t worn out my copy like I did with my VHS tape of the Lion King quite yet), I was not sure if this would be for me. My only real reason for seeing it was because people kept asking questions about it.
To be quite clear, it definitely wasn’t aimed at me, but I enjoyed it, nonetheless. What I mean by that is that a sing-along at Walt Disney World is never going to target the “coveted” 18-49 year old male demographic. It’s obviously for kids.
With that said, for what it is, I enjoyed it about as much as I possibly could have. The Royal Historians of Arendelle weave the songs together with a loose retelling of Frozen, and these two have some comedic chops that keep things entertaining for adults with some ‘over kids heads’ humor. It’s fun, cute, and worth seeing.
As for seeing this show, it’s now available as a Tier 2 FastPass+ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Truthfully, I think you are better off using that FastPass+ on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, unless that isn’t your cup of tea.
The Superstar Theater where the Frozen Sing-Along is held is huge, so unless you are visiting on one of the busiest days of the year, I can’t see having any issues getting into a showing if you line up even 10 minutes in advance.
If you want to meet Anna & Elsa, you will have to head over to Royal Summerhaus in the Norway pavilion at Epcot. The characters used to meet at Princess Fairytale Hall in the Magic Kingdom, but that is no more.
As of Summer 2016, Anna & Elsa are now exclusive to Epcot. Back when they met at Magic Kingdom, it was a “frustrating” attraction with FastPass+ selling out shortly after the 60 day window opens up (as in within minutes or hours) and standby waits quickly climbing to 2 hours almost as soon as the Magic Kingdom opens.
However, thanks to Disney “magic” wait times at Royal Summerhaus are normally under 20 minutes. You can probably guess how that magic of increasing capacity at a meet & greet is accomplished, but we won’t ruin the illusion here. 🙂
In addition to having shorter waits, Royal Summerhaus is a cute building resembling Anna and Elsa’s childhood retreat. There are a lot of details to see that establish this, and it’s actually nice to have a short wait in the queue leading up to the meet & greet rooms so you can enjoy the details.
As for the meet & greet rooms, Anna and Elsa meet separately, but in the same room. You visit Anna first, and then immediately go to Elsa. Since the demand is no longer as high, we found the interactions here to be far superior to those in the past at Magic Kingdom. Before, there were times when it felt like they were trying to churn through guests as quickly as possible.
Now, time can be taken for fun, special encounters. We noticed several families in front of us having intimate moments with the characters, and Anna even showed Sarah her awesome high-kicking skills!
Then there’s Frozen Ever After, which is the main draw for Frozen fans in all of Walt Disney World, and really, the main draw for everyone in all of Walt Disney World. This just opened in June 2016, and it has proven to be the most popular attraction at Walt Disney World, drawing wait times consistently above 90 minutes.
We don’t want to spoil anything, so if you want to read/see more about the substance of the attraction, you can check out our Frozen Ever After Review & Tips post. Suffice to say, the attraction is incredibly well done (albeit out of place in World Showcase) and an absolute must-do.
In terms of strategy, you absolutely want FastPass+ for it (see our Guide to FastPass+ at Walt Disney World post for more background and tips on making FP+ reservations). This is the most-coveted FastPass+ option in all of Walt Disney World, and it’s one you will want to score right at the 60 day mark (if you’re eligible).
Failing that, you’ll want to do Frozen Ever After at rope drop. This means arriving at Epcot at least 60 minutes prior to park opening and walking “briskly” towards Norway. Guests are stopped in a holding area in front of the Mexico pavilion before 9 a.m., and slowly walked from there towards Norway at 9. You can see this process in our Frozen Ever After vlog:
Another option is a pre-park opening Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) for Akershus. This is a hot ADR, so you’ll want to make this reservation as close to 180 days in advance as possible. It doesn’t matter whether you have an 8:00, 8:15, 8:30, etc. ADR, so long as you have a time prior to park opening, you’ll be allowed to enter Epcot around 7:45 a.m. Just make sure to be out of the restaurant by 8:50 a.m. for a prime spot in the Frozen line.
A final option if you’re unable to get FP+ or Akershus ADRs is getting in line at the very end of the night. As is the case with all Walt Disney World attractions, so long as there is 1 minute left in the operating day, you can get in line. On most nights, this means skipping IllumiNations, so you have to choose one or the other. If you have small children, we’re guessing the scales tip in favor of Frozen Ever After.
Again, all of these tips–and more–are covered in greater depth in our Frozen Ever After Review & Tips post.
As you can see, Frozen has a huge presence at Walt Disney World, and likely will for the foreseeable future. This makes sense, as Frozen likely has long term staying power, and should accordingly have significant representation at Walt Disney World.
If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation and need to know about more than just the Frozen frenzy, make sure to read our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide and related articles.
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Your Thoughts…
Has the Frozen frenzy struck your kids? Have you had the chance to do any of these Frozen offerings at Walt Disney World? Thoughts on what Disney might do next with Frozen? Hearing from you is half the fun, so please share your thoughts on these questions, or anything else, in the comments!
For what it’s worth, I tried to get a meet and greet FastPass for Anna and Elsa 64 days out and it was already sold out. Insane!!
I’m taking my 3 year old for the 1st time in late April. It is absolutely essential that we do as much Frozen Stuff as possible as she is in love with them! Does anyone know what they are currently offering as far as Frozen themed stuff?
Has anyone been to Disney lately? I keep hearing rumors that Elsa and Anna might be back in Norway in addition to being at the Fairytale Hall? Anyone know if there is truth to that? And as a first timer to the park – since I have not been able to get a FastPass to the Meet and Greet with them – when should I get in line to get into Magic Kingdom? I have read anywhere from half hour to an hour before the park opens and then race to get in line for the Elsa and Anna meet and greet. Any suggestions would be completely helpful!
We were there in May and there was NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING Frozen in the park except for the meet & greet with Anna and Elsa and that was an insane fastpass to get. Hardly any merch and what was there was the same stuff you saw on the shelves everywhere else (like Target and Disney Stores). MASSIVE failure by Disney across the board on marketing the film even in their own parks.
The question is: how much of this will still be there come mid to late first quarter 2015? Is there somewhere to keep an eye on to get a clue as to what the changes will be?
I’m not sure where you were looking, but when we were there in May there was plenty of Frozen merch in the shop next to the Princess’ Hall, so maybe you were just in the wrong shop?
I’m running with the Sven’s Wild Ride idea. You’ll see it on wdwmagic in 5. And with how gullible everyone there has been lately…nightly news at 10?
Comments from the originator – Mr. Bricker, how do you feel about your stellar idea to add live reindeer rides to Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Did you expect the publicity from this event to outshine all other Christmas events nation wide?
Apparently they have extended the frozen sing along. I was able to get fastpasses for 10/12. I could only get them online. The app still didn’t show them as available.
Frozen attraction officially announced to replace Maelstrom today. Early word from the announcement makes it sound like its going to be another ride through the movie and hear the songs which is disappointing if true.
Frozen summer fun also extended (although not sure if the fireworks are included in that).
We scored two very coveted reservations at the Magic Kingdom for our trip in October: “Be Our Guest” Dinner and “Meet Anna and Elsa” Fastpass+. The problem is the dinner reservation is at 7:35 and the Fastpass+ for Anna & Elsa ends at 8:40. Do you think we will be able to do both without stressing and rushing thru dinner?
I’m not Tom, but…
If it were me, I would probably show up at the A&E fastpass window 15 minutes early (7:25?). Hopefully they will let you in. Then, just be a little late for your res.
I don’t see any way you could get to your 7:35 BOG and still be at A&E at 8:45, without rushing your dinner. I’d rather just be 15 minutes late to your res.
hmmmm… thanks for the suggestion, but last time we were late for an advanced dinner reservation at Disney they made us wait over an hour for an available table.
Thanks for the article!
My family is planning to be there Oct 2-7, and am concerned (for my daughters) that they haven’t announced an extension of the Frozen Live event at HS. Do you still think it will definitely be extended, even though we are only just over 2 weeks away from the planned end? I figured they would have announced it by now if they were extending!
Thanks!
We waited just over an hour on Saturday afternoon to meet Anna & Elsa. It started raining & it was a place to stay dry! We have 2 daughters , so it was a must -do!
As of right now I am facing a tough choice at the start of my trip. I arrive late afternoon on Sept 27th. I really want to experience the Frozen stuff at HS (mainly the Sing A Long and Fireworks), but also this is the rumored last day of the Maelstrom, which I love! And I have MNSSHP tickets for Sunday night so Frozen Fireworks are out for that night. I am greatly hoping that Frozen is extended at HS so I can get both in.
We just went to the Frozen Summer Fun and had a blast. Disney selects some kids to be “citizens of Arendelle” in the parade. If your kids are into Frozen, try to get to the park at opening, with your kids in Frozen costumes/inspired clothes, and there is a chance your kids might be picked. They only select about 25 kids, so this is not a sure thing and I wouldn’t even mention that it is a possibility to avoid any disappointment. It worked for us and my four year old “Elsa” was beyond thrilled.
We also saw the fireworks from the parking lot (just too tired) and they were amazing even from our less than stellar location.
I completely agree with your statement “…Frozen will retain long term popularity (while it’s a “craze” right now, it’s not a “fad” any more than than Disney’s slew of films during the renaissance of the early-1990s) and should accordingly be permanently represented at Walt Disney World.”
Frozen to kids now is what Little Mermaid was to me, and Little Mermaid is still very popular. I just hope that Disney is careful with where and how they place Frozen in the parks!
Love the blog!! Keep the photos and information coming!!!! 🙂
I actually feel with the start of Tangled, a new “Disney Renaissance” is rising and Frozen seems to prove this point. I hope I don’t get attacked for that suggestion, lol. I’m a child of the 90s! I hold that time sacred, but it’s nice to see Disney proper getting love for their animation again and not just Pixar.
I totally agree with you! I grew up watching the VHS tapes of Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, and the Lion King. I’m glad that Disney seems to be heading back to that sort of animation!
I must say the Frozen fireworks and “snow” was a HUGE hit with my 7 year old and 10 year old. The longest line we stood in for our whole trip (except for the 7 dwarfs train) was the meet and greet for Ana and Elsa, but was worth it as well because my girls LOVED it! We just got back yesterday.
I’m actually surprised that the line for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was longer than Anna and Elsa. Glad it was worth it for you!
We were in Magic Kingdom just 2 days ago and I know as crazy as it sounds we have breakfast at crystal palace and finished right around 9:10 and went straight to 7 Dwarfs Mine train passing the Anna and Elsa meet and greet around 9:15 and it was only a 40 minute wait…this was a Sunday as well. So maybe right now is your only chance to score a good short line.
From what I understand, the lines actually aren’t that bad right now throughout the day. Ahhh, the joys of off-season.
They didn’t strike while the iron was hot for Tangled (or, I suppose, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, or any other movie) but it’s nice to see they are here. 10 months after the movie came out and my DD is still obsessed.
With the Arendelle historians doing the sing-a-long show, would you say it compares to Disneyland’s Royal Theater?
Actually, back in the 1990s, I think they did a much better job of striking while the iron was hot. For many of those animated films, a dedicated daytime parade debuted with the film. Given how popular Frozen was right away, I’m a bit surprised it took so long to throw together the Frozen events.
Yes, the Sing-Along is comparable to the shows in Disneyland’s Royal Theater.
Great! I’m not the target demographic either, but I really enjoyed the Royal Theater shows.
I am so on that “Frozen” bandwagon! even as a 31-year-old woman with no kids, I can’t wait for the sing-along. This is going to be the best trip ever!!
I too am 32 y/o female without kids and I love Frozen! I have the CD in my car in the #1 slot and I belt it out whenever I go anywhere. It’s such a great movie!
Great timing, Tom. I leave on Friday with my six year old daughter. Dropping the sing along fast pass+ for Tower of Terror was something that I was already considering, so this helps lock in that decision if we can get into the sing along anyway. Thanks!
Given that you’re there in September at one of the slowest times of the year, I think it’s 6 of one, half-dozen of the other. Tower of Terror probably won’t have long waits, either. That’s still what I’d do.
Great post as always Tom! I was there a little over a month ago and my wife and I were in HS on our first day, the park was crazy with Frozen fanatics!
I do have one piece of advice that we got from fellow Frozen fans while in MK if you are wanting to meet Anna and Elsa – Wait until the end of the night and watch Wishes from right outside of the Princess Fairytale Hall. Right after it ends you can get right in with little to no line. The view for the show is pretty good for the fireworks but you do miss all of the stuff from the front of the castle. After Wishes finished we headed right in and were only in line for 20-30 minutes for both of them 🙂
Great tip–thanks for sharing. I’ve found that the Castle walls in New Fantasyland are a great location from which to view the fireworks, and not too far from Princess Fairytale Hall, either!
We were planning to get to Anna and Elsa later in the day and then found out at 7pm that they were done for the day. This was May, though, so they could possibly have other ladies to come in for the evening crowd now. Just a FYI if you don’t get FastPass and then there’s a 5 hour wait to see them (that was the estimate at 10am when we went by and were told to come back after dinner).
well its 2015
I would like to know one thing Why are there no black people on Frozen? America consist of many race and cultures and Disney World excluded every race Almost
Arendelle in World Showcase?! No! Say it’s not so. It would make a nice addition to Fantasyland/ New Fantasyland but Epcot is not the place for a fictional kingdom.
I love “Frozen”, but I agree with you, Arendelle should never replace Norway!
I don’t think it will. That’s some of the pretty “out there” speculation I’ve read. Even if they replace Maelstrom with a Frozen attraction, I don’t see them replacing Norway totally. That would be really ‘aggressive.’