Frozen Ever After at EPCOT
Frozen Ever After is one of EPCOT’s most popular attractions. Located in the Norway Pavilion of the World Showcase, this ride formerly hosted Maelstrom, a Viking boat ride that took guests on a journey through Norway’s history.
Below, we’ll review our experience with Frozen Ever After, commonly known as the Frozen Ride at Epcot. Below, we’ll discuss details for experiencing Frozen Ever After, including the best times to ride. We’ll also discuss whether or not you’ll need to purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass to secure a Lightning Lane for this attraction.
Of course, the historical charm was lost when Maelstrom was replaced. Now, you visit the fictional country of Arendelle and see animatronics featuring everyone’s favorite Frozen characters. Given Frozen’s popularity, expect long wait times throughout most of the day.
Here is a quick reference chart for Frozen Ever After.
| Frozen Ever After | Epcot Attractions |
|---|---|
Location: | Norway Pavilion |
Height Requirements: | None |
Lightning Lane: | Yes, with Multi Pass (Tier 1 Category) |
Ride Type: | Boat, Mild Thrill, Dark Ride |
Seats Per Vehicle: | 2-3 per row |
Rider Switch: | None |
Early Theme Park Hours: | Yes |
Extended Evening Hours: | Yes |
Our Traffic Signal: | Green Light (It’s a must-do, even with long waits.) |
Good For: | Everyone |
Scare Factor: | Mild drop similar to Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom |
Must-Do List: | High Priority |
Perfect For: | Frozen Fans |
Special Mention: | On-Ride Photo Opportunity |
Additional Info:
Guests in wheelchairs or ECVs must transfer to the ride vehicle. Details for those with mobility issues (i.e., wheelchairs, ECVs) can be found on Disney’s site. Hand-held captioning is available.
Frozen Ever After Ride Review
While Frozen Ever After is not the newest attraction at Epcot, it is every bit as popular as one. Those who make this attraction a priority might head straight to it when the park opens (rope drop).
Frozen Ever After is a Tier 1 Category Lightning Lane selection with Multi Pass Lightning Lane (an extra-cost upgrade). When selecting your initial Lightning Lane, Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Test Track are usually the most popular choices. These two options are also the hardest to get. Both usually exceed one-hour waits during peak times. Currently, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the only Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction at Epcot.
If you don’t purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you’ll probably want to check the entrance before joining the line. Unfortunately, since most of the queue is inside, it’s hard to gauge how long the line is. When the line is exceptionally long, it extends outside. If the line is completely stopped outside or extends past Akershus, I would skip it and return later. You’re probably looking at a wait of well over an hour at that point.
When you reach the ride’s boarding area, you’ll be assigned a row or rows based on your party size. Each boat has four rows, with approximately three to four guests per row.
Here is a look at the boat. You’ll step onto the seat, then step down into the boat to board.
We’re headed off to Elsa’s Ice Palace. Olaf and Sven are the first characters we’ll encounter.
The next scene features the trolls sharing the story of the two Frozen princesses.
As we continue, we run into Anna, Kristoff, and Sven. Sven mistook a piece of ice for a treat and got himself into a sticky situation.
Next, we run into Elsa singing Let It Go. She sends you away, kind of like how she does Anna in the movie.
Before the final scene, we run into Marshmallow and the Snowgies. Here, your boat shifts and prepares for the final drop.
Look up and smile at the camera as you go down. You’ll arrive back in Arendelle before you know it. For Maelstrom fans, look closely. You might find a pair of puffins in this area that were left from the former attraction as a bit of an Easter Egg.
We’ve reached the final scene, where Olaf finally “gets to do what frozen things get to do in summer.”
Frozen Ever After FAQs
Here are a few frequently asked questions about the Frozen ride at Epcot.
- Does Frozen Ever After have a height requirement? No, there is no height requirement to enjoy this attraction.
- Is there a ride drop on Frozen Ever After? You can expect a small backward drop in the boat during the Elsa scene. It is gradual, and you might be more surprised than anything. You will likely enjoy the surroundings from a different vantage point. Additionally, when you straighten back up, there is a forward-facing drop toward the end. If you’ve ever ridden Pirates of the Caribbean, the drop is similar. While the drops aren’t significant, you might get a small splash.
- Is there a PhotoPass opportunity? Yes, there is an on-ride photo capture at the end of the ride on the forward-facing drop. Remember to look up and smile for the camera.
- Can we ride Frozen Ever After during theme park benefit hours? Frozen Ever After is available for Walt Disney World Resort guests during early theme park hours. The attraction is also open during extended evening hours for deluxe and deluxe villa resort guests.
*Unfortunately, Walt Disney World no longer offers Extra Magic Hours. We have a list of the resorts eligible for early theme park hours. You can also read more about the extended evening hours.
The Resorts Gal Spin on Frozen Ever After
This attraction is a Resorts Gal favorite, so we give it the green light. However, wait times are often exceptionally long. So if you are using the Lightning Lane system, this attraction should be high on your list!
Our Traffic Signals
Green Light: We give an attraction the green light if we consider it a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also give the green light for attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime. For example, some attractions have high capacities. As a result, lines move continuously, and you shouldn’t have a long wait unless the attraction experiences downtime.
Red Light: We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later. We also red-light some attractions that we feel might not be suitable based on our experience.
Final Thoughts
Frozen Ever After is a cute ride worth experiencing at least once during your vacation. If you’re a Frozen fan, you might enjoy our list of everything Frozen at Disney World.
For more about this park, see our list of EPCOT attractions. For other parks, see our Disney World Rides and Attractions guide. It links to attraction guides for all four theme parks. If you’re still in the first stages, our How to Plan a Disney World Vacation guide brings together the resources you need to plan your visit. We hope you’ll check back with ResortsGal.com for more on Disney World, or sign up for our newsletter for weekly updates.
In the Comments
Have you ever ridden Frozen Ever After at Epcot? Let us know in the comments below.