Frozen Ever After (A Resorts Gal Ride Review)

Frozen Ever After is one of the more popular attractions at Walt Disney World. Located in the Norway Pavilion of Epcot’s World Showcase, this ride was formerly home to Maelstrom, a Viking boat ride attraction that took guests on a journey through the history of Norway.

Below, we’ll provide a review of 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 Lightning Lane Multi Pass to secure a Lightning Lane for this attraction.

Of course, the historical charm was lost with the replacement of Maelstrom. Now, you visit the fictional country of Arendelle and see animatronics featuring everyone’s favorite Frozen characters. Given the popularity of Frozen, you can 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., wheelchair, ECVs) can be found on Disney’s site. Hand-held captioning is available.

Make sure to check our one-stop Lightning Lane Guide to plan your attractions.

Ride Review

While Frozen Ever After is not the newest attraction at Epcot, it is every bit as popular as one. Those who consider this attraction a priority might consider heading straight to it when the park opens (rope drop).

Frozen Ever After is a Tier 1 Category Lightning Lane selection with Multi Pass Lighting 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 most difficult to obtain. 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 Epoct.

For those who don’t purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you’ll probably want to check out the entrance before joining the line. Unfortunately, since most of the queue is inside, it’s difficult to gauge the length of the line. 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 well over an hour wait at that point.

When you reach the ride’s boarding area, you’ll be assigned a row or rows based on the number of guests in your party. 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 and then down into the boat to board it.

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 will shift and prepare for the final drop.

Look up and smile at the camera on the way 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.

• Is there a height requirement for Frozen Ever After? 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 it’s similar. While the drops are not significant, you might encounter 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. Additionally, the attraction is 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.

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 Walt Disney World. Additionally, the Frozen Sing-Along at Hollywood Studios is not to be missed. Or you might enjoy these individual Epcot Attractions.

In the Comments

Do you have any thoughts or questions about the Frozen ride at Epcot? We would be happy to answer them based on our experience. Share your thoughts below in the comments section.