Once in a while, a film comes along that resonates with a broad audience. While successful movies and the Disney name used to be synonymous, this hasn’t been as common an occurrence as it once was. Because of this, films like Frozen are rare gems. Frozen flurried its way into theaters on November 27, 2013. Since then, its momentum has held steady, enduring as a beloved favorite among fans. Frozen and Frozen 2 are among the biggest animated films of all time.
The fact that the sequel outdid its predecessor proves just how devoted the audience is to this franchise. The success of these movies is a far cry from what most Disney animated films see nowadays. With remakes on the rise, and new ideas leaving the audience underwhelmed, what happened to Disney’s golden touch? We touched on this in a recent article on Disney’s upcoming film, Wish.
Disney’s Newest Animated Film Already Has Fans “Wish”ing For More
Whether we’ll ever see another Disney golden age remains uncertain. For now, we have movies like Frozen to hold us over. So, in honor of its 10th anniversary, let’s celebrate Frozen‘s past and explore its future in the Disney Parks!
Frozen at the Disneyland Resort
From Disneyland Park to California Adventure, fans have watched their favorite characters come to life in creative ways.
Windows of Main Street, U.S.A.
Animated windows are a fixture of Main Street, U.S.A. delighting guests as they make their way into the park. Frozen is one of the iconic franchises chosen to be featured in these magical displays. Check out Elsa as she works her magic in a winter wonderland below!
StoryBook Land Canal Boats
In 2014, StoryBook Land Canal Boats opened a new Frozen section! A rare occurrence for this classic attraction, it features the village of Arendelle, the castle, Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post, and Elsa’s ice palace. If you’ve never visited this masterpiece, be sure to do so on your next visit!
Paint the Night Parade
Opening in May of 2015, Disneyland’s Paint the Night Parade is one of my all-time favorites! A beautiful Frozen float was a highlight of the procession, with Elsa and her ice palace front and center. After Disneyland Park, the parade had a short run in California Adventure but then closed in 2018. Fans are still crossing their fingers that it will make its long-awaited return to The Happiest Place on Earth in the coming years!
Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink at the Downtown Disney District
Remember the old days, when the Downtown Disney District had that extra sprinkling of magic? Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink was a tribute to the frosty franchise! Beautifully situated by the original Earl of Sandwich location, the ice skating rink donned a colorful Christmas tree at its center. Twinkle lights and an adjoining winter village made it an enchanting spot during the holidays. We visited in 2014 and 2015 and were sorry that it didn’t run longer.
Frozen Fun at Disney California Adventure Park
Disney’s California Adventure has offered some amazing events over the years. From ElecTRONica to the Mad T Party, Hollywood Land used to be an especially exciting area. In 2014, another fabulous event hit the Park…
Frozen Fun opened on January 7, debuting a number of unique entertainment offerings. Included were:
- “For the First Time in Forever – A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” at The Muppet Vision 3D theater
- “Olaf’s Snow Fest” at Stage 17 (Featuring REAL SNOW and SLEDDING!)
- “Freeze the Night! A Family Dance Party”
- and Ice Carving – Live!
This event was SO much fun! Getting to sled at Disneyland on real snow is one of my fondest memories! My young son particularly loved the interactive “Freeze the Night!” show, which brought the audience in on the action. In addition, watching the ice carvers was such a cool experience. What a fantastic tribute to a beloved film!
“Frozen – Live at the Hyperion”
Premiering in 2016, “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” was a fixture at Disney California Adventure for nearly four years. The show followed “Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular” and preceded “Rogers: The Musical”.
These are some of my favorite Frozen-themed memories, but this isn’t all the Disneyland Resort has to offer. Currently, guests can meet with Anna and Elsa at the Animation Academy, shop for a variety of Frozen merchandise, and more! So, now that we’ve hearkened back to some of the franchise’s triumphs at the Disneyland Resort, let’s look ahead to its thrilling future!
DisneylandForward
While nothing has been set in stone, Frozen has been suggested (along with Tangled, and Peter Pan) as a possible concept for the DisneylandForward expansion project. If implemented, the area would be located on the West Side of the Disneyland Resort. Check out our article for all the juicy, DisneylandForward details!
IT’S APPROVED!!! DisneylandForward Moves Forward What You Need To Know
From Disney World to Hong Kong Disneyland
The highly anticipated moment has finally arrived! This month (November 20, 2023), marks the opening of Disney’s first Frozen-themed land. Stay tuned, because MiceChat’s Dusty Sage will be bringing you live news from the new land next week! While it’s true that nods to Frozen (like the Norway Pavilion in EPCOT) can be found across Disney Parks, there’s never been an entire land dedicated to it…until now!
Hong Kong Disneyland’s World of Frozen will contain two themed rides, a theater, dining, and shopping. Although Frozen Ever After is already a fan favorite at Disney World, it’s received an upgrade for Hong Kong, with real animatronic faces, as opposed to digital ones. Notice the difference below.
Frozen Ever After at EPCOT
Frozen Ever After at Hong Kong Disneyland
For more on World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland, check out our previous article:
NEW Details: Hong Kong Disneyland’s Upcoming World of Frozen
To Infinity and Beyond! Tokyo Disney Resort and Disneyland Paris
Hong Kong will be first with a new Frozen land… but it won’t be the last. New Frozen additions are on the way to Tokyo Disney Resort and Disneyland Paris!
Tokyo Disney Resort
Fantasy Springs opens at Tokyo Disney Resort on June 6, 2024. This will be the eighth themed port of Tokyo DisneySea, and will feature a Frozen area (along with Tangled and Peter Pan). Frozen Kingdom will include a brand-new attraction and new dining locations. For the royal rundown, check out our article:
ABOUT TO OPEN in the Disney Parks: Zootopia Land & World of Frozen!!!
Disneyland Paris
A couple of exciting Frozen additions are also in the works for Disneyland Paris! A Frozen-themed land is coming to Walt Disney Studios Park. Featuring the Kingdom of Arendelle, it will include Arendelle Castle and Elsa’s Ice Castle. You can read more about the Disneyland Paris expansion in the article above. In addition, in a similar form to Disneyland, a Frozen section will be added to the Disneyland Paris Storybook Land attraction (Le Pays des Contes de Fées) in 2024. North Mountain, Elsa’s Ice Palace, Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post and Sauna, and characters Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven will all be included in the scene. Check out the concept art below!
How Disney is Celebrating Frozen‘s 10th Anniversary
Disney is currently in the midst of a 10-week countdown celebration leading up to Frozen‘s anniversary. During this time, fans have enjoyed special announcements, content, and more. Disney even released a video thanking fans for their devotion to the franchise. For more information on Disney’s celebration, check out this link. Frozen and Frozen 2 are available to stream on Disney+. What a great time to give them a watch in honor of the original film’s 10th Anniversary during the Disney100 celebration!
As you can see, the Frozen theme is prevalent across Disney Parks. Although it’s been ten years since the original was released, the story and its characters continue to resonate.
Let’s Hear From You!
Are you a Frozen fan? Have you enjoyed Disneyland’s Frozen offerings over the years? Which is your favorite? Why do you think this franchise is so popular? Are you excited about the Frozen additions coming to Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments!
