Walt Disney World has announced significant upgrades to its Audio-Animatronics figures across several attractions. These enhancements include a new Benjamin Clawhauser figure for the upcoming Zootopia: Better Zoogether! experience, updated, more realistic faces for Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff in Frozen Ever After at EPCOT, and the introduction of a Scooter Audio-Animatronics figure for the reimagined Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, set to open in summer 2026.
These developments highlight Disney's ongoing commitment to evolving its immersive storytelling through advanced technology, aiming to provide guests with more lifelike and engaging character interactions.
Key Takeaways
- Zootopia: Better Zoogether! will feature a new Benjamin Clawhauser figure with a unique look.
- Frozen Ever After characters Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff will receive updated, more realistic faces, moving away from projection mapping.
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will debut in summer 2026 with the first-ever Scooter Audio-Animatronics.
- These updates aim to enhance character realism and guest immersion across Disney parks.
New Look for Clawhauser in Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
The highly anticipated Zootopia: Better Zoogether! attraction at Animal Kingdom will introduce a new Benjamin Clawhauser Audio-Animatronics figure. This character will greet guests in the theater when the experience opens on November 7. Unlike his typical police uniform, this version of Clawhauser will be dressed in a themed outfit, featuring glow necklaces and a glittery Gazelle tee shirt.
The new attire reflects the festive atmosphere of Zoogether Day. Clawhauser will express his desire to be chosen as the V.I.Z., or Very Important Zootopian, a role that grants special access to the day's performers. When he is not selected, the character will decide to "take matters into his own paws," suggesting an interactive element within the show's narrative.
Fact: Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
The new Zootopia attraction is scheduled to open on November 7 at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It will be the first Zootopia-themed attraction in a Disney park outside of Shanghai Disneyland.
Enhanced Character Realism for Frozen Ever After
At EPCOT, the popular Frozen Ever After attraction is set to receive significant character updates in early 2026. Key figures like Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff will be upgraded to feature more realistic faces. This change will move away from the projection mapping technology currently used to animate their expressions.
The inspiration for these enhancements comes from the World of Frozen land at Hong Kong Disneyland, which features advanced Audio-Animatronics with a "more true-to-film look." Frozen Ever After first opened in 2016. It was notable for being the first attraction to use all-electric Audio-Animatronics figures, combining electric motors with 3D printing technology for its characters.
Background: Frozen Ever After
Frozen Ever After replaced the Maelstrom attraction in the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT. It takes guests on a boat ride through Arendelle, featuring songs and characters from the Disney animated film "Frozen." The ride's use of advanced Audio-Animatronics was a key innovation at its launch.
The initial use of projection mapping for character faces in Frozen Ever After has been a topic of discussion among park guests. The upcoming updates aim to address this by providing more detailed and physically sculpted faces, aligning the characters more closely with their appearance in the animated films.
"These upgrades are all taking inspiration from World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland," Disney Parks Blog stated, highlighting the global synergy in Disney's attraction development.
The Muppets Take Over Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Disney's Hollywood Studios will see the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith replaced by a new attraction, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. This reimagined ride is scheduled to open in Summer 2026. A notable feature of the new attraction will be the debut of the first-ever Scooter Audio-Animatronics figure.
While specific details about the ride's story and other characters are still limited, Disney has hinted that Scooter might not be the only Muppet Audio-Animatronics figure joining the attraction. This suggests that more beloved Muppet characters will be integrated into the experience, offering new interactions for guests.
Fact: Scooter's Debut
The new Rock 'n' Roller Coaster will mark the first time Scooter, the Muppets' stage manager, appears as an Audio-Animatronics figure in a Disney park attraction.
Ongoing Innovation in Audio-Animatronics
These announced updates are part of a broader effort by Walt Disney World and Walt Disney Imagineering to continuously evolve and enhance the guest experience through Audio-Animatronics technology. The company is actively working on new figures and improvements across its parks.
One such project involves bringing Walt Disney himself to the Carousel of Progress attraction. This follows his recent addition to Disneyland in the "Walt Disney - A Magical Life" experience. These initiatives show Disney's commitment to using cutting-edge technology to create more immersive and memorable moments for visitors.
The continuous investment in Audio-Animatronics technology underscores Disney's strategy to blend innovative engineering with storytelling. This approach aims to keep attractions fresh and engaging for new generations of park-goers, reinforcing the magic of Disney parks.
