World of Frozen will officially open at Hong Kong Disneyland on November 20, but Disney Magical Kingdom Blog got an early look at the new land. They shared a video of the full “Playhouse in the Woods” show featuring Anna, Elsa, and Olaf.
Playhouse in the Woods
This is how Disney has described the show:
Elsa has opened the doors to her secret childhood hideaway, Playhouse in the Woods! This first-of-its-kind, unique, and engaging theatrical experience found in Arendelle Forest features Anna, Elsa and Olaf, and comes to life through singing, projection mapped content, special effects and sensory elements.
The show is about 10 minutes long. Watch it below.
World of Frozen
On Friday, Disney also shared a first look inside the World of Frozen restaurants and a list of food that will be available. The Golden Crocus Inn is a “cozy, nautical-themed quick service restaurant” while Northern Delights is an “upscale neighborhood sweets shop” featuring a variety of desserts, confections, and cooking goods.
The land’s attractions include Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, the first-ever “Frozen” roller-coaster. Guests will “jump into a sleigh decorated with patterns resembling Kristoff’s sleigh.” Olaf and Sven help pull guests to the summit and “on an exciting journey through the forest with stunning views of the land.”
Frozen Ever After from EPCOT has been re-created, but with animatronic character faces instead of projections.
Guests can shop at Tick Tock Toys, a “cherished, centuries-old toy shop in Arendelle Village,” and send mail from the Royal Post of Arendelle outside the shop.
There will also be opportunities to meet “Frozen” characters.
“Frozen” Franchise
The first “Frozen” film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre on November 19, 2013. It was released in U.S. theaters on November 27 and proved to be a huge success for Disney. “Frozen” stars Kristen Bell as Princess Anna and Idina Menzel as Queen Elsa, Anna’s older sister with secret ice powers. After Elsa accidentally reveals her powers, she runs away. Anna, with help from snowman Olaf (Josh Gad) and ice carver Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), pursues Elsa. The film was written by Jennifer Lee from a story by her, Chris Buck, and Shane Morris. Buck and Lee directed “Frozen” with music by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.
The team returned for “Frozen II,” released in 2019. Set three years later, Elsa hears a strange voice calling her into the Enchanted Forest. She, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf set out on a journey to find the voice and learn more about Anna and Elsa’s late parents.
CEO Bob Iger announced in February 2023 that Disney has “sequels in the works” for “Frozen,” “Toy Story,” and “Zootopia.” He didn’t specifically call the “Frozen” sequel “Frozen III,” but any kind of third “Frozen” film by Walt Disney Animation Studios would be the studio’s first “threequel.”
In 2016, Maelstrom in the Norway Pavilion of EPCOT became Frozen Ever After. The pavilion later added a permanent meet-and-greet space for Anna and Elsa. Now versions of Frozen Ever After are planned for multiple other Disney Parks, including Hong Kong Disneyland, where World of Frozen will open in November 2023. Disneyland Paris will open the gates of the Kingdom of Arendelle in late 2025 as part of a major expansion to Walt Disney Studios Park. And a “Frozen” area is part of the Fantasy Springs expansion to Tokyo DisneySea, opening in 2024.
“Frozen” is also represented on Disney Cruise Line with Arendelle – A Frozen Dining Adventure on the Disney Wish featuring dinner and a show with “Frozen” characters.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.