Disney Guests Shocked by Elsa’s Appearance, Face Ripped Open

A small detail on a popular Disney ride recently caught the attention of guests online.

For years, Disney has used Frozen as one of the cornerstones of its theme park strategy. The 2013 animated film quickly evolved from a box office success into a major parks franchise, inspiring attractions, stage shows, character encounters, and full themed environments.

The approach has expanded steadily across Disney’s international resorts. Attractions based on Arendelle now operate in the United States, Hong Kong, and Japan, with a fourth location preparing to open in France.

Frozen Ever After sits at the center of that push. The boat ride carries guests through scenes from the film, including Elsa’s ice palace and several musical moments from the story.

The original version opened at EPCOT in 2016, replacing the Norway pavilion’s Maelstrom attraction.

Since then, Disney has continued building on the concept worldwide. Hong Kong Disneyland introduced its own version of the ride in 2023 as part of World of Frozen, the company’s first fully themed land based on the franchise.

Tokyo DisneySea followed with its own Arendelle setting inside Fantasy Springs, a major expansion that debuted in 2024.

Disneyland Paris is preparing to debut another Frozen area when Walt Disney Studios Park reopens as Disney Adventure World later this month.

The global rollout has helped cement Frozen Ever After as one of Disney’s most recognizable attractions.

But during a recent ride at Hong Kong Disneyland, guests noticed something unusual.

Elsa Shows Visible Damage During Ride

During a ride on Frozen Ever After at Hong Kong Disneyland, a recent guest noted that Elsa's face had been ripped open.

Oh no! Noticed a tear on Elsa’s face during Frozen Ever After ride today at Hong Kong Disneyland! 😮

Oh no! Noticed a tear on Elsa’s face during Frozen Ever After ride today at Hong Kong Disneyland! 😮 pic.twitter.com/Vxd3RTwPhw

— Attractions 360° (@SoCal360) March 13, 2026

The animatronic appears to have been ripped on Elsa's cheek.

Historically, Hong Kong Disneyland's version of Frozen Ever After has been considered one of the better versions worldwide.

The ride’s figures and effects are among the most advanced used in Frozen attractions. Disney has previously pointed to the Hong Kong installation as a technological step forward compared with earlier versions of the ride.

Recently, Walt Disney World Resort upgraded the animatronics on EPCOT's Frozen Ever After to better align with the more advanced versions in Hong Kong.

Even those updates have experienced occasional issues.

In Elsa's Ice Palace, as Elsa prepares to belt out her signature high note, a viral video showed Elsa with her jaw locked halfway open, one eye twitching, and her left arm vibrating violently in a stuck position.

High-Tech Disney Attractions Occasionally Break Down

Complex theme park attractions can experience occasional technical problems.

Disney rides rely on intricate programming and mechanical systems that operate continuously throughout the day for thousands of guests.

When something fails, it often becomes highly visible to riders.

Earlier this year, the Tiana audio-animatronic on Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom — which has faced extensive criticism for its reliability since replacing Splash Mountain — glitched during operation.

Princess Tiana Audio-Animatronic Malfunctions on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom (@WaltDisneyWorld) https://t.co/l45eZdMAoL pic.twitter.com/zCLUDHHFBs

— Orlando Theme Park Zone (@OTPZ_TP) January 14, 2026

Video shared online showed the character’s head twitching rapidly before its hairpiece fell off.

Another issue occurred at Disneyland Resort last year.

The Walt Disney animatronic malfunctioned as it stepped forward from the desk, the figure’s most technically complex movement. The show appeared to trigger an emergency stop. The stage went dark immediately, the audio cut out even as Walt’s mouth continued moving, and the curtains closed.

Disney has not commented publicly on the reported damage spotted on Frozen Ever After at Hong Kong Disneyland.

The company typically performs repairs and maintenance overnight once parks close, meaning issues spotted by guests are often addressed quickly.

Have you ever witnessed an audio-animatronic malfunction at Disney?