For more than a year, Disney Parks has been promoting its new Olaf animatronic as the next generation of character encounters. Standing about three feet tall, the robot is the exact size the character was in the Frozen films and is covered in fluffy fabric to give the perfect snow effect. And unlike the stationary animatronic found within the Disney rides, Olaf is able to freely roam around the park, sharing interactions with park guests thanks to advancements in robotics, including AI, utilized by Disneyβs Imagineering team. They even got back Josh Gad to voice the adorable robot.


It’s always interesting to see new technology in action, especially at such iconic places like Disneyland Paris. Despite the hiccup, it’s exciting to think about what the future holds for animatronics and storytelling in theme parks.