Frozen Live At The Hyperion

May 2016 – present

LOCATION

Hollywood Land – Frozen Live plays multiple times per day at the Hyperion Theater in Hollywood Land. To find the theater, head all the way down the main street until you reach the large stage doors.

BACKGROUND

The Hyperion is the Disneyland Resort’s largest theater, and has always been home to major productions and musicals. When Frozen‘s presence began to grow in Disney parks around the world, Disneyland announced that a live show would find a home in the theater. The show opened in 2016, three years after the film’s initial release.

EXPERIENCE

Details:

• Single Rider Line – no
• Fast Pass – yes
• Height Requirement – none
• Duration – 60:00

Frozen Live is the resort’s longest show, clocking in at about an hour. So long as a show isn’t completely full, visitors can choose between three seating levels: Orchestra (ground level), Mezzanine (first level up), or Balcony (second level up). Throughout the show, guests on all levels are treated with amazing visual effects like projections, falling snow, and sharp ice spikes shooting up from the stage.

In 60 minutes, guests watch a slightly shorted version of the film, complete with big musical numbers, the most famous lines, and an adorable puppet Olaf. The show’s performers bring Frozen’s cast of characters to life, and transform the theater into a winter wonderland in the process.

MY RATING: ★★★★☆

I was a huge fan of the Aladdin show that preceded Frozen, so even as a fan of the movie, I went in with quite a bit of trepidation. I have to say though, the show is really amazing. The visual effects are stunning, the “Let It Go” sequence is AMAZING, and the ending reprise was a wonderful surprise. But I’m taking away a star for two reasons: the hidden action, and Anna.

If you sit on the mezzanine or balcony, you miss a few things. There are times when characters walk off the stage and through the aisles, and you really can’t see much from above. And two, I was not a fan of the show’s portrayal of Anna. To me, she is awkward because she is naive, but she’s sweet and just wants love. This Anna was…aggressive? She was quite over-the-top, almost forceful with people, and some of her lines were just cringe-y. The rest of the cast was absolutely outstanding (especially Elsa and Olaf), but Anna honestly took me out of the moment a few times. Overall, I really enjoyed this show, but those little things definitely made it less than perfect.

VISITING TIPS

If you can, getting a fast pass for this show helps quite a bit. Lines for this show sometimes wrap all the way around Hollywood Land, and anyone visiting the park in a large group will definitely have trouble sitting together if you just wing it. But if you’re a little flexible, there are a few things you can do.

First, go for the show closest to dinner time. Bigger families tend to have reservations during that window, and you’ll have an easier time getting in. And second, go for the balcony if you can. Sure, it’s VERY high up, but you can still see 90% of the show perfectly, and it tends not to fill up nearly as quickly as the other levels.

TRIVIA

Elsa’s dress transformation comes from a sneaky wardrobe trick: her ice dress is sewn to the underside of the coronation gown. When she pulls a strap, the top layer falls down to reveal the hidden dress. This trick is also used in the Broadway version of Cinderella.

The show has been praised for its colorblind casting, meaning that the actors are not all white, like the characters in the film.

Differences between the show and film:

• The show omits the film’s opening number, Frozen Heart.
• The show adds a reprise of Love Is An Open Door at the end, along with another glimpse of the deceased King and Queen.
• Anna and Elsa have a sweet hand touch, through the door, several times during the show. At the end, they finally touch hands without the door blocking them, showing that they are finally together.