Located in the World of Frozen land at Hong Kong Disneyland, Playhouse in the Woods is a 10-minute show featuring Anna, Elsa, and Olaf. Opened together with the rest of the land in November 2023, this interactive show is the only stage show located in the land and canonically takes place after the events of Frozen 2.
But what is the show like? Who does it appeal to? And is it worth experiencing? I’ll be discussing this and more in this review, which will also include viewing tips and an explanation of the Standby Pass system that is required to see the show.
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Klook.comPre-Show Matters and Background
Playhouse in the Woods was actually an attraction I didn’t know about until a few days before my first visit to World of Frozen in January 2024. I honestly thought the land just had Frozen Ever After and Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs attraction-wise. So I was pleasantly surprised that the imagineers found a way to incorporate a stage show into the land.
Because I was on limited time in January 2024, I wasn’t able to experience this attraction during that visit. I only got to experience it on my recent trip to the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort on July 7-9, 2025. I was actually able to see the show twice. Before seeing the show, I didn’t have particularly high expectations of it. I just heard that it was geared more towards kids and was very short. That didn’t bode well for what I would think of the show.
But after seeing it twice, I must say that this show actually surprised me and was more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be!
Playhouse in the Woods is a short but sweet stage show that makes clever use of its theater to make the characters of Frozen come alive. It’s not the most complex show, and it could use more interactivity, but for what it’s worth it’ll please kids and charm adults.
Before the Show and Viewing Tips
The most important thing you need to know about watching this show is that you need a Standby Pass in order to see it. Standby Passes work similarly to Virtual Queues, but there is one notable difference.
The difference is that Playhouse in the Woods’ Standby Passes won’t all be gone right when they drop. I was able to get a Standby Pass for Playhouse in the Woods at 2pm for a 3:50pm return time on one day and another at 4pm for a 6pm return time on another day. This means you can actually watch the return time move on the app and book when it reaches your desired return time.
Other than that, it’s basically the same. Make sure your entire party is scanned into the park and your tickets are all linked to your account before you get a Standby Pass so that you’re sure that you get one for your entire party. If you need help booking a standby pass, the cast members at the front of the attraction can help you if needed.
Do note that you can see on the Standby App page which return time is currently available. If it’s past the return time you want, there’s no possibility of getting an earlier one so you’ll need to find a later time that works for you. Also, once you book a Standby Pass, you’re locked into that return time so be sure you get the return time you want.
Standby Passes usually start getting issued at 12pm Hong Kong time. You need to be scanned into the park to receive a Standby Pass. At the attraction, the cast members will scan your park ticket to allow you in the venue, so be sure to have it handy.
Once you’re scanned in, you’ll be put in a holding area before the show begins. Once you’re let into the Playhouse, don’t feel like you need to rush to reach the front of the theater. They actually allow people to stand at the back and everyone is going to move to the sides of the theater after 5 minutes so sitting in front doesn’t exactly matter a lot.
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The Show Itself
The show begins when the doors open. Immediately behind the doors is Anna dressed in her Frozen 2 attire. She beckons everyone into the playhouse and there are cast members at the far end of the theater near the stage indicating where you should sit. Everyone is encouraged to sit as close to the stage as possible.
The show then begins with Anna and Olaf welcoming you to the Playhouse in the Woods. As it is Summer Snow Day, which is the in-universe holiday commemorating when Anna saved Elsa with her unselfish act of true love, Anna mentions that Elsa is supposed to come visit to celebrate this special occasion with us. She encourages us to sing Elsa’s favorite song in order to call her into the playhouse.
After singing a couple of times, the stage and backdrop fill with fog as Elsa appears. She greets Anna and then remarks that she can’t believe they’re all in the same room they used to play in when they were young. Elsa then says it’s nice that the room is now full of friends, which is followed by her greeting the audience.
Anna then shows Elsa the different sculptures created by the artisans of Arendelle, each representing a different spirit of the forest. There’s the water horse, the wind spirit, the earth giants, and the fire salamander Bruni. After saying that the spirits helped her learn something about herself, Elsa encourages the guests in the audience to stand near the statue that speaks to them the most.
After every guest has chosen a spirit of the forest, Elsa and Anna go around the room and tell each group of guests what their spirit represents and what their choice of spirit says about them. Anna then asks Elsa if they can summon one of the spirits, and Elsa enlists the guests’ help to summon one of the four spirits. The walls and backdrop of the stage come alive with projections that show the spirit coming alive in the room.
Elsa then says the spirits remind us that we’re all a part of nature. Then, for the grand finale, Elsa uses her ice powers to create a flurry of snow inside the theater. She then takes Anna by the hand and exits the theater, signalling the end of the show.
Thoughts on Playhouse in the Woods
As mentioned, I thought Playhouse in the Woods was very simple and cute. It may not be the most complex or technologically innovative show, but it has a lot of charm. The use of the theater in particular was very well done. The Imagineers were able to make the most out of the space they were given and they used every surface of that room so effectively.
The biggest negatives of the show are its length and its minimal interactivity. For all the hassle it took to get a Standby Pass, I was hoping the show would be a little bit longer than its current length. It kind of feels like it’s over before it even begins. I understand that it’s a small theater and it’s probably short so they can cycle through as many shows as possible in a day, but making it 3-5 minutes longer would make it feel more like a full experience.
The show could also use more interactivity. The only real interactive parts are when we sing to get Elsa to appear and when we choose a statue. Some kids interact with Anna and Elsa during the snow scene, but not every guest gets to do that. If they added more interactivity, maybe similar to Enchanted Tales with Belle at Magic Kingdom, it would make this a truly must-see show.
That being said, I thought the sets and props were all beautifully designed. The sculptures in particular are incredibly beautiful and have so much detail on them. The stage is also stunning, as are the projections that happen around the room when the spirits are called and when Elsa uses her ice magic. The performances of Anna and Elsa were also top notch, which makes me wish they were given a show with more breadth and depth. I also love the little touch that Anna and Elsa are using sign language at certain points in the show. Points for inclusivity!
I also like how the story of the show directly ties into the story of the land. If there’s one thing World of Frozen does well, it’s tying every element of the land together into one complete story. Frozen Ever After, Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, and Playhouse in the Woods all tie into this larger, overarching story of Summer Snow Day. I hope that Disney keeps doing this kind of storytelling in their single IP lands in the future.
Playhouse in the Woods Review Conclusion
Overall, it’s a cute show that is sure to satisfy Frozen fans of all ages. It may be a little too quick and is missing an interactive moment or two, but for what it is it’s incredibly well-done and ties into the story of the land perfectly. I highly recommend everyone see this at least once on their next trip to Hong Kong Disneyland!
6/10
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