Frozen stories gone?

[Pixel_Mike]

It seems as though the Frozen stories told by Google (used to be able to say "hey Google, tell me a Frozen story") now it just says it doesn't understand. Has this been discontinued or is it an error specific to me?

[Muddi · Accepted solution]

Hey Pixel_Mike,

Welcome to the Google Nest Community Forum.

This Action has been retired and is no longer playable on Google Assistant. Although the decision was difficult to make, this allows us and our partners to focus on building new and more engaging experiences.

Thank you for your understanding, and thank you for sharing these adventures with us.

Cheers,

Muddi

[Pixel_Mike]

First off thank you for your quick response! However I am very saddened by this decision. This action has been a part of the nightly routine in our home pretty much since it's inception. I really hope that the decision to reverse this change is made quickly.

This was a terrible idea. 

[Bbh]

This was part of our nightly routine too. The kids are heartbroken. 

[BenR]

Hi Muddi, 

I'll echo Mike by saying thank you for your response. I have listened to these stories every night with my daughter for 3 years. It has become an essential part of our nightly routine and is the reason we purchased a google mini for her room. 

I know it's hard to complain about losing access to a "free" feature but I hope that the "you and your partners" understand that this decision has an outsized impact on a niche group of users. I struggle to see how taking down a few KB worth of audio data is "allowing" you to build more engaging experiences. If nothing else a little more transparency about what these "more engaging experiences" are going to be would be nice. 

Also, in the future a little warning would be nice. Maybe for a few weeks add a message at the start of the cue that says "this feature will no longer be available in February". By just taking it down it left a lot of people confused (is this error specific to me?) and a little hurt.

I would also encourage you/whoever is in charge to reverse this decision if possible. 

Cheers

[MaidenCanada76]

So disappointing for my daughter. We have listened to them since 2019. They had become a huge part of our nighttime routine. A lot of the other kids content have some rude characters or a bit inappropriate for all ages. 
is there somewhere with a list of all the kids programming available on google? 

[Dillybar04]

This is very sad. My Google assistant doesn’t work that well as it is and now this feature is gone. Very disappointing for my kids and like others have said, with no warning. Sad excuse Google. 

[Andruble]

What an insulting reply. Just say your agreement with Disney lapsed. This excuse is total nonsense. My 3 year old still asks for Cars Adventures every day. Bring them back!

[liquidblackuk]

I'm not sure what I'm allowed to post here about other services someone has posted all the stories on a well known video platform so try searching there. 

[BenR]

Sure, but that is one copy-write claim from being gone. Plus, like OP said, that's not as accessible for young kids. Especially not right before bedtime when the lights are off and whatnot. 

[Rmcroft]

Please bring them back. My kids listen to them almost daily.

[flashyhurry]

Yup, my 4-year-old is devastated by this. She listened nightly. A warning would have really been appreciated.

[GeoMattie]

I'm relieved I was finally able to confirm that my 4-year-old's favorite nighttime routine isn't coming back.

A little warning would have gone a long way.

[AmyBeth]

This is so sad.  It’s a part of our nighttime routine and I was hoping the “I don’t understand” response was just a glitch.  I’m sorry to find out it’s intentional.  

[Whack-A-Bongo]

So what are these “new and more engaging experiences” that have been developed as an alternative to Frozen Stories?

As others have said, our night time routine has been obliterated with no alternative offered.

If Frozen Stories has indeed been removed to allow for other features, what are they? If no answer is forthcoming, I call BS on that excuse. 

[rmw14]

My nearly 5-year-old listened to the Google Home Frozen Stories frequently. We are also upset about their abrupt discontinuation.

Is there a comparable alternative?

[twopenguins]

You can ask Google to tell you a story but the regular stories are not as engaging or lovely and some are scary or have rude characters I don't want my child copying.

[Mamabear086]

Spotify has a couple of playlists with lovely stories.  Since Disney Princess and Frozen Stories are no more, we listen to Fun Fables. They have some really fun renditions of classics like Little Red Riding Hood and Golidlocks and the 3 Bears

[Livesk19]

We are in the same boat. My daughter is in tears as this has been a nightly routine for years. 

[Ayeika]

This is so sad that we parents didn't get a heads up my kids have been asking for it for days and I keep telling it'll be back(i thought it was a bug) Now I'm upset at how Google decided to handle this by doing it quietly and not warning us that make this part of our kids routines. So what are other options?

[Btoddstock]

Disappointed to say the least! I call BS on the answer. Just say your agreement with Disney ran out. No way this prevents new and future improvement or services.

[Yknotlov3]

We were sad to hear that these stories are gone as well. My girls regularly listened to these stories while I prepared meals. I love the idea of a warning! Were there no analytics to measure how many of us were still using this feature?  I would also like to know if there is a comparable substitute. Thanks! 

[Feverfew]

Yep my daughter gutted too. We were hoping it was a glitch. Please bring them back or replace with something similar! It’s been our bedtime treat for forever!!!

[twopenguins]

My daughter and I are both really sad these are gone. They were a Sunday morning tradition. She would listen to a few of them and I would get to sleep for longer! She also liked to listen to them when she was ill. It would have been nice to have a warning that they were going. Having Google tell you a regular story is not as fun and actually some of the stories told are violent and scary (fairy tales often are, and I understand this but it doesn't help my 5-year-old, as she's scared of things like this) or the characters speak unkindly to each other. The Frozen stories were all lovely and far better quality than the Story Nory ones, for example. Is there any way you could bring the Frozen stories back?

[jasoncapone]

Will just mirror all other parenteral responses, cutting this routine for kids particularly bedtime routine without heads up was brutal. Clearly a decision not made by a parent.

[Ececomama]

We are also very sad that Frozen Stories is no longer accessible.   We loved Cars Adventure, too.  These made for lovely routine listening, and actually refined my 3 year old's pronunciation, as he attempted to give requests and commands, with increasing success, that Google could understand 😄

[twopenguins]

It helped with my daughter's ability to control our Google home too! She can now turn the smart lights off herself too because of all the practice with Frozen stories. It's brilliant!

[twopenguins]

If you are planning to replace it with another interactive Disney tales feature (Encanto, please), it would have been kinder to leave the Frozen stories until the new one was released. 

[JudyandMyra]

We are devastated about this. 

guess it’s time to retire our googles. 

[AquaMamaX5]

This was a part of our routine as well. Knowledge ahead of time would've helped tonight's meltdown. Perhaps next time, ask your audience. OBVIOUSLY many have been needlessly affected by this surprise change.

[Tootster]

Yup, currently dealing with major bedtime meltdown due to the abrupt loss of frozen stories. Please bring these back! 

[Mart1076]

Spotify does have Disney stories available. There are a few playlists to choose from. 

[Tirik85]

I just went to play them for my daughters and we were getting frustrated that it wasn't  working.   If they're going to remove features they need to give us some kind of notice that they're going to remove it, and should have a message that the feature is no longer available instead of the generic "I don't understand".  My daughters were upset when I had to tell them I couldn't get it to work, and I was quite disappointed in Google that they just decided to remove it without any notice. 

[PButtercupS]

My daughter is also heartbroken by the loss of these stories.  They would help her so much to wind down at night

[Ms12]

We are completely devastated. Literally the main reason we purchased a nest for her room. 😞

Next you’ll tell me animal of the day is withdrawn. PLEASE DON’T 

[Capcitymama]

Very disappointed in this decision. Would have been nice to receive a warning so I could prepare my kids for a permanent change to their bedtime routine. The begged me to look up why it hasn’t been working.

[HannahBevie]

We're so disappointed to hear that it has been discontinued, especially without any warning. My 4 year old is literally in tears because she can't listen anymore.

[rigodanzo]

Super disappointed too.

[Vsnko]

Also very upset this feature is just suddenly gone

[MommaBorba]

Hey Google tell me a Frozen Story was part of our nightly routine too. I agree with so many others that a warning would have been ideal. So bummed it's gone.