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Disney On Ice: Show Review

by Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Guest Contributor
Last modified 11-10-2011

Going to any of the world’s Disney theme parks isn’t cheap, that is, unless you’re one of the lucky few to live right on the doorstep of one. For the rest of us, there’s an inevitable gap between Disney vacations. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to grab any opportunity you can to experience that wonderful sense of magic that you only get at Disney. One of the best ways to do that is through Disney on Ice.

It’s essentially a touring ice skating show, produced by Feld Entertainment, of course with the agreement of Disney themselves. The idea isn’t a new one, as ice shows linked to Disney have been around since the early 1980s, although Disney on Ice has been in existence since 1998.

As you’d expect from any Disney show, the shows have huge appeal for children, and are ideal for a family night out. Like everything Disney though, they also work on so many different levels, and adults will love them as well. The shows literally tour the world, visiting stops across North America, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Asia. Perhaps one of the beauties of Disney in Ice is that, at any one time, there’s a selection of shows out on tour, meaning you can often experience a different show in your area from one year to the next.

Whichever show you go to see, you’ll of course encounter Disney characters, and usually lots of them! The thing that never ceases to amaze us is the range of characters that take to the ice. We assumed that the shows would have to be limited to those on two legs, but not at all. Even the main stars of Finding Nemo are represented, but my absolute favourite has to be Pumbaa from the Lion King. Seeing him moving around on the ice on all four paws was quite something! I cannot begin to imagine how much skill is required for a skater to be able to do that.

As someone who can barely stand up straight on an ice rink, never mind move around, I’m in complete awe of what skaters can do, but Disney on Ice really takes it to a new limit. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Stitch all glide around as effortlessly and gracefully as the Disney princesses. You want twists and turns in front of your eyes? You can have them. You want fooling around? That’s there too. There are laughs a plenty in whichever story you see.

The first Disney on Ice show we went to see was called a Disneyland Adventure, and it’s perhaps the name that appealed to me most. Surely it meant that we’d see some of the attractions that we all know and love so much from the parks? That’s exactly what it meant, with some wonderful visual references. The storyline was simple enough. As you might guess, Disneyland is the setting, and in particular the Main Street Parade. Just as it gets underway, things all go horribly wrong, as Maleficent breaks into the park, helped by Syndrome from the Incredibles. That incredible family of superheroes are the ones who have to come to the rescue, and they do so in spectacular style.

I must admit that, when we went to see the show, I wondered how they’d deal with the various superpowers of each of the Incredibles. Disney didn’t gloss over them at all. Violet was still able to become invisible, Dash cut up the ice with his speed, Elastigirl stretched herself and Mr. Incredible showed off his strength. All were so cleverly done, but I won’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen the show.

We were so impressed that we vowed to catch any other Disney on Ice shows whenever they came to London, which is about an hour from where we live. The next show we were able to see was 100 Years of Magic. Despite the fact that it’s been on tour since 1999, we’d never seen it before, but after seeing it, we could immediately see why it’s lasted for so long.

It’s perhaps almost the perfect introduction to Disney on Ice, as it features elements from so many of Disney’s classic movies. From the myriad of Genies who arrived on the ice as part of the Aladdin section to the princesses part, complete with their princes, there was something for everyone. I particularly loved the It’s A Small World section, as it instantly transported me to a Disney park, although I suspect it was probably my husband’s least favourite part, with the signature song!

The show moved you from the savannah of the Lion King to the underwater world of Finding Nemo and even into the toyroom with the stars from the Toy Story films. Of course, the main characters were also present, as you’d expect. I was pleasantly surprised to see some of the older films represented as well, such as Pinocchio, and Snow White, although it was clear that it was the newer movies that captured the audience’s imagination, particularly those younger members.

Other shows currently touring the world are Disney: Pixar’s Toy Story 3, Let’s Celebrate, World of Fantasy, Princess Wishes, Princess Classics, and Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey. The latter is the longest running show, having first debuted in 1995, although it has gone through a number of reworks since then.

I now keep a close eye on the various ticket agencies in the UK, as we’ve already decided that, whenever another Disney on Ice show appears over here again, we’ll be making sure we get tickets. It’s certainly the best anecdote we know to time away from the magic of the Disney theme parks.

About the Author: Cheryl is the author of the e-book, PassPorter's Walt Disney World for British Holidaymakers, and is the co-author of PassPorter's Disney Vacation Club Guide: For Members and Members-To-Be. Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and love to travel, particularly to Disney, and they have travelled around the world, taking in a number of Disney cruises, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani in Hawai'i, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland on the way. Click here to view more of Cheryl's articles!

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Updated 11-10-2011

Check for a more updated version at http://www.passporter.com/articles/disney-on-ice-show-review.html