At a recent character experience prior to a performance of Disney on Ice presents Frozen and Encanto, our family gathered with other families to meet Mirabel and Elsa.
Being fans of both Disney films, my children were thrilled when festive music started to play and Mirabel skipped into the room, gathering the room’s kids to chat. Mirabel even threw colorful flower petals into the air when discussing her sister Isabela and her special gift of helping flowers grow.
Meeting characters can be an unforgettable experience for kids attending a Disney on Ice performance. Here are six ways to make the most of this exclusive opportunity to interact with characters.
Dress In Costume
Last time we attended a Disney on Ice performance, we saw costumes everywhere — and this time, we were ready. My kids dressed as Mirabel, Isabela and Bruno from Encanto, and the audience was filled with tiny fans who had the same idea.
At the character experience, there were multiple Elsas and Mirabels posing for photos with the real Elsa and Mirabel, which was adorable. Costumes add a special element of fun to Disney on Ice. These are performances that are meant for families with young children, and the experience of dressing in costume makes the event even more of a special occasion.
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Purchase Tickets Early
Disney on Ice’s pre-show character experiences are separate ticketed events that begin one hour before each performance, and they often sell out. For your best chance of getting in, make sure to purchase character experience tickets when you purchase your regular show tickets.
The characters rotate depending on which Disney on Ice performance is taking place. Since we were attending the Frozen and Encanto-themed performance, the characters featured in our pre-show experience were Elsa and Mirabel. Make sure to check the venue’s website for character experience details and book early if it’s something you’re interested in.
Arrive Early
Disney on Ice performances typically take place at large arenas that may have other sporting events or concerts happening on the same day. Don’t underestimate the amount of time it may take to park and find your way to the appropriate room for the character experience.
The same goes for leaving the character experience; if seeing the beginning of the performance is important to you, make sure to plan appropriately to make sure you’re in your seats when the performance starts. The character experience may be in a different area of the venue as your seats (ours was), and you’ll want to allow enough time to get there.
SheBuysTravel tip: If arriving by car, be prepared for parking costs, which can be high. We paid $35 to park at the Amerant Bank Arena in South Florida.
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Have Autograph Books and Cameras Ready
At Disney on Ice character experiences, attendants lead families in Disney-themed games (like a Frozen-themed Sven ring toss and Olaf magnet puzzle) while participants await their turn to see the characters. There are also activity pages for kids to color while they wait.
But when tables are called, be prepared with everything needed for your character encounter. When it was our turn to meet Elsa, we accidentally left my daughter’s autograph book at our table. We posed for photos, but were sent to the back of the line to await her signature, since we didn’t have the book ready. For best results, have everything with you when your turn is called.
Prepare What You’ll Say to The Characters Ahead Of Time
Disney character meet-and-greets are a great opportunity to have children think about what they’d like to say to each character ahead of time and prepare their questions or comments in advance. The opportunity to speak to each character is limited (and happens very quickly), so thinking through this really makes a difference.
At our house, we talked about anything we might want to say to Elsa and Mirabel the day before and made sure to talk through any questions the kids had for the characters.
Pack Snacks
Our character experience offered juice boxes, but no snacks. While treats like ice cream, popcorn and pizza are typically available for purchase at performance venues, arena food can get expensive. To avoid paying high prices, pack snacks. Just be sure to check the venue’s rules ahead of time, as rules on food can vary by location.
Lucky for us, we had a few Disney-branded snacks left over from a recent trip to Walt Disney World, so I packed those in our bag and my kids were happy.
SheBuysTravel tip: Next time you’re at a Disney property, stock up on Chip ‘N Dale Snack Company’s reasonably priced snacks. Mickey Puffy Cheese Crackers and Nature’s Trail Mix are our go-to snacks for events like this one.
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