In the very first Disney On Ice production to feature Magnifico and Valentino from Disney’s Wish, our family of five watched, mesmerized, as 14 performers dressed as villagers skated in perfect unison to the reprise of “This Wish” from the 2023 animated film.
As Magnifico stood above his village, Asha grabbed a rope attached to a glowing Star, picking up speed as she glided over the ice. As the chorus swelled, Asha was lifted high above the air in a breathtaking circle, flying over the rink. A collective chorus of delight sounded from the young audience members around us.
The spectacular aerial display was part of the brand-new Disney On Ice show Let’s Dance, and our family caught one of the tour’s first performances in South Florida this month.
Here’s everything we learned at the show, and how to turn a Disney On Ice performance into a fun-filled adventure.
Get Ready to Be Dazzled
This was our first time attending a Disney On Ice performance, and my kids (ages 4, 4, and 7) loved it.
Let’s Dance stars Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy as DJs who remix Disney songs into colorful stories. Their magic turntables took us on a journey through the Kingdom of Rosas with Wish, Arendelle and the Enchanted Forest with Frozen II, the Pride Lands with The Lion King, under the sea with The Little Mermaid, and the Island of Motunui with Moana.
Disney On Ice’s production values are unmatched; with glittering costumes, special effects, and top-notch performers, Let’s Dance is spectacular. My kids especially loved the deconstructed costumes and colorful characters in The Lion King, and comical Chef Louis and his ‘Les Poissons’ performance from The Little Mermaid kept the adults laughing.
You’re Likely to Never See the Same Disney on Ice Show Twice
Been to Disney On Ice in years past and think you’ve seen it all? Think again. Producers Feld Entertainment and Disney are constantly creating all-new shows and rotating them into the tour schedule, meaning that you’re likely to never see the same show twice.
There are currently five different Disney On Ice shows touring across the U.S. and Canada: Let’s Dance, Frozen & Encanto, Into The Magic, Mickey’s Search Party and Magic In the Stars.
Each ice show features figure skaters portraying the roles of Disney characters in performances based on iconic Disney films.
Arrive Early
Since Disney On Ice performances typically take place in large arenas and attract legions of fans, account for traffic and parking delays upon arrival.
There are also plenty of fun reasons to get to your seats early; at our performance of Let’s Dance, a pre-show began 15 minutes prior to showtime and featured a high-energy DJ set.
Join our Private Disney FB Group for more tips! JOIN HERE
We were seated about halfway up, facing the rink and its backdrop. While I’d initially dreamed of having one of the VIP seats at rink level, I soon realized there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. Let’s Dance has performers facing audiences in every direction (and often doing aerial tricks), so everyone has great sightlines.
SheBuysTravel tip: Make sure to check parking fees ahead of time; general parking for the show we attended was $35.
Let Your Kids Wear Costumes
If you’ve been to any of
My kiddos started the day wearing their favorite Disney costumes, but we were rushing to get out the door later in the afternoon and didn’t bring them. Next time, we’ll make sure they wear them to the show.
One note: while children are welcome to wear costumes, Disney On Ice prohibits costumes on anyone ages 14 or older.
Your Kids Will Want to Buy Things
As with the parks, there is an abundance of Disney merchandise available for purchase. You will pass souvenir booths selling Disney purses, stuffed animals, light-up toys, jewelry and clothing, as well as several photography booths where families can take keepsake photos with different backgrounds from Disney movies.
There are tempting but expensive food items (my husband noted the $14 hot dogs) and souvenir food items (a snow cone served in a take-home mug from The Lion King). Your children will want all of it.
Packed snacks and sealed water bottles are generally allowed to be brought in, though you’ll want to check your local arena’s guidelines first to make sure. Bags are typically searched by security on the way in.
She Buys Travel tip: Making time for a pre-show meal can help prevent meltdowns when your kids spot the $12 ice cream cones. We also planned for a post-show meal of Swedish fare at a nearby IKEA, which helped the kids look forward to dinner.
Book Character Meet and Greets Early
In addition to the performances, Disney On Ice offers ticketed pre-show Disney Character Experiences for select shows. These special events include games, sing-alongs, crafting, and interactive time with beloved Disney characters such as Anna, Elsa, Mirabel, and Moana.
The show we attended offered a character experience with Anna and Elsa that our kids would have loved, but it was entirely sold out. Disney On Ice confirmed that the character experiences fill up early, so it’s best to book as soon as you buy your show tickets.
Dress in Layers
Living in South Florida, our family is used to warm weather year-round. But since this was an ice show, we wore pants and brought hoodies along for the show.
Disney On Ice recommends that guests prepare for temperatures of at least 10 degrees cooler than the air outside, and I can say that this felt accurate.
SheBuysTravel tip: Folded hoodies or sweaters can double as makeshift booster seats for smaller audience members. When my daughter found herself seated behind an adult, we created a cushion with two folded hoodies to boost her height a bit and improve her sightline.
Prepare for Noise Levels
Disney On Ice is awesome, but the show can also get loud. If you have children who are sensitive to noise levels, I’d recommend packing kid-sized earplugs or headphones to help soften the sound.
I packed earplugs but waited halfway through the show to offer them to my kids. One wore them for the show’s second act, though my other two were so focused on the show that they refused. Next time, I’ll pass them out before the show begins to avoid the mid-show interruption.
Save Money on Tickets
Tickets for Disney On Ice performances in the U.S. currently start at $29 plus taxes and fees. It’s sometimes cheaper to buy tickets directly from an arena’s box office, and there are often promotional deals offered for certain performances through sites like Groupon.com.
Children under two can attend Disney On Ice performances for free if they sit on a parent or guardian’s lap. However, laws vary nationwide, and some arenas may require all patrons to have a ticket, regardless of age. Disney On Ice advises families to confirm the policy ahead of time with their local arena.
Group discounts are also available in select markets; look for the “group sales” section on the Disney On Ice ticketing website for details.
Disney On Ice is currently touring across North America. For tour dates and shows near you, visit DisneyOnIce.com.
Leave a Reply