On Tuesday we took my daughter Amanda (5) and my son Ben (10) to see Disney on Ice at the Rogers Center. The kids were totally excited to go downtown to see a show, and the "coolness" of seeing an ice rink set up where we would normally go to see baseball was not lost on the kids.
The show was an anthology telling the stories of many of the classic Disney movies in song, figure skating and occasional acrobatics. From Aladdin, The Lion King, Toy Story, Sleeping Beauty to Beauty and The Beast, the show covered most of the classic Disney stories. Each story was given a 5 to 10 minute number, where dialog and music from the original were reenacted by the performers through ice dance.
One of the most impressive elements of the show was the costuming. It looks like there was no expense spared by the producers of the show in creating or purchasing the costumes for the performers. The character costumes such as Mickey, Donald and Chip and Dale are as authentic and detailed as the ones you see down in the real Magic Kingdom, except the performers are probably a lot more comfortable than they are in the hundred degree temperatures of central Florida!
The princess costumes were absolutely stunning as well, Amanda loved them and had no trouble identifying each of the Disney characters as they appeared, often saying their names and laughing or getting excited.
As a guy who has trouble skating forward, I'm really not the best person to ask about figure skating, but I've got to say, these guys seemed really good! Some highlights for us were "Friend Like Me", from Aladdin, with displays of raw athleticism with leaps and jumps galore, and what seemed to be at least 30 genies skating together. Amanda very much enjoyed the Princess medley in the middle of the show where all of the Princes and Princesses each performed. Make sure you're don't miss "Make A Man out of You", from Mulan, this was hands down the family favorite for everyone, on a personal note, it's probably my favorite Disney song.
Lighting and staging was done well, with bubbles, smoke, fireworks and a giant whale that we all thought was neat. If you have smaller children, you don't have to worry about the fireworks, as they were definitely a toned down variety. Although Amanda loves loud fireworks (you could set a bomb off beside that girl and she'd laugh) I understand that many young children don't, Ben didn't at 5, and I appreciate that the fireworks were appropriate for families with younger kids.
So how did the kids fare?
Amanda was absolutely mesmerized throughout the entire production, she loved every moment and was actually still through the show. My 10 year old, Ben on the other hand, got a little restless. I found myself having to make jokes, or point out things we could laugh at to keep him involved and having a good time. This event is really not aimed at 10 year old boys, but in the end he did say he enjoyed the outing.
One important criticism. This event can get costly very quickly. I fully expect the concessions to be expensive, but the prices at the Rogers Center are over the top, I don't mind paying movie theater prices for popcorn, I expect it, but eight dollars for popcorn and twelve for cotton candy, is too much for the average family budget. If you're one of those families who try to avoid buying toys at events such as this, the incessant peddling of branded merchandise takes a bit of the shine off of an otherwise happy family outing.
So would I recommend this to families?
It was an enjoyable show for all of us, so I would recommend it, but factor in a budget for extras, or prep your kids in advance so they no what NOT to expect from you. If you're a fan of Disney's style of music, and musical theater in general you're sure to enjoy this show!
Written for Child’s Life by Markham dad, Kevin Daly.
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This was my first time going to a Disney on Ice production and I thought it would be great fun for the kids but it turns out it was great fun for me as well. The ice stage was set-up in a way that there was not a bad seat in the house. 
Last was Rapunzel who stole the show. The skit was the longest of the three, and was fabulous! The skating numbers in this skit were by far the most difficult and the way they brought the storyline to life was great. The best part was when all the floating lanterns came down from the sky.
