Disney on Ice

[Mel]

Yup, 13-18 July at Acer

[Mel]

I rather enjoyed this years' show! The Cars scene was pretty lame story-wise, but the cars themselves were really impressive and kept the boys riveted for the whole scene.

Lion King and Little Mermaid I've seen many times before, but they are still two of my favourite DoI scenes so I don't mind.

The Pixies lost us. Jared chucked a tantrum (and he's not normally a tantrum thrower) so we experienced our first Disney meltdown. Ben kept asking if it was over yet and Josh fell asleep. All the little girls around us were in awe of all the sparkley costumes and pixie dust though

Next years looks good again; A Disney Celebration or somesuch...

[KeithS]

I rather enjoyed this years' show!

Yay - I can't wait for Saturday

You forgot to mention the merchandise Mel - was there anything worth buying this year?

[Mel]

I rather enjoyed this years' show!

Yay - I can't wait for Saturday

You forgot to mention the merchandise Mel - was there anything worth buying this year?

I wish I could help you Keith, but with two verbal children who are yet to fully understand the power of pester and one who kept trying to do a runner, we avoid the merchandise stands altogether. I can only tell you that there was a drink bottle option available with the shaved ice this year, and weird McQueen or Pixie hats available with the Fairy Floss. Apart from that - no idea what was for sale.

[KeithS]

Just arrived at Disney on Ice and run into Wayne and Jennifer!

[KeithS]

Reporting live from the Intermission! We enjoyed the first half with Cars, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.

Waiting for part two now!

[KeithS]

Show is over for another year. We had a fun time and now looking forward to next year. The final act was all Fairies and based on the first Tinker Bell movie. Will provide a merchandise report tomorrow.

[alice in wonderland]

We enjoyed it!! Matilda actually sat through the whole thing. Fortunately for us, thanks to murrays sister we watch the show in the comfort of a corporate box again this year. I don't knOwhow we will ever go back!! Free tickets and amazing food !!!

I did think the tink section was a little to long.

Merchandise, we avoided but what I did see wasn't every impressive. There was a sweet necklace that had a figurine if anprincess on it. I think it was $18. that seemed resonable!!

[KeithS]

No one has mentioned Disney on Ice yet this year. Has anyone seen the show yet?

Della and I are going this afternoon in Sydney - I'll post a review sometime tomorrow.

[Mel]

We just got back. The boys enjoyed it much more this year. Jared really enjoyed the Halloween segment, until the music turned a bit too scary and then he jumped in my lap. They BOTH got bored during the princesses; Jared tried to leave and Ben asked to play the iPad *sigh* I am destined to a princessless life Ben actually sat and watched it intently for the most part, Josh was a pain, but that is to expected.

My favorite parts were the Jack Skellington segment and the Enchanted and Tiarna bits

[KeithS]

Hey Mel - you must have been at the same session as we were!

We ran into Manuel there yesterday, he was sitting just a few rows behind us

We also really enjoyed this year's show. We found it a bit different (in a good way) to previous years. Way more characters to start with and it seemed like a lot more skaters on ice at any one time.

For those who didn't go, the show was based on Celebrations. There was an opening sequence with The Blue Fairy, Pinocchio, Gepetto, with Mickey and friends talking about birthdays, which then rolled into a longer sequence featuring an Unbirthday Party with Alice, the Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, the Tweedles, Mickey, Minne and friends as they try to get a party hat for Mickey (and they were stealing the Mad Hatter's hat for him). I thought this was the weakest bit of the show, but still entertaining. This led into a scene where Mickey finds the Sorcerer's Hat and he puts on the famous robes the arena is taken over by the broom sticks.

The Halloween sequence comes next and we thought this was brilliant. It began with Jack Skellington setting up a Halloween Party and different villains kept ringing his doorbell and joining the party. We had Cruella, Hook, Evil Queen from Snow White, Maleficent, and Jafar - plus support ghosts, it was terrific and ended with the fab five dressed as halloween ghosts scaring the villains of stage.

Next up was the princess and enchanted sequence. Now despite rumours to the contrary, I'm not always a big fan of princess Disney on Ice sequences...until this one. It begins with Minnie being turned into Princess Minnie by the fairy godmother from Cinderella and asking about how she'll find her true love. Then the fairy godmother brings all the princess couples on the ice, one at a time for a pairs skating sequence. Beginning with Jasmine and Aladdin, Belle and prince dude, Ariel and Eric, Cinderella and Charming, Mulan and whats his face, Snow White and her bloke, and Tiana and Naveen. Once they were all on ice, the was an Enchanted sequence (That's How You Know) with more skaters plus the prince and princesses and the fountain set in the middle of the ice opens to reveal Mickey in his prince outfit. It was a long sequence but really well done (even Della liked it!).

Intermission next - the first half of the show went for 1 hour.

We recommenced with a trip around the world for various celebrations, starting in Hawaii for an Aloha adventure. Once again, lots of skaters, with Stitch and Lilo and the fab five. Lilo was a face character which I've never seen before - that was cool as they normally have her as a big rubber head. And they set the ice on fire

Then they went to China and Japan for spring time. China had a great Chinese dragon which was fun to watch, and the Japanese section felt very Japanesey with Minne as a geisha with supporting geishas celebrating spring and the cherry blossums. This sequence was unique in a Disney on Ice show - it was almost peaceful! I think it may have been a little too slow for the kids, but they were short sequences.

Next came the big Tiana Mardi Gras sequence in New Orleans - this was really fun and bright Great music from the movie and Mickey and Minne dressed in their best New Orleans party clothes.

Then the show finale with the Toy Story gang (including Hamm, Rex, and a troll!) and the Christmas celebration, which ended with all the characters from the show onstage (which was quite a sight, considering how many characters were in this show!)

The final section went for about 45 minutes.

All in all, a very satisfying day. There was a lot of new music and new arrangements on favourite songs, lots of performers, entertaining sequences (all of them which I hadn't previously seen in other shows). Excellent skating from all performers

Bring on next year, which is Princesses and Heroes.

[KeithS]

Who is going this year?

It is Heroes and Princesses (so with that line up, I would have thought everyone wants to go - hehe).

I see they've just put an extra show for Sydney - they were advertising it during The Block last night (I've also noticed an upsurge in Disneyland advertisements as well).

[KeithS]

We had great fun yesterday at the 2013 Disney on Ice - Princesses and Heroes.

Our fun started by running into Jess and Matilda out front (how did you and Matilda like the show Jess?)

We then went inside and we ran into Wayne and Jennifer too! We hit the merchandise counter, picked up two programs and a cool Disney on Ice Mickey Mouse blanket for $30 (I think that is the cheapest thing we've ever bought there, and it is really nice!)

We then took our seats to watch the show. As I mentioned in last years review, I'm not always a big fan of the Princess Disney on Ice segments, but Della and I both really enjoyed this year's show.

Essentially it took us through eight Princess segments, beginning with Jasmine, then Snow White, Belle, Ariel Part One, Intermission, Ariel Part Two, Tiana, Aurora, Rapunzel, Cinderella and then the big finale where everyone is on stage.

They took around two key songs from each Princess film (except for Tiana and Rapunzel which had one song each). The sequences were particularly good and the sets were great. The giant Maleficent dragon came out and set the ice on fire which was a highlight, as was the two-part Little Mermaid sequence. But it was difficult to fault the program at all. The whole show lasted nearly two hours - this is the second year running that the show was this length and that was great.

Can't wait for next year!

[Mel]

Sounds like I would have enjoyed it Not so much the boys though.

Do we know what next years' will be?

[KeithS]

Sounds like I would have enjoyed it

You would have for sure! So many princesses...

Do we know what next years' will be?

It is called "Treasure Trove" - it has a mixture of Disney stories including Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Alladin and Tangled.

It looks like a really good show and it is one of the newer Disney on Ice productions.