Ad disclosure: We were provided with tickets free of charge for the purpose of this review.
Earlier this week we headed into town with our girls plus one to go and see Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic at Arena Birmingham – what a fantastic after school treat! The girls even got to meet Mickey and Minnie before the show as we were invited to a VIP meet & greet beforehand.
The show begins with a marching band ice dance, presided over by Mickey and Minnie, followed by a scene between the famous mice and their pals Goofy and Donald Duck. Donald and Goofy want to make a film! Of course, every film has to start with a good story, so the four characters then guided us through different stories from Disney history beginning with the classic Pinocchio.
There are a lot of Disney characters from throughout the years in this show, and when I say a lot, I mean it. We saw over half a dozen Disney Princesses & Princes take to the ice, along with characters from Finding Dory, Toy Story 4 (including Forky!), Beauty & the Beast, Mulan, Frozen, Aladdin, and The Lion King.
The ice skating throughout the show was absolutely fantastic; I’m always blown away by the standard of the ice dancers, and this show was no exception. Everyone was so graceful and elegant on the ice and the choreography was wonderful. There were some real ‘wow’ moments too; a chinese dragon snaking it’s way around the ice, and a giant sea turtle gliding along – just to name a few.
As for the music, some of our favourite Disney songs were included in the show – Let It Go, Beauty and the Beast (Tale as Old as Time), I’ll Make A Man Out Of You, Friend Like Me, Can You Feel The Love Tonight, and many more. I love Disney music so it was lovely to hear so many of the biggest tracks from over the years.
My one criticism of the show is that the souvenirs and snacks are so expensive. You can’t get anything for less than £10, including the popcorn, and the light up ears will set you back £20 a pair. If you’re intending to buy your kids a treat, make sure you budget in that extra cost! We always take some snacks in my handbag to stave off the kids hunger pangs, to save a bit of cash. Do make sure you check your venue restrictions beforehand though.
Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic is touring the UK this Autumn & Winter, visiting Exeter, Aberdeen, Sheffield, London (Wembley), Nottingham, and London (O2) when it has finished it’s run in Birmingham. Find out more details and purchase tickets here.
