JAMIE’S SHOW REVIEW: Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of taking my four-and-a-half-year-old daughter to a new Disney ice spectacular featuring well-liked songs and unforgettable scenes from three popular Princess stories: The Princess and the Frog, Cinderella, and Tangled.

Hosted by kid-favorites Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck, and filled with glitz, glamour, and hours of sensational skating, this opportunity to see so many beloved characters come to life on the rink, was nothing short of a dream come true for my little princess-in-the-making.

The New Orleans-set musical journey of Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen in The Princess and the Frog kept my daughter bopping in her seat with its rhythmic, horn-infused music. But she was especially delighted by the classic story of Cinderella, which she—and seemingly every child in the arena—seemed to know best. And I, personally, was quite impressed by the fitting of the glass slipper (in this case, an ice skate), and the ease with which the “slipper” slid on Cinderella’s foot as she skated off in a joyous finale.

Finally, Disney's hilarious hair-raising escapade, Tangled, kept the audience mesmerized, as Rapunzel, and her unlikely companion, Flynn, performed an alluring aerialist act with beautiful strands of gold silk material that represented Rapunzel’s golden locks. And the strikingly beautiful lighting for that segment's finale—when the glowing lanterns are launched into the sky—made my daughter “ooooh” in delight.

The grand finale of the show featured every princess a kid could imagine—from Snow White to Jasmine to Ariel—all dressed in glittering white gowns. Most remarkable of all, they were accompanied by a dancing stallion—on ice skates—which made my daughter giggle, as I marveled over the talent of the skaters so skillfully masquerading as a horse.

The spirited show—which ended in a burst of fireworks—lasted just under two hours, with a brief intermission (that was filled with the only down-side of the entire Disney experience: highly-overpriced food and merchandise), and kept my daughter (and me!) enthralled the entire time.

For more information visit: http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/