Mini Moanas, Elsas and Ariels as far as the eye can see can only mean one thing - Disney On Ice is back in town.
The ever-popular spectacular always impresses but this year’s production, entitled Dream Big, certainly lives up to its name: big songs, big show-stopping performances and, in the case of characters like Maui, Genie, Ursula and an impressive fire-breathing Dragon Maleficent, big costumes too.
Dream Big covers a compilation of favourite hits from some of Disney’s best-loved films, including Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Frozen and, my personal favourite, Moana, who this year makes her ice debut.
Warming up the ice for all the princesses to come, Tinkerbell introduces Mickey and Minnie Mouse and pals as they celebrate 90 years of creating Disney magic with a catchy routine.
Considering his nonagenarian status, Mickey is still very sprightly and had all of his young fans out of their seats and dancing for the warm-up, including my very own little Moana and Thor (or Timmy Mallett, as Isaac’s dad - a true child of the ’80s - renamed him).
We are then taken on a journey to the bustling marketplace of downtown Agrabah, as Aladdin and his ‘hairy little thief’ Abu whizz round the ice, dodging those mean old guards and stallholders before bumping into the princess of his dreams.
A magic carpet ride later and it’s another princess’s turn to share her big dreams of adventure as the ice becomes the Beast’s enchanted castle for a visiting Beauty. A very nimble Lumiere invites Belle to ‘Be Our Guest’, backed up by an impressive chorus line of dancing cutlery.
We are then treated to more fabulous routines, as Tangled’s Rapunzel escapes with Flynn Rider to see the lights she’s been dreaming of her whole life; Cinderella finally gets to dance with her Prince Charming and, a particular highlight, The Little Mermaid’s Sebastian shows Ariel just what dreams are made of in a colourful display Under The Sea.
Judging by the reaction of hundreds of excited little fans, it’s safe to say wayfinder Moana and demigod Maui are a welcome addition to the ice skating ensemble this year.
Some fiery special effects make for an impressive showdown with Te Kā, as Moana fulfills her destiny to restore the heart of Te Fiti.
But it’s during Dragon Maleficent’s face-off with Sleeping Beauty’s Prince Phillip that the pyrotechnics really step up a gear, before the smoke and fire-breathing monster finally meets her grizzly end.
Of course, Disney On Ice wouldn’t be complete without a show-stopping performance from the ice sisters themselves and Frozen’s Elsa and Anna certainly didn’t disappoint.
Just about every mum, dad, grandparent and child in the audience seemed to join in with word-perfect renditions of For the First Time in Forever, Love Is An Open Door, In Summer and Let It Go.
With all of the princesses and their princes returning to the ice for a dazzling finale, we were treated to a fairytale ending that all those little Disney fans no doubt will be dreaming about for weeks to come.
