Disney On Ice has been running since 1981, which means there is a reasonable chance your own parents took you to see it as a child. In the decades since that first sold-out show, it has been seen by 320 million people across 68 countries and more than 545 cities. Disney On Ice That is a track record that speaks for itself, and it goes some way to explaining why, when Disney On Ice comes to town, parents tend to feel quietly confident they are not wasting their money.
Disney On Ice is the largest employer of professional figure skaters in the world, and the quality of the skating has always been central to what makes the shows work. These are not just people in Disney costumes gliding around a rink. The shows have featured Olympic medalists from the very beginning and that commitment to proper skating talent is still very much in evidence today.
Into the Magic is the current UK touring show, and we took our family along to find out whether it lives up to the reputation. It does.
What is Disney On Ice: Into the Magic?
Disney On Ice: Into the Magic is a live ice skating show produced by Feld Entertainment, the same company behind many of the world’s biggest touring family shows. The UK tour visits arenas across the country and brings together some of the most beloved Disney stories in one spectacular production. It is aimed at children aged roughly 3 to 10, though plenty of adults in the audience were visibly having the time of their lives.
Which Disney stories are featured?
The show covers six stories, which is one of the things that makes it such good value. Rather than focusing on a single film, you get a proper tour through the Disney universe. The stories included are Tangled, Beauty and the Beast, Moana, Frozen, Cinderella, and Coco.
Each segment has its own distinct look, music, and skating set pieces, so even if your child has a firm favourite, there is something for everyone in the family.
What did we think of each segment?
Tangled was one of the standout moments of the entire show. Performers took to the air in a stunning aerial silks display, wrapping the long fabric around their hands and bodies as they soared above the ice. Aerial silks, sometimes called aerial fabric, is a circus discipline that is breathtaking enough on its own, but seeing it performed above an ice rink with Rapunzel’s story playing out below took it to another level. The children in the audience were transfixed.
Beauty and the Beast is the most theatrical segment of the show. The costumes are beautiful, particularly Belle’s yellow gown, and the ballroom sequence is well staged and got a big reaction from the audience.
Moana works surprisingly well on ice. The staging conveys the sense of ocean and adventure effectively, and Maui’s entrance got a huge cheer. The music had most of the audience singing along.
Frozen is, as you would expect, the one that sends the crowd wild. The moment Elsa appeared, the noise in the arena was something else. Let It Go performed live on ice is a proper spectacle, and the production values during this segment are the highest in the show.
Cinderella is the most technically accomplished segment of the show. The skating is graceful and precise, and the story is told clearly without a word being spoken.
Coco was a highlight that nobody expected. The colours are spectacular, the music is joyful, and the celebration of family at the heart of the story comes through beautifully in the skating and staging.
Practical information for parents
Getting there early is worth it. The merchandise queues before the show can be long, and if you want to avoid a meltdown over a light-up wand, budget some extra time. Merchandise is not cheap, so it is worth deciding in advance whether you are buying or going in with a firm “not today” policy.
Food and drink inside the arena is arena-standard, which means expensive and not particularly exciting. Worth knowing in advance.
The show runs for roughly two hours including an interval, which is a good length for younger children. Most kids manage it well, particularly because the different story segments keep things moving and fresh.
Is Disney On Ice: Into the Magic worth the money?
Honestly, yes. The quality of the skating is genuinely world class, the production values are high, and the combination of six stories means the show feels generous rather than padded. At first, we were a bit thrown by the fact that the performers aren’t actually singing but actually once you get used to it you can appreciate the skating a lot more. Tickets vary in price depending on your seat and venue, so it is worth shopping around if budget is a concern. The further back seats still offer a great view because the ice rink is the stage. The show lasted around 1 hour 40 minutes with a 20 minute (ish) interval.
You can find dates, venues, and tickets at the official Disney On Ice website.
