Enter Disney’s cool world of enchantment

MOST kids – both big and small – love Disney, so a show bringing their favourite characters together has “sure-fire hit” written all over it. And if you add the fact that all of the action unfolds on the ice then that brings another exciting element to the performance.

Disney On Ice has been entertaining audiences for many years now and this year’s production – Worlds of Enchantment – transports audiences to scenes from several blockbusters, including Toy Story, Cars, The Little Mermaid and Frozen. And the hosts for the evening are none other than Mickey and Minnie Mouse along with their pals Donald Duck and Pluto.

The show opens with Toy Story and we follow the adventures of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Mr Potato Head, Slinky Dog and the rest of the toys, which have been packed away in a cardboard box and are heading for pastures new.

We watched in awe as the cast of skilled skaters – most of them wearing bulky costumes – acted out the scenes on the ice with ease to a dubbed script and soundtrack. But while we love Toy Story, this 40-minute homage was far too long for a compilation show.

Before the interval, the arena was transformed into a seabed, complete with colourful skating fishes, as The Little Mermaid’s tale was told as there was some pretty impressive skating and pirouetting from Ariel.

Most parents spent the interval shielding their children from the multitude of merchandise stalls which were popping up throughout the auditorium before the second half began.

Our seven-year-old was hoping to see some Disney princesses and her latest favourite character Moana. Instead we had a section from Cars followed by the same Frozen segment as last year. While it was an enjoyable enough night out, it would have been better if it had included more of our favourite characters rather than focus on just four films.

But I’m sure we’ll be back next year – in the hope of seeing Moana.

■ Karen Price