Disney on Ice presents Into the Magic show review

In our home, Disney is a trustworthy source of joy and family bonding. The magic of Disney is enchanting.

My love of Disney began many moons ago when I was a child, with films and trips to Disney parks being treasured memories from my childhood.

With the experience of Disney magic being one that transcends age, for me Disney provides wonderful nostalgia and a connection to my inner child. Being a parent I can re-experience the magic with my children; with Disney films, toys and experiences creating beloved shared family moments as I witness them enjoy the wonder that Disney evokes as they are bewitched by the magic of Disney.

As my boys love all things Disney, with them all having their own favourite films and characters, Disney on Ice is a show they love. Both my eldest and middle have seen Disney on Ice shows a couple of times with them being enthralled by Disney on Ice 100 Years of Magic and enchanted with Disney on Ice Worlds of Enchantment show. However, my youngest who has also fallen in love with Disney as he grows up has never experienced a spellbinding Disney on Ice show and often asks to see one as well as go to a Disney theme park. 

Whilst his dream of visiting a Disney theme park has not quite been achieved yet, but I am working on it, his wish to see a Disney on Ice show came true the other week when we watched Disney on Ice presents into the Magic in Cardiff at the Ultilita arena.

Before and during the show there were opportunities to buy Disney merch, drinks and snacks. The merch consisted of themed cups and hats plus more. It was however a shame that there were lots of Stitch merch to buy as it left my big Stitch fan a little disappointed that he did not make an appearance on the ice. However the Disney characters we did see on the ice magicked away his sadness of no Stitch.

The show had two lovely hosts who were bubbly and energetic. Their lively energy ramped up the excitement in the arena as they introduced magical stories.

The brilliant hosts kicked off the show by bringing out iconic Disney characters - Mickey and his friends. The show itself was made up of two halves with a brief intermission in between. Both halves of the show consisted of 3 Disney stories each. The first half featured Beauty and the Beast, Coco and Rapunzel/Tangled. The second half displayed the Disney stories of Cinderella, Frozen and Moana.

The children’s excitement about the show overflowed when they entered the arena and saw the big ice rink. Joy was abutment in them as the lights dimmed and the show began.

A highlight of the show for my youngest is when Mickey and his friends effortlessly glided out onto the ice, with his giggling gleefully at seeing Goofy in all his glory. The costumes were magnificent with Mickey and his friends looking exactly as if they had come to life right from a Disney story as they skated skillfully across the ice. 

The first Disney story to grace the ice was enchanting Beauty and the Beast. The classic Disney tale showcased on the ice was spectacular. The story featured key events from Beauty and the Beast with effortless transitions between the events. 

Belle looked beautiful as she glided across the ice and the Beast looked magnificent. The costumes were fantastic and we loved seeing Lumière and Cogsworth make an appearance on the ice. The music was brilliant and we loved the lively numbers.

Beauty and the Beast on ice featured an amazing backdrop of a castle with staircases and a lovely regal stained glass window.

The choreography was impressive and along with the songs and music, the skating brought the story of Beauty and the Beast alive.

After Beauty and the Beast came to a happy ever after end, the hosts introduced Coco onto the ice. 

Coco looked brilliant, being instantly recognisable, and showcased impressive moves on the ice. The supporting skaters looked fantastic, as if they had stepped straight out of Coco, with beautiful and vibrant costumes.

Coco’s time on the ice was the shortest of the stories which was a bit of shame, especially considering Coco featured in ad posters for this installment of Disney on Ice. However even with only a short time on the ice Coco shined. 

After the festival fun of Coco came the renowned tale of Rapunzel from Tangled. The story was displayed in a colourful, vibrant and full of fun way. 

The castle from Beauty and the Beast had been subtly and smoothly replaced by a big tower with golden locks flowing from down the tower which looked brilliant. Likewise the costumes were amazing and the story and songs were entertaining. The story was told very succinctly with all the major plot points of the film displayed on the ice thanks to the talent of the skaters, costume designers and prop makers.

The Tangled tale added a splash of humour to the Disney magic with the comedic, thuggish characters in the “Snuggly Duckling” pub scene, who looked fantastic. The superb costumes brought the scene alive and the effortless skating along with use of props make for fantastic viewing. 

Rapunzel and Flynn Rider evoked Disney magic with breath-taking, jaw dropping aerial acrobatics. It was a stunning sight to see them soar above the ice using silks dangling from above.

My youngest’s favourite part of seeing Tangled on the ice was seeing the magnificent Maximus the horse trot along the ice. The horse looked as if it had cantered straight out of the film, with the costume featuring impeccable detailing and a mesmerizing presence. 

As the Tangled tale ended, viewers were granted the opportunity to stretch their legs, visit the facilities and get a snack during the brief intermission before the show went on.

The second part of this Disney on Ice spectacular started with the classic tale of Cinderella. 

Like the other stories showcased on the ice, the costumes and music for Cinderella was wonderful. It featured key events from the story and a beautiful castle backdrop that helped bring the story to life. 

Fairy Godmother looked amazing, dazzling in her stunning outfit with her magical wand.

The gorgeous horse and carriage featured exquisite detailing and looked beautiful moving across the ice. 

After the joyous end of Cinderella, the hosts introduced the next tale to grace the ice - Frozen.

Again there was a fantastic backdrop, this time Arendelle with a large Arendelle themed castle along with props of market stalls to create Arendelle kingdom on the ice. 

The performance covered key events from the film from the coronation to meeting Olaf to Elsa thawing Anna with an act of true love. The icy tale featured iconic music from the film including “Love is an open door” and “Let it go”.

Once again the costumes were beautiful and true to the film. Elsa’s costume was flawless. “Let it go” hit a crescendo as Elsa sang the iconic song on top of a moving platform that represented her frozen castle.

After seeing Maximus the horse with Rapunzel in the Tangled tale, the boys had hoped to see Sven make an appearance on the ice but unfortunately he did not.

Not seeing Sven trot along the ice was soon forgotten when beloved Olaf made his entrance. He looked incredible and was a hit of the show.

Olaf brought a giggle to the show with his antics and a colourful dance with his “In Summer” song. He added humour, charm and a huge amount of adorableness to the show.

The choreography for Frozen was brilliant and the flurry of snow falling from above made the tale even more magical. 

Bringing the show to a dazzling finish was the dramatic story of Moana. 

The costumes were once again impeccable and Maui looked amazing. Moana’s boat sailing across the ice was a wonderful sight to see. 

A highlight of Moana’s story was Tamatoa who was impressively large and beautifully adorned with treasures. The choreography of “Shiny” was brilliant and the addition of a large glitterball and lighting made the scene look extra special. 

The sea was represented using a beautifully decorated piece of fabric which sailed around the ice, moving gracefully in the air as if it were a wave. 

Added drama was created using fire with the flames dancing across the ice separating Moana and Maui as the story came to a fiery climax.

The magic of Disney on Ice presents Into the Magic is that it combines classic and modern Disney tales, bringing the magic of Disney to life in front of a captivated audience. Adventures were had, imaginations were sparked, fun was in abundance, friendships and love was showcased, good triumphed over evil, positivity shone and magic was alive.

Disney on Ice presents Into the Magic was truly magical. The remarkable show mesmerised my boys, with them creating treasured memories of seeing adored Disney characters reenact cherished stories and sing beloved hit songs on the ice. 

The show showcased amazing choreography, breathtaking stunts, amazing special effects, hit songs and spectacular costumes. The varied Disney tales reenacted on the ice meant the show appealed to all, with something for everyone, but most of all evoking the magic of Disney before our very eyes. 

Disney on ice shows are a must-see for Disney fans. There is something very special in watching the wonder, delight and joy on the face of a little Disney fan as they are bewitched by Disney on Ice. 

We loved Disney on Ice and my youngest was over the moon to see a Disney on Ice show. The boys were spellbound by the magic of it all and I will cherish the memory of seeing their eyes sparkle with awe, joy and wonder. I eagerly await seeing the what Feld Entertainment conjure up next with their next magical offering of Disney on Ice.

* We were gifted tickets to Disney On Ice for this review. All words and photographs are my own (except the promo Disney On Ice poster image) *