Disney On Ice, 100 Years of Magic.

I have written several gift guides over the years and was delighted to feature toys from Disney over and over again. Disney toys and movies are all time classics and my children simply adore the characters from the original Mickey and Minnie Mouse to the recent Anna and Elsa from the hit show ‘Frozen’.

2014 was the year we first went to see one of the spectacular shows Disney perform on ice and WOW, it was thoroughly enjoyed by both children and adults.

The show we attended was ‘Disney on Ice, 100 Years of Magic’, a celebration of 100 years of Disney fun with appearances from 65 Disney characters and snip bits from 18 Disney stories.

The journey to the Odyssey in Belfast was almost as exciting as the show. The 3 kids were beside themselves with anticipation and they were asking over and over ‘ Will we see Mulan?’ Mulan is one of their favorite characters of all time and they have the DVD Mulan 1 and 2. I am guessing these have been watched over 50 times!

On arrival, I have to admit, the tears were in my eyes as I watched the kids join the que along with several hundred other children who were equally as excited, some dressed in Disney costumes. There were little Elsa’s and Anna’s, Woody and Buzz, various Princesses and, of course, Simba – my son’s idol from The Lion King.

We arrived in plenty of time so we had a wonder around the various stalls selling popcorn, candyfloss, slush drinks as well as toys and other Disney items.

These were well priced and excellent value as my son’s candyfloss included a crown – he was delighted and wore this throughout the show.

The show itself was ‘out of this world’, with the various characters demonstrating their skills on the ice while performing exciting episodes from key Disney movies.

I thoroughly enjoyed Beauty and the Beast, which showed the events coming up to the end of the movie where the beast transforms into the Prince – this was absolutely fantastic to watch and, with the music, very emotional.

Woody and Buzz Lightyear were superb with many a laugh from the audience at their antics.

My eldest daughter is a ‘Nemo’ fan and she was thrilled with the banter between  Nemo’s dad, the forgetful fish Dori and the shark.

Nemo himself was fab, the music and voices perfectly in tune with the story, so lifelike.

The show stopper has got to be Pinocchio. When the huge whale came out on the ice and literally swallowed Pinocchio and his Dad the audience were silent in awe. The special effects were expertly carried out and the way the different shows blended into each other made the entire performance a joy to behold.

I cannot end without mentioning ‘The Lion King’. This came near the end of the show and wow, what a finish. Nothing on stage or TV can equal the emotion this show stopping story can make you feel.

Whether its the fun between Timon and Pumbaa, or the joy at the end where Simba raises his young cub up to the sky for all to see, there were faces throughout the arena captivated with silly grins watching every move, mine included!

At the end the children could go down to the front to meet and greet the various characters.

Mine were first to the ice, the three of them so excited and yes, they shock hands with Mickey and Goofy.

What a day out and what a show. If you have yet to see Disney on Ice don’t delay. This is now a staple in our ‘days out’, we will not miss another show. My children are already planning to see Disney on Ice with the Frozen characters in a few months and I myself can’t wait either!

For further information visit www.disney.co.uk