Review | Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream

Even though it was past bedtime for many kids in the audience by the time the skating started on opening night of Disney on Ice’s Dare to Dream, January 25 at Allstate Arena, no one dozed off. And whining was out of the question. The House of Mouse worked its magic, transfixing tots while doing its best to empty parents’ wallets.

Minnie, Mickey, Goofy and Donald serve as hosts for the show, which features abridged versions of three Disney films: Cinderella, Tangled and The Princess and the Frog. After each colorful skate-and-song number, my three-year-old took cues from a more experienced audience member seated next to her, shouting “woo-woo!” as she clapped. My other daughter, five, barely twitched. Both hung on every magical moment.

The only gripe from my little one—I’m inclined to agree—was that the Princess and the Frog vignette dragged a bit. Loads of praise for the show’s costumes, though, by Ivan Ingermann: Skaters dressed as Louis the alligator, Mama Odie and Lawrence, the prince’s valet all uncannily recreate those animated characters.

Oldie-but-goodie Cinderella inspired a short-and-sweet second segment, with goofball evil stepsisters who cracked us up with their pratfalls. After an intermission during which my older daughter pouted, “I hate this part,” Cinderella came to her happy ending, and the cleverly designed set converted for Tangled, a final fling of wondrous special effects, beginning with Flynn Rider dangling from a wire above the crown he aims to steal. Flynn and Rapunzel earned wows as they floated together over the rink à la Cirque du Soleil, on a golden ribbon of Rapunzel’s hair; and two perfectly synchronized skaters amazed as Maximus the horse. The crowd cheered as wicked Mother Gothel disappeared into a poof of smoke.

As veteran Disney-on-Ice-goers have come to expect, souvenir merchandising veers toward the obnoxious. Nothing desirable costs less than $12 and most items are at least $20. Be prepared, or stay strong. We opted instead to take a few photos by the vendor tables and call it a night.

Speaking of which: I fully expected to have two sleeping girls in the car afterward, but they talked about Dare to Dream for the entire drive home—without mention of a single thing I didn’t buy for them.

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Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream continues at Allstate Arena through January 29, then moves to the United Center February 1–12. Tickets are $15–$75 and available online.