DISNEY ON ICE returned to Cardiff today, and it felt like the city had been waiting all year for it. The latest tour, INTO THE MAGIC, opened its run at the Utilita Arena this afternoon. It was the first of ten performances that will take place over the next four days. As always, the show has turned into one of those special dates on the Cardiff calendar. For many families, it has become a yearly tradition.
You could feel the excitement long before the doors opened.
Across the city centre, restaurants and cafés were filled with families getting ready for the afternoon matinee. Plenty of children were already dressed for the occasion. There were princess dresses everywhere you looked. Elsa capes trailed along the pavement. Moana outfits appeared at every corner. Even a few dads joined in the fun with Mickey Mouse ears.
It is part of the ritual now. The show is not just something you watch. It is an event.
By the time families arrived at the Utilita Arena, the atmosphere had already built into something special. The concourse filled quickly with children holding flashing wands and spinning star toys. Little princesses posed for photos. Parents tried to keep up with the excitement. It felt like a room full of pure anticipation.
Then the lights dimmed and the magic started.
Disney on Ice: Into the Magic brings together a collection of Disney stories that many of us have grown up with. The show moves quickly from one adventure to the next. The skating is fast, colourful and packed with energy. Large set pieces glide onto the ice, transforming the rink into different worlds.
The heart of the show is its celebration of classic Disney characters and songs.
From the moment Mickey Mouse appears, the crowd lights up. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald remain some of the biggest stars of the whole production. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ have’ve seen them before. When they skate out onto the ice, the audience reacts instantly. Children wave their light up toys in the air. Parents point them out with a smile.
Along the way, the audience visits several favourite Disney worlds. Each one brings its own music, costumes and characters. The songs are instantly familiar. You hear the first few notes and the crowd begins to sing along. It creates a lovely shared moment between the performers and the audience.
The skating itself is impressive throughout. The performers move across the ice with speed and precision. There are spins, lifts and jumps that happen so smoothly they almost look effortless. The choreography keeps everything moving. Just as one moment finishes, another scene slides into place.
The production is also full of colour and light. Costumes sparkle under the arena lights. Large props appear and disappear with clever timing. It keeps the younger members of the audience completely engaged.
Of course, the real joy of a show like this is how personal it feels.
Every child in the crowd has their own favourite character. For some it’s Elsa. For others it is Rapunzel or Moana. When their hero appears, the reaction is immediate. Excited voices shout out from every section of the arena.
Because of that, it is almost impossible to pick one single highlight. One family might leave talking about the Frozen moment. Another will remember the world of Cinderella. Someone else might say their favourite part was simply seeing Mickey skate out at the start.
And that is the beauty of Into the Magic.
It’s built to give every family their moment.
The laughter, the singing and the cheering build as the show moves towards its finale. By the end, the whole arena feels caught up in the fun. Children are dancing in their seats. Parents are clapping along. It becomes one big shared celebration of Disney stories.
As the characters gather together for the final moments, the applause says everything.
Cardiff has always welcomed Disney on Ice with open arms, and this year is no different. Thousands of families will pass through the arena doors before the final performance on Sunday. Judging by today’s opening crowd, every one of them will leave with big smiles.
For many, it will already be pencilled into next year’s plans.
Because once you’ve experienced the colour, music and excitement of Disney on Ice, it’s easy to see why it has become such a beloved family tradition in the Welsh capital. It’s a joyful ice-skating adventure where every family finds their favourite Disney moment.
DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS INTO THE MAGIC will be skating in Utilita Arena through to Sunday 15th March. For details and tickets go HERE. Some performances are showing limited availability, so you’ll need to be quick to get the date you want.
You can read our original feature HERE.
