Disney On Ice review: Where to buy tickets, schedule, dates

The term “fun for the whole family” is a myth.

It’s an old wive’s tale, it a legend, it’s something you read about like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster but deep down you know “fun for the whole family” isn’t really real. It can’t be.

But maybe, just maybe, “Disney on Ice” fits the bill.

On Sunday, Jan. 5, my wife, 2.5-year-old daughter and I attended an upbeat 4 p.m. matinee of ‘Disney On Ice: Frozen and Encanto’ at Newark, NJ’s Prudential Center and somehow, yes, fun was had by all.

At first, we were skeptical. Our toddler is not known for being particularly patient or having an attention span for anything that isn’t “Baby Shark,” Elmo or “Ms. Rachel.” The three of us reluctantly took our seats for the 90-minute show as the lights went down.

“Frozen”

Before we knew it, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald Duck took the ice and introduced “Frozen.” Within minutes, the three of us were spellbound. This surprisingly high-concept show marries the magic of musical theater and ice skating to create a spectacle for the young ones and an artful — sometimes mildly humorous — reimagining of modern Disney classics.

For the next 40-ish minutes, we were treated to a Cliff Notes-like highlight reel of “Frozen’s” greatest hits like “Let It Go” and “In Summer” along with story beats to keep the show moving along. Ana is duped by Hans, Elsa discovers herself and anything and everything else in between is summarized by Olaf. It’s concise, digestible and perfect for little kids.

What makes the show truly special through are the shocking physical feats the skaters deliver with relative ease. There are choreographed dances, trampoline jumps and reindeer operated by two skaters (where the one in the rear can’t see). Plus, synthetic snow falls from the rafters. This is eye candy to the highest degree.

Around 35-40 minutes in, the show comes to a halt. Mickey and Minnie introduce the crowd to the concept of intermissions. Families spill out of aisles and come back ten minutes later with festive cotton candy and brightly-lit merch. As fun as this show is, be aware that “Disney On Ice” can turn into a rather expensive endeavor if you have a savvy youngster that wants toys and sweets along with the show.

“Encanto”

Everyone settles after the break and Mickey and co. tell us to buckle up for “Encanto.” With that, Mirabel takes the ice and belts the all-timer “What Else Can I Do” while skating circles around her castmates.

This is a lot of fun.

As great as “Frozen” was — and it really exceeded all expectations — “Encanto” surpassed the first half of the show with its rousing songs (you really can’t top “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”), aerial acrobats where the cast flies high above the rink and fire on the ice.

Yes, really. This is no mere show for children. It’s Cirque du Soleil lite and a whole lot of fun.

To top off the 90-minute bonanza, the cast of “Frozen” returned to the ice along with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald. Then, Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” and Aladdin from, well, “Aladdin.” Was that Belle from “Beauty and the Beast?”

Disney really does save the best for last. I cheered, my wife cheered, my daughter cheered.

Heck, ‘Disney On Ice’ really is perfect for the whole family.

Final verdict

For our money, ‘Disney On Ice: Frozen and Encanto’ captures the magic of the films. Even the most impatient littles will marvel. Even the most cynical parents will smile. Just make sure to keep an eye out for merch and snacks or else your afternoon outing might become a little pricier than expected.

‘Disney On Ice’ in New York

If you want to catch ‘Frozen and Encanto’ live, now is the time.

For the next couple weeks, the show is swooping into Belmont Park and Brooklyn. To make sure you’re in the loop, we’ve listed all dates, show start times, venues and links to the cheapest tickets below.

(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and, if it isn’t noted, will include additional fees at checkout.)

Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. 

They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.

Still curious about Vivid Seats? You can find an article from their team about why the company is legit here.

Other ‘Disney On Ice’ shows in 2025

After ‘Disney On Ice’ leaves New York, ‘Frozen and ‘Encanto’ and four other traveling ice shows will hit arenas all over North America.

Below, you’ll find a quick description of each of the four ‘Disney On Ice’ shows (other than ‘Frozen and Encanto’) you can catch live these next few months.

Get your dancing skates on.

Mickey and friends hit the turntable and remix Disney classics into “colorful worlds.” As an added bonus, characters from “Wish,” “Frozen 2,” “Moana,” “The Little Mermaid” and “The Lion King” all pop in for good fun.

Time to hit the road — um, ice.

At this show, a host of “Frozen 2” characters like lsa, Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff will whip the rink into a frenzy.

This enchanted show features a hodgepodge of old and new favorites ready to delight audiences of all ages. Just a few characters lacing up their skates for the show include Moana, Miguel from “Coco” and Rapunzel of “Tangled” fame.

Hold onto your hat.

In Mickey’s crossover tale, the iconic mouse and his gang look for clues using Captain Hook’s map and end up encountering characters from “Frozen,” “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Toy Story,” “Moana” and “Coco.”

Other fun shows for the whole family

There’s nothing quite like a wholesome night out with the whole gang (as hard as they are to make happen).

Thankfully, there are a gaggle of shows that will hopefully make your little ones smile.

Here are just five of our favorite shows for kids (and hopefully) parents, grandparents and everyone in between.

• Paw Patrol Live

• Blippi

• Sesame Street Live

• Disney’s Descendants/Zombies

• “The Lion King”

Prefer something a bit more grown up? Take a look at our list of the 95 biggest concert tours in 2025 to find something more your speed.

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change