When Disney on Ice “Princess Wishes” opens on the mystical city of Agrabah, I feel like I have stepped into my daughter’s storybook. I know this story well, the one about how Aladdin helps Princess Jasmine escape certain mischief at the marketplace, and soon after, he discovers the ancient lamp, gives it a rub to read the words when… POOF! The raucous, rowdy Genie appears and grants the wishes that let Princess Jasmine and Aladdin find their happily ever after.

Oh, except it is so much better than the storybooks!

“Princess Wishes” offers dazzling renditions of our favorite bedtime stories in a surprising and exhilarating fashion. In two acts of four scenes each, the performance features high quality pairs-skating and top-notch chorus lines – with larger-than-life Disney costumes and all! Movie lovers will be thrilled to hear their beloved ballads, but this show is not a recreation of movies or books. It is an original un like anything you’ve seen before.

The first act features a version of “Be Our Guest” you’ll never forget and hilarious sub-plot with the Seven Dwarves. Then, it knocks your socks off with an eye-popping underwater adventure as Ariel leaves the ocean life for her dream of becoming human.

The intermission is adequately staffed and busy parents need not leave their seats to buy the cutest souvenirs snow cones on earth (but if you should, you’ll find that the Rupp Arena concessions are very fairly priced.) The vendors will test your parenting mettle, but just when you think you can’t bear to say no to your little princess one more time, the lights dim and Act Two begins.

Act Two is forty minutes of pure fun! First, Mulan teaches young friends to be tough by being kind – nice that we got some wholesomeness and girl power in this production too. The second scene retells the story of how Prince Philip saves the sleeping Princess Aurora. For those of us who despise Maleficent the Evil Fairy, there is a real charge in watching this pyrotechnically enhanced rendition!

“Princess Wishes” comes to its apex with “Cinderella,” which takes place in the magical ball where the Prince and Cinderella meet and fall in love. The skating is excellent, the costumes and choreography truly professionally, and the Cinderella performance features a ballad I’ve never heard before.

Like a night in the Magical Kingdom itself, the finale is a celebration of hope and imagination… just the right finish new family memories!

Blogged by: Megan Smith
Photos by: Paul Hooper