Disney On Ice: Mickey's Search Party Review
Last night, we were given the wonderful opportunity to see Disney On Ice: Mickey's Search Party at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA, for free through Mike's work. They have a Loft at the arena and we got to hang out with some friends of ours who work at the same office! Bonus: their daughter is around the same age as Miles so we all got to experience our first show ever together!
Disney On Ice is a production line of shows that I loved watching as a kid and being able to share that with my son is so incredibly special to me! This year, their show Mickey's Search Party follows the story of Tinkerbell and her getting her magic stolen by Hook's lackies. Mickey and friends cross the Disney multiverse to get it back for her. There were a lot more characters covered during the show than we expected, especially when compared to the list they provide on their webite.
The thing I liked most about the show was it's transition from story to story. They made sure to showcase the top 1-2 songs from the movie and had a good amount of choreography to match. Some of the songs even had a remixed second half that were pretty awesome! The performers did a wonderful job during our performance, as well! We loved the Coco performance, Kristoff's number and (obviously) all the parts with Mickey and friends!
But I know what info you're really looking for: was it worth it? As someone who is paying out of pocket to see their show in Oakland in 2 weeks, I can happily say that yes, it is worth it. Are there things I thought could have been better? Yes. In my opinion, they relied too heavily on the backdrop as a screen for decorative lighting to create the scenery for each story coming to life. I would have loved to see more physical set design like I did in my childhood. However, a kid wouldn't notice something like that and would still be super entranced by the show!
What about souvenirs? Well, if you have the cash to drop, I recommend the program and maybe a snack cup. The other merch sold at the event was extremely overpriced and I recognized quite a bit from Disneyland and the Disney Store. The most popular of the toys I saw were the Mickey bubble light up wand (price unknown) and the Frozen snowflake wand ($32). That's a lot for what you're getting. If you don't go to things like this often and really want your kid to have something to remember this moment, splurge. Get the things you want. Otherwise, I suggest avoiding those tables at all costs. Take your kid to the Disney Store and get a better toy at a better price.
All that being said, I'm really looking forward to going on our planned trip to the Oakland show in 2 weeks with Mike's family. We're rolling deep so I'm hoping that helps with Miles' wiggles. A show like this can be really difficult for tiny tots to sit through. Be ready to walk around and miss half the show or even leave early. Bring your own toys ahead of time if you can and don't give it to them until the show starts. Good luck, parents!
Have you ever been to a Disney On Ice show? Have you gone with toddlers? Sound off your advice down below!
