Read up on the upcoming show, as they each feature highlights from different Disney movies. While Worlds of Fantasy is mainly about Cars, Little Mermaid, Tinkerbell, and Toy Story 3, Frozen is mainly about..Frozen. You may want to surprise your kids, or you may want to tell them what to expect so they are not disappointed by not seeing their favorite princess or character.
You may want to refresh your knowledge of the Disney movies being highlighted with books, dvds, and soundtracks. It's a great way to promote reading, to help little ones understand as it's concise, as well as to help you sing along with the correct words! Alternately, if your kid already knows every word (as in Frozen) you may want to take a break so you don't become sick of it...
Pick your seats carefully and early (and sign up for the DOI newsletter)
Although Gwinnett Arena has great seats all around, Phillips Arena doesn't. Of course price plays a factor in choosing seats, but you can get the best seats in a particular price range by using presale codes and ordering early, as well as using discount codes, and visiting deal sites. Opening night usually has the best sales, as well as you can find discount homeschool, scout, and group tix. I personally like seats in this order Rinkside, VIP Dining (when available), VIP, and General Seating.
Wear a costume or Disney-themed apparel.
Although it isn't mandatory and many people don't wear costumes, it's a fun way to add a little excitement to the experience as well as get a second wearing of that Halloween-costume that's just collecting dust and getting smaller day by day!
Wear comfortable clothing, and/or have pajamas for late-night/school night shows.
I never considered this before, but with many shows starting at 7:30 and we aren't home until after 10:30 (with bedtime usually 8pm) I'm pushing it with MacGirl. Firstly, she hates itchy costumes, so we are careful with which costumes she does wear. But now that I've seen really cute Disney pajamas and nightgowns, I'm considering giving her those to wear so she can head straight to bed. And if you have little ones, most likely they will fall asleep on the car ride home, so you can just carry them off to bed.
Eat before going.
It doesn't matter if you eat 1-minute before entering, kids will probably still be hungry, but it will cut down on your costs. The concessions are pretty pricey at Disney on Ice. I usually get one thing, like popcorn or cotton candy... but if I have a starving child, I'd have to drop a lot for a meal! And.. they would be eating it on their laps (and that means half will be on the floor!).
Give yourself enough travel time, and arrive early.
Latecomers will be expected, and they will disrupt audience viewing as they get to their seats, but if you can, avoid being one of them. Mostly because you do pay a lot for the show, so you shouldn't want to miss a thing. Also the lights get dimmed, and going up and down dark stairs with little ones isn't an ideal situation. The sooner you get there, the better parking spot you can get, as well as you can get some selfies and usies in before the show, and hit the bathroom and concession stands.
Be prepared for long waits.
It's just a given. You may have to wait in line to get in, wait on concession stands, wait to take a souvenir photo, and wait for the bathrooms. Just be patient.
Be prepared for crowds.
Talk to your kids about what to do if they get lost or separated.
Decide if and how much money you will be spending.
I opted out of concessions and souvenirs this time for better seats. I told MacGirl upfront that I would not be buying anything because I already spent our budget on rinkside seats. She was ok with that. If you want to buy only one thing, or spend only $20.. you should talk to your kids about this beforehand so you don't hear the insistent begging and whining, or a tantrum.
Bring souvenirs from home (or the dollar store)
The Disney store sells many of the same items Disney on Ice does, at a fraction of the price (especially if you get it on sale) We brought our mickey ears, duffy and minnie from home. We also brought some glow bracelets and a mask from the dollar store. And we brought a light-up wand we had gotten at another event.
Bring a Blanket (or jacket)
We have a Disney-themed blanket so that was a great addition to bring, but it came in handy. We've been to several Disney on Ice shows and sometimes we're hot, and sometimes we're cold. This past show we were cold and MacGirl and I shared the blanket. It's also great for sleeping kids in the car, I know I can't fall asleep without being covered by a blanket.
Take pictures to remember, but remember to put it down too.
MacGirl has asked me on occasion to use the camera to take pics of the show, and I always tell her no. I want her to sit back and enjoy the show. If I want to see a video, I can look on youtube. If I want to look at pics I can surf the web. I'll take a few photos, but it's best to enjoy the show through your eyes, and your kids' eyes, not through the lens of a camera.
Enjoy the experience
Disney is always magic, and although we can't be in Disney World or Disney Land, we can spend a couple of hours getting lost in Disney live action and feel the magic in our and our kids' hearts. MacGirl is almost a pretween, hitting the double digits in a few months, but her eyes were lit up and her smile was wide just as they were when she was 5, and I'm happy to be a witness to it all.
