I have never needed an excuse to enjoy Disney. I’m a kid at heart, and I still play songs from Hannah Montana, High School Musical 3, Descendants 3, Beauty and the Beast, Moana and Toy Story at home. So when I heard that Disney On Ice presents Spotlight Magic! would bring all of that music together, I was ready and honored to have been invited for a day of pure and magical fun.
I’ve shared Disney On Ice with my adopted niece and nephew, Natalie and Wyatt. Their mom, Marissa, is my best friend, and now we’re teaching together at my new school. Getting to be together again makes time with her and the kids even sweeter, and when we have been to these shows it simpley becomes a true treat. Enjoying the characters that make children like Natalie and Wyatt so happy at these performances is part of the joy for me. And as a huge Disney fan, I find plenty to love at these events myself. The parks, movies and shows have always felt like safe spaces to me.
Amerant Bank Arena felt like the perfect place for Spotlight Magic! The ice, lights and music filled the space, and I loved how easy it was to take in the action from the seats. There’s an electric feeling when the arena is full of people waiting for their favorite characters to appear. Once Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy welcomed everyone, I was ready to see where the show would take us.
Angel’s entrance was one of its biggest moments. Stitch introduced her before she soared above the arena on a sparkling chandelier and reunited with him on the ice. It was lovely to see a newer favorite get such a memorable welcome. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde returned for a Zootopia 2 adventure involving a mysterious reptile, with Gazelle and Gary De’Snake among the new faces in the show. Seeing favorites from different Disney stories all in one place was a treat, especially knowing how excited children are to spot the characters they love.
Then came the villains. Maleficent, Ursula, Gaston and the Evil Queen brought a little drama to the celebration, and I was here for it. I love that Disney can give us sweet reunions, brave heroes and villains who know how to make an entrance, all within the same show.
The music may have made me happiest of all. Hannah Montana and High School Musical 3 brought back memories, and I loved hearing Descendants 3 alongside them. Songs from Beauty and the Beast, Moana and Toy Story were just as welcome. These aren’t songs I left behind as a kid. I still have them on repeat at home, so hearing them at the arena felt like someone had put together a playlist for me.
The skating carried those songs through one Disney world after another. Rapunzel and Flynn searched for the floating lanterns, Moana set out with Maui to restore the heart of Te Fiti, and the Toy Story crew brought their own energy to the ice. Some moments made me want to sit back and watch every detail; others made me want to sing along. That variety kept the evening moving and made it fun to wonder who was coming next.
The fun continues off the ice, too. I enjoyed the arena snacks, which always feel like part of a day or night out like this. And parents, consider yourselves warned about the merchandise! Between the dolls, plushies and other Disney treasures, I could already imagine kids trying to decide what to take home, or hoping to take home one of everything.
What stayed with me most about Spotlight Magic! was the excitement in the arena and the joy of seeing so many favorites together. I kept thinking about Natalie and Wyatt and how happy these characters make them. All around me, kids were pointing, singing along and taking it all in, while the grown-ups were smiling just as much. I was right there with them, having the best time.
That’s the magic of a show like this. Families get to share the songs and characters they love, and Disney fans like me get to feel that familiar joy all over again.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit https://www.disneyonice.com/en-us/.
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