Disney’s ‘Road Trip Adventures’ stops at Royal Farms Arena
For decades, Disney on Ice has been the Magic Kingdom on skates, where the world’s most famous mouse couple, princesses, duck and what ever Goofy is, whiz around, bringing Disney’s magic to the masses.
“Disney has always done things a certain way,” said Gretchen Trowbridge, who drives the Volkswagen bus carrying Mickey and his pals while on the ice. “But they have really, really pushed the envelope with this show.”
“Disney on Ice presents Road Trip Adventures,” which rolls into Royal Farms Arena for nine shows from Oct. 9-13, isn’t like any of its predecessors, as the show’s characters aren’t confined to the ice. They will also tell their stories while mingling with the crowd and hanging from the rafters.
“What sets this show apart is how interactive the characters are with the audience,” said Trowbridge, who has been working with Disney on Ice since 1996. “The characters are all around you. They are not confined by the ice. They make the audience feel that they are a bigger part of the show.”
“Disney on Ice presents Road Trip Adventures” has also updated the movies it showcases, including newer releases such as “Toy Story 4” and “Mary Poppins Returns” along with staples like “Lion King,” “Frozen” and “Aladdin.” The show, which has two acts and a run time of an hour and 45 minutes with a 15-minute intermission, will also include “The Incredibles” and an array of princesses, including Rapunzel, Tiana, Moana and Snow White.
“And of course, you’ll have Disney’s ‘Big 4’ of Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy,” DeeJay Weiss, the tour’s director, said.
“No matter how you define your family, ‘Road Trip Adventures’ encourages everyone to disconnect from their daily lives to reconnect with one another,” said Disney on Ice Creative Director Patty Vincent said. “The arena is our canvas, and we use that space to create a 360-degree experience that brings the heart of the show closer to families by stretching the performance area beyond the ice into the air and into the audience.”
“Disney on Ice presents Road Trip Adventures” is the next step in the company’s evolution of its shows. While the performance remains true to Disney’s values, it gives the audience a show with a fresh look.
It’s a needed change for the company, as many of the company’s previous “On Ice” shows — including “Worlds of Enchantment,” “Dream Big,” “100 Years of Magic,” “The Wonderful World of Disney of Ice,” “Mickey’s Search Party” and “Follow Your Heart” — all followed very similar formulas, preventing any of them from standing out.
“As a parent, I know how valuable time with your kids is and how increasingly more challenging it has become to not only carve out that time, but also to make those moments as memorable as possible,” said Nicole Feld, executive vice president and the producer for Feld Entertainment. “That’s why with this production, we wanted to design an atmosphere where families come together and interact with the performance to create something truly special. By the time the finale ends, more audience members than cast will have been on the ice creating family memories that can only happen at ‘Disney on Ice.’”
Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures
When: Oct. 9-13
Shows: Oct. 9: 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 10: 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 11: 10:30 a.m., 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 12: 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m.’ Oct. 13: 12 p.m., 4 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $24 and can be purchased here.
Jon Gallo is an award-winning journalist and editor with 19 years of experience, including stints as a staff writer at The Washington Post and sports editor at The Baltimore Examiner. He also believes the government should declare federal holidays in honor of the following: the Round of 64 of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament; the Friday of the Sweet 16; the Monday after the Super Bowl; and of course, the day after the release of the latest Madden NFL video game.