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Walt Disney World
Mowgli stares down a giant snake in an ice version of
"The Jungle Book." The snake is a giant inflated figure, with
a team of skaters concealed within its 75-foot-long body.

Disney ice show brings
favorite fantasies to life

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By Nancy Arcayna
Star-Bulletin

The childhood stories are familiar to us all. But imagine a place where we could experience the evil ways of Cruella De Vil, the romantic adventures of Cinderella, a fateful encounter between a fair mermaid and a horrible sea witch and the playful antics of a bunch of Dalmatian puppies, all in one setting without having to trudge around a theme park all day.

Mickey Mouse acts as the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" and brings the Disney classics to life in "Disney on Ice." "As the grand host of the evening, he ties all of the story lines together," says Steve Brown, promoter for "Disney on Ice."

Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck also provide comedy and mayhem throughout the performance.

Disney on Ice Dates: Tomorrow through Dec. 25, except Dec. 17-18 Place: Neal Blaisdell Arena Tickets: $15.50, $20.50, $25.50 and $40. Free for kids under 2 who sit in a parent's lap. Call: 526-4400, or www.DisneyOnIce.com Showtimes Tomorrow: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday: 3:30, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20-21: 3:30, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22-23: Noon, 3:30, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 24: Noon and 3:30 p.m. Dec. 25: 1:00 and 4:30 p.m.

Melodies will be familiar, but songs such as "Under the Sea" from "The Little Mermaid" and "So This is Love" from "Cinderella" have been enlivened with salsa beats and house dance styles.

Eye-popping effects and colorful costumes set the stage. Brown said the multimillion-dollar spectacular incorporates the same pyro and special effects used at Disney theme parks.

"The best part of the show is that it features four of the most beloved stories. The kids usually enjoy the dalmatian and mermaid stories. And the 'Cinderella' and 'Jungle Book' productions are geared towards the adults," he said.

"The characters seen on a movie screen or in books are now live. They can be seen and touched," he adds.

International figure skaters will be treating viewers to axels, death drops, spins, flips and plenty of fancy footwork.

"A clever maneuver gives an impression that 101 dalmations are on the ice at the same time," says Brown.

Walt Disney World
Ursula the Sea Witch skates through "Little Mermaid."

Giant, collapsible, cold-air inflatable sculptures leap to life in a matter of seconds. Each prop is created by an army of folks -- pattern makers, sewers, cutters, model makers, silkscreen artists, carpenters and electricians -- at an organization dubbed Bigger than Life. Cinderella's castle and parts of Ursula's costume are among the hand-crafted inflatables.

The most complex inflatable is the 75-foot python in "The Jungle Book" segment. A team of skaters is concealed in the body of the free-standing snake as it writhes about on the ice.

Walt Disney World
Cruella De Vil is the skating villainess in "101 Dalmations."

"People receive the same kind of excitement at the show as they do when visiting the theme parks. It's an opportunity for folks in Hawaii who can't visit the parks to experience the magic of Disney," Brown adds.

He wouldn't give away any of the tricks involved in the creation of the special effects.

"It's all about the Disney magic."

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