Disney on Ice is a popular ice skating show featuring beloved Disney characters that tours around the world to the delight of families. With its combination of figure skating, special effects, and Disney magic, Disney on Ice provides an unforgettable experience for fans of all ages.
History of Disney on Ice in New Zealand
Disney on Ice first came to New Zealand in the early 1980s and has returned multiple times over the past four decades. Some of the early Disney on Ice productions that toured New Zealand included Magic Kingdom on Ice, Snow White on Ice, and Aladdin on Ice. In the 1990s and 2000s, blockbuster shows like Beauty and the Beast on Ice, Toy Story on Ice, Finding Nemo on Ice, and Disney Presents Pixar’s The Incredibles in a Magic Kingdom Adventure brought Disney on Ice back to Kiwi audiences repeatedly.
Over the years, popular New Zealand venues that have hosted Disney on Ice include Vector Arena and Spark Arena in Auckland, Horncastle Arena in Christchurch, Claudelands Arena in Hamilton, TSB Stadium in Wellington, and many others. The productions usually visit the major cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Hamilton, but sometimes also make stops in smaller cities and towns.
Recent tours in the late 2010s included Worlds of Enchantment and Dream Big. Tranznational, the promotion company that organizes Disney on Ice tours in New Zealand, announced the Dream Big tour would return in 2020. However, those plans were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic which affected live events worldwide.
Will Disney on Ice return to New Zealand?
Currently, there has been no official announcement stating when Disney on Ice will return to New Zealand. However, based on Disney on Ice’s long history of touring shows in the country, it is very likely they will bring a new production here once live entertainment events can fully operate again.
Some key factors that support Disney on Ice coming back to New Zealand in the future:
- Disney on Ice has toured different shows in New Zealand for over 30 years, indicating a proven audience and market for their productions here.
- Before the pandemic halted plans, Disney on Ice was already scheduled to bring a new show to New Zealand in 2020, showing their intent to return.
- Disney on Ice shows traditionally do very well in New Zealand, with many sold out performances. This financial incentive will motivate Disney to return again.
- As New Zealand’s entertainment scene recovers from COVID-19 restrictions, a family-friendly show like Disney on Ice is likely to draw good crowds.
While Disney has not provided exact timelines, based on these reasons, it appears to be a matter of when, not if, Disney on Ice will return to New Zealand once global touring becomes practical again in the post-pandemic environment.
Potential future Disney on Ice shows
Disney has not hinted at which Disney on Ice production will be the one to eventually make it back to New Zealand. However, looking at Disney’s newest movies and content provides some clues as to what the next show could potentially be:
Potential Show Theme | Description |
---|---|
Frozen | The hit movies Frozen and Frozen 2 featuring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven remain extremely popular. A new show highlighting these characters has a high chance of touring New Zealand. |
Moana | Disney’s Moana was a huge box office success. The story of the Polynesian princess connects well with New Zealand and Australian audiences. |
Encanto | Disney’s latest animated film Encanto has been a big hit with families. Its music and characters like Mirabel and Isabela would translate well to the ice. |
Marvel | Disney now owns Marvel, so a Disney on Ice show based around superheroes like Iron Man, Black Panther, and Captain Marvel could draw crowds. |
A show featuring one of these popular Disney properties seems like a strong possibility for Disney on Ice’s eventual New Zealand return. Of course, Disney could also create a completely new production or do a greatest hits tour with characters from different movies.
When will Disney on Ice return to New Zealand?
The big question is when exactly Disney on Ice will make its long-awaited comeback to New Zealand. This is dependent on a few key factors:
- Easing of COVID-19 restrictions – Large public events like Disney on Ice shows cannot operate fully until restrictions on gatherings and venues are lifted. As New Zealand continues to adapt to living with COVID-19, this should enable shows to return.
- Return of international travel – Disney on Ice tours utilize cast and crew from all around the world. With closed borders, bringing these global performers and staff to New Zealand remains challenging.
- Scheduling/tour routing – Disney on Ice productions typically tour to various countries in a logical order. New Zealand will have to fit into the overall tour routing once global travel opens up.
While setting precise timeframes is difficult, if pandemic restrictions continue to ease in New Zealand and worldwide, it seems plausible Disney on Ice could return as early as late 2023 or 2024. However, the timelines remain fluid.
Where will Disney on Ice perform in New Zealand?
When Disney on Ice returns to New Zealand, they will likely perform in all the major venues they have historically visited. This includes arenas in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Hamilton.
Specific venues that seem probable include:
- Spark Arena – Auckland
- TSB Arena – Wellington
- Horncastle Arena – Christchurch
- Claudelands Arena – Hamilton
Depending on the demand, it is also possible Disney on Ice could expand their tour to some smaller regional cities and towns they haven’t visited as frequently in the past. But the major metro areas will likely serve as the anchor locations for the tour.
Ticket availability
Given Disney on Ice’s tremendous popularity in New Zealand, as soon as specific performance dates and locations are announced, tickets are likely to sell out extremely fast.
Some tips for having the best chance to get tickets once they go on sale:
- Sign up for pre-sale ticket access – This gives you the opportunity to purchase tickets before the general public.
- Mark your calendar – Take note of the on-sale dates and times so you can log in right away to buy tickets.
- Act fast – Have member logins, payment details etc ready to go for the quickest checkout.
- Buy early – Don’t wait as shows will sell out, especially prime dates/times.
- Join fan clubs – Disney and venue fan clubs often get access to special pre-sales.
By planning ahead and being ready to pounce when tickets are announced, you’ll have a good shot at scoring seats. Expect high demand, but with preparation, families should be able to get tickets to share the Disney on Ice experience once again.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while an exact return date is still to be determined, the long history and popularity of Disney on Ice in New Zealand indicates it is only a matter of time before Aotearoa welcomes back these magical productions. As the live entertainment industry emerges from the challenges of COVID-19, Disney on Ice returning to major Kiwi arenas in cities like Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch seems very likely in the next few years. With spectacular skating, special effects, costumes, and music, Disney on Ice provides a one-of-a-kind experience that crosses generations. For over 30 years, Kiwi families and Disney fans have created special memories at these shows, and they look forward to making many more as Disney on Ice takes the ice again.