Thanks to our good friend Leo Holzer for sharing today’s Mousellaneous item.

It’s interesting to see a Disneyland show from Feld Entertainment. Way back when, the first Disney character costumes that were used at the Park came from an ice show. Small world, isn’t it?

Disney On Ice: A Disneyland Adventure

By Leo N. Holzer

 

“Disneyland Adventure,” the newest Disney On Ice production, is likely to leave most adults cold.

 

This traveling ice-skating extravaganza is currently in the San Francisco Bay Area for three weeks of shows.

 

I was looking forward to “Disneyland Adventure” from Feld Entertainment. It held the promise of an original script — something more than a simple, abridged retelling of a hit Disney/Pixar animated film.

 

The story follows the Parr family from “The Incredibles” as Bob, Helen, Violet, Dash and baby Jack-Jack take a vacation to the theme park. There’s a lot of potential here.

 

Unfortunately, the possibilities are squandered in a clumsy mix that lifts too much of its plot from “The Incredibles” while giving short shrift to many of the touches that make Disneyland the Happiest Place on Earth. Even the music is an awkward mix of pop with a smattering of traditional Disney classics. I don't want to hear "I'm Too Sexy" in the same show with "When You Wish Upon a Star" -- especially when "I'm Too Sexy" has only been added for a cheap laugh.

 

In addition to the superhero Parr family, “Disneyland Adventure” includes moments with Frozone ( a perfect character for an ice show), superhero costume designer Edna Mode, and a robotic clone of the villain Syndrome.

 

Expected signature Disneyland attractions are featured in the story: The Jungle Cruise, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, The Haunted Mansion, and the spinning Tea Cups from “Alice in Wonderland.”

 

These are all condensed and packed into the first 45-minutes of the show along with an opening sequence, four significant skating performances and an Act 1 parade finale that has Syndrome taking control of the park and kidnapping Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

 

Things don’t get too much better in the 40-minute Act 2.

 

The Parr's don their superhero costumes, do short individual skates and then go on the prowl for Syndrome with the help of Frozone. Act 2 set pieces include It’s a Small World, a confrontation with Syndrome at Pirates of the Caribbean and a finale with The Main Street Electrical Light Parade.

 

Many of the theme park attractions are poorly represented.

 

The boat for the Jungle Cruise was nice but the major production number with Baloo, Bob Parr and a dozen monkeys to "I Wanna Be Like You" was simply bizarre.

Baloo and his friends monkey around on the Jungle Cruise in Disneyland, part of the action in Disney On Icesm presents a Disneyland Adventure. Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment.

 

Buzz Lightyear's entrance is grand, but the Space Mountain props -- a few cheesy black-lit planets -- was disappointing.

Outside of some effects lighting that shows tracks on the ice, the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad recreation was simply embarrassing.

 

The props and settings do get better with the Tea Cups, Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Alice and the gang spin wildly with the Parr family on the Mad Tea Party ride at Disneyland, part of the action in Disney On Icesm presents a Disneyland Adventure. Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment.

 

The Pirates of the Caribbean and The Incredibles enjoy a swashbuckling good time at Disneyland, part of the action in Disney On Icesm presents
a Disneyland Adventure. Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment.

While the story was a major disappointment, there are a few good things worth mentioning.

 

The costumes are evocative of the theme park in the 1960s-70s complete with a balloon vendor, a tour guide, a street sweeper, the Dapper Dans on bicycles built for two and a handful of delightful Disney characters.

 

There’s good special effects costuming and nice puppetry work for The Haunted Mansion scene and excellent costuming for The Pirates of the Caribbean scene. Actually these two sequences are the best parts of Disneyland Adventure ... and could be fleshed out into their own individual shows. If Disney can use these theme park attractions as the basis for movies, they certainly can inspire stand-alone Disney on Ice productions.

 

The skating isn’t as strong as other Disney on Ice productions, but the spotlight skaters do an adequate job, especially those playing the part of Buzz Lightyear, Alice in Wonderland  and the young skater portraying Dash.

 

As someone who enjoys Disney/Pixar movies, Disneyland and professional ice skaters, I’ve seen several good Disney on Ice shows over the years — a few that were even outstanding. My expectations were high.

 

Family entertainment, in the Disney/Pixar tradition, has always offered something for adults as well as kids. But in Disneyland Adventure, adults may find their greatest pleasure in seeing a child’s smile. With tickets at $15 to $60 each — that momentary pleasure might be a real drain on a family’s entertainment budget.

 

Disney on Ice: Disneyland Adventure opens on Feb. 28 at the ORACLE Arena in Oakland; and, it heads to The Cow Palace in San Francisco on March 7. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.