Are you considering heading to NRG Stadium this weekend for Disney on Ice Presents Dare to Dream? Learn from our reader Kayla's first trip with plenty of tips! How should you dress? Worried about the drive? Can you bring snacks? What's the best age? We have your answers!
Grab your crown, tiara, or princess dress and make sure you're kids are decked out! All the little girls were dazzling in their Elsa gowns, Belle dresses and Cinderella costumes. This particular show is definitely geared more toward the princesses. Don't worry if you don't have anything at home - you can always purchase light-up Minnie Mouse ears at the show.
Make sure to check traffic before leaving The Woodlands as construction has a few exits closed on the weekend. Plan to arrive with plenty of time to spare to snap some selfies at the photo wall, use the bathroom, grab a snack or souvenir and find your seat before the show starts. Once the performance begins and lights are dimmed, finding your seat becomes a bit more difficult as rows are not very well marked.The show kicks off with condensed versions of several Disney princess stories - basically the top hits from the movies. These highlights are great for children who do not have a long attention span as the stories moves quickly from character to character and engage the audience. There are lots of opportunities to sing along and clap along - even small fireworks and snow!
The show is a solid two hours with a 15-20 minute intermission. I'd advise to not leave your seat at this time because bathrooms and concession lines are super crowded. If your kids are getting restless, maybe use those moments to head to the bathroom, grab a snack or walk around and check out all the booths. NRG Park does allows outside food to be brought in for children, so don't forget to pack a few emergency snacks!
If you get tickets closer to the ice, there is more opportunity to interact with characters and join in the fun with the very energetic emcee. However, those further away from the front may have a better view of the whole ice rink. There are a few entire ensemble skates that are pretty cool, especially during Moana's story.
If you are curious about "the right age," my three-year-old girl was entranced the entire time! She waved and sang. My eight-month-old lap child was all about the louder scenes and spotlight (and didn't need a ticket as those under age 2 are free!). For smaller kiddos, you may also anticipate that they may not be able to see properly from their seat. My daughter had to sit on her father's lap the whole show since there was a much larger adult in front of her obstructing her view.
