My family and I attended opening night for Toy Story 3 on Ice last night at the Pepsi Center. In short – we all loved it.

The Disney on Ice shows continue to get better and more high tech. These aren’t the ice shows of your childhood. Sets and costumes are more elaborate, pyrotechnics and lighting techniques are used and the overall experience is phenomenal.

The show opened with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy, a Disney on Ice tradition and then jumped full steam ahead into Toy Story introducing us to Andy, preparing to leave for college. Then, the army men took over in a very cool stage production and dance number. Some entered via parachute. It was quickly apparent that this wasn’t an ice show, it was a Broadway musical spectacular that just happened to take place on ice. I’d occasionally forget that they were all ice skating.

After the Army men left, Woody and his gang of toys from Andy’s room took over, each with exciting entrances. One of my favorite things from this show was the costumes. Slinky Dog, Ham, Bullseye and Rex were some of my favorites. I did feel bad for whomever had to be the butt-end of Bullseye and Slinky.

This is exactly why children want to watch shows like this…they get to see their beloved characters from the movies come to life in front of them.

Instead of just re-enacting the movie, this show took an unexpected turn and began with the characters reliving a few of their favorite moments from the first two movies. My favorites were the aliens in the claw game from Pizza Planet and Woody’s Roundup. Instead of just acting those scenes out, they expanded them and went a step beyond. Woody’s Roundup included a dance number and show spectacular that went beyond what was shown in the movie. It was original and refreshing.

We discussed the show all the way home, talking about each character, their costume and ice dancing routines. We also went over all of the unique settings and how things were portrayed.

If you are a Toy Story fan and live in Denver, I highly recommend you go see this show this weekend. It’s worth the trek to the Pepsi Center. I also have a coupon code – save $4 off the ticket price when you use code FFA at: www.TicketHorse.com/DisneyOnIce. (Valid only Fri, Dec. 9 and Sat, Dec. 10 at 11am & 7pm; and Sun, Dec. 11 at 11am; excludes Front Row and VIP seats).

Performance Schedule:

• Thursday, Dec. 8 – 7PM – *Non-VIP Tickets are only $15 for this show! (additional fees apply)
• Friday, Dec. 9 – 11AM & 7PM
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 11AM, 3PM & 7PM
• Sunday, Dec. 11 – 11AM, 3PM & (7PM SPANISH LANGUAGE PERFORMANCE)

Ticket Prices:

• $72 (Front Row)
• $42 (VIP)
• $26
• $21
• $15
  *Service charges and handling fees may apply

Tickets are on sale through TicketHorse at www.TicketHorse.com/DisneyOnIce, by calling 1.866.461.6556 and at the Pepsi Center Box Office.

I received complimentary tickets from Feld Entertainment for myself and my family to attend opening night in exchange for promotion.

CONGRATS to our WINNER Michael with comment #10.
Picked by Random.org

Toy Story has been one of our family favorite series since my girls were tiny. When my oldest was two years old, she carried around a stuffed Woody and Jessie everywhere we went. Her Buzz was so dirty it was hard to read the “Andy” on the bottom of his foot. Needless to say we are excited that Disney’s Toy Story 3 On Ice is coming to Denver. My girls are going to a December 9th show with their school and STILL want to go to opening night with me on December 8th.

Tickets start at $15! Show is at the Pepsi Center only.

Have you heard the buzz? The toys are back in town! Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3! The Academy Award^®-winning blockbuster, Toy Story 3, and memorable moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are hitting the ice in this sensational live production coming to your hometown! Catch all the heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home, in their most daring adventure ever!  A few new faces join the fun, including Barbie’s groovy bachelor Ken and Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear. It’s the biggest Toy Story experience on ice, jam-packed with fast-paced adventure such as Buzz’s galactic battle with Emperor Zurg and a hoe-down at Woody’s Roundup. Rediscover the humor, friendship and charm of Toy Story when Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3 takes family fun to infinity and beyond!

Performance Schedule:

• Thursday, Dec. 8 – 7PM – *Non-VIP Tickets are only $15 for this show! (additional fees apply)
• Friday, Dec. 9 – 11AM & 7PM
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 11AM, 3PM & 7PM
• Sunday, Dec. 11 – 11AM, 3PM & (7PM SPANISH LANGUAGE PERFORMANCE)

Ticket Prices:

• $72 (Front Row)
• $42 (VIP)
• $26
• $21
• $15
  *Service charges and handling fees may apply

DISCOUNT CODE:
You can save $4 off the ticket price with this special code. Enter the code: FFA at: www.TicketHorse.com/DisneyOnIce to save $4 per ticket.
(Valid only Fri, Dec. 9 and Sat, Dec. 10 at 11am & 7pm; and Sun, Dec. 11 at 11am; excludes Front Row and VIP seats).

Tickets are on sale through TicketHorse at www.TicketHorse.com/DisneyOnIce, by calling 1.866.461.6556 and at the Pepsi Center Box Office.

ENTER to WIN a FAMILY 4-PACK for OPENING NIGHT, DECEMBER, 8TH at 7PM at THE PEPSI CENTER

To win tickets, leave your name and your favorite Toy Story character. (Mine is Bullseye)

Additional Entries (leave a comment here with your name and blog you entered on for another entry):

• Enter the ticket contest at Mom in Management (contest may end earlier than this one)
• Enter the ticket contest at Mama Bird’s Blog (contest may end earlier than this one)
• Enter the ticket contest on Moose and Tater (contest may end earlier than this one)
• Enter the ticket contest on Lakewood Macaroni Kid (contest may end earlier than this one)
• Enter the ticket contest on Denver Parent (contest may end earlier than this one)
• Follow @ColoScienceMom on Twitter

More Ways to Win – Answer the following questions. Each question is one entry.

• Buzz Lightyear and Woody are best friends.  Who’s your best friend and why?
• In Toy Story 3 Andy doesn’t want to part with his toys when he goes off to college.  What special toy did you decide to hold to as you got older?
• Whose your favorite Toy Story character and why?
• Name two new Toy Story characters in Toy Story 3.

Contest ends at midnight MST Weds. November 30th. Winner will be notified by email.

I receive four tickets to the show for free from Feld Entertainment in exchange for my promotion and review.

Disney on Ice: Let’s Celebrate is the best Disney ice show I’ve seen. It’s modern, it’s fun and unique. Over 70 Disney characters celebrate holidays from Birthday Parties to Halloween to Christmas. Mickey and Minnie travel through each holiday and meet some popular and some obscure characters. A few of my favorite scenes – Mickey as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice and skating brooms, Halloween with Jack the Pumpkin King and Disney villains, and Valentines Day with Disney prince and princesses each doing a pair skate. Mulan and Tiana are two of the princesses making an appearance.

Info on the show:

Join all your favorite Disney friends for the ultimate holiday celebration.

Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebration! It’s one colossal party on ice, with all your favorite Disney friends! Enjoy a winter wonderland with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, a Halloween haunt with the Disney Villains, a Very Merry Unbirthday Party, a Royal Ball with the Disney Princesses and more in a magical medley of holidays, celebrations and festivals from around the globe.

A festival of holiday fun with family-friendly ticket prices starting at $15.

Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday performances or receive $4 off weekend tickets. For either offer enter the code FFA4 at: www.TicketHorse.com/DisneyOnIce or call 1-866-461-6556.

Weekday = Thurs 7pm, & Fri 11am performances. Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required for 4-pack; additional titickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.

Want a fun coloring sheet for the show? Click here to download Disney Coloring Sheet >

Here’s some fun trivia to get you excited for the show:

1. Which Disney Princess celebrates her birthday during her movie/story?
   Answer: Aurora, Sleeping Beauty
2. What is the name of the candelabra in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast?
   Answer: Lumiere
   
3. From what movie is Prince Phillip?
   Answer: Sleeping Beauty
4. Which Disney Princess lives in a small provincial town with her inventor father?
   Answer: Belle
5. After Princess and the Frog opens: What is Tiana’s dream?
   Answer: To open her own restaurant
6. In what movie does Mickey appear as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice?
   Answer: Fantasia
7. Who does Mickey get to do his work for him in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”?
   Answer: A broomstick
8. How does Mickey bring the broomstick to life?
   Answer: With the sorcerer’s magic hat and a book of spells
9. What movie is Jafar a villain in?
   Answer: Aladdin
10. This Disney Villain has a magical mirror and wants to be the fairest one of all.
    Answer: The Evil Queen in Snow White
11. What Disney Villain holds a grudge after having his hand fed to a crocodile?
    Answer: Captain Hook
    What does the slip of paper in the Mad Hatter’s hat read?
    Answer: It reads “10/6.”
    
    Bonus: What does it mean?
    Answer: 10/6 stands for 10 shillings and 6 pence. Probably referring to the cost of the hat

I’m not someone to shy away from admitting I’m wrong or that I made a mistake. They say when you are going to make a mistake, make it big. So that’s what I did.

I’m the city editor for Denver Savvy Source. I held a contest to give away tickets to Disney on Ice this week in Denver. I put the wrong venue on my article. Ugh. Not only that, but my winner went to that wrong venue to claim her winning tickets. She was devastated, her kids were devastated and they missed the show.

She contacted me the next morning and my heart ripped out. I felt horrible. Awful. I wished I could turn back the clock and make it right for them. As a mom, I know what it’s like to handle that kind of disappointment with your children. It’s heart wrenching. Did I mention I felt awful?

Of course I had excuses for the mistake. I am a very detail-oriented person. Calendars up the wazoo, to do lists, planning, scheduling, double checking. I live my details. But when I posted this article, I was distracted. There’s a lot going on in my life right now…we’ve just put our first house on the market. Scary? Yes. Stressful? Immensely. I lost a good friend suddenly recently. There’s all the other life stresses and other issues to keep up with. And I’m working on overcoming a huge hurt. Auto pilot and out to lunch is an understatement.

That doesn’t excuse sending a family to the wrong location.

Fortunately, the Disney people are good people. Great people. They gave my winner a VIP ticket package for tonight. Thank you Disney…you prove once again that you are a class act.

For anyone in Denver who wants to see Disney on Ice it’s at the Denver Coliseum. Yes, I’ve doubled, triple and quadruple checked my facts. It’s at the Denver Coliseum March 10th-14th. And then it moves to the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland from March 18th-21st. Go to the Ticketmaster website for showtimes and ticket prices.

Discount Code:
Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday performances or receive $4 off weekend tickets by entering the code: MOM4 at: www.Ticketmaster.com or call 1-800-745-3000

(Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required for 4-pack; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.Offer not valid on Front Row or VIP seating. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service charges and handling fees will apply.)

Just to pour salt in my wounds…I had been looking forward to this show for months. I’ve heard it’s one of the best Disney ice shows out there. But my children have been sick and I came down with it in time for the show Wednesday. My family missed the show. The wonderful Disney people offered us additional tickets for tonight, but it didn’t work with scheduling. Disney is a class act.