Photos by Chantelle D’mello and courtesy of Disney on Ice

Following a huge turnout for its debut Disney on Ice performance last year, organizers are returning to Qatar this fall to host Disney on Ice: Rockin’ Ever After from Sept. 24 – 27, 2014 at the Qatar National Convention Center.

Last year, the ice skating and acrobatics spectacle drew more than 40,000 spectators, with tickets selling out in the first week. More shows were added to accommodate the public.

According to the organizers Sport and Entertainment Solutions (SES), this year’s program will feature both old and new Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck, along with Rapunzel and Flynn from Tangled, Merida and her triplet brothers from Brave, Ariel from The Little Mermaid, and the cast of Beauty and the Beast.

Speaking at a press conference earlier this week, a senior Qatar Tourism Authority official said the return of Disney on Ice is part of QTA’s strategy to make the country a regional entertainment hub.

Rashed Al Qurese, QTA’s executive director of marketing & promotions, added:

“The high quality focused leisure campaigns for this summer will continue to attract family travelers. (We are also) lining up some fun and entertainment activities for the Summer Festival, and the Disney on Ice show is a key event of this festival.”

SES and QTA, in partnership with Feld Entertainment, said they plan to bring Disney entertainment to Qatar regularly for the next five years.

“Doha is the fastest growing city in the region, and one of the fastest growing in the world. It’s already making a name for itself in the world of sports, with FIFA and the Handball World Championship held next year. We now want to make it an entertainment hub regionally,” said Ali Haidary, the CEO and founder of SES.

“We’ve enjoyed a double digit increase in the amount of inbound tourism, and want to see it grow,” added Al Qurese.

In a statement, the show’s director Patty Vincent explained that one of the highlights will be a scene in which Ariel transforms from mermaid to human, while dangling 35 feet in the air.

“This is the first time that we’ve captured her transformation like this in a production,” Vincent said. “That’s what makes Rockin’ Ever After different – we selected scenes we’ve never done before and then took our time on the details to make them truly special.”

Tickets info

According to Al Haidary, tickets will go on sale in the next few weeks and can be purchased at Virgin Megastores and online here.

Tickets will cost the same as they did for last year’s show, starting from QR175, QR275, and QR475. VIP tickets are QR1,000/person and Rinkside Royal seats cost QR2,000 each. There is no special price for children, but kids under two years old who sit on parents’ laps are not required to have a ticket.

Fielding a question from reporters about past complaints over steep ticket prices, Al Haidary said:

“There are only two ways you can see Disney characters up close and personal. You either go to Disney World, or you come see a Disney on Ice show. For the experience, we believe the tickets are reasonably priced and affordable for everyone. It’s an international show.”

Like last year’s show, this one too will take place in Halls 7,8 and 9 of the convention centre, and will feature an ice rink built from scratch.

More information about Disney On Ice can be found here.

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