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The countdown is now on for Disney On Ice presents Find Your Hero visiting Utilita Arena Newcastle this Winter. Limited tickets are still available for Newcastle dates from 8 - 12 December 2021. We are super excited to see Mickey Mouse and over 50 Disney characters as part of this brand new show. You can find out more and buy tickets here.
Disney Disco
As part of the countdown, Whitley Bay Ice Rink will be hosting a special Disney Disco on Saturday 16th October from 4:15pm - 5:45pm. No booking is required, simply turn up and pay regular admission (prices are below). Disney fancy dress is encouraged and there will be a chance to win Disney On Ice tickets too.
Ice Skating at Whitley Bay Ice Rink
One of the things I love about Disney On Ice is watching the pro-skaters in action. They really are world-class. This month, Dee and Harry decided to get in on the action and practice their skating skills at Whitley Bay Ice Rink.
It had been a while since our last skate and they were keen to see if they could learn some pro-moves so initially we booked a private lesson. I would definitely recommend doing this as the kids learned so much in just one lesson and it really boosted their confidence when going back on the ice. Private lessons are available from £7 (+ admission/skate hire). There is more information on booking a private lesson further down this post.
Alternatively, Whitley Bay Ice Rink offers a range of group classes and courses which you can find more information about below (click on the image to zoom in) or over on the Whitley Bay Ice Rink website here.
Since our initial lesson, the kids have been back skating a few times. They have caught the bug now! What I like about visiting the ice rink is that you don't need to pre-book or be committed to going every week like many other sports. You just need to turn up to the relevant session.
Dee has recently attended their Friday night disco which they loved. The atmosphere was fab with everyone singing along to the songs. Perfect for older tweens and teens. Dee did mention that 2 hours is a long time to be skating and it does a good job at tiring them out.
The current session times and charges for skating are below. Remember, no need to pre-book, simply turn up. Cash or card is accepted (card payments over £10) and if you are spectating, there is a cafe on site serving snacks and hot and cold drinks.
As well as the Disney Disco, below are some other upcoming special events, all with no pre-booking required. Simply turn up. Do check their social media beforehand to ensure there haven't been any changes though.
Email karenebrannen@icloud.com for more information and to book or you can contact Karen via their Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/karenebrannen.
After popping our skates on, Karen met us in the changing area at the agreed time and the kids were straight into their lesson.
There were a few different lessons going on at the same time and it was fab to see various levels of skill. We visited on a weekend morning when there is more space to move about and ice hockey boots are not permitted. There are certainly some talented young skaters in the North East who I think might give the Disney On Ice skaters a run for their money in a few years.
Karen was fantastic and I really would recommend. Harry was a little wobbly to begin with and would never usually skate into the centre of the ice rink but within 15 minutes Karen even had him doing some tricks! I was astounded at his progress! And Dee really relished the chance to learn some proper skating techniques too.
Karen built up a good rapport with the kids straight away and encouraged them to do their best/push themselves in a friendly way. The skill level was pitched perfectly and Dee and Harry both felt as if they had worked hard and left with a good sense of accomplishment.
The kids ended up skating backwards, how to jump and how to duck on the ice amongst other skills. Because the instruction is one on one, it is fairly intense and you cover a lot.
We paid for our skating and lessons ourselves and have paid for subsequent visits to the ice rink too. I love that the kids have found a new hobby.
Onto the skating...... Dee and Harry won't mind me saying that they are at different levels when it comes to skating. Dee is an absolute natural and can whizz around the ice with confidence whereas Harry is a little more reserved.
We booked in with skating tutor Karen Brannen. Usually, lessons would be individual lessons but I asked if Harry and Dee could both have a double lesson together and that wasn't a problem. The cost is £7 per person for 15 minutes, payable to the instructor on the day in cash. You also need to pay regular admission / skate hire fees but you are free to enjoy the rest of the session as normal after your lesson.
We booked in with skating tutor Karen Brannen. Usually, lessons would be individual lessons but I asked if Harry and Dee could both have a double lesson together and that wasn't a problem. The cost is £7 per person for 15 minutes, payable to the instructor on the day in cash. You also need to pay regular admission / skate hire fees but you are free to enjoy the rest of the session as normal after your lesson.
Email karenebrannen@icloud.com for more information and to book or you can contact Karen via their Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/karenebrannen.
After popping our skates on, Karen met us in the changing area at the agreed time and the kids were straight into their lesson.
There were a few different lessons going on at the same time and it was fab to see various levels of skill. We visited on a weekend morning when there is more space to move about and ice hockey boots are not permitted. There are certainly some talented young skaters in the North East who I think might give the Disney On Ice skaters a run for their money in a few years.
Karen was fantastic and I really would recommend. Harry was a little wobbly to begin with and would never usually skate into the centre of the ice rink but within 15 minutes Karen even had him doing some tricks! I was astounded at his progress! And Dee really relished the chance to learn some proper skating techniques too.
Karen built up a good rapport with the kids straight away and encouraged them to do their best/push themselves in a friendly way. The skill level was pitched perfectly and Dee and Harry both felt as if they had worked hard and left with a good sense of accomplishment.
The kids ended up skating backwards, how to jump and how to duck on the ice amongst other skills. Because the instruction is one on one, it is fairly intense and you cover a lot.
We paid for our skating and lessons ourselves and have paid for subsequent visits to the ice rink too. I love that the kids have found a new hobby.
We are now more than ready to watch the pros in action when Disney On Ice visits Utilita Arena in December. Let the countdown begin.........
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