Beyond the magic is one boy's dreams of skating amongst his favourite characters
In the shimmering world of figure skating, many reflect on seeing a certain Mouse taking center rink. But, most don't imagine themselves standing right next to Mickey himself when they grow up. With Disney on Ice presents Magic In The Stars coming to Hamilton, we wanted to share the story of one Hamiltonian who made a wish upon a star.
Thomas Turner's journey from attending Disney on Ice as a kid, to competitive skating and eventually performing in Disney On Ice shows was nothing short of magical.
Turner, who grew up in Hamilton, fondly recalled watching Disney on Ice shows when he was younger.
"I have always loved Disney movies and skating, so what better profession for me than becoming a skater with the show," he said.
Turner reminisced about his childhood favorites, like Buzz Lightyear from Disney/Pixar's Toy Story and Peter Pan. Yet, as he delved deeper into the world of Disney on Ice, his affinity shifted towards characters like Eugene "Flynn" Rider from Disney's Tangled, whom he enjoyed portraying on the ice alongside other beloved Disney characters.
Although figure skating is a test of endurance and technical skill that takes years of mastery, becoming a performer for Disney on Ice was a bit of a shift for Turner.
"Competitive figure skating and performing with Disney on Ice are two completely different forms of skating," said Turner. "The shift was so enjoyable. My favorite part about competitive skating was always the performance and entertainment side of it, so being able to fully focus on that aspect was a dream come true."
Every show presented an opportunity for Turner to perform as or with his favorite Disney characters, a privilege he cherished. "What’s so special about our show is it has the most characters out of any Disney on Ice production," he proudly mentioned, reflecting on the diverse array of characters that came to life on the ice.
This year's theme for Disney on Ice is 'Magic in the Stars', which features the characters and stories from Frozen 2, Encanto, Aladdin, Princess and the Frog, as well as other fan-favourites.
Amidst the glittering performances, Turner spoke about the show that stands out in his mind the most — his first show in fact. His family drove from Hamilton to Orlando, Flordia, home of Walt Disney World Resort. He described the overwhelming feeling of seeing his family in the audience.
"It was such an incredible night, I loved having my family there because without them I would not be where I am today," he expressed, the pride and gratitude evident in his voice.
Balancing the demands of tour life with personal commitments was no easy feat, but Turner continues to approach it with gratitude and adaptability.
"Finding a good work-life balance was an interesting component of tour life for me," he acknowledged. Despite the ever-changing routines and locations, he found solace in exploring new cities during days off and cherishing moments with his Disney on Ice family.
As Turner continues to shine on the ice, he has kept himself grounded in his aspirations and gratitude for the opportunities ahead.
"I loved portraying multiple characters in the show and was grateful for every opportunity I had," he expressed, his passion for bringing joy to audiences evident in every performance.
In the realm where dreams met reality, Thomas Turner's journey with Disney On Ice presents Magic In The Stars was a testament to the enduring magic of storytelling, the power of collaboration and the boundless joy found in bringing beloved characters to life on the ice. As he glided gracefully from one show to the next, his spirit remained undaunted, his heart forever entwined with the enchantment of Disney.
Disney on Ice presents Magic In The Stars takes place on March 14-17, 2024 at the FirstOntario Centre. Tickets can be purchased on Ticketmaster.
Ring in the season with these festive picks to get you in the holiday spirit
‘Tis the season to be jolly and with the end of exams, students can finally take a breather from the hustle and bustle that comes with the academic year. Although COVID-19 has made the typical holiday season feel like a distant memory, that doesn’t mean you still can’t kick back by the fireplace, enjoy a cup of eggnog and stream your favourite Disney show or movie to get you in the holiday spirit. No need to sell your voice to the sea witch to make this happen!
Yet another disclaimer: Yes I have written another Disney+ article, but I am still not sponsored to write this. Again, Disney if you are listening, any Christmas ornaments you would like to send me, I’d appreciate it! As always, heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s off to the list we go!
The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration, 2020
A fun way to kick off the holiday season, this special brings you into the heart of the Magic Kingdom’s Main Street USA. With a number of special holiday performances around the Disney parks, this celebration is sure to put a smile on your face. If seeing Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell sing a song from Olaf’s Frozen Adventure or watching Shaggy sing “Jamaican Drummer Boy” in front of Cinderella’s castle wasn’t enough for you, you’ll be delighted to watch castles around the world get lit up for the festive season.
The Disney Holiday Singalong, 2020
Do you miss caroling? Look no further than this festive special, hosted by Ryan Reynolds. Join your favourite celebrities as they sing classic holiday songs, with a few Disney ones thrown in the mix. Who was my personal favourite? Katy Perry singing her newest single, "Cozy Little Christmas", dressed as a Christmas tree!
The Santa Clause 2, 2002
“Seeing isn’t believing; believing is seeing.”
I mentioned this movie in another piece I have written and I am so glad that it is easily accessible on this platform. The Santa Clause 2 is a movie that I look forward to watching every holiday season. Santa Claus is losing his powers because of the Mrs. Clause, a stipulation that states if he isn’t married by Christmas Day, he can’t be Santa anymore.
If that wasn’t enough, Santa finds out that his son is on the naughty list and must depart the North Pole to set him straight. Not only does the film have a great soundtrack, but it also stands for so much. The main message is you don’t need magic in order to make a difference in people’s lives — a message that is especially important to me during the holidays.
Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic, 2017
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In my “ten things you need to watch on Disney+ right now” article, I spoke about Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings, a show that documents couples getting married within the Disney parks. I raved about how romantic the show was, paired with the magic of Disney, made for a show that was truly worthy of binge watching. Take that and couple it (pun intended) with the magic of the holiday season and you have a show that is bound to make you tear up as you hear the words “I do”. My recommendation is to stock up on some tissues before you watch this!
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, 2017
“And when we’re together, it’s my favourite time of year.”
Ring in the season with your favourite friends from Disney’s Frozen. While this isn’t the longest animated short, it is sure to put you in the spirit of the holiday season as Olaf tries to find a new holiday tradition for Anna and Elsa.
A cute little side story: the first song in this short is called “Ring in the Season” and everytime I go into the Disney Store during November and December, the song comes on either as I’m entering or leaving the store. It always puts me in the holiday spirit as I’m buying the last of my gifts. This Frozen tale isn’t just a cute little distraction from the hustle and bustle of the holidays, but also has a heartwarming message. The festive season isn’t about the yearly traditions or the fruit cake, rather it’s about the people you spend the time with.
Iron Man 3, 2013
“And so, as Christmas morning began, my journey has reached its end.”
Now I know what you’re thinking, “Andrew, Iron Man 3 isn’t a Christmas movie”; however, according to Disney+ it is. Following the events of Marvel’s The Avengers (2012), Tony Stark struggles to come to grips with the fact that aliens invaded New York City. After he seems to lose his path in a battle with the film’s villain, the Mandarin, Stark attempts to put the pieces of his life back together, while trying to save the world.
Not only is this my favourite Marvel movie, but Iron Man is my favourite superhero because of his morals (Don’t know what I mean? Watch Avengers: Endgame!). This movie is a great way to break-up the usual festive movies that you will be watching at this time of year. To end off on a quote from the film: “You can take away my house, all my tricks and toys. One thing you can't take away . . . I am Iron Man.”
Decorating Disney Holiday Magic, 2017
Ending off the list is my favourite holiday special on Disney+. Hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, we see how the Disney parks have their Halloween decorations replaced with Christmas decorations overnight. The spectacle is not only amazing to watch, but it is incredible to see the amount of work that goes into it.
You thought decorating your house was hard? Wait until you see the thousands of people who come together to decorate parks across the globe as well as all of Disney’s resorts. Although the streaming service has only been out for just over a year now, watching this special during the holidays has become a tradition for me as I love to see all the decorations and the magic that Disney brings with everything that they do.
Sarah O'Connor
Staff Reporter
Like many of Disney’s fairy-tale adaptations, Frozen is far from being an accurate retelling of one of Hans Christian Anderson’s most well known fairytales, The Snow Queen. Even the two main characters from the original story, Gerda and Kai, are reduced to servants in the film who add nothing to the story (I didn’t even know they existed until I read the credits).
But it’s pointless to mourn the original fairytale when watching the Disney version, instead accept it for what it is: something almost entirely new with faint inspirations from a traditional tale.
The film opens when protagonists Princesses Anna (Kristen Bell) and Princess Elsa (Idina Menzel) are children. They wake up one summer night with the desire to build a snowman. While this may seem a strange and impossible request, it is soon revealed that Anna’s older sister Elsa was born with the powers to create snow and ice. As the sisters play in the snow, things get out of hand when Elsa accidently hits Anna in the head with ice.
Afraid for her sister’s life, Elsa wakes up her parents and the royal family goes into the forest to find a group of trolls who can heal Anna’s head. But a side effect of the trolls’ remedies is that Anna no longer remembers Elsa’s power to create snow and ice. The elder troll warns the family that Elsa’s power will only grow stronger. In an attempt to keep the younger sisters safe, they decide to lock the castle gates and keep Elsa away from Anna.
Years pass and the sister’s relationship becomes strained, with Elsa trying to hide her growing powers and Anna persistently trying to reconnect with her sister. After the sudden death of their parents, Elsa becomes Queen and Anna hopes to rekindle her bond with her sister, though the sisters still don’t see eye to eye.
Elsa’s snow powers are accidently revealed when she creates a blizzard that freezes the kingdom. Elsa runs away to the mountains to keep the kingdom safe from her powers (unaware of the blizzard to come) and Anna goes searching for her. Anna leaves her fiancé Prince Hans (Santino Fontana) in charge and seeks help from Kristoff (Jonathon Groff) and his reindeer pal Sven. Anna sets off to find her sister and end the winter she has accidentally created.
The singing was fantastic and Idina Menzel gave a chilling performance of Elsa’s “villain” song “Let It Go.” The animation was phenomenal; one of the best moments of the film was watching Elsa build her ice castle, a truly beautiful scene, which makes the audience feel as if they are actually inside the expanding structure
But Frozen isn’t without its faults. Though little, the flaws do make the story less convincing. For example, Anna somehow knows Kristoff’s name without ever being introduced. And while the story does explain that Elsa was born with her powers, there are no reasons given for these abilities. Why was Elsa born with the snow powers while no one else in her family has any powers at all?
Nonetheless, Frozen is one of Disney’s best animated films. The focus on familial love as opposed to romantic love is certainly a refreshing theme and I hope they continue to explore new ideas instead of the “true love’s kiss” motif. We’ve certainly had enough of that. Frozen suggests that at least in this respect, Disney is no longer frozen in time.
