I’ve said this before, but we’ve been to enough Disney on Ice shows that I could probably serve as a creative consultant. Still, no matter how many we’ve seen (and we’ve seen a lot), there’s always room to be pleasantly surprised.

If you’re unfamiliar with Disney on Ice, check out our reviews of Dare to Dream, Follow Your Heart, World of Fantasy, 100 Years of Magic, and Treasure Trove. They should give you a good idea of what to expect.

The newest version of the show – Mickey’s Search Party – manages to do what I had thought was unthinkable. It really surprised us. The show features several elements and “enhancements” that we haven’t seen before.

Disney on Ice has stepped up its game.

For the longest time, Disney on Ice performances have felt stuck in the 80s. Aside from incorporating the newest Disney and Pixar films in the routines, not much else has changed. Some characters in costume come out, skate a routine to music from the movies, rinse, lather, repeat.

In a world where Cirque du Soleil has redefined the “big top” and where traveling multimedia spectacles have become the norm, Disney on Ice has felt sadly out of date.

At first glance, Mickey’s Search Party seems to be a pared-down, budget-friendly version of the traveling show. Whereas the “centerpiece” of other shows has been an elaborate castle or other impressive structure, this show simply uses a large screen and projections (see the pic above).

But looks can be deceiving.

This show was filled with surprises, jaw-dropping stunts, aerial acrobatics, and heart. Yep, aerial acrobatics. Disney on Ice has officially left the ice. We had seen some aerial stunts in other shows during the Tangled routine, but Mickey’s Search Party really steps it up a notch and has become much more of a spectacle.

Storywise, the classic characters (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy) are on a quest to free Tinker Bell, who has been imprisoned inside a lantern by Captain Hook. They must follow a series of clues, which act as segues to various film-specific performances. It’s a thin connective tissue to tie it all together, but it is what it is. You don’t come to Disney on Ice for its deep and introspective original storytelling.

The first half consists of brief routines (1-3 songs) from Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, Moana, and Coco. The second half (which usually features extended performances of the latest films) was a continuation of the first and includes brief segments from Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Frozen.

At this point, can we please move past Frozen? I understand it’s a popular film, but come on. It’s literally been a significant part of every Disney on Ice we’ve ever seen. We’re over it. Let’s see some love given to other properties.

Like Coco! It was great to see its inclusion in the first half, but it was far too quick and incomplete. My kids were frustrated that it didn’t include Héctor or Dante. Also absent was Ernesto de la Cruz, so this was basically just Miguel singing a couple songs. Sure, it was a cool performance with black lights and oversize skeletons, but come on. (However, the Coco routine did feature an acrobatic number that has to be seen to be believed. It had the audience gasping in amazement over and over.)

Would I recommend Mickey’s Search Party? If you have kids who enjoy this type of thing, then absolutely. Like all Disney on Ice shows, it’s extremely well produced and the inclusion of truly impressive costumes, special effects, and stunts really make it worthwhile. If this is your first Disney on Ice, then you won’t be disappointed.

The show is currently playing at Baltimore’s Royal Farms Arena (through October 14) before touring up and down the east coast. Get more information about cities, dates, and tickets here.

(Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador. As part of this program, I received complimentary tickets to Disney on Ice. All opinions remain my own.)