by Wishing on a Star Diva
When I was a kid, I loved everything about the circus: the clowns, the acrobats, tigers, elephants, popcorn….you name it. I was seven, and I was in awe. Early Thursday, I started getting butterflies in my stomach thinking about taking my two and four year old to the circus for the first time. Would they like it as much as I did? Was it as great as I remembered? How would all the new changes affect the overall vibe in the arena?
Going in to it, my understanding was that the elephants had been retired from the show completely and that the new show has a space theme, which includes ice skaters. Not much to go on, but I kept an open mind. I highly recommend getting to the arena at least an hour early. If you arrive 90 minutes early, you can visit the circus animals… but an hour is more realistic with two little ones. The doors open an hour before the show. You can meet performers, poses for some pretty unique show pictures, have the performers autograph your program, and get your face painted. Disney Diva Tip: While meeting the performers is free, face painting and pictures will cost you around $15 each.
Once you enter the main arena pre show, the performers demonstrate how to train some of the animals, talk about their life in the circus, and practice warming up for their routines. It was a very genuine look at what goes into the daily performances.
Unlike the typical circus that I was accustomed to, this one was unique in that it had a story line. Among the acrobats, trapeze, and ice skaters there was a problem to solve/adventure to be had. My 2 year old said his favorite part of the show was the “mean Elsa.” While Elsa wasn’t actually part of the show at all, he was a big fan of the blonde villain.
I was skeptical about the animal performance, but let me tell you, they did not disappoint! The horses are absolutely beautiful and agile, the dogs both hilarious and pretty darn cute, and there were even two pigs that were performing tricks! Among other animals in the show included the bold and beautiful tigers and lions, which were absolutely stunning to watch… And a very bouncy kangaroo!
So what does this show have to offer? There is snow, ice, fire (oh, the pyrotechnics were awesome!), and various planets of sand and water. Any good show comes down to the performers, and these are some of the best I have ever seen! The sheer athleticism is beyond amazing… You have people flipping through hoops, on ice skates, ice skaters flipping mid-air and landing on each other’s back, trapeze artist doing triple and quadruple flips, and amazing trick riders who were swinging all over those horses. And what is any circus, without clowns? The clowns are much less creepy than the images I have conjured in my head over the years. These are a new generation of ice skating clowns, with all the same antics that will make you laugh. They are definitely there to entertain, and did their job as every time the clowns came out, my kids couldn’t stop laughing.
Another highlight of this show is that it is app based. If you have a smart phone or other device, you can download the app in advance and unlock all kinds of activities to do at home to get everyone excited for the upcoming show, and you can still play it long after the circus has left town to remember all of the fun you had. They also have circus selfies, a photo gallery, games and activities, information about the performers, and lots more fun that come with the app! Disney Diva Tip: If you would like an even more interactive experience, make sure to bring your app with you to the pre-show! Using the app only enhances the show, and makes for a truly unique and “Out of this World” encounter!
The circus was an absolutely amazing experience! My children were entertained the entire time, and seemed just as amazed as I was twenty some odd years ago. The new look of the circus is an “Out of this World” adventure, and my family loved every moment of it. Even my husband, who does not show much enthusiasm about these events, was impressed! Trust me, you don’t want to miss this show! It was truly an enjoyable evening for my entire family.
Ready to see the show? You’re in luck! The Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus presents “Out of this World” has six more performances in Sacramento, California between September 16th-18th. Click here for showtimes and to buy tickets. We hope you enjoy the show and remember, arrive early, and don’t forget the app!
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents “Out of this World” Now Playing in Sacramento!
