#singalonga

A trip to Disneyland is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

But what if the budget doesn’t quite stretch to experiencing Disney overseas quite yet?

There are plenty of Disney events in the UK that you can experience with your little Mouseketeers to get that slice of Mickey magic.

So join Mickey and Co. for these five UK Disney escapades.

Mickey Matinee

Take your mini culture vultures to the theatre to see one of Disney’s current musical productions.

They include The Lion King at London’s Lyceum Theatre and Mary Poppins - currently on tour across the UK.

Cities included on the Mary Poppins tour include Bristol, London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

It will also visit Southampton, Norwich, Plymouth and Newcastle.

And - coming in May next year - Aladdin at London’s Prince Edward Theatre.

Ice Ice Baby

Disney on Ice is an institution in itself - and now to add to the magic is Disney on Ice Worlds of Enchantment, including all the hits from worldwide smash Frozen.

This month it visits Dublin and Sheffield and then London’s 02 Arena in December. You can book tickets here.

Just Cruisin’

Wow! This is the kind of ship Mousketeers will want to climb aboard.

The Disney Magic Cruise Line is setting sail on its British Isles tour in summer 2016 and there is something for everyone from a Deck Party to the Aqua Dunk - a three-story body slide.

There will also be live shows from Disney’s favourite characters.

It can carry around 2,700 passengers.

The cruise will be visiting Newcastle, Liverpool, Invergordon, Kirkwall, Glasgow, Liverpool, Dublin and Dover.

See here for more details.

Let it Go!

Sing-a-Long-a Frozen has been gaining an army of fans touring far and wide across the UK with its magical mixture of song, fun and familiar faces..

The show features a full screening of Disney’s Frozen with lyrics on screen to help you sing along with Anna and Elsa during the film.

It’s introduced by a live host with the help of the Singalonga Princesses who show you how to use your free prop bag, warm up your singing voices and teach you some hand actions and heckles before you sit back and Let it Go. Visiting hundreds of locations across the UK.

Shop ‘Til You Drop

As well as stocking up on all your Disney goodies - a trip to one of the UK’s many Disney Stores can also bring the Mickey magic to life with in store events.

Various attempts to become a pop star have been thwarted by a number of factors in the past - Simon Cowell and the Pop Idol team being one - but the realistic understanding that I have a voice like a screaming child is the real reason for my failure for chart success.  But never let such indiscretions put you off, as London has a plethora of options for you to showcase that undoubted hidden musical talent.

One of the best is the Singalonga event at the Prince Charles Cinema in London's Leicester Square.  Not quite your usual knees up round a piano sing off (but plenty of those about in London), but a series of organised cinema events designed to titillate, stimulate and make you participate in the action you see on the big screen.  This is all about singing along to some of your favourite musical films of all time.

In terms of locations, the Prince Charles Cinema (rated as one of the best by Quentin Tarantino) is second to none in terms of pure cinematic delight.  Tucked away in the dark corners of the movie premiere square, the PCC is a venue like no other.  A film geek's paradise, it shuns the mainstream to feature the films you want to see and the films no-one wanted to see but feel you simply have to see (so bad it is good). Dark decor with a downstairs bar, the cinema is in the style of an old theater, with seats looking up at the stage instead of down and being remarkably comfortable - therefore suiting any age, shape and size.  Popcorn?  Sure, but leave the jumbo soft drink outside and sample a fresh beer instead.

The beer, in hand, goes ever so well with what the Singalonga team have to offer. This was my 2nd trip to the PCC for a singing event, having chirped along to Grease only 1 year before.  This time, is was all about donning the spandex, high heels and leather belts for a rip roaring showing of the quite simply bizarre fantasy epic that is the Rocky Horror Picture Show. 

30 minutes before the show, we are summoned away from the bar and into our seat as we are greeted by our 'hostess', a rather sumptuous girl dressed in her finest suspenders (this is part of the act - and to fit in with the show - with Grease we were greeted by a T-Bird....get it?) and matching attire.  We are then handed goody bags, in which each item (including tissues and rubber gloves) we are told is to be used as a prop during the screening.  Yes, yes, it all fits....Shouting out that brad is an ARSEHOLE and Janet a SLUT the most enduring lesson we must learn when each name is mentioned on screen.  The props are all part of the show, as well as the mandatory fancy dress parade when the bravest head up on stage and take applause to gather who wins the token prize.  Even before the screening, the audience (consisting of mainly Hen Parties and dating couples) are well entertained and encouraged to get on their feet as much as possible - this is not a show for those wanted a quiet night out...

If you have seen Rocky Horror, you know what to expect.  Those who haven't, just  don't take it too seriously. The next hour and a half (with a 15 minute interval break for refreshments) is standard cinema viewing with a small twist - words to every song are on the screen and if you don't sing along you will not hear a thing!  

A simply brilliant night of entertainment.  The PPC is a must for any serious film fan, whilst the sing along event is great for groups, couples and those with an active imagination.  Of course, fancy dress is optional, but do you feel you are taking part if you are not dressed up?

http://www.princecharlescinema.com/

...I LOVE YOU. They do showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show where people dress up/sing along etc. but there used to only be a few a year. The next one should be Hallowe'en, when work is very busy (I work in a party store), but ACTUALLY there's now loads. I wanted to go soon but I could actually go this year without Hallowe'en being a problem. You have no idea how much this excites me.