On a memorable evening at the iconic Manchester Arena Disney rolled into town complete with an orchestra and live singing performances. Here’s our Disney 100 The Concert review.
Disney invited us to the 100th anniversary concert and as a result this article is sponsored but we will deliver an honest assessment (as always) despite being given free tickets for review purposes.

As we took our seats we didn’t know what to expect other than an orchestral performance. We were greeted with a giant screen behind the main stage and an orchestra seat layout. The conductor took to the stage and clips were met with beautiful ensemble recreations of iconic songs associated with the very film you’re watching on the big screen along with vocal accompaniments for any songs that required vocals.
The cast consisted of various West End performers such as Bessy Ewa (Back to the Future), Charlie Burn (Les Mis), Olivier nominee Cleve September, Roberta Velentini (Wicked and Marie Antoinette), Georgina Hagen (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Groundhog Day; Tracy Beaker; Brittania High), Richard-Salvador Wolff (Aladdin, European premiere), Tobias Joch (Schikaneder, original cast), Masengu Kanyinda (Daddy Cool), and Earl Carpenter (original casts of The Witches of Eastwick and Mandela).

Fille with an air of anticipation each song was a celebration of all things Disney with host Janette Manrara interluding with various commentary in-between songs. Heavily pregnant she was absolutely glowing on stage and had some nice audience interaction throughout but what I did notice was a lot of children in the audience.
This was close to a three hour show of just orchestral and singing, it’s not something that would appeal to a Childs attention span aside from the visuals on screen. A lot of restless children were sat around us as their parents had clearly brought them along with no babysitter options as opposed to bringing them to see this concert specifically. Some costumed character performances could have catered to a younger audience as part of the show but it was certainly a more adult affair than a show designed for children that’s for sure.

The Manchester Arena, known for hosting grand spectacles, was transformed into a whimsical Disney wonderland for the momentous occasion. Vibrant stage decorations adorned with beloved characters transported the audience into a realm where dreams come true. 
From Let It Go from Frozen to A Whole New World from Aladdin the audience was treated to captivating renditions of these Disney favorites accompanied with set lighting and visuals. The orchestra were so good it was like listening to a CD of the soundtrack with no audible mistakes made from start to finish. Hearing the Avengers song live and Star Wars was a treat to my nerdy little ears.

The Disney’s 100th Anniversary Concert at Manchester Arena was an unforgettable experience, leaving attendees awestruck and brimming with joy. 
One major factor that I would like to add is that even though Disney gave us complimentary tickets (thank you by the way) we couldn’t help but check the value of our seats on the website. We were shocked. Our tickets for Block A were priced at £130 per person and we couldn’t justify that price for what we saw.
Yes, it was incredible and it was the perfect blend of live performance, orchestra and visuals in quite a well rounded celebratory show but £130 for that? I couldn’t justify it and it felt very corporate in its pricing for what you get. There are many similar orchestral celebrations of movies dotted up and down arenas and halls in the UK throughout the year for half the price. I feel as though £70 would have been a much better price point and I’m sure the seats towards the back of the arena reflected this but for where we were sat (the best seats arguably) we still felt they were a little overpriced.

As the final notes of the concert resonated through the Manchester Arena, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause with a giant Lion King finale.
The 100th-anniversary concert proved that Disney’s magic is timeless, captivating audiences of all generations but at the same time that price point certainly hits you with the fact that it’s a Disney concert.
Whether its a Disney park, a Disney hotel or even Disney merchandise the price point of just about everything will bring you down to earth very quickly.

A personal highlight of the night for me was listening to ‘How Far I’ll Go’ from Moana, this was delivered perfectly as the lighting matched what was on the big screen perfectly and the execution of the song was nothing short of magical.
We had just witnessed magic and quite a wonderful night out but just keep in mind you’ll be paying a very pretty penny which begs the question. How much is Disney worth to you?
Watch our VLOG of the evening HERE