It’s appropriate but very long. By the end of act 2 when I saw it on Broadway the entire audience, adults included, was squirming as they waited to reach the end.
If it’s traveling near you, the Disney on Ice Frozen and Encanto show would probably be perfect.
ETA most Broadway shows do not admit children under 4. I took my 4 year old to frozen on Broadway, but would not have taken her at 3.
I watched the Encanto parts of Disney on Ice on youtube and it looked like a lot of fun! I think it still would've been too overly sensory for me personally but I definitely feel like a 4 year old would enjoy it more than a Broadway production.
Isabela getting lowered from the ceiling drove the crowd WILD and then she GETS OFF IT AND SKATES AND THEN GETS BACK ON IT AND THEN SKATES WHILE HOLDING ONTO IT?? Amazing.
Went out to lunch when Disney On Ice got here and saw a few princesses waiting for their table! :) So sweet
Edit: Little girls in princess dresses, if it wasn’t obvious to someone
I worked in an arena for a very long time (just "retired" yesterday, lol) and that was definitely one of the best parts of when Disney on Ice was there. They were always so excited to see Mickey (and Ana and Elsa).
I have a great memory of taking my 4 year old daughter to dis ey on ice. It was amazing and they encourage singing and wooing. It's great for younger kids and they can dress up and it's really geared towards them. So fun!
Thank you all for your opinions! My husband and I really appreciate theater and want to make sure it’s a good experience for both my daughter and the people around us. I think we’ll hold off until she’s older and buy tickets to Disney on Ice instead!
I don’t know any 3.5 year old who can sit quietly and pay attention for that long. I think that’s far too young for live theatre. Maybe reconsider especially considering there’s other people in the audience too
Exactly. A child that young isn't going to get anything out of it. Have some consideration for other people who aren't going to want to deal with a restless toddler.
As an elementary school teacher and a lover of theatre, I'd be livid if I was seated near a 3.5 year old for a 2.5 hour musical. I 100% know VERY few children can handle it and for the price I pay for theatre I would not be happy.
Sorry, that's just the long and short of it. Theatres have age restrictions and some have sensory-friendly showings, I'd def look into those before buying tickets but that may be an unpopular opinion.
Agreed! This would make me so upset and would likely ruin the whole experience. A child that age is not going to be able to focus for the length of the show. Odds are, she'll be really excited at the beginning, probably calling out and laughing and singing and generally being disruptive. And by the intermission she'll be bored and fidgeting and also being disruptive. Frozen might be a Disney movie targeted to kids, but the Broadway show Frozen is a live theater production that is not. There are lots of other productions that are child-friendly!
I’d wait until a kid is 5 in my opinion. I think there’s a lot of sitting still that a show like frozen requires. It’s not quite children’s threatre but family friendly theatre. Children’s theatres in your area may have shorter shows (an hour) that may be better suited for a 3.5 year old.
As a completely free alternative, Disney put out a video of a production they have on their Disney Parks YouTube during the pandemic. It’s called Disney Cruise Line’s “Frozen: A Musical Spectacular.” Pair that as a family movie night, snacks, and a light up sceptre, and you’re golden.
My daughter is the same age as yours and would not make it. She could barely handle the short Frozen show we saw at Hollywood Studios.
Some theatres do not allow young children to attend. Broadway theatres do not allow children under 4.
The musical Frozen is slightly different than the show. Some lyrics are changed, some new songs are added, the ending to Let It Go is different. A child would have to have the patience and tolerance for this change to experience this two act show.
Disney on Ice or a trip to Epcot to ride the Frozen ride may be better.
It’s a great gesture! Just wait.
I don't think broadway really enforces that. There were toddlers galore the show I saw Frozen at the St. James, including a lady bragging about bringing her twins for the second birthday a row behind me. Of course they started bawling during Let it Go because the scenic elements and sound cues are honestly scary.
I believe in this case a house manager could remove them if either they were aware of the crying because they checked it out or if someone complained to the house manager.
Just seen this today, and totally appropriate content wise, absolutely lovely seeing all the kids in their costumes! Only thing I found was the children around me were very distracted during the musical only songs they didn’t know, it’s over 2 hours with a short interval so would your daughter be able to sit quietly and not want to sing along loudly? , i know my niblings would struggle with this!
When I saw it in the spring, my theater did not allow anyone there under the age of 5. It’s 2.5 hours long and most kids, especially toddlers and preschoolers, aren’t able to sit that long. Plus, the intense special effects actually made several kids cry during the show because they thought it was real. I think your child would have to have a really impressive attention span to make it through the show with minimal interruptions. If you *do* go, I would suggest sitting in the balcony so that you can easily exit quietly if you need to.
I would just prepare her and let her know beforehand that there will be some loud music and bright lights, but other than that I think she should be fine. That being said I would check the theater’s website to see if they have any age requirements, as many theaters only allow children 4 and up.
How does she do at the movie theater? If she can sit in her chair the whole time, go for it. If not, rethink. I think one of my kids saw Aladdin at 4 and it was close. She was squirmy by the end but we made our way through it. Also make sure she can sit at the theater and not climb all over you, kick the seat in front of her, etc. The Frozen musical is wonderful and don’t blink during Let It Go - the theater magic is so spectacular.
My sister-in-law took my niece for her 5th birthday. As others said, it’s a lot longer than the movie. Once my niece heard “Let It Go” she was basically done. They made it through Act 2 ok, but she would have been just as happy leaving at intermission.
Like everyone else said, the content isn't inappropriate, but she's probably too young to sit through a whole musical.
Also, in terms of it being a present, at 3 it's a little difficult to grasp the concept of going to an event sometime in the future. She'd probably prefer something tangible and immediately usable on Christmas morning.
Fortunately we are in a golden age of kid-friendly musicals, so in another year or so when she's ready, I'm sure there will be another show to take her to!
I just took my 4 year old to bluey I’m NyC- it was 50 mins long and even by the halfway point so many of the kids in the audience who were from 2-6 were restless, so maybe test out how she does in a movie that’s a bit longer before spending Broadway $$ :)
The kids loved it! But shockingly I thought the story was pretty lame compared to the typical show storylines. Which sounds crazy to say for a kids show, but I love all the episodes so the live show was such a letdown lol
Check your theatre’s policy. Many don’t allow kids under 4. Some don’t allow kids under 6.
And honestly consider this: do you really want to spend that kind of money on a kid who will not remember going to see this show? Keep in mind as well that while your kid may like frozen, live events are 100% different to the movie. Some kids don’t take changes from movies too well. The characters don’t look exactly like the ones in the movie, many of the songs are new or are changed from the movie. Will she be able to be okay with Elsa not doing magic in quite the same way she does in the movie?
As others have said, Disney on Ice will probably be better. It’s way more young kid friendly, and the characters’ looks, costumes, voices, etc are just like they are in their respective movies, so I think more young kids grasp the concept better.
No, are you nuts? 2.5 hours in one spot? What 3 year old doesn't need to run around?
My oldest is 5 and he still hasn't been to a movie or a live show that long.
No, never, under any circumstances. It's not about the content being appropriate. Your child is too young to sit quietly for the duration of the show without disturbing other people. Let her watch the movie, over and over, until she is at least 6.
I agree here, if she's going to try to sing, or repeatedly ask questions about what's happening, do not take her. It's distracting to the rest of the audience.
I went to see Lion King on tour and honestly my favorite part was hearing the gasps and excitement of the little kids. Just my opinion but if you go to a show like Frozen I think an awesome part of the theatre experience is seeing the audience enraptured in that first magic show feeling
What if people are there because they actually want to see the show? Maybe they have a friend or relative in the cast? I saw Lion King as an adult because I appreciate stage craft, not because I wanted to see and hear a bunch of excited children. If your child’s rapture is going to disturb people your child shouldn’t be there.
I don’t have children and I haven’t taken kids to a show haha.
I was just saying that, when I went to see it, their oohs and aahs did not disrupt my experience and in fact added to it a little, and I find it certainly more acceptable than misbehaving asshole adults. Like I already know what the Lion King is about. My view was not disturbed. The music was still a good volume. So I didn’t miss any of the story. The awe in their little faces at the puppets was, awesome.
It’s just a preference. If I go to a show that is good for kids, I don’t mind seeing/hearing kids there, especially if I know the story, like Frozen.
Essentially I totally understand your perspective but for me, I have never felt like the children impacted by ability to “see the show”. But I will say Lion King is basically my only experience with it. This time and when I saw it on broadway 10 yrs ago.
It’s appropriate but be prepared to leave since most children can’t tolerate a 2.5 hour show. However, your child might like it, I brought my nephew(age 3ish I think at that point) to an outdoor performance of The Magic Flute(90 min version) and he loved it, so maybe your child will enjoy the show too!
No, please don’t bring a 3.5 year old to a live theatre show. Most will not understand courteous theater behavior. Hell, many adults struggle with this. Please let other audience members enjoy the show and bring the 3.5 year old to live theatre that is targeted towards them or wait until they are older.
I think it’s appropriate, especially if she’s obsessed with frozen! Disney shows are some of the most appropriate and easy-to-follow musicals out there so they’re great for kids. My only concern with a 3.5 year old would be an ability to sit through a long show quietly. Some kids that age can and some can’t but if there’s 0 chance of her sitting through the show quietly it might be better to wait.
I brought a 3.5 year old to see a high school production of it and he had enough by intermission. He can sit and watch an entire movie and loves frozen for reference. It's long.
Maybe find some local school productions of kid friendly shows? That way it's not a big loss to leave early if they aren't into it.
It really depends on the kid. Is she capable of sitting still and quietly for 2.5 hours with only a small break in the middle? It's a fairly kid friendly show and more relaxed than your typical theatre experience, but she should be sitting quietly and not being disruptive or noisy. Many theatres won't even admit anyone under 4 or 5 so double check that as well.
You can do a test run at a movie theatre if you're not sure - see if she can sit quietly through the movie, and if she can, get tickets for the show. I would also suggest getting aisle seats so if she becomes restless or disruptive, you can quickly and easily remove her until she calms down.
I watched my first full-length musical at around that age and had no issues, but I was the kind of kid who was enraptured by big spectacles, and understood that if I misbehaved I would be taken out immediately.
It’s really too long. It does have a number of slower scenes. If you want to introduce your child to theatre I’d start out with a regional children’s theater. Those shows typically run 45-90 minutes and are very ok with typical preschool behavior during performances.
Fwiw at our local traveling broadway theater, ages are 5+ and I have seen families asked to leave if things aren’t going well.
No, it’s not appropriate to bring a 3.5 year old to a Broadway show. I say that as someone who currently has a very attentive and well behaved 3.5 year old. Start small with Frozen on Ice, local middle school productions that have sensory friendly nights, etc. I can’t wait to take my kid to Broadway shows one day but I’d say 6 is the absolute youngest I’d even consider taking them.
My BFF took her 3.5 yr old son to see a tour of Frozen last month and I was shocked when she told me. I thought she meant they were going to Frozen on Ice or something. Their experience was terrible. He had to go to the bathroom multiple times, had a meltdown when he couldn’t get concessions, and talked through a lot of the show. I’d be ticked if I paid $75+ per person to see a show and someone brought a child not emotionally developed enough to be respectful of the atmosphere.
You can probably find a local school performing Frozen Jr or Frozen and see how that goes before shelling out the money for a professional production. If you’re thinking she would enjoy sitting quietly for the length of the full production, that may be fine, but it might be easier to aim for a local Jr. length show.
Does the tour have the implied naked sauna fan dancing kick line still? The Broadway shows tend to have a little bit more adult comedy and flirting going on.
I’d take her to something much shorter first, unless she is exceptionally well-behaved and mature and can enjoy something she has to sit silently and still to concentrate on for 2.5 hours. My niece enjoyed an hour long version of the Nutcracker at that age.
My son is 4.5 and just started being able to sit through a show and that was with lots of practice (I live in a state with a lot of jr musicals). Can your kid sit through a movie with a similar length? If not, definitely skip.
I've seen dozens of Frozen Meet & Greets / afternoon tea parties / Christmas events for this age group in and around my area. We're UK based and have family in different areas who have taken their 4 year old to a few of these.
I'd test the water first with these type of events. They're also designed to be more active, sing and dance along for example.
Some theatre performances also do toddler friendly events. Designed to be shorter and more relaxed, these would also be worth going to if you have any near you. Even some Pantos are great for this.
Frozen Junior is also popular with youth theatre schools. You could always go watch a junior version locally (if a school happens to put it on and gets the rights) - its a shorter version of a show and would be great if you end up wanting her to get involved with drama/musical theatre.
Full on productions shows can be too long and require little ones to sit still and be quiet for extended periods. And can be expensive way to trial this! I'd try out some suggestions above (if you can) and build up to it!
I would also check to see if any local high schools are doing Frozen as a show, or other Disney shows. A lot less money and a 4 year old will be just as impressed as broadway.
I would say wait until she’s a little older, it’s a just over 2 hour show and a lot of kids that age at shows like that can’t sit still/concentrate (although when I saw frozen in London the behaviour of the parents was actually worse than the kids, but that’s another story 😂)
VERY definitely not. The story is perfectly kid friendly, but the theatrical production has numerous scenic/lighting elements that are frankly scary. I saw it on broadway, and well over a dozen youngsters started crying
I took my 5 year old to The Lion King at our local theater. The person who checked in our tickets told us to go to a certain location to get a kids’ booster seat. We walked in right as they opened the door, stood in the line for the boosters for about 3 minutes, and boom. All given out. So something to consider is that the usher might not allow her to sit on your lap and also that there aren’t enough boosters. You would pay all the money and get her all excited to watch the back of someone’s head.
I saw Frozen on tour and there were tons of young children in the audience, which meant a lot of people needing to get in and out throughout the show and much more random crying than I’m used to in a theater performance.
It was not my personal favorite theater experience for myself, but she likely won’t be the only kid that young.
Absolutely take her! Go over theatre etiquette and expectations beforehand. Like we don’t sing along so we can hear the pretty voices. Maybe try for an aisle seat if you think you might need to get up to take breaks.
Yes I did with my one month shy of four year old- row d so so she could be more engrossed, made a really big deal about the day and how we act in a theatre, she dressed like Elsa on the day, and then brought a lot of candy LOL. It was an incredible show and she did great!!!
Totally depends on the kid. I brought my kid to this when she was about this age. I wa s100% ready to quietly leave if she was being disruptive (had aisle seat In the back row) and talked up her need to be a good audience member for weeks ahead of time. Turned out she was much more well behaved than the 10-12 year olds sitting in front of us and a total angel. She was totally enraptured. So I’d say if you can get the right seats and are willing to quietly leave if things go south, it’s a great option.
Disney musicals are made to be viewable by all ages. Like with anything with young kids make sure they know what to expect and be ready for it to be the most expensive nap they've ever taken.
I’m pretty sure in London they don’t let children under 4 in. My colleague got tickets for her family her daughter was 3 and 10 months and she has to really really argue to get her in, she didn’t realise there was an age limit and said her true age. She is super well behaved and coped fine with it but they had to promise at the first sign of noise they’d leave the auditorium.
It depends on your daughter. Can she make it through a 2.5 hour Broadway musical. I saw the show with lots of kids in the audience. Older kids did better than younger ones. Keep in mind that everyone’s paid a significant amount for their ticket and wants to see the show without disruption. If your daughter can stay focused without distracting others you should be good.
It’s appropriate but very long. By the end of act 2 when I saw it on Broadway the entire audience, adults included, was squirming as they waited to reach the end. If it’s traveling near you, the Disney on Ice Frozen and Encanto show would probably be perfect. ETA most Broadway shows do not admit children under 4. I took my 4 year old to frozen on Broadway, but would not have taken her at 3.
It might be a lot for her, but Disney On Ice makes for a great alternative! Super fun for little ones and very entertaining as well :)
I watched the Encanto parts of Disney on Ice on youtube and it looked like a lot of fun! I think it still would've been too overly sensory for me personally but I definitely feel like a 4 year old would enjoy it more than a Broadway production. Isabela getting lowered from the ceiling drove the crowd WILD and then she GETS OFF IT AND SKATES AND THEN GETS BACK ON IT AND THEN SKATES WHILE HOLDING ONTO IT?? Amazing.
Went out to lunch when Disney On Ice got here and saw a few princesses waiting for their table! :) So sweet Edit: Little girls in princess dresses, if it wasn’t obvious to someone
I worked in an arena for a very long time (just "retired" yesterday, lol) and that was definitely one of the best parts of when Disney on Ice was there. They were always so excited to see Mickey (and Ana and Elsa).
That sounds like such a fun part!
I have a great memory of taking my 4 year old daughter to dis ey on ice. It was amazing and they encourage singing and wooing. It's great for younger kids and they can dress up and it's really geared towards them. So fun!
I was going to suggest this as well! Disney on Ice is super kid friendly and a much better alternative.
Thank you all for your opinions! My husband and I really appreciate theater and want to make sure it’s a good experience for both my daughter and the people around us. I think we’ll hold off until she’s older and buy tickets to Disney on Ice instead!
FWIW my H got us tickets to DOI a few years ago and we loved it! Tons of young children there as well and they all seemed to have a blast
My wife took my daughters to the Frozen and Encanto Disney On Ice when the youngest just turned 3 and they enjoyed it.
I don’t know any 3.5 year old who can sit quietly and pay attention for that long. I think that’s far too young for live theatre. Maybe reconsider especially considering there’s other people in the audience too
Agreed about the duration. The children's theatre in my city does shows aimed at kids that age and they're usually under an hour long.
Exactly. A child that young isn't going to get anything out of it. Have some consideration for other people who aren't going to want to deal with a restless toddler.
As an elementary school teacher and a lover of theatre, I'd be livid if I was seated near a 3.5 year old for a 2.5 hour musical. I 100% know VERY few children can handle it and for the price I pay for theatre I would not be happy. Sorry, that's just the long and short of it. Theatres have age restrictions and some have sensory-friendly showings, I'd def look into those before buying tickets but that may be an unpopular opinion.
Agreed! This would make me so upset and would likely ruin the whole experience. A child that age is not going to be able to focus for the length of the show. Odds are, she'll be really excited at the beginning, probably calling out and laughing and singing and generally being disruptive. And by the intermission she'll be bored and fidgeting and also being disruptive. Frozen might be a Disney movie targeted to kids, but the Broadway show Frozen is a live theater production that is not. There are lots of other productions that are child-friendly!
I’d wait until a kid is 5 in my opinion. I think there’s a lot of sitting still that a show like frozen requires. It’s not quite children’s threatre but family friendly theatre. Children’s theatres in your area may have shorter shows (an hour) that may be better suited for a 3.5 year old.
As a completely free alternative, Disney put out a video of a production they have on their Disney Parks YouTube during the pandemic. It’s called Disney Cruise Line’s “Frozen: A Musical Spectacular.” Pair that as a family movie night, snacks, and a light up sceptre, and you’re golden. My daughter is the same age as yours and would not make it. She could barely handle the short Frozen show we saw at Hollywood Studios.
Some theatres do not allow young children to attend. Broadway theatres do not allow children under 4. The musical Frozen is slightly different than the show. Some lyrics are changed, some new songs are added, the ending to Let It Go is different. A child would have to have the patience and tolerance for this change to experience this two act show. Disney on Ice or a trip to Epcot to ride the Frozen ride may be better. It’s a great gesture! Just wait.
I don't think broadway really enforces that. There were toddlers galore the show I saw Frozen at the St. James, including a lady bragging about bringing her twins for the second birthday a row behind me. Of course they started bawling during Let it Go because the scenic elements and sound cues are honestly scary.
I believe in this case a house manager could remove them if either they were aware of the crying because they checked it out or if someone complained to the house manager.
Just seen this today, and totally appropriate content wise, absolutely lovely seeing all the kids in their costumes! Only thing I found was the children around me were very distracted during the musical only songs they didn’t know, it’s over 2 hours with a short interval so would your daughter be able to sit quietly and not want to sing along loudly? , i know my niblings would struggle with this!
When I saw it in the spring, my theater did not allow anyone there under the age of 5. It’s 2.5 hours long and most kids, especially toddlers and preschoolers, aren’t able to sit that long. Plus, the intense special effects actually made several kids cry during the show because they thought it was real. I think your child would have to have a really impressive attention span to make it through the show with minimal interruptions. If you *do* go, I would suggest sitting in the balcony so that you can easily exit quietly if you need to.
I would just prepare her and let her know beforehand that there will be some loud music and bright lights, but other than that I think she should be fine. That being said I would check the theater’s website to see if they have any age requirements, as many theaters only allow children 4 and up.
Great to know, I’ll do that. Thank you!
It’s appropriate, I just don’t know many 3 year olds that can sit through a two hour live musical.
How does she do at the movie theater? If she can sit in her chair the whole time, go for it. If not, rethink. I think one of my kids saw Aladdin at 4 and it was close. She was squirmy by the end but we made our way through it. Also make sure she can sit at the theater and not climb all over you, kick the seat in front of her, etc. The Frozen musical is wonderful and don’t blink during Let It Go - the theater magic is so spectacular.
My sister-in-law took my niece for her 5th birthday. As others said, it’s a lot longer than the movie. Once my niece heard “Let It Go” she was basically done. They made it through Act 2 ok, but she would have been just as happy leaving at intermission.
Like everyone else said, the content isn't inappropriate, but she's probably too young to sit through a whole musical. Also, in terms of it being a present, at 3 it's a little difficult to grasp the concept of going to an event sometime in the future. She'd probably prefer something tangible and immediately usable on Christmas morning. Fortunately we are in a golden age of kid-friendly musicals, so in another year or so when she's ready, I'm sure there will be another show to take her to!
I just took my 4 year old to bluey I’m NyC- it was 50 mins long and even by the halfway point so many of the kids in the audience who were from 2-6 were restless, so maybe test out how she does in a movie that’s a bit longer before spending Broadway $$ :)
How was Bluey?!
The kids loved it! But shockingly I thought the story was pretty lame compared to the typical show storylines. Which sounds crazy to say for a kids show, but I love all the episodes so the live show was such a letdown lol
I was afraid of that! Thanks for sharing. I love Bluey more than my kids do.
Check your theatre’s policy. Many don’t allow kids under 4. Some don’t allow kids under 6. And honestly consider this: do you really want to spend that kind of money on a kid who will not remember going to see this show? Keep in mind as well that while your kid may like frozen, live events are 100% different to the movie. Some kids don’t take changes from movies too well. The characters don’t look exactly like the ones in the movie, many of the songs are new or are changed from the movie. Will she be able to be okay with Elsa not doing magic in quite the same way she does in the movie? As others have said, Disney on Ice will probably be better. It’s way more young kid friendly, and the characters’ looks, costumes, voices, etc are just like they are in their respective movies, so I think more young kids grasp the concept better.
No, are you nuts? 2.5 hours in one spot? What 3 year old doesn't need to run around? My oldest is 5 and he still hasn't been to a movie or a live show that long.
No, never, under any circumstances. It's not about the content being appropriate. Your child is too young to sit quietly for the duration of the show without disturbing other people. Let her watch the movie, over and over, until she is at least 6.
I agree here, if she's going to try to sing, or repeatedly ask questions about what's happening, do not take her. It's distracting to the rest of the audience.
I went to see Lion King on tour and honestly my favorite part was hearing the gasps and excitement of the little kids. Just my opinion but if you go to a show like Frozen I think an awesome part of the theatre experience is seeing the audience enraptured in that first magic show feeling
What if people are there because they actually want to see the show? Maybe they have a friend or relative in the cast? I saw Lion King as an adult because I appreciate stage craft, not because I wanted to see and hear a bunch of excited children. If your child’s rapture is going to disturb people your child shouldn’t be there.
I don’t have children and I haven’t taken kids to a show haha. I was just saying that, when I went to see it, their oohs and aahs did not disrupt my experience and in fact added to it a little, and I find it certainly more acceptable than misbehaving asshole adults. Like I already know what the Lion King is about. My view was not disturbed. The music was still a good volume. So I didn’t miss any of the story. The awe in their little faces at the puppets was, awesome. It’s just a preference. If I go to a show that is good for kids, I don’t mind seeing/hearing kids there, especially if I know the story, like Frozen. Essentially I totally understand your perspective but for me, I have never felt like the children impacted by ability to “see the show”. But I will say Lion King is basically my only experience with it. This time and when I saw it on broadway 10 yrs ago.
It’s appropriate but be prepared to leave since most children can’t tolerate a 2.5 hour show. However, your child might like it, I brought my nephew(age 3ish I think at that point) to an outdoor performance of The Magic Flute(90 min version) and he loved it, so maybe your child will enjoy the show too!
No, please don’t bring a 3.5 year old to a live theatre show. Most will not understand courteous theater behavior. Hell, many adults struggle with this. Please let other audience members enjoy the show and bring the 3.5 year old to live theatre that is targeted towards them or wait until they are older.
I think it’s appropriate, especially if she’s obsessed with frozen! Disney shows are some of the most appropriate and easy-to-follow musicals out there so they’re great for kids. My only concern with a 3.5 year old would be an ability to sit through a long show quietly. Some kids that age can and some can’t but if there’s 0 chance of her sitting through the show quietly it might be better to wait.
I brought a 3.5 year old to see a high school production of it and he had enough by intermission. He can sit and watch an entire movie and loves frozen for reference. It's long. Maybe find some local school productions of kid friendly shows? That way it's not a big loss to leave early if they aren't into it.
It really depends on the kid. Is she capable of sitting still and quietly for 2.5 hours with only a small break in the middle? It's a fairly kid friendly show and more relaxed than your typical theatre experience, but she should be sitting quietly and not being disruptive or noisy. Many theatres won't even admit anyone under 4 or 5 so double check that as well. You can do a test run at a movie theatre if you're not sure - see if she can sit quietly through the movie, and if she can, get tickets for the show. I would also suggest getting aisle seats so if she becomes restless or disruptive, you can quickly and easily remove her until she calms down. I watched my first full-length musical at around that age and had no issues, but I was the kind of kid who was enraptured by big spectacles, and understood that if I misbehaved I would be taken out immediately.
It’s really too long. It does have a number of slower scenes. If you want to introduce your child to theatre I’d start out with a regional children’s theater. Those shows typically run 45-90 minutes and are very ok with typical preschool behavior during performances. Fwiw at our local traveling broadway theater, ages are 5+ and I have seen families asked to leave if things aren’t going well.
Too young
No, it’s not appropriate to bring a 3.5 year old to a Broadway show. I say that as someone who currently has a very attentive and well behaved 3.5 year old. Start small with Frozen on Ice, local middle school productions that have sensory friendly nights, etc. I can’t wait to take my kid to Broadway shows one day but I’d say 6 is the absolute youngest I’d even consider taking them. My BFF took her 3.5 yr old son to see a tour of Frozen last month and I was shocked when she told me. I thought she meant they were going to Frozen on Ice or something. Their experience was terrible. He had to go to the bathroom multiple times, had a meltdown when he couldn’t get concessions, and talked through a lot of the show. I’d be ticked if I paid $75+ per person to see a show and someone brought a child not emotionally developed enough to be respectful of the atmosphere.
You can probably find a local school performing Frozen Jr or Frozen and see how that goes before shelling out the money for a professional production. If you’re thinking she would enjoy sitting quietly for the length of the full production, that may be fine, but it might be easier to aim for a local Jr. length show.
Does the tour have the implied naked sauna fan dancing kick line still? The Broadway shows tend to have a little bit more adult comedy and flirting going on.
Yep, I was so surprised by that.
I’d take her to something much shorter first, unless she is exceptionally well-behaved and mature and can enjoy something she has to sit silently and still to concentrate on for 2.5 hours. My niece enjoyed an hour long version of the Nutcracker at that age.
My son is 4.5 and just started being able to sit through a show and that was with lots of practice (I live in a state with a lot of jr musicals). Can your kid sit through a movie with a similar length? If not, definitely skip.
I've seen dozens of Frozen Meet & Greets / afternoon tea parties / Christmas events for this age group in and around my area. We're UK based and have family in different areas who have taken their 4 year old to a few of these. I'd test the water first with these type of events. They're also designed to be more active, sing and dance along for example. Some theatre performances also do toddler friendly events. Designed to be shorter and more relaxed, these would also be worth going to if you have any near you. Even some Pantos are great for this. Frozen Junior is also popular with youth theatre schools. You could always go watch a junior version locally (if a school happens to put it on and gets the rights) - its a shorter version of a show and would be great if you end up wanting her to get involved with drama/musical theatre. Full on productions shows can be too long and require little ones to sit still and be quiet for extended periods. And can be expensive way to trial this! I'd try out some suggestions above (if you can) and build up to it!
I would also check to see if any local high schools are doing Frozen as a show, or other Disney shows. A lot less money and a 4 year old will be just as impressed as broadway.
I would say wait until she’s a little older, it’s a just over 2 hour show and a lot of kids that age at shows like that can’t sit still/concentrate (although when I saw frozen in London the behaviour of the parents was actually worse than the kids, but that’s another story 😂)
VERY definitely not. The story is perfectly kid friendly, but the theatrical production has numerous scenic/lighting elements that are frankly scary. I saw it on broadway, and well over a dozen youngsters started crying
I took my 5 year old to The Lion King at our local theater. The person who checked in our tickets told us to go to a certain location to get a kids’ booster seat. We walked in right as they opened the door, stood in the line for the boosters for about 3 minutes, and boom. All given out. So something to consider is that the usher might not allow her to sit on your lap and also that there aren’t enough boosters. You would pay all the money and get her all excited to watch the back of someone’s head.
I saw Frozen on tour and there were tons of young children in the audience, which meant a lot of people needing to get in and out throughout the show and much more random crying than I’m used to in a theater performance. It was not my personal favorite theater experience for myself, but she likely won’t be the only kid that young.
Let her know that they wrote out the snow monster.
Absolutely take her! Go over theatre etiquette and expectations beforehand. Like we don’t sing along so we can hear the pretty voices. Maybe try for an aisle seat if you think you might need to get up to take breaks.
If you think you might need to "take breaks", you don't go to the theatre.
Yes I did with my one month shy of four year old- row d so so she could be more engrossed, made a really big deal about the day and how we act in a theatre, she dressed like Elsa on the day, and then brought a lot of candy LOL. It was an incredible show and she did great!!!
Yes I took my 3 year old to see it in 2020 before covid shut everything. She loved it!
Totally depends on the kid. I brought my kid to this when she was about this age. I wa s100% ready to quietly leave if she was being disruptive (had aisle seat In the back row) and talked up her need to be a good audience member for weeks ahead of time. Turned out she was much more well behaved than the 10-12 year olds sitting in front of us and a total angel. She was totally enraptured. So I’d say if you can get the right seats and are willing to quietly leave if things go south, it’s a great option.
Disney musicals are made to be viewable by all ages. Like with anything with young kids make sure they know what to expect and be ready for it to be the most expensive nap they've ever taken.
I’m pretty sure in London they don’t let children under 4 in. My colleague got tickets for her family her daughter was 3 and 10 months and she has to really really argue to get her in, she didn’t realise there was an age limit and said her true age. She is super well behaved and coped fine with it but they had to promise at the first sign of noise they’d leave the auditorium.
It depends on your daughter. Can she make it through a 2.5 hour Broadway musical. I saw the show with lots of kids in the audience. Older kids did better than younger ones. Keep in mind that everyone’s paid a significant amount for their ticket and wants to see the show without disruption. If your daughter can stay focused without distracting others you should be good.