While my 2-year-old daughter and I were vacationing in Riviera Maya, Mexico, our hotel concierge informed us that Cirque du Soleil had a residency in the area called JOYÀ. The show is recommended for children ages 3 and up, but I still wanted to take my kid along since we were on vacation. I splurged on two tickets for the VIP show and dinner experience package, which cost about $700 total.
Here’s what the experience was like:
I chose the VIP show and dinner experience because I wanted a fancy meal. When I originally got tickets for this Cirque show, the idea of a fancy dinner drew me in. The experience included a welcome cocktail, a three-course dinner, and preferential seating with unlimited Champagne.
The staff was great with kids — When we arrived at the show for the early seating, the manager was very kind, and the service was thoughtful. Staff members helped us to our seats, secured my daughter in her high chair, played peekaboo with her when she was impatient, and frequently checked on us. When they noticed my daughter wasn’t eating her food, the manager offered to have the kitchen make pasta and french fries for her.
The VIP package came with some useful perks — With the VIP show and dinner experience, we were able to access the theater 30 minutes before the regular entry time. This was a huge perk because it meant we didn’t have to stand in line. My daughter and I were able to unwind, settle in, and enjoy the preshow musicians and singers.
The food was so whimsical and creative — I loved the creativity in each meal, from an edible bread menu to the elaborate vessels containing our courses. The appetizer included a seafood medley, edible flowers, and breadsticks complete with a foggy ambiance, thanks to a vial of decorative dry ice. My short-rib main dish came with a bowl that resembled a bone. Dessert was served inside a tray that opened and closed like a book. I appreciated that the whimsical touches thoughtfully tied into the theme of the Cirque show we were about to enjoy.
The storyline was confusing at times, but I enjoyed most of the show — The show is about a grandfather who sends his granddaughter on a series of quests. Along the way, she encounters unique humans, animals, and hybrid life-forms played by acrobatics, singers, and dancers. According to Cirque du Soleil’s website, the show features components of Mayan culture and was inspired by the monarch butterfly’s migratory journey. I found the storyline hard to follow at some points, especially since I was watching the show for the first time. However, the confusion didn’t detract from my own, or my daughter’s, enjoyment. Though she couldn’t fully comprehend everything, she still enjoyed the ever-changing stage performances and visual sets. She even kept saying “hi” to the rabbit character to get his attention.
Some scenes were a little scary for my daughter — Before the show started, I learned some scenes would be dark and feature flashing lights, so I was advised to take my daughter outside if she cried. Some moments initially scared her, and we were on the brink of leaving a couple of times. Thankfully, though, these sequences were brief. By the end, she was enamored with the show and particularly loved the trampoline performers and the aquatic sea creatures. On the car ride home, she talked about “the jumping” and “the fishies,” so I knew she had a great time.
We had fun, but I wouldn’t bring my daughter to a show like this again — The VIP package was spectacular but ultimately wasn’t suited for my daughter and me. I found the dinner to be a bit of a waste since my daughter didn’t touch most of her food. I also found that I couldn’t get fully lost in the bells and whistles of the show because I was focused on caring for her. Ultimately, I think we would have been just as happy with one of the show-only experiences. Of course, being under the recommended age limit could’ve been a factor in my daughter’s enjoyment of the show. I’d only go again if I were attending the show with my husband and celebrating a milestone like an anniversary or birthday.
{ SOURCE: Tiffany Leigh, Business Insider }
