Even as they begged parents and grandparents for $12 snow cones, $20 toy flashlights and $5 coloring books, the kids seemed excited about what was taking place on the ice.

The show carries on the tradition of the Ice Follies and Ice Capades, once held at the old State Fairgrounds Coliseum in the days before the Salt Palace and now the Delta Center. It features big production numbers, schmaltzy oldies music, colorful costumes, a dash of humor, fantastic lighting, fireworks and fire.

When my 31-year-old daughter learned I was taking my 7-year-old granddaughter to Disney on Ice, she remembered her own youth, saying that ice shows were some of her fondest memories.

The difference these days is that the shows follow a story. Last year, Disney used "Tarzan" and "Jungle Book" themes for its ice show. This year, it's the well-known story and characters from the Pixar movie "Finding Nemo," about Marlin the clownfish searching the Great Barrier Reef for his son, Nemo, who was captured by a diver and put in a fish tank in a dentist's office. With the help of scatterbrained Dory, Marlin tries to rescue his son, encountering a host of fishy characters along the way.

As in the movie, Dory steals this show.

But the real stars are sets that use a 25-by-32-foot rear digital projection screen, smoke and black lighting to create an underwater world. Couple that with recorded versions of classic songs such as "Joy to the World," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" and "Octopus's Garden," and you have an impressive show.

I found a few of the early production numbers a bit on the long side. And the nearly two-hour show had a few of the youngsters staying out way past their bedtimes, especially when Wednesday's performance started 30 minutes later than the scheduled 7 p.m. But those are minor quibbles.

The sets, though sparser than in the "Tarzan" production, use light and puppetry to wonderful effect, creating a dazzling and colorful show with nearly flawless skating.

Disney On Ice's 'Finding Nemo'

Where: Delta Center

When: Today at 4 and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and

6:30 p.m.

Running time: 90 minutes, wtih a 20-minute intermission.

Tickets: $13 to $48

Bottom line: "Finding Nemo" has great production values and wonderful ice skating that will thrill little ones and keep parents smiling.