As Brandon Curcio took to the ice at the Prudential Center tonight, he didn't exactly skate.

Partly suspended in the air with the aid of an adult skater, the 4-year-old from Middletown dug the tip of his little skates into the rink, testing the recent work of a Zamboni. The carefree coasting seemed to delight him enough, but then — joy of joys — out came Minnie and Micky Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck, dressed in all their winter apparel, skating towards Brandon and his sister, Madeline, 8, who wore a neon pink winter coat.

A big fan of the movie "Frozen," the towheaded girl's jaw dropped as the Disney heroines Anna and Elsa skated towards her, cast members of "Disney on Ice presents Frozen," now playing at the arena.

But that wasn't the end of their exciting evening. As Kristoff, another character from the movie, slid toward the group in a big sleigh, a man in military fatigues clutched the side of the moving prop — he was their father.

Jamie Curcio, a member of the Navy Reserves stationed in Afghanistan since January, was finally home. He bent down on the ice to clutch Brandon and Madeline, who were told nothing about his return, embracing them at length before posing for a few photos with his wife, Joanne, and the "Frozen" characters.

Emotional reunion of military dad and family 16 Gallery: Emotional reunion of military dad and family

Since January, the Navy reservist has served at the Combined Security Transition Command in Kabul.

"It's over now," Curcio said, his whole body seeming to sigh as he left the ice to embrace other family members.

"My life, for the past nine and a half months or so has really been embedded with the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police, doing training and assisting for them," he said.

"It's a hell of a homecoming," Curcio said. The initial shock of seeing his children was followed by a wave of relief, he said. "I kind of felt like, 'OK, I'm finally home.'"

After Jamie had spent nearly a year away, Joanne Curcio embraced the chance to participate in the "Pop-Up Santa" event, organized by ABC Family.

"I see them all the time on, you know, the internet and stuff, all the videos of homecomings, and I never thought that we would have this kind of moment to share," she said.

The Curcio family and cast members of 'Disney on Ice presents Frozen' react to Jamie Curcio's surprise homecoming. (Photo courtesy of Courtney Gfroerer/Prudential Center)

Her husband will now return to his civilian life in Monmouth County until he is called upon again to serve. For the time being, though, all he had to do was relax with Madeline, Brandon and their extended family, who were given front-row seats to the ice show.

"I like Frozen," Madeline coyly announced.

"How much?" her mother asked.

"A lot," she answered. For his part, Brandon couldn't wait to see the show's "big snow monster," then made several snarling sounds to prove it. And his father?

"I missed him."

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup. Find NJ.com Entertainment on Facebook.