Kelly-Jane Cotter

@KellyJaneCotter

%22Frozen%2C%27%27 released over Thanksgiving last year%2C is the highest-grossing animated film ever.

%22Disney On Ice%3A Frozen%27%27 is the best-selling tour in 35 years of Disney ice shows.

Santa shares space with Olaf the snowman at an %22ice palace%22 at the Mall at Short Hills.

%22Frozen%22 is based on Hans Christian Andersen%27s %22The Snow Queen%2C%27%27 which also is a ballet.

On Halloween, 9-year-old Angelina Guida of Monroe Township wore a sparkly blue gown, with her long blond hair in a swooping braid.

She was Queen Elsa, of course, from the Disney mega movie "Frozen.''

First look: 'Frozen' ice palace opens at Short Hills

"I liked how she had the power in the movie,'' said Angelina, a fourth-grader at Immaculate Conception School in Spotswood. "And I liked how Elsa and Anna were two sisters who really loved each other.''

This year, Shannon Chadwick, also of Monroe, created a handmade "Frozen'' theme for her daughter Lily's sixth birthday, complete with blue punch and "Frozen'' themed snacks, snowballs made of yarn, a "Frozen" photo booth, "Frozen'' games, ice bracelets, snowman Play-Doh crafts and guests in costumes.

Exclusive photos: 'Frozen' ice palace now at Short Hills

It was a slam-dunk success.

"Everybody knew all the songs, boys included,'' Chadwick said. "I've seen nothing like it since 'The Lion King.' "

And Lily wore her Elsa gown for Halloween, too.

Elsa was the most coveted Halloween costume for girls this year. Costumes from "Frozen,'' which also included such popular characters as Princess Anna and Olaf the snowman, were by far the most in demand, according to data from the e-commerce site search specialists SLI Systems.

That should come as no surprise, considering that "Frozen'' is the highest-grossing animated film ever, with more than $1.2 billion in gross ticket sales worldwide since its release on Nov. 27, 2013.

But it wasn't enough for "Frozen'' to rule the box office, or Halloween, or the Academy Awards, where Elsa's anthem, "Let It Go,'' sung by Idina Menzel, won an Oscar.

"Frozen'' is poised to spread icy-blue magic over the winter holidays as well.

You need look no further than the Mall at Short Hills, where Santa is now sharing his space with Olaf in an "ice palace.''

Children who visit Santa at the ice palace will receive a "Frozen'' look-and-find book. After visiting Santa, kids can visit Olaf and sit on his "ice throne.''

The interactive attraction at the Mall at Short Hills features a karaoke area, where kids can belt out "Let It Go'' or other songs from the movie. There also are games and activities at the ice palace, where kids can make a "Frozen'' handprint and play "Are You As Tall As Sven And Olaf?''

The ice palace opened Nov. 6 and runs through Dec. 24. Meanwhile, "Disney On Ice: Frozen'' is currently gliding through the area. A run at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn ends Nov. 16. The tour's next engagement is Nov. 19 to 23 at the Prudential Center in Newark, followed by shows Nov. 25 to 30 at the Izod Center at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, and Dec. 25 to Jan. 4 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Gig Siruno, performance director for "Disney On Ice: Frozen,'' often watches the show with the audience, and he's been struck by how the story resonates with fans.

"In the 17 years I've been doing this, I've never experienced anything like it,'' Siruno said. "The energy is electric. The characters have become household names in little over a year, and you see everyone coming in costume and how invested they are in the story and the characters. Everyone sings the songs, not just the kids, but the adults, too. It's amazing.''

Forbes has reported that Feld Entertainment, which has run "Disney On Ice'' for 35 years, expects to sell nearly 3 million tickets through the remainder of the "Frozen'' tour, which would make it the most successful production yet.

There are more "Frozen'' dolls, games and other toys than Santa's warehouse could possibly hold, gleaming on the covers of catalogs from Target and Toys 'R' Us.

And on Nov. 18, Disney will release "Frozen'' on DVD, in a "sing-along'' format, just in time for holiday shopping. Cha-ching!

So, what sparked "Frozen" fever? The movie is loosely based on "The Snow Queen'' by Hans Christian Andersen — and if you want to check out that version of the story, the Princeton Youth Ballet is staging it Dec. 20 and 21 at Princeton Performing Arts High School. But why has Disney's story of Elsa and Anna become such a phenomenon?

Angelina Guida mentioned the key words: "power'' and "sisters.''

"Everyone loves a love story,'' Siruno said. "But what makes 'Frozen' unique is there isn't a hero to save the day. It's about family love.''

Unlike other Disney classics, "Frozen'' does not present romantic love as the only path to happily-ever-after. Anna's romance with Hans does not have a fairy-tale ending, while the bond between the sisters is the strongest power in the movie.

"I definitely liked the sisters and their relationship, especially having daughters who are 27 months apart,'' said Jen Guida, mom to Angelina and her older sister, Gabrielle. "I have to say I was surprised when Anna didn't go with that guy. It was very un-Disney.''

Taylor Firth, who stars as Anna in "Disney On Ice: Frozen,'' agreed.

"It's something new from Disney, the bond between sisters and the love they share,'' Firth said. "I have three sisters at home, so I know that feeling.''

Firth speaks with sisterly admiration of her co-star, Becky Bereswille, who plays Elsa.

"My favorite scene to perform is 'Love Is An Open Door' because it's a really fun duet between Anna and Hans and there's great choreography,'' Firth said. "But my favorite to watch is 'Let It Go,' because Elsa is absolutely beautiful and she is an amazing skater.''

In addition to planning parties for her own four kids, Shannon Chadwick is in the midst of founding The Party Godmothers, a party-planning business. She expects "Frozen'' to be a popular theme for years to come.

"We had a 'Cupcake Wars' theme for Abby's party in July,'' Chadwick said of her 11-year-old daughter. "And even for that, it was the 'Frozen' part that was the biggest hit. It crosses all age groups. Even my uncle quotes from this movie. Kids can relate to sibling love, and the fact that they had to stick together in order to save each other. It really rings true.''

'FROZEN' FEVER

DISNEY ON ICE: FROZEN

Nov. 16: Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn. 1 and 5 p.m. Tickets: $26.75 to $414.15. For info: 917-618-6100 or barclayscenter.com

Nov. 19 to 23: Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark. Show times are 7 p.m. Nov. 19; 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 20; 7 p.m. Nov. 21; 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m. Nov. 22; 1 and 5 p.m. Nov. 23. Tickets: $35 to $150.

For info: 973-757-6000 or prucenter.com

Nov. 25 to 30: Izod Center, Meadowlands complex, 50 Route 120, East Rutherford. Show times are 7 p.m. Nov. 25; 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 26; 11 a.m. Nov. 27; 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m. Nov. 28; 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m. Nov. 29; 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m. Nov. 30. Tickets: $21.75 to $660.25, plus parking fee of $15. For info: 201-935-8500 or izodcenter.com

Dec. 25 to Jan. 4: Wells Fargo Center, 3601 South Broad St., Philadelphia. Show times are 2 p.m. Dec. 25; 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 26 to 30; 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 31; 2 p.m. Jan. 1; 7 p.m. Jan. 2; 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m. Jan. 3 and 4. Tickets: For more info:

215-336-3600 or wellsfargocenterphilly.com

A VISIT WITH SANTA AT THE 'FROZEN' ICE PALACE

WHEN: Through Dec. 24. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, with extended hours from Nov. 28 to Dec. 24.

WHERE: Grand Court at the Mall at Short Hills, Route 24 and JFK Parkway, Short Hills

INFO: shopshorthills.com

'THE SNOW QUEEN,' HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN'S TALE, STAGED BY THE PRINCETON YOUTH BALLET

WHEN: 4 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21

WHERE: Princeton Performing Arts High School, 151 Moore St., Princeton

TICKETS: $25, $20 seniors, students

and children

INFO: 609-948-8065

or princetonyouthballet.org