Magic was in the air on Tuesday, October 7 for Disney Night on Dancing With The Stars! The eleven remaining couples danced routines inspired by classic Disney movies and songs.
Reality TV star Dylan Efron and his partner Daniella Karagach were the first on the ballroom floor with a Quickstep to “Life Is a Highway” from Cars. Efron started the show off strong and got himself multiple compliments from the judges. Judge Derek Hough told Efron to work on turning his head sharper to go to “the next level” and Bruno Tonioli complimented Efron’s footwork and told him he is “hitting the highway to the final.” The routine earned the couple a 23 out of 30.
Actress Danielle Fishel was next with her partner Pasha Pashkov with their Quickstep to “I Wan’na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)” from The Jungle Book. Fishel shared in her pre-recorded package that she wanted to take things to the next level this week. The judges praised the dance, but only gave the couple a 21 out of 30.
Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying and his partner Rylee Arnold were next with their Salsa to “Bop to the Top” from High School Musical. Hoying shared in his pre-recorded package how he was once a guest star on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and how this was motivating him to do well this week. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba praised Hoying, telling him his confidence kicked in, but Tonioli told the couple they got a “little bit tangled,” but he appreciated the “effort.” The couple earned a 21 out of 30.
Social media influencer Alix Earle then had a personal favorite dance of the night with her partner Val Chmerkovskiy. The couple danced a Viennese Waltz to “Once Upon a Dream” from Maleficent. The dance was mesmerizing to watch, especially since Earle really committed to playing the role of Maleficent. Hough pointed out it was the couple’s best dance and complimented Earle’s pivots as “beautiful.” Tonioli shared that the dance was “gripping” and “haunting” and Inaba commented that the dance “was so empowering.” The routine earned the couple 24 out of 30 points.
TV personality Hilaria Baldwin and her partner Gleb Savchenko then performed a Quickstep to “Cantina Band” from Star Wars: A New Hope. Baldwin was inspired to do well this week after receiving negative attention online from her dance the previous week. Tonioli reassured the star saying, “The force is still with you… Whatever you did, worked. I was looking for something wrong; I didn’t see it.” The routine earned the couple a 23 out of 30.
Actor Andy Richter and his partner Emma Slater were next with a Viennese Waltz to “Le Festin” from Ratatouille. Richter and Slater were the first couple to dance a Ratatouille themed dance on DWTS, so they had a lot to prove. Like every week, Richter’s dancing fell short of all of the other couples. Inaba told the actor she wanted to see him “challenge yourself a little bit more.” The couple earned themselves an 18 out of 30, landing them at the bottom of the leaderboard – again.
Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and his partner Witney Carson then danced a Cha Cha to “Try Everything” by Shakira from Zootopia. Irwin revealed that he was playing a character named Robert Furwin in the upcoming film Zootopia 2, so dancing to a song from the original film was very exciting for him. The judges praised the routine, Hough saying, “You can’t help but smile when I watch you perform.” The couple earned themselves a 22 out of 30.
Actress Elaine Hendrix and her partner Alan Bersten were then on the floor next with their Quickstep to the theme song from Disneyland’s Space Mountain ride. The couple committed to the bit, Bersten was even transformed into an alien from the makeup and costume department. The judges loved the routine, Inaba saying, “You are redefining what it means to be a mature and empowered woman. That was your best dance.” Hough added he felt “like I was on the rollercoaster. I am so impressed. That was a complicated routine.” The couple earned themselves a 24 out of 30.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt and her partner Mark Ballas then performed a Foxtrot to “The Room Where It Happens” from Hamilton. After the dance, Inaba praised that it was a traditional foxtrot and Tonioli added that the dance was “show-stopping” and “worthy of the best of Broadway.” The couple earned themselves the first “9” of the season, making their top of the leaderboard score a 25 out of 30.
Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles hit the floor next with her partner Ezra Sosa. The couple danced a Quickstep to “Special Spice” from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride based on The Princess and the Frog. After the dance, Hough told Chiles that she was “absolutely beautiful” on the dance floor and that her movements were “crisp.” Inaba added, “When you dance, it’s fun, it’s animated, but it’s also authentic.” The couple once again earned a 24 out of 30.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jen Affleck had the final dance of the night with her partner Jan Ravnik. The couple danced a Jazz to “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin. After the dance, Tonioli called it “grand,” but Inaba explained that there was “something” about the dance that she didn’t love and that she wants to see a dance that is a “little more challenging as we move forward.” The couple earned themselves a 23 out of 30.
It was then time for the night’s elimination. Co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough first announced that 40 million votes were casted during the episode, the most votes in DWTS history! The co-hosts then announced which couples were safe, which left Richter and Slater, Fishel and Pashkov, and Baldwin and Savchenko as the bottom three couples. It was then announced that Baldwin and Savchenko were going home. Baldwin then gave a dramatic, teary – and flat our cringey – goodbye to the show.
Episode five was Dedication Night, and it premiered on Tuesday, October 14.