I think my cheese sorcerer is the only time I've solo'd her. I use an ash every other time because it's just a lot damn faster and less annoying.
Frost pots will cancel the waterfowl dance by the way. I never bothered to use it much as I suck at the timing.
Normally 125 to 150 is considered the normal range to finish the game. Particularly if you are doing the extra bosses. If not it could be a lot less. I tend to do all the dungeons and alternate bosses on every single play through though.
"Critics" don't want to get locked out of the Disney perks ecosystem. No way they will give genuine reviews. It's the same shit as Video Game companies paying for reviews.