Spirit of Aloha or Back Yard Barbeque

MassFamily

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jan 13, 2010
We are starting to plan our trip for next year, we want to go to one dinner show, and saw Hoop Dee Doo last time. Our girls will be 9 and 8, I don't think they will be too impressed with costumed characters who don't talk, so we are thinking the Luau, but the Barbeque sounds fun.

Anyone who has been to both that might be able to add information to help our decision?

Thanks for any help.
 
If you want to do a dinner show, I would see HDDR again. MBYBBQ, IMO, appeals more to kids younger than yours and SoA is just downright bad (boring show for the most part, lousy food).
 
If you want to do a dinner show, I would see HDDR again. MBYBBQ, IMO, appeals more to kids younger than yours and SoA is just downright bad (boring show for the most part, lousy food).

Wow, did not expect that, but I truly appreciate your honesty.
 
If you want to do a dinner show, I would see HDDR again. MBYBBQ, IMO, appeals more to kids younger than yours

Wouldn't recommend MBYBBQ for girls your age either. It is also rather hot depending on what time of year you go. It is all out doors, thought covered, and the wait to get in can be rather long if you want good seats. Have not done SoA, but that would be what I would take my girls too in lieu of MBYBBQ. HDDR is always a fun time! Have fun planning, I know you will find something perfect for your family!
 


I agree with the pp. We didnt like the luau at all. the show was boring and the food was lacking. We loved HDDR. Havent tried bbq but havent heard great things about it.
 
We absolutely love MBYBBQ!! And we are so excited that there was availability on our upcoming trip!! This time the grandson will be 12, granddaughter 11 & another granddaughter that is 8. The bbq is one they always ask for. They didn't care for HDDR at all. We've done the bbq in Sept & in November and both evenings the weather was very pleasant. We did the bus once and the boat once. Much prefer the boat, lol.
I don't think any of the characters talk??? But there is plenty of dancing and don't forget:
All you can eat MICKEY bars!!!!!
 
We are starting to plan our trip for next year, we want to go to one dinner show, and saw Hoop Dee Doo last time. Our girls will be 9 and 8, I don't think they will be too impressed with costumed characters who don't talk, so we are thinking the Luau, but the Barbeque sounds fun.

Anyone who has been to both that might be able to add information to help our decision?

Thanks for any help.

We've only done Spirit of Aloha and we liked it. We thought the food was good and the show was kind of cute (some parts were a little cheesy, but the fire dancers at the end were great). It's not something we would do every trip, but we were glad we did it at least once. I read a lot of not so good reviews before we went, but we decided to try it anyway and we have no regrets. Good luck.
 


I liked spirit of aloha. It is cheesy but it reminds me of LILO and stitch :)

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I've read several times that the food at the BBQ was bad and certainly not worth the price/2 TS credits if you are on DDP. It was BBQ food - burgers and hot dogs.

What time of year are you going? We booked Spirit of Aloha on a late March trip one time, and it got cancelled on us because it was too cold. They will cancel if the weather drops below 50 degrees. We thought we would be safe in March but a cold spell came through. If you are going any time of year other than the summer/spring, consider that as well. Not sure if the same policy applies to the BBQ.
 
We've only done Spirit of Aloha and we liked it. We thought the food was good and the show was kind of cute (some parts were a little cheesy, but the fire dancers at the end were great). It's not something we would do every trip, but we were glad we did it at least once. I read a lot of not so good reviews before we went, but we decided to try it anyway and we have no regrets. Good luck.

I agree with this review. There were definitely some cheesy parts to the show- basically everything in the first half. Once the Polynesian dancers come out it's much more like a traditional luau. My whole family liked the food. However the menu has changed since we were there in 2011, so I can't swear that it's still good.

I have not heard good things about the BBQ.
 
I have seen neither but both seem to get consistently bad reviews


Consider an off-site show such as medieval times or the pirates dinner adventure
 
I enjoyed the food, but the show was lacking. My three girls were very uninterested so much that husband took my middle daughter out to play while the show finished up. I would not recommend taking young children.
 
Thanks everyone!! I do appreciate the honest opinions. With such mixed reviews, I am not sure my decision is any easier, LOL. We are trying to make sure that we don't do a repeat of our last trip, so we'll probably pass on HDDR. I am also worried that it will be EXACTLY the same, even though it will be four years later.

Maybe we will flip a coin or ask the girls which they want to to see.

We are planning to go in May or August, so it should be warm enough for the Luau, and since that one is more expensive and a better deal for 2TS, maybe leaning that way. But, unlimited Mickey Bars are tempting.

Thanks again!:thumbsup2
 
I'm trying to make this decision too! We went to HoopDeDoo in January, so I don't want to do it again. The kids loved it though!

My kids are 10 and 12, so both pay adult prices.... but I want to do the Luau. But $70 per person seems really really pricy....

I don't know if we should do it or not. We're not doing the dining plan, so it'd be out-of-pocket.

Hmmmm, maybe just Ohana instead?
 

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