1st Timers FIRST DINNER

[MHofeners]

Hi all! Hoping you can help me finalize our dinner plans for our first night ever in WDW. We are staying at the Contemporary and have 3 boys (almost 3, 4 & 7). We are doing character bfasts at Cape May Cafe & Chef Mickey as well as Trex Dinner & BOG dinner thru-out our stay.

Current options (although open to other suggestions):
Aloha Dinner Show
Hoop Dee Doo Revue (leaning towards this one)
Whispering Canyon at Wilderness
Sanaa at AKL

*if we choose to go to WL or HDDR, can we take the water transportation there? I think the boys would really like that.

After dinner suggestions?

Also - suggestions for seeing the water parade & fireworks on night one?

 

[Wes1stTrip2016]

We chose Whispering Canyon for our first meal or our first trip! Looks like a fun boy experience and I personally just want to see the lodge! =)

 

[tmws66]

Hoop Dee Doo is a blast and you will not be disappointed. Yes you can take the boat to the camp grounds from your resort. Just walk out the back of the Contemporary toward the pool and you will see signs for the boat.

 

[wdwrich]

Another vote for HDDR (from the list your provided). It's a great experience!

 

[Kirk]

I rarely miss the good cornball fun and country cooking of the Hoop-Dee-Do:

But the Luau has a great Show and food as well:

Sanaa at AKL is a great food experience but more fun for adults IMHO.

Whispering Canyon at Wilderness is a fun party type experience.

I rank them:

HDDR>Luau>WC>Sanaa


(Spoiler pictures from HDDR held back although I was tempted!)

 

[sarmat1]

HDDR is a great choice. We did it several years ago and my kids (then 3 and 6) loved it, particularly the parade at the end. But I'll also go off the board and recommend 1900 Park Fare at GF. Easy for you to get to on the monorail. And the step sisters and Lady Tremaine will absolutely love your boys. Not to mention they can meet Cinderella and Prince charming. It's a buffet, so there's plenty of choices to eat as well.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Without a doubt, Hoop Dee Do....we've gone over 10 times and it just keeps getting better and better....first off, it very cold in there, dress approiately, best chicken on property and the show is hilarious, even for youngsters...

Easy boat ride out the CR back to either WL or FW, where
Pioneer Hall is..

 

[amym2]

As much as we love HDDR and Sanaa, I'd go with Whispering Canyon. It's an easy boat ride from the CR and is so much fun. The WL is a beautiful resort. We did HDDR when our kids were 9 and 7, and they were both old enough to appreciate the corny humor. I know plenty of people take younger kids and love it, but I'd save that for a future trip.

 

[Oneanne]

I vote for Hoop De Doo. Just did it for the first time on my last trip and it was a hoot. I was seated up on the side balcony where I could see the show and the audience and enjoyed seeing all the kids so in to it. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Hopefully]

HDDR for sure. And I agree your boys will like the boat ride

 

[fairy oma]

I vote for HDDR...corny but the kids love it and even the adults get into it. I also agree with PP about the boat ride.

 

[Disney44please]

I would pass on WCC. Although the lodge is beautiful, our WCC experience was underwhelming. If you do HDDR you could always take the internal bus system to the Chip and Dale Sing-A-Long. They do roasted marshmellows, snacks and a camp fire sing a long.

 

[MHofeners]

I would pass on WCC. Although the lodge is beautiful, our WCC experience was underwhelming. If you do HDDR you could always take the internal bus system to the Chip and Dale Sing-A-Long. They do roasted marshmellows, snacks and a camp fire sing a long.

Ok! LOVE this idea! We are big campfire fans and I think my kids would like to see Chip N Dale! How do I do this - will it be self-explanatory after dinner? Certain time to see the characters, etc?

 

[MHofeners]

oh and could we see the water parade &/or fireworks from here?

 

[Kirk]

Ok! LOVE this idea! We are big campfire fans and I think my kids would like to see Chip N Dale! How do I do this - will it be self-explanatory after dinner? Certain time to see the characters, etc?

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/chip-n-dale-campfire-sing-a-long/

 

[itchin2go]

When are you arriving at WDW?

 

[MHofeners]

we arrive on Wed 7/29. BUT I just realized that we will not be able to make the 4pm dinner Our flight gets in at 2:30 pm and we will use ME to Contemporary and I think that is just cutting it too close for comfort! We can still book for the 6pm dinner, but we wont be able to do the wagon ride - oh well - such is life! We can still make Chip N Dale and, I hope, the Water Pageant/Wishes from the beach at FW.

 

[MHofeners]

Aggghhh so I finally found the time for Chip N Dale and looks like it is 8pm and the HDDR is 2 hrs starting at 6:15. So doe this mean we will miss chip n dale??? Can we duck out a few minutes early? How long does Chip n Dale last - anyone here know? I swear the universe does not want to align for this night!!!!

 

[wdwrich]

Aggghhh so I finally found the time for Chip N Dale and looks like it is 8pm and the HDDR is 2 hrs starting at 6:15. So doe this mean we will miss chip n dale??? Can we duck out a few minutes early? How long does Chip n Dale last - anyone here know? I swear the universe does not want to align for this night!!!!

Perhaps trying to squeeze both in one evening is a bit much. Enjoy HDDR and do the campfire another night, or on another trip. Keep in mind that it is a common thing for 1st timers to attempt to do too much on their visit. No one can get everything crammed into a single WDW vacation. If you try, you may just stress yourself and your family so much that the trip will be much less enjoyable than it should be. Remember- it's a vacation.

 

[MHofeners]

Perhaps trying to squeeze both in one evening is a bit much. Enjoy HDDR and do the campfire another night, or on another trip. Keep in mind that it is a common thing for 1st timers to attempt to do too much on their visit. No one can get everything crammed into a single WDW vacation. If you try, you may just stress yourself and your family so much that the trip will be much less enjoyable than it should be. Remember- it's a vacation.

Agreed!

:/

Wondering if we should opt for 1900 Park Fare instead?? My 7 yr old has been begging for this trip and its a surprise and I just want the first night to be great! (Especially since they have to wait til the next day to actually go into MK and I know he will be chomping at the bit...) I thought seeing some characters would really bring it up a notch 3 boys so I was thinking FW & HDDR might be a better bet (although they do still like princesses and did see the new Cinderella movie and enjoyed it - and we could watch the original, which they have never seen, beforehand). I know I am overthinking it ha ha! But I was drawn to FW & HDDR bc they could do the pony rides or wagon ride and see Chip n Dale/do the campfire, but now I think it may pan out to be dinner only - and 2 hrs at that with the younger two (almost 3 and 4) who may do great or may not...

Thoughts? suggestions?