Aloha v. Hoop-Dee-Doo

[disneyquestions]

We are going back in October, and my girls will be 5 and 6 when we go. I want to do both Aloha and Hoop-Dee-Doo but I don't know if I want to spend 4 credits on two meals. What would you do? One option is we could do both, and then just pay OOP for a meal or two. Or we could just do one, and save the other 2 credits. Which one would you choose over the other, and for what reason? We don't really care so much about the food, but more about the experience for the kids. Another thing to concider, is the time they end. My girls are early to bed, early to rise kinda kids, so I don't want to have them out to late - my youngest is a super cranky pants when she gets tired!!!! lol


TIA!

 

[dntd]

My kids didn't like hoop de doo, it's more for the older crowd. I would do the luau as there is a 5pm show which means you can get the kids to bed by 8 at the latest. My youngest (who was 3) still remembers the fire dancers

 

[BoomNLeon]

The Spirit of Aloha show is pretty good. The food is wonderful, the show has its ups and downs. The theming of the Poly makes it so much better.

 

[dmmichelle]

My boys were 5 and 10 when we went to HDDR in 2008. We went to the 5:00 show and we were back at our resort by 7:30. I have heard mixed reviews of the Luau but most of the feedback for HDDR is overwhelmingly positive. We loved it and it had a great family atmosphere and wonderful food. I actually wondered if it would be too "grown up" for our kids but that was not the case at all. You might want to consider HDDR for the show and then go to Ohana's for a character breakfast or dinner. Then you still get to experience both.

Michelle

 

[pktbMouse]

HDDR was awful....my 8yr old begged me to leave every 5 mins until we finally did...jokes are very corny and not funny..food so so.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

This is the first thread I've ever seen on here where HDDR was not overwhelmingly the favorite of nearly everyone. It is a great show and kids love it. Many do not like the Luau much at all. I've never done the Luau, having done several in Hawaii. And I love the Hoop too much to pass on it. I've seen it at least 8 times, the last time at the front most table. Do both if you like, but do not miss HDDR.

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

The Luau is outdoors, so you are subject to Florida rainstorms, which are often, as well as heat, wind, or cold. The food and entertainment were good, and we enjoyed it, but it is NOT a fun experience when it is the temperature of the surface of the sun or the show has been rained out. For those reasons we will not be booking it again.

Hoop Dee Doo was the favorite for our last family trip. We had a toddler who was a year and a half old as well as teenagers. The food was better there on this trip than on several trips before. It was good, not just acceptable. The kids, from smallest to oldest, loved it and want to return there on our next trip.

We had the first seating of the night and had the little one in bed by eight o'clock including a bath.

Hoop Dee Doo is classic, silly, campy, and oh so fun.

--Eeyore's Wife

 

[laurainsem]

I too am surprised SoA is a favorite! We've done both and HDDR is the overwhelming winner for us. SoA was so long, we got bored very fast. The food was pretty bad (which we usually love every meal we have at WDW) and the only really cool part of the show was the fire dancer.

HDDR on the other hand was at a much better pace, so much fun, the servers were excellent and the food...yummo!!! I think your kiddos would enjoy this much more. We have made this a must-do every trip and can't wait to take my niece.

 

[Luv'sTink]

My son was 9 the first time we seen it; he loved it! Never been to SoA so I can't say about it.

 

[princssdisnygina]

We LOVE HDDR! We do it every other year! Only reason we don't do it every year is because it is 2 TS meals and is basically the same show all the time. BUT... we love it.
I absolutely HATE SoA! I fell asleep once and I tried it again and I was so bored. We took my 6 yr old cousin to see it... she fell asleep on the table after she begged to leave. I will never take a child again and not sure I will every go again.

 

[Tink888]

We did HDDR when my were 6 & 4. We all loved it. The boys still remember it. Both the food and show were good.

Have never done SOA so can't compare.

Pretty mixed bag of reviews here. I'd recommend taking a look at the menus for both on allearsnet.com and choosing the one with the food and entertainment that most appeals to you.

Both have early and later shows.

 

[Disney_Mama]

We have done both and enjoyed the HDDR WAYYYYY more. The Aloha show was fun and we did enjoy ourselves but have been back to HDDR and will go back again.
It's Disney, you will have fun at everything.

 

[CandyMandy]

It's been a while since we did either (HDDR in 2001, Luau in 2005). After doing HDDR -- which our then young children loved -- I actually looked at discussion here on the Luau, which then was pretty much thumbs down. I wished I had followed it. The food was passable but the show felt stale - which moved it from my "once was enough" file to the "that was a mistake" one.

If you have your heart set on a Polyensian show, the Luau Universal runs over at the Royal Pacific (shot below) generally rates higher than the Disney one.

 

[lolakat]

DD LOVED the Hoop Dee Doo at age 2 and again at age 3. We love the HDRR so much that I feel torn about weather to book it again for our next trip or do the Luau. We are staying at Poly so I think we will try the Luau but we will really miss the HDD. If you have the money see both but if you ahve to pick one I would go with HDDR. I disagree with the above poster who thinks the HDDR is more for older crowds. At age 2 and 3 my daughter loved the BBQ food, she love the washboard they give all the kids to play and she thought the show and songs were laugh out loud funny.

The reviews I've seen of the Luau have been mixed. Some folks love it but many say the food is so so and the show is lack luster. I last went about 8 years ago and I remember the food being terrible but I enjoyed the show. I wouldn't go back for myself but I want my daughter to experience it someday.

 

[KungFoomF]

HDDR is a fantastic show. Both are. If I had to choose one it would be HDDR, though. Just more my style. The food at both was great. At the Luau they allow your kids to get on stage at one point to learn to hula. That is pretty cool.

 

[AKL LOVER]

We've been to see HDDR before and LOVED it. So did my DD and DS...they were 5 and 2 the last time we saw it. For our trip this May I booked the Luau to be different. But then after reading all the so-so reviews, I called and canceled and booked HDDR again. I just didn't want to be disappointed with the Luau and feel that I wasted all those TS credits (i.e. all that money!) and I know what we'll get with HDDR. In addition to telling jokes, the CM's sing, dance and come out into the audience--it's very captivating for younger kids--my DS was so into the show he barely ate!!