Can't get kids interested in HDDR or Luau?

[JJsmama]

I am doing all my meal planning and my kids are sick of hearing about it. Anyway, I have HDDR and Luau planned and my boys just aren't interested at all. The older two are 'adults' so it is definitely not cheap. Should I go ahead and take them, knowing they will probably love it or cancel and be glad to save $400 since they don't know what they're missing??

I'm basing the decision to do the DxDP on this, so I need to make up my mind and stick to it.

By the way, when do I have to decide for sure which dining plan I want or if I want it? Before the 45 day mark?

 

[pixarmom]

Hi Jennifer!

We also have three boys - a pre-schooler and two pre-teens! For recent trips (and our next one) we have at least two and sometimes three ADRs per day.

With two pre-teen Disney adults, we select our fixed prices meals (buffet, show or family style) really carefully now. The boys love Garden Grill, so that's easy. Then we add a few character breakfasts.

But at least one family member would have to really love HDDR or the Luau for us to make an ADR for either at this point. When I asked the boys about HDDR and the Luau a while ago, our oldest said that either would be "OK" and our middle son said he wasn't interested. I've been to both HDDR and the Luau, and I like the food at HDDR. But just knowing my boys at this stage, I don't think they would enjoy the shows. And none of us (except maybe my husband) would eat nearly enough to justify the cost.

On the other hand, if your pre-teens eat a lot, it may be a better value. Or if you think they would enjoy the shows but just aren't paying attention to your questions right now (I know how that goes!), you might give it a try. I'm not much help, but in the end, I just wanted to say that I hear you!

Good luck!

 

[JJsmama]

I noticed that your boys ages looked close to mine too. Nope, my 'adult' boys do not eat much at all, but they do eat frequently. If I could justify the DxDP to myself (because we will eat 3x a day) I would do HDDR at least. I had totally planned the DxDP, but the cost for their ages vs what they would actually eat made me re-think it. I am just going to do all OOP I think, but try and pre-pay some of it somehow. I am planning Garden Grill. We've never done it, so I am glad to hear yours liked it.

I think I will skip the dinner shows since mine don't care to go. Why force it?

 

[twooley2]

I would say that it will turn out to be fun and more fun than they are aware of. this exact thing happened to me when I asked my sister to consider it with her teen and preteen kids months before our trip after arriving I bargained with her once we were all at Disney and to agree to eat or two meals offsite for her budget purposes if they agreed to Hoop Dee doo. It was the best hit of the week for them. I knew they would like it but never knew how much till this happened.

 

[twooley2]

I noticed that your boys ages looked close to mine too. Nope, my 'adult' boys do not eat much at all, but they do eat frequently. If I could justify the DxDP to myself (because we will eat 3x a day) I would do HDDR at least. I had totally planned the DxDP, but the cost for their ages vs what they would actually eat made me re-think it. I am just going to do all OOP I think, but try and pre-pay some of it somehow. I am planning Garden Grill. We've never done it, so I am glad to hear yours liked it.

I think I will skip the dinner shows since mine don't care to go. Why force it?

I know some may see it different but paying OOP last year for 10 days was just plain torture. We hated knowing and valuing a meal by the bill and it took the fun out of many meals. I think that thinking you are going to get value for the dollars spent at Disney could dissapoint some.

 

[BlovesC]

If you do force them to go to one of these, you have much higher odds of them enjoying themselves with HDDR. The luau seems very hit or miss judging by the reviews on these boards. In my own experience I'd also vote for HDDR...I'm not into western themes or food by any means, but everyone there seemed to be laughing and having a great time, whereas the luau was dreadfully boring and endlessly long.

Good luck!!

 

[Sgt Tibbs]

Our son, about the same age as your two older boys, wasn't interested in the Luau either until he saw the hula girls.

 

[CathieArms]

I my experience with my daughter last trip is any indication, YES...you should take them.

DD was 13 and "too cool" for Disney. That is to say that - while she was looking forward to the rides - she wasn't into (or didn't think she'd be into) the character meals, meeting the characters, etc. As a result, I didn't schedule ANYTHING specific for her (i.e. the princess character meals).

Uh oh...we got to WDW and she suddenly regressed about 6 or 7 years. She was - at 13 - all into the characters and everything Disney. About the 4th day in, she freaked out because we didn't have a princess meal planned! I was speechless.

She turns 15 next month and we go again in June. Needless to say, she's very specific about which things she wants to make sure we do, including character meals.

 

[JJsmama]

Ok, so to recap, that is several YESes to HDDR and zero YES to Luau? I'm getting a strong indication... Wonder why no one likes the luau?

 

[deannanb]

Ok, so to recap, that is several YESes to HDDR and zero YES to Luau? I'm getting a strong indication... Wonder why no one likes the luau?

I didn't like the luau because the story was boring and really hard to hear - and my 2 year old was running all over the place. Food was GREAT! My 14 year old had an okay time but didn't love it.

We all enjoyed HDDR! laughter from everyone in my group (63, 56, 38, 14, 5, 2)

 

[mjp12831]

How about pitching the backyard bbq as an alternative?

You still get the entertainment, it's nice because it's laid back - it's at picnic tables and it's help yourself to food rather than sitting at a more formal dinner table. There's alot of food variety and it's good. Also, there's a walk up ice cream cooler so you can have 10 mickey bars if you want. If they're not interested in the dancing, they can just sit and eat and relax.

For adults the beer is also walk up, so you don't need to rely on a waiter which is also nice.

 

[Goofy4]

We all enjoyed HDDR! laughter from everyone in my group (63, 56, 38, 14, 5, 2)

Yeah, nothing wrong with the luau, it's just easier to recommend HDDR because at some point everyone is going to laugh (at least once) and it fits in better with a "Disney" vacation.

 

[dsanner106]

I would vote for HDDR, as several others have. I have 3 kids and have had many others along on our trips. This is the one thing that all the kids liked whether they were 9 or 19. The food is really good and the show is all humor, which kept the kids entertained. The Luau is nice but many kids find boring, food is also good but not worth the price if you don't love the show. The BBQ is not a bad option, food is good, we just don't do it because the food is what we typically grill out ourselves anyway and the entertainment is hit or miss with our crowd. Nothing bad to say about it, just not universally loved like HDDR is with our group.

Drew

 

[baler31]

Honestly, I could not vote for either. We did not enjoy the shows or the food at all. On the other hand everyone enjoyed La Nouba, including kids.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

they sound like they need to stay home!

 

[JennyDrake]

From the "been there, done that" file--SAVE YOUR MONEY. These are way too expensive IMHO to chance their not liking it. Both places offer "meh" food IMHO, but I am a Hard Core Foodie.

 

[Stitch2244314]

We were on the DxDP on our trip last July and we did both the Luau and HDDR. We were a group of 10-- We all thoroughly enjoyed the HDDR! The food was very good, and the entertainment was great! I would definitely recommend it.

As far as the Luau goes, I did not enjoy it. That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it, I just didn't care for it. The food for me was lacking, as was the show itself. The fire-tricks and everything were great, but I don't think that was on long enough. BUT, I was definitely in the minority in my group. Out of the group of ten, myself (age 20) and my cousin (age 10) were the only ones who didn't like it. So maybe it's worth checking it out! Have a great trip!

 

[JJsmama]

they sound like they need to stay home!

I find this to be an unnecessarily rude thing to say.

If I have somehow given the impression that my children are spoiled, then it is my fault, not theirs. Never did I say that they were not excited about WDW, but only these dinner shows. Truth is, when we go to WDW, they do like to stick to the familiar and past favorites. That is because their whole life for five years now has been one giant experience in Trying New Things. In elementary school, they were moved from their home country of USA to first Beijing, then Shanghai, China for their father's career. They have been in 4 different schools in five years. they have had to learn to communicate in Chinese and to accommodate being frequently mobbed by strangers who have never seen a white child. They have only a few weeks a year in their home culture and they
don't complain at all. So, yes, at times, I try and take their wishes into account.

This is an example. There are other DIS families who have experienced hardships of one type or another and who want to make their Disney trips special by seeking advice and info here. That is what the DIS is for, isn't it?

 

[JJsmama]

From the "been there, done that" file--SAVE YOUR MONEY. These are way too expensive IMHO to chance their not liking it. Both places offer "meh" food IMHO, but I am a Hard Core Foodie.

there is no question that they are overpriced for the dinner, but i guess Disney keeps getting away with it because people do seem to love HDDR. When i consider it as a show, for which I would have to buy tickets, etc, the price does not seem as bad. I'm still considering Dxdp vs ddp. If i keep Dx, i will definitely keep HDDR but maybe let SoA go. thanks everyone!

 

[threvester]

Another vote for HDDR..my 13 yo son loves this show!! It is a must do every trip..we have done the luau also and it was not even in the same ballpark entertainment wise