Compare Hoop Dee Doo, Spirit of Aloha, or Mickey Backyard BBQ

[rstamm]

HDDR is great have done it a few times, food is great!
LUAU only liked 10 min. of the show, the fire dancer, didn't like the food much.
MBB going for first time in October.

 

[Shannone1]

Mickey's Backyard BBQ is a great place to go is you have young kids and want pictures with the characters. We went last week and Mickey, Goofy, Minnie, and Chip and Dale were there. You can dance with them and they also come around to sign autograph books and take photos. There is a country band and everyone can get up and dance and move around. Perfect for kids who can't sit still for long periods of time. Food is buffet style (was ok)- cheeseburgers, hot dogs, ribs, cole slaw, mac and cheese, cornbread and ice cream. Beer, punch, ice tea and lemonade are also included. The show is only offered on Thursdays and Sundays right now.

Hoop Dee Doo Review was great !! My kids (13,10,6) loved it. 6 year old said it was the funniest show he had ever seen. The food was probably the best we had on our trip. Fried Chicken (awesome), BBQ ribs, coleslaw, baked beans and cornbread. Strawberry shortcake for dessert. I think this show would be better for older kids....there are no characters and it may be a little long for the young ones who don't like to sit still or have trouble keeping quiet for 2 hours.

 

[lustergirl]

I don't get it. I think the Aloha at the Polynesian is awesome! The food is great if you love Polynesian food!

Also, I really enjoy the show itself. The music is really nice, and the firedancer guy is awesome! I just love the atmosphere of the place!

MM

we had front row seats- the guys have nice big muscles and made me drewl!! My husband had to take the camera away from me because I was taking too many pictures of them....

We are trying Mickey's Backyard BBQ this september, can't wait!!!

 

[aimeeg]

Now I am even more conflicted!!!!

Hoop Dee Doo has gotten great reviews.

BBQ sounds like it is great for kids. The food is not weight watchers friendly for me at all!

Luau to me seems like it would be pretty cool. My Dh seems to like the idea of that one the best. My Dad also seemed really interested in that one too.

We wanted to make a night of the show and then see wishes. How easy can you get somewhere to see the fireworks after the HDD or BBQ?

 

[Dcanoli]

Of course, the Luau is at the Poly, so you are already there for the fireworks.

Same for HDDR. You are on Seven Seas Lagoon. I am trying to picture it in my head. I'm not sure you can actually see the Castle from where FW/WL sit on 7 Seas, but I bet you'd still be able to see the fireworks.

If not, you could just take the boat from FW over to Poly (at least I THINK you can do that)....others can better confirm......even though we were just there!

I think it's the same for MBBQ because it's also at FW.

 

[LUVMICKEY]

We have done all three also, and enjoyed all three. MBB is the best for the kids to do their thing. Jump, dance and play with the characters and the kids and get involved too

Aloha was fine, we normally do this when its just the two of us, no grand kids. Our grand kids are too young to enjoy the Aloha, maybe in a few years, it would be fine for them. The HDDR is always a great show and meal, the kids enjoy this also, we have never had a bad experience at any of the 3 shows.

Agree , Agree, Agree, they are all great shows and alot of fun, but the Aloha is not as interesting for the little ones.

 

[Shannone1]

How easy can you get somewhere to see the fireworks after the HDD or BBQ?

You are about a 2 minute walk from the beach/marina for either the HDD or BBQ. You can catch the Electric Light Pagent at 9:45 and fireworks from The Magic Kingdom at 10:00. You could do the HDD at 5:00, kill a little time at the playground or go to the stable and see the horses (very nearby) and then go over to the campfire at sing along before going to the beach. They light two campfires and you can buy little s'mores kits if you want. Chip and Dale come out to greet the kids and sign autographs and take photos. Then a CM plays guitar while everyone sings along to family favorites. They also show an outside movie which the kids love, but you probably wouldn't be able to catch the fireworks too.

There are buses you can take from the settlement area (HDD, BBQ, beach, marina, gift shop) to the Meadows area (pool, campfire program). (I think there is also a later HDD show as well if you aren't interested in anything else at the Fort)

We did the 6:30 BBQ which would also give you enough time for fireworks. If you do the BBQ, I would recommend getting there about 5:45/6:00. We didn't get there until 6:25 and had to sit practically outside the pavillion !!

 

[ededmd]

We have a 4.5 yo and a 2 yo both boys. We have been going to MBB for 2 yrs and continue to return because of requests by the 4.5 yo. The energy burn and the interaction with the characters can't be beat. The band is good and entertaining. The food is okay. I focus on the salad which is overdressed but filling and the hot dogs which are adequate. The ice cream treats are always a hit with the kids and the *free* beer a hit with dad. Like many Disney meals, it's the experience as much (if not more) than the food quality that keeps you coming back.

 

[CRZYINNJ]

Hi, I've never been to the HDD or BBQ, but we went to the Luau last year with my DD3 and DD1 at the time (mostly because we were staying at the Poly and thought it sounded cool.) The food was OK (but not really child friendly ie: no mac and cheese or hot dogs) and I thought the show itself was pretty good, there were a couple of times they encouraged the kids to get up on stage and dance. This, however was the extent of the child participation. Even with an early seating, both girls fell asleep before the end of the show. The show is more for adults in my opinion. We plan on trying either the hoop de doo or Mickey's BBQ on our next visit in May when the girls will be 5 and 3. I'm leaning more toward the BBQ judging from the earlier comments. Good luck!

 

[CapeMayMommy]

I must be the only one that feels this way, but I thought Hoop Dee Doo was like a bad episode of "Hee Haw"... I thought that I would laugh , but I couldn't. I wasn't particularly appreciative of the bathroom humor. (I am trying to teach my kids that passing wind in public on purpose is not appropriate)

The salad, corn bread and chicken were yummy... but not $54 yummy. That's more like counter service food. And I don't drink alcohol (beer , sangria)---although maybe I would have laughed more at the show if I did.

My 7 yo step daughter loved the show--so there you go!

I haven't been to the luau or the bar-b-que--so I can't say.

 

[1daisy]

Do the characters go to the Hoop Dee show also?

 

[Figment's Girl]

Just a question for those of you who have been recently, are the side dishes Baked Beans & Mashed Potatoes or Baked Beans & Coleslaw. When we went years ago it was Baked Beans and Corn and allears.net says Mashed Potatoes but people here keep mentioning coleslaw.

 

[nettii]

I just booked HDR I wish Id seen this post first cuz BBQ sounds sooo fun too! Oh need more TS credits!

 

[mikkiwikki]

HDDR - back in the 80s!
Luau - back in the 80s - going back this november
Mickey's Back Yard BBQ - 2005

My reviews might be a little outdated.

HDDR back then was very corny and no bathroom humor that I can recall. I remember being asked to stand up on my chair and some performer singing to me (at the meager age of 10 - I was so embarassed, but my dad and mom were absolutely beside themselves with happiness). I have no memories of the food but it was 20 years ago ~ I was 10 cut me some slack ;0)!

We used to stay at the Poly every year, and went to the Luau every year. I remember going as a kid and thinking it was really kewl. Ill have to report back after our November trip as to how my 5 & 7 year old hold up.

Mickeys BBQ 2005 - Did this for Thanksgiving and I have to say the food really wasnt up to my standards. I think Stouffers & Dixie are the vendors that support this event...Everything is on Dixie Paper Plates etc., (I know it is a BBQ)...Be prepared for LOUD....Like you cant hear what anyone in your party is saying loud. I do agree the show is good though (I loved the "Devil Fiddle" song...Just stunning), and my daughter loved getting up and *trying* to line dance with mommy (who btw cant line dance). We did not get much character interaction at all tho. No pics with characters here...It was thanksgiving day tho.

I liked that after the event they had tents setup to pick up deserts and you could get pumpkin pie, apple pie, etc., as much as you wanted...kid crafts setup for ..decorating cupcakes ...and we got to eat desert on a 'haystack' with a tablecloth thrown over it. My hubby raved about this afterwards...I was kinda turned off by the colecut style turkey for thanksgiving....Overall we wouldnt do this for TURKEY DAY...but we had a good enough time.

 

[monymony3471]

I'm glad I found this thread.

I think I'm in the majority.

I've done HDDR twice and we love it. The boys favorite.

We did SOA and we don't have any desire to go back.

I am really tempted to try MBYBBQ.

With 2 small girls now, I think we will try the BBQ.

 

[Dcanoli]

How many people have tried MBBQ?

With free dining coming up in September, I'm tempted to try it too....

 

[nickandlarisa]

We did the luau last year and loved it, and plan to do it again next year on our honeymoon.

Considering HDD or BBQ, probably not both. Sounds like BBQ is more kid oriented and as two adults we may enjoy the HDD more? Any suggestions?