Dinner Shows

[meryll83]

Now,
I've never been to one of the Dinner Shows at WDW, but my parents have booked the DDP for when we go next year, and I know they're interested in the Hoop-De-Doo and Spirit of Aloha shows, don't know if there are any more??

Anyways,
I found this link to lots of Disney maps http://willcad.org/disney_maps.shtml#values and noticed that each dinner show has 3 different levels of seating.

Will they get the lowest level because they are using the dining plan (not free dining BTW)?
Do they have to pay to upgrade for a better seat or something? How does this work?

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I am not sure how they work it now, I wonder if it is the same as we went when my children were younger. At Hoop de Doo Revue, you were given assigned seating at the podium, we were there when the doors opened and we were upstairs.. I was not thrilled with our seating so I really saw no rhyme or reason for getting there when the doors opened..

Hopefully someone else might have incite on how the seating is given out.. We did have reservations too.

 

[GailT]

I got there very early and I got seated on the first floor right in the back, no tables behind me but still you sould see the whole show. Now sure though if those would be great seats if you have little ones with you

 

[JoanieS]

There are three "categories". If you are on the DDP, you can be seated on category 2 or 3 for the 5 or 7:15 you can have category 1 for the 9:30 show. I requested category 2 when I made my ADR's for the 5:00 show.

Here is a snippet from the Allears site:

Category 1 will allow you and your party to be seated on the first floor level with your table nearest the stage and in the middle of all the action and excitement.

Category 2 offers either a great table on the first floor behind the Category 1 seating below the balcony or in the center of the balcony on the 2nd floor. Either way, you're still facing the stage so you can get a wonderful view of the entire performance.

Category 3 offers tables that are located on the right hand side or left hand side of the balcony on the 2nd floor. You won't miss a moment of the fun and excitement as you enjoy the panoramic view of the entire stage production.

Disney Dining Plan: The Dining Plan can be used for the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue for Categories 2 and 3 seating. TWO table service credits will be deducted for these shows. Effective August 19, 2007, the Dining Plan can also be used for Category 1 seating at the 9:30 p.m. show, using two table service meal entitlements.

Hope this helps

 

[GailT]

This seems to complicated for me, well not coplicated but have to spend more money for closer seating. Both tims I went first time on the second floor and second time last row in the back on the first flor and they didnt have tier 1 2 and 3 I'm glad my days of doing dinner shows are over,

 

[meryll83]

Thanks everyone

So they are best requesting category 2 when they make their ADR's, and then arriving early on the day to get allocated the best of the category?

Are they guaranteed category 2 if they request this on booking, or is it purely a request and they could still end up in 3?

Do you know how soon before the show the doors open?

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

Actually, it was my understanding from the Dis that the earlier you make your ressie the better your seating will be within that category. It would seem that this is true as there just isn't time between shows to first start making a seating chart. When they start seating, your table is already set and ready to go for the correct amount of people. We also learned a valuable lesson last year. Get in line early when they ring the dinner bell. We must have had a really bad night as several groups were seated at wrong tables. Everyone knew as they had paid for a specific category.
As we stood off to the side with these groups we found out that the people sitting at our table were there on the wrong night!! and were seated anyway. How does that happen? It also happen to one of the other groups and they made the people who were already seated leave. We on the other hand, just couldn't do that to the group seated at our table. One young adult was handicapped and his mother had started feeding him. They were very embarrassed (totally a mistake on their part and HDD staff should have caught the mistake over and hour before when they checked in.). It was easier for us to move but it was our last night and we really wanted cat. 1 seating.
I finally was able to speak to a real manager (Every under manager didn't really care. They were like hey you're still getting to see the show. ) I explained to the manager that we have gone to the show many times and have never had an experience like this. So many people were angry. All the groups that weren't seated correctly and all the people that thought they had good seats only to be moved. What a mess!!! He did comp our tickets and appreciated us for not forcing the group seated at our table to leave.
We will now get in line earlier so that if there is an issue it can be resolved before the show starts. I do think this was a crazy situation and doesn't happen on a regular basis but it really was an awful thing to happen on our last night.