Do you remember me asking if $300 was too much for a family to spend on Hoop Dee Doo?

[Belle5]

Our verdict, sadly, is yes. I would have been happy to spend $150--maybe $175 for this meal. This truly was not a $300 experience for us. Are we glad we did it once? Yes, because now our curiosity is satisfied. The chicken was delicious, as were the rolls, beans, corn and ribs. The salad was ok. The strawberry shortcake tasted like something from a hospital or cafeteria. I would have expected to pay about $100 on Disney propery for this Trail's End kind of food (for our family of 7). Would I then pay $200 for that entertainment? NO! Did we have a few laughs? Sure!

A note about our server: SHE WAS AWFUL!!! She obviously knew she did not have to EARN her tip since it was prepaid. This restaurant would have received our award for worst service if we hadn't seen other servers acting friendly with their tables. Enough said.

 

[Harambe]

Sorry you did not enjoy the HDD! We had a great time at ours, although the food is not the stuff dreams are made of. We laughed ourselves silly and will always cherish the night.

Glad we did it, but it is not something to do every trip. You've experienced it and that is probably enough for you guys.

From some of your other posts, glad to see there were other meals that you enjoyed!!!!

 

[rbuzzotta]

we also satisfied our curiosity and went last summer. It was fun but my 3 DD's barely ate anything ( we gave them Mac and Cheese when we got back to OKW because they were hungry!!) and DH doesn't drink beer or alcohol so it really wasn't worth the price we paid for a family of 5!!

Now the family of 5 next to us surely ate their fare share and drank alot............it was worth it to them!!!

To each his own I guess....

 

[sherry8253]

I remember your post. Sorry it didn't meet your expectations. But at least now you will know that you are not missing anyting when you don't go. I am like you all - I think it is over priced and I am not thrilled with the show. But since my DH thinks it is great and we didn't go last year, I will be attending in Dec. I could think of much more fun ways to spend the $100 it is going to cost us though.

 

[CamColt]

Bummer! Thats too bad you didnt enjoy it as much as some of us here have. Rosemary has a good point, it can be worth it for some, but not for others. I know we got our moneys worth on food and drink alone, nevermind the show. My kids wouldnt eat any of the regular food so we preordered mac & cheese for them and that kept them happy.
Well, at least now you know.

 

[zurgswife]

The cost for my family of 6 is exactly why we won't even consider trying it.....my kids don't eat anything and paying $25 for them to eat nothing...is way to high...Maybe when they are older and I can at least get something for my money...

 

[MinnieGi]

Belle - I remeber when you asked that and I probably encouraged you to try it. So sorry it didn't work out. Not having good service would really put a big damper on the evening. But at least now you have tried it and know whats its about and can cross it off your "WDW done list!" I'm sure this show is not favored by everybody either.

My DH who originally did not want to attend the show thought it was such a fun time we are doing it again on our next trip and this time bringing his parents too. I hope we don't get your server! We were in the balcony last time and honestly all the servers up there were so attentive and very friendly.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi ya Belle.... I remember your post and I remember encouraging you to go and it would be worth it... ooops!

Sorry it was not as good as you expected - but I bet you are happy you tried it.

I was surprised about your comment on the strawberry shortcake... we loved it! (and I have had a lot of strawberry shortcake in my life )

Has your family tried the Poly Luau?

>>^..^<<

 

[LAWalz23]

Interesting review! I agree with you about servers when the tip is automatically included sometimes feel that they don't have to try as hard, thankfully they are in the minority. We have had this happen not only at WDW but at home as well.

 

[n2mm]

That is too bad. I agree that it's not worth that price considering the food you get and to get a bad server is worse. We would never take my grandson because of the food selection. We now only do HDDR and the Luau when we get a cast discount on the meal. It then becomes a good deal. We did the HDDR last week while on vacation in WDW. We did the 9:30 show and the place was empty, only about 14 tables. We had a great server and left the difference to make the appropriate 20% tip. I'm not a rib and chicken eater, but my DH loves the show, so for the price we paid it was a great deal. Also not a beer and wine drinker either. Will, however, miss the tropical drink at the Luau now. Would never do this show full price. Since the place was empty for the 9:30 show, I can't understand why there are not discounts on the 9:30 show (DC or AP) like in the past.

 

[BCV23]

Belle I think I encouraged you too and I'm sorry it didn't work out. Bad service can certainly ruin a meal.

At least you tried it before all your boys were paying adult price.

 

[Gillian]

Thank you for your review! I think having a bad server feels even worse when people around you have a good one.

 

[CarolynU]

Saw the show last Summer, and again at Christmas. Had a great laugh both times. Food OK. Server in the Summer fine, but at Xmas awful. In fact the retaurant was so cold that I got a pair of shorts that I had been wearing during the day, and wrapped them around my neck for extra warmth! Unfortunately I left them behind at the end of the evening, and they were then thrown away I think. Not sure if it was the server though. Reported it the next day to Guest Services at the MK, but lost and found at Fort Wilderness was closed for the day, and the CM just said tough basically. So I never did get them back, because although we kept chasing it up they never re-appeared.