First time at HDDR - couple questions!

[stitchfan18]

We managed to snag a NYE reservation at HDDR, but knowing the resort will be packed that evening, I'm trying to decide the best option to get to our show (4:00)

1- We can drive (we're at the BWV, so it should in theory be a quick trip, but I know traffic could be bad!)
2- Walk to HS and take a bus to FW (would this bus take us right to the Settlement or would we need to transfer at some point?)
3- Minnie Van (Have always wanted to try this, but I assume prices will be high along with demand)

Which option would be best, or is their an alternate option to consider?

2nd question: I've read about needing to pick up our tickets from concierge before heading to FW. Is this still a thing? I don't see anything about this in our confirmation email, and now I can't find the blog I read that on.

Any other tips to know before our first time? I'm so excited to finally experience HDDR!

 

[jimmymc]

Take the BWV bus to Magic Kingdom and the boat over to FW.

Your first two options will both drop you off at the front of FW, and you'll have to take an internal bus to the back of the resort. I'm not sure if they allow Minnie Vans to take you all the way to the back.

The boat from MK drops you off right at HDDR and is both a nicer and faster ride.

 

[CarolynFH]

We usually do the bus to MK, boat to FW route because, as above, it drops you off at the Settlement just a short walk from Pioneer Hall. I’d allow lots of extra time, at least a couple of hours, to allow for wait time as well as slow traffic, although the bus may take a difficult route from normal to avoid the worst tieups.

You’ll check in at Pioneer Hall. There are signs there that tell you where.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'm not sure if they allow Minnie Vans to take you all the way to the back.

FYI, Minnie Vans can drop off and pick up inside FW close to HDDR's location.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Minnie Van would be most convenient in terms of transferring and timing, but hard to predict availability around the evening dinnertime rushes, although with your early show you'll be on the front end of that (although it's NYE so all bets are off!).

I agree with others, bus to MK then boat would be my next choice among the alternatives.

I'd probably be eyeballing availability for Minnie Van while heading to the BWI bus stop and make a game time call. Worse thing that happens is you get to HDDR early and you have some time to stroll around, maybe get something at Crockett's Tavern if inclined, etc.

Probably stating the obvious but on 12/31 I'd probably overdue your timing with any option 'just in case.' It's a different kind of day around WDW and sometimes simple transportation tasks can all of a sudden be difficult (or sometimes it's no big deal and you're wondering what all the hoopla was about), but better safe than sorry I guess.

Don't forget MK does a 6:30pm fireworks show if you'd like to catch it after HDDR.

Have fun!

 

[stitchfan18]

Thanks for all the replies! I thought about doing the MK/boat option. I wonder how crazy the monorail would be that day, we are AP & have Epcot park passes, so we could walk through the park to and monorail to MK to avoid any crazy traffic. We’ll definitely allow lots of extra time!

 

[CarolynFH]

Thanks for all the replies! I thought about doing the MK/boat option. I wonder how crazy the monorail would be that day, we are AP & have Epcot park passes, so we could walk through the park to and monorail to MK to avoid any crazy traffic. We’ll definitely allow lots of extra time!

The walk through Epcot, monorail to MK route would be what we’d do just for fun! If you have a lot of time, that would work. Just remember that Epcot will be very busy, so allow time for making your way through the crowds!

 

[livbeatles]

We took a Minnie Van to our HDDR booking last month, but couldn't get one afterwards due to demand (we eventually just took the bus over to Wilderness Lodge--as it ran from the same waiting point as the MV pick up--and got a taxi from there). It was the last show of the evening, but not a particularly busy time period.

Even with online check in for the dinner/show, outside the building there will be a check-in area where they will give you your table number slip, and have you speak to the chef about allergies, if applicable (you'll get a text once they start doing that check-in). We saw people lining up in a big queue for the check in (and then in another big queue to enter the building when it was time), but we just avoided all the lines and waited until they petered out, because we were going to have an assigned table anyways!

 

[jimmymc]

FYI, Minnie Vans can drop off and pick up inside FW close to HDDR's location.

Ok good. I knew they did it at resorts with multiple buildings but I wasn't sure about the fort.

 

[bama_ed]

Ok good. I knew they did it at resorts with multiple buildings but I wasn't sure about the fort.

Well they do it at Fort Wilderness but I am not sure about those other WDW resorts.

At FW the Minnie Vans do their drops/pick-ups at the Settlement Bus Depot near the new Tri-Circle-D ranch barn. It's about 100 yards walk to HDDR at Pioneer Hall.

If the OP is at BW the easiest way there is to get to MK (bus or monorail/walk) and then boat/bus to MK. Then do it in reverse when the show is over.

We did HDDR at Thanksgiving 2022. You can either do checkin ONLINE or INPERSON for the show. Either one works equally as you already have an assigned table behind the scenes. There is a separate line (close to the in-person checkin) to relay any special dietary needs (a vegetarian in our group in my case). There is a member of the kitchen staff there to note those and your table/group assignment. If you don't have this requirement, you can skip it and just join the group queuing up to get seated at their assigned tables.

We loved HDDR last month (maybe our 5th show?) and we've sat all over the hall. Although the music has changed over the years (to avoid paying royalties for the songs), it's still a great show with real live actors and jokes. Enjoy the show!

Bama Ed

 

[CarolynFH]

We did HDDR at Thanksgiving 2022. You can either do checkin ONLINE or INPERSON for the show.

Oh good, sounds like they changed procedure. In July 2022 we had to check in at the booth despite having checked in online. It wasn’t very long after HDDR reopened, so maybe they weren’t using online checkin to its fullest.

 

[Joanna71985]

We did HDDR at Thanksgiving 2022. You can either do checkin ONLINE or INPERSON for the show. Either one works equally as you already have an assigned table behind the scenes. There is a separate line (close to the in-person checkin) to relay any special dietary needs (a vegetarian in our group in my case). There is a member of the kitchen staff there to note those and your table/group assignment. If you don't have this requirement, you can skip it and just join the group queuing up to get seated at their assigned tables.

When I did Hoop 3 weeks ago, even if someone did online check-in, they still had to check in with the host so they could get their table number

 

[MinnieMSue]

When I did Hoop 3 weeks ago, even if someone did online check-in, they still had to check in with the host so they could get their table number

Yes this is how we had to do it in august too. You have to have the paper to give the person who seats you.

 

[bama_ed]

Yes this is how we had to do it in august too. You have to have the paper to give the person who seats you.

Odd thing is, the guy in front of me on the stairs inside HDDR (rainy day so queued under roofed area near ticket/concierge windows and entered through side door) to be seated didn't have a piece of paper (checked in online) and they looked up his table on the hand-held device, found his table number/location (which they have pre-assigned in their system), and led his group over to get seated.

I'm sure it's quicker/easier to have all the guests hand over a piece of paper than to the person with the hand-held to do a lookup on every one of the 60+ (however many it is) groups that have to be seated all at once. Because there is only so much time between shows to load, serve, go, and clean up before they do it all over again. So they push the identification onto us to save them some time. It actually makes sense if you consider everything involved.

I questioned the piece of paper when I was in line and was told the truly ONLY reason you need to have one is if someone in your group has a dietary consideration (allergy, vegetarian, etc. which our group DID have) that the kitchen staff member standing next to the check-in group taking those requests does NOT have a hand-held device and thus MUST have a piece of paper to look at for a table number to get the right foods to the right table. Again, that actually makes sense if he doesn't have a hand-held.

Thanks! Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

Odd thing is, the guy in front of me on the stairs inside HDDR (rainy day so queued under roofed area near ticket/concierge windows and entered through side door) to be seated didn't have a piece of paper (checked in online) and they looked up his table on the hand-held device, found his table number/location (which they have pre-assigned in their system), and led his group over to get seated.

I'm sure it's quicker/easier to have all the guests hand over a piece of paper than to the person with the hand-held to do a lookup on every one of the 60+ (however many it is) groups that have to be seated all at once. Because there is only so much time between shows to load, serve, go, and clean up before they do it all over again. So they push the identification onto us to save them some time. It actually makes sense if you consider everything involved.

I questioned the piece of paper when I was in line and was told the truly ONLY reason you need to have one is if someone in your group has a dietary consideration (allergy, vegetarian, etc. which our group DID have) that the kitchen staff member standing next to the check-in group taking those requests does NOT have a hand-held device and thus MUST have a piece of paper to look at for a table number to get the right foods to the right table. Again, that actually makes sense if he doesn't have a hand-held.

Thanks! Bama Ed

In the end, every guest is at the mercy of the CM's rules and requirements. The "piece of paper" is not a REQUIREMENT. But if the CM insists on being the GATEkeeper, you have few options.

Whatever.

I feel sorry for the CM's that insist on the paper. That is the right they have due to their position.

For them I do feel bad. But life goes on and they don't take away from the HDDR show. It is a LOT of fun!

Bama Ed

 

[Lehuaann]

Bama Ed, this past Wednesday one the Proprietor’s assistants (cowboys) told both lines that if they didn’t have the paper, to leave the line and checkin. Not sure what the purpose of online checkin is.

 

[bama_ed]

Bama Ed, this past Wednesday one the Proprietor’s assistants (cowboys) told both lines that if they didn’t have the paper, to leave the line and checkin. Not sure what the purpose of online checkin is.h

Earlier post edited to be brief:

Yes we had a CM walking up/down the queue reminding folks to check in and have the paper ready once they got inside. Online checkin is part of the ADR system and all the other table restaurants likely use it and encourage its use. It's just Hoop that seats its entire capacity at one time.

You would think Disney IT could/would suppress/not offer the online check-in option for Hoop in this case.

Or the CM walking up/down the line making the announcements should also say, "if you checked in on-line you STILL need to check-in in person". I can't recall if he did that but I don't think so.

So folks, don't do online check-in at Hoop.

Bama Ed

 

[Joanna71985]

Bama Ed, this past Wednesday one the Proprietor’s assistants (cowboys) told both lines that if they didn’t have the paper, to leave the line and checkin. Not sure what the purpose of online checkin is.

it's been that way the last few times I've done Hoop too (there were cast members walking up and down the lines letting people know they had to check in at the barrel to get the table number)

 

[bama_ed]

it's been that way the last few times I've done Hoop too (there were cast members walking up and down the lines letting people know they had to check in at the barrel to get the table number)

But did they say, "Even IF you did the online checkin, you still have to stand in line with the Homunculus (Latin) ? I'd like to know.

I don't disagree with you, @Joanna71985 , because if the CM's want to enforce an ARBITRARY rule (from the guest's POV), I guess they can. They're trying to get people in/out as quick as possible. We all understand that.

I'm lost on this point but can you explain why they send on-line check in texts/messages/links (via the App) for Hoop guests? If it means nothing? You still have to go through the in-person line check-in?

And sure, in hindsight, I wonder why the guy in front of me didn't hear all the messages and announcements about having the super-important slip of paper. But he got seated. I saw it and actually UNDERSTOOD it (logically).

Bama Ed

PS - So same message applies. The CM's at HDDR are the gatekeepers. If they say you need a slip of paper, get it. They MAY make an exception as I saw but don't count on it. Ignore the messages from your MDE App to check in online.