Hawaiian Luau at the Polynesian--Bad Reviews?

[brunette8706]

Hi All!

I have read at all ears . com about the reviews in reference to the Hawaiian Luau at the Polynesian. Has anyone tried this? I know it's expensive $50.00 buck per person, but it seems like people don't have alot of good things to say about it.

I've also read alot of GOOD REVIEWS in reference of the Hoopdy Doo Dinner show at Fort Wilderness. Again, this is $50 bucks per person and includes dinner and entertainment, it seems people rave about this show.

Has anyone seen any of these dinner shows, if so what do you recommend?

Thanks a bunch!

Brunette

 

[jenjersnap]

We did both two weeks ago. We did not enjoy the luau. The food was terrible and the show barely adequate. OTOH, the HDDR was a highlight of our trip. The food was homestyle, but very tasty to us. The waiter brought some other things that our small boys liked better (I think they get it from the Trail's End Buffet next door). The complimentary sangria was good (whereas the complimentary wine at the luau was undrinkable, they might serve it at HDDR too - stay with the sangria, trust me!) The show was corny in the best way! The actors seem to truly love entertaining and we laughed and laughed.

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

We enjoy the Spirit of Aloha Luah. We have done it on our last 3 trips and will be doing it again in Feb. My dd's 4 and 8 like the entertainment and we think the food is good (we prefer Ohana's). It is a bit pricey but so are most sit down dinners on vacation.

 

[sunking]

We have enjoyed both the Luau and the HDDR.

We did the Luau during our trip last summer and while it was enjoyable, the food wasn't as good as I would have hoped. I'm a pretty picky eater and left hungry. However, the show was pretty good and the service was excellent. If you choose the Luau, make sure you book early as the seating is done in the order that you booked the meal. If you do it last minute, you could end up in the back of the seating area and I can tell you I would not be happy sitting back there.

We did the HDDR review a few trips back and it was a hoot. Food was really good and they served as much as you can eat (or fit). The show is fantastic and there is good audience interaction. And as a picky eater, I left full. Same deal here with the seating as the earlier you book, the better the seats you will receive although I don't think I would be too disappointed in sitting towards the back here.

Overall, if I had to choose one, I would probably go with the HDDR.

Have fun!!!
Sunking

 

[Minky]

Having done buth the Luau and HDDR, I can say both were fun, but I enjoyed the Luau much more, the food in my opinion was much better, and the atmosphere and show was really cool. I would do the Luau again...as for the HDDR once was probably enough for me, maybe in a few years. Everyone has their own tastes and speed though, if it seems like something you would enjoy go for it!

 

[silver7]

We did the Luau last July and HATED it! Our seats were not the worst in the room, but were on the last row in the middle on the second tier. You could not see around the people between you and the stage, our server was not good, the food was just ok. . . We were furious with the money we had spent, and we did not even have the worst seats! The seats in the corners would have been worse. People were leaving during the show nonstop. I would not recommend this show.. . .

Unless you were on the front row, or even on the bottom tier of seats.

 

[cobbler]

I like the luau. Haven't been to HDDR in years and that was when I was in my pre-teen years and I remember hating it. Of course now that I am an adult all that could change.

The luau had good food, I thought. The salad was wonderful along with the dressing. The pineapple type bread was wonderful. I could fill up on the appitizers.

They took away the tropical drinks that used to come with the meal and that was my big disappointment.

The storyline in the beginning is kind of corny but once they got going and into the different dances of the islands it was the luau I remembered and I enjoyed it very much.

I am thinking this next trip either HDDR or Backyard BBQ.

 

[momshark]

Haven't done either, but after reading all of the terrible reviews about the luau I cancelled my ressies today and switched to the Hoop De Doo. I was surprised how easy it was to get HHD ressies for April. I think I'll be happier with the HHD - haven't heard anything bad about it. I guess it all depends on the food, weather....etc.
Good luck deciding.

 

[mbcary]

I've done both and I liked both of them. Maybe I am easily entertained. I remember that I preferred the food at HDDR, but I like home cooking.

 

[lllovell]

I am just trying to be patient and wait until my 2 and 4 year olds are able to enjoy things like this. *trying to be patient*

Be sure to let us know what you choose and how it goes!

 

[jenjersnap]

I am just trying to be patient and wait until my 2 and 4 year olds are able to enjoy things like this. *trying to be patient*

Be sure to let us know what you choose and how it goes!

We took a 4-year old and 16-month old to both two weeks ago and they both did great! I was dubious about it but there were lots of distractions and, at the HDDR, the ladies in the show seem to LOVE little kids so they got lots of attention. Give it a try!

 

[lllovell]

WOW Really? I was thinking it might be too much for them, but maybe on our trip in April, it might be a good thing to try!

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

We did the Luau in August of '03 and the HDDR in August of '04. We did like the Luau, but the food was just mediocre. The show was okay. It was interesting to see the different styles of dance from the different areas of Polynesia. The pineapple bread was to die for and I had no problem with the quality of wine served. It wasn't wonderful but it was drinkable.

The HDDR was more fun as far as the show itself goes. We had to rebook due to Hurricane Charley closing down Ft.Wilderness for several days. So, we ended up in the upstairs balcony. But it was fine. The food was about the same as at the Luau as far as quality goes. Dd managed to get some mac and cheese. The ribs were okay but that strawberry shortcake was, IMHO, awful. It was more like strawberry jello on sponge cake. But others like it, so what do I know. The show was good. Probably more fun than the Luau show was. But it is a different type show.

If I had to do one of them again, it would be HDDR. In fact, my dd, 11, wants to celebrate her 13th birthday there!!!

 

[Jillpie]

To Momshark, I just noticed you're from Ma., me too! Grew up in Canton. Anyway, we'll be at the April 14th hoop de doo, celebrating the 13th birthday of our son. This is our 6th time to this show and my boys never get tired of it. It is an absolute riot!! Our countdown is almost there, woohoo!!

 

[wilderness01]

The HDDR is much, much better than the Luau in my opinion. Have fun.

 

[capthooksmom]

We enjoy the Spirit of Aloha Luah. We have done it on our last 3 trips and will be doing it again in Feb. My dd's 4 and 8 like the entertainment and we think the food is good (we prefer Ohana's). It is a bit pricey but so are most sit down dinners on vacation.

Just wanted to say hello Wannabe@WDW

We also enjoyed the luau. We did it and the HDDR in 2001, haven't been since, so don't know if things have changed.
We thought the food was OK at the luau. To us it was just as good as most other places we'd eaten at WDW. We enjoyed the entertainment. My in-laws vacation in Hawaii almost every year and they enjoyed it as much as the ones they've attend there.
HDDR is a hoot. Again, I didn't think anything was special about the food but it was a lot of fun. My FIL and SIL were part of the show so we have some really funny pics (FIL was "Angel in the tutu and halo and yes, he pranced like a ballerina).

 

[brunette8706]

Thanks so much for your reviews, it is very much appreciated. I think I still might try the Luau. I do like the idea of the atmosphere Hawaiian like...I hope, lol! I also love pineapple and hawaiian type food plus you do get the all you can drink wine . There will be no children involved just my boyfriend and I.

Other places I really recommend eating is the Trails End Buffeteria, if you all like the hoopy Dee Do Review try eating at Trails End located in Ft. Wilderness. It's good and cheap! I think the luncheon buffet is $10.99 or you can order the soup and salad bar which is cheaper. The dinner buffet is $15.99 and the Soup and Salad bar is $11.99...or you can get carry out! They give you 3 large containers and you fill up on all there good food! All for $10.99, it's enough to feed 3 adults easily.

Again, thanks for your time writing all your comments, I value them.

Brunette

 

[cranbiz]

Our family did the Luau in December. We has table C10 which was on the main floor in the center at the aisle in front of the second tier of tables. We had a good view of the stage (if the would cut some trees down, would have had a great view of wishes ) The food was pretty good, the chicken was not as good as the ribs IMO, but the pineapple bread and the salad was good and the veggies and rice were OK. I did not care for the mousse volcano desserts (too sweet), but the rest of the family liked them.
We misssed having the free specialty drinks but the beer was good and freely flowing and DW thought the wine was OK. Our waiter was very attentive and brought more food quickly and without us needing to wave him down.

The show took a while to get going, but when it did, it was great. The island dancing was very entertaining and the fire dancer was excellent.

We will most likely try the HDDR our next trip, but will not hesitate to do the Luau again.

 

[Tabetha]

We're doing both on our trip in February - I figure the only way to know if I'll like it is to give it a whirl!

 

[momshark]

Jillpie I've grown up in MA, too - Rutland. We will be in WDW from April 16 - 23. Maybe we'll bump into you.
Have fun!