Help me choose: Hoop De Do or Luau

[kylewayne]

We are going over to WDW for 6 nights in July, and I am trying to decide b/w Hoop De Do and the Polynesian Luau.

For those of you who have been let me know your thoghts. I have a 16 yr old DD and 4yr old DS.

Thanks!

 

[KingdomHearts]

My Dh and I went to both places to eat, and we prefer Hoop De Do Review. The Luau has ok food, we like the bread, ribs and vegetables. The show was ok, but I dont think it was worth the money we paid, there is only so much food you can eat. I think the only way we would have gotten our monies worth is if we drank the alcohol drinks that were included with the dinner, but we are not big drinkers. But everyone has a choice, and an experience. I am glad that we did the luau just to say that we did it but I would never go back again. I would do HDD again! Hope this helps!

 

[MouseDaddy]

HDD gets thumbs up votes pretty universally, Luau gets mixed reviews. Your 4 year old will have periods of boredom and fear (fire) at the Luau.

 

[EpcotLove]

Luau= boring..

the only thing I liked about it was the firedancer... the story was dumb, the actors were just annoying. Hoop De Do is so much fun... I don't know how to compare the food, because well- in my opinion I liked Hoop De Do, rather than platters of chicken and rice at the Luau. Some people love the pineapple bread at the Luau, but it's not my taste for sure and I love pineapple.

 

[karliebug]

The food is not only more kid-friendly at HDDR, the show is entertaining and fun for all ages. We go every year, the kids insist on it. We've done the luau twice and it was just okay.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

We have done both the Luau and HDD. The food was good at both however we enjoyed the HDD show a lot more. Also, if it's hot, the HDD is inside (ahh, air conditioning) and the Luau is not. They have fans at the Luau, but it's just not the same.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

We have done both the Luau and HDD. The food was good at both however we enjoyed the HDD show a lot more. Also, if it's hot, the HDD is inside (ahh, air conditioning) and the Luau is not. They have fans at the Luau, but it's just not the same.

And by the same token, if it's chilly, it can be a little uncomfortable at the Luau (although that fire dancer goes a long way towards warming me up!)

I do like the Luau. I like the dancing at the end of the show, and I like the food/drinks. But HDDR wins hands-down for entertainment value and comfort. I am always "lucky" enough to get seats front and center for the Luau, which is great for most of the show, but a real pain for the period of time when the kids are asked up front to learn the hula. Parents with camcorders come up to the front to film the kids, and I've been bumped, jostled, and had drinks knocked from my hand by them. I even had one proud papa land in my lap during this! (Sorry, that spot is reserved for the firedancer, sir!) I understand the need to film your angels, but hey, I'm here, too...have a little consideration.

It doesn't matter where you sit for HDDR. You can see everything, and participate in a good deal of it, even from the balcony. No hot firedancer, but good hokey fun throughout. Kids will definitely appreciate it.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

Hoop de doo is way more fun! The Luau, well, I guess all WDW fanatics should do it once, but me? Once was enough for me.

We do Hoop de doo at least once a year. It's corny as can be, just so you know!

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I see a couple of other people went the Luau way, so I'm not alone. I'm not crazy about either, but I'd lean towards that one because I have a two year old that likes to dance. He danced in Germany and had a great time. He danced in Moroco, same thing. The luau had an interactive part where the kids come up on stage. I had to drag him away crying when it was done he was having so much fun. Hoop De Do, he was bored out of his mind.

 

[Cardinal]

Hoop-de-doo. No question about it. Just do it.

 

[MickeyP]

I was torn trying to decide. I like them both. I also think Disney needs about 5 more dinner shows so people can have more choices. Well, thay do have a clambake, not sure if there's much of a show or not. I would like to see a turn-of-the century Titanic dinner at the Boardwalk, maybe a trained-animal show at The Animal Kingdom Lodge, A Beach Party along w/ the existing clambake at the Beach Club, Maybe a Mardi-Gras at Port Orleans, Comedy at the Contemporary ( maybe comedians,jugglers, and impressionists), ya know, cruise entertainment. Throw a Sock-Hop in there too, maybe at POP.

What other themes could they do?

 

[EpcotLove]

Throw a Sock-Hop in there too, maybe at POP.
What other themes could they do?

That would be so awesome!

 

[Arielsfanmom]

I have never been to the Luau but I will nevergo back to HDDR. Long and boring the food was so-so. our waitress was horrible. I will just stick to ohana from now on.

 

[GreatDaneMom]

We definitely enjoyed the entertainment at the Luau much more than at Hoop De Doo. The food was comparable (although different) at each. If I had to choose one I'd definitely go Luau again. I wouldn't waste my time on HDD. IMHO...

Cheryl

 

[JPG]

I don't care where you post this question, the HDDR will win hands down. We went last year, and we are going again this year. Tons of fun and good food. If you can't have a good time at the HDDR..........Enough said...

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Found HDDR my fourth trip. I've gone every trip since. Last time, I was the star of the show!

 

[dani0622]

I've been to both and while I enjoyed both, I prefer HDD. I like the show and food better, although I would go back to Luau again. Enjoy!

 

[Dis-Wiz]

I've been to both, and I would definitely pick HDDR over the Luau. I am a picky eater (who is not a fan of pinapple) so the food at the Luau did not impress me. It seemed as though everything had pinapple in it.

On our first visit to HDDR, we had balcony seats (even though we had asked for ground seats) and we didn't have a very good view of the show. We thought we would never go again. However, we decided to give it a second chance, and I am glad we did. The second time, we had front and center seats and the food was awesome (how can you go wrong with fried chicken, salad, and delicious corn bread?).

I would go to HDDR 100 more times before I go back to the Luau.

 

[smjj]

Looks like I am in good company here. HDDR wins hands down over the current Luau show. Several years ago it was maybe a toss up with HDDR but since the redo of the Luau, it is a no contest. One of the things that spoiled it for us was the way they changed the photo purchase. It was that as you went in they snapped a photo of you and on the way out for a reasonable price you could buy it. Now it is clearly one for profit. They take the photos as you enter and then during dinner time as you eat, they try to sell you a package and it's not cheap. You can't buy just one photo you have to purchase a package. I think they have the same at HDDR but the show is still much better than the newer Luau...smjj

 

[ElizabethB]

The food is better at the luau. As for the show, the kids prefer HDD, we prefer the luau.