Hoop Dee Do Revue question

[triplejen]

We are on the dining plan, and are planning to go to the Hoop Dee Doo Revue. I believe that the rule is that DDP customers are only seated in Category 3 (although for the 9:30 seating they'll upgrade you to Category 2 seating).

This year we will be traveling with my mother, who will most likely require a wheelchair for getting around the parks. The wdwinfo restaurant page says that at the HDDR, "Guests requiring wheelchair access may only be seated in category 1."

So my question is, will we still be able to use the DDP for this meal? Will we be asked to pay the difference? Will we still be able to sit together? (We will be a party of 6.)

Also, last year we took the boat from MK to get to Fort Wilderness for the HDDR. Can this be done with a wheelchair?

Thank you for your help!

 

[DonaldTDuck]

You can get Cat 2 or 3 with the dining plan, and cat 1 at 9:30. Go at 9:30 IF cat 1 is available. Or go to an earlier show and pay oop.

 

[IllumFan]

I cannot speak specifically to the boat and wheelchair question as I seem to recall that a couple different types of boats arrived at MK and went to FW.

However, I did take one from MK to FW with my 3 year old in October. I remember it being difficult to board and maneuver on the boat it was very narrow and he has a pretty wide single (Graco) stroller.

We took the boat from FW to the Contemporary on the way back and I know on that boat I had to remove him from his stroller, close it up and carry it onto the boat.

 

[JPG]

Also, last year we took the boat from MK to get to Fort Wilderness for the HDDR. Can this be done with a wheelchair?

Thank you for your help!

Yes.....But note there are two sizes of boats that run between the MK and FW.
One is the smaller "resort launch" one man crew type boat-Not very wheelchair friendly.
The second is the much larger style boat which has a two man crew-wheelchair and ECV accessible.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Yes.....But note there are two sizes of boats that run between the MK and FW. One is the smaller "resort launch" one man crew type boat-Not very wheelchair friendly.
The second is the much larger style boat which has a two man crew-wheelchair and ECV accessible.

Unless one of the crusiers is out of services temoprarily the smalll boats do not run the MK/FW route, the launches(smaller boats with a step down into them) run the FW/WL/CR route. The main reason for this has to do with handicap accesability, the boat is the only direct way from FW to MK(there is no bus). So except in rare occasions there will be 2 cruisers goin from MK to FW.

 

[JPG]

Unless one of the crusiers is out of services temoprarily the smalll boats do not run the MK/FW route, the launches(smaller boats with a step down into them) run the FW/WL/CR route. The main reason for this has to do with handicap accesability, the boat is the only direct way from FW to MK(there is no bus). So except in rare occasions there will be 2 cruisers goin from MK to FW.

Huh, you know what, you are right. I do not know what I was thinking. Guess I was in a hurry. Oh well, that's not bad though, it's the first time I have ever made a mistake....

 

[danielle.st]

If I were you, I think I would call HDDR directly to ask them about your cat questions. We went to to the 5pm show and were cat 2, upstairs in the middle. According to what I've read online, wheelchair accessibility is only in cat 1 seating http://allears.net/din/hddcom.htm
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=36
However, I'd call and find out if it was possible to get the cat 2 seating downstairs, under the balcony. It may not be possible, but I don't see that it would hurt to ask nicely.

I'd call WDW transportation directly to ask them about the ferrys and their accessibility. We took the ferry, but I can't remember noticing whether it would have been wheelchair accessible.

eta: I just reread your post. If your mom could make it up and down a flight of stairs and doesn't need the wheelchair all of the time, I'd go for the cat 2 seating. Just from reading your post, it seems like the wheelchair is more to help her because there is so much walking and WDW, etc. If she can walk short distances and up a flight of stairs, I don't think cat 1 seating is worth paying for.

 

[disney-super-mom]

We just ate at the HDDR December 13th with my MIL, who also needs a wheelchair or ECV at the parks. Going up or down a flight of stairs is VERY difficult for her, not to mention, it takes her a LONG time to go up or down stairs.

When we made reservations, we booked category 2 for a party of six for the 7:30 show, on the DDP. When we got there to check in, they asked us if anyone in our party couldn't go up/down stairs. We mentioned my 66 year old MIL has great difficulty with stairs, so they sat us down stairs at the middle table in the Category 2 seating, which is under the balcony overhang in the back of the room. You can still see the show really well though, plus everyone is seated facing forward in Category 2 tables, which was nice. They only thing I didn't like about sitting there was none of the tables under the balcony area are included in interacting with the show/performers because it's hard for the rest of the audience to see back there.

We had a wonderful time. Great food, fun atmosphere, and very fun show! Even our five year old loved it!

 

[triplejen]

Thank you all so much for your help! You gave me great advice -- I'll book Category 2 and request ground level. (Somehow I'd thought I only had the option of Category 3 unless I did the 9:30 show, which was a little late for us.)

My mom can walk, it's just that she can't handle the amount of walking at the parks. I think she'd have trouble on the stairs at HDDR, but we definitely could leave the wheelchair outside and she could just walk with a cane if we were on the ground floor. (And the good thing about Category 2 is that she won't have to walk in too far before getting to her seat -- and the walk back out will be shorter as well.)

Thanks also for the boat information. I wonder if the wheelchairs you get there fold? Because I could then help her into whatever kind of boat there was on foot and carry the chair for her until we got to WL. Then I could just unfold the chair for her for the walk to HDDR.

Thanks agin - you guys are awesome!

-Jen

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Thank you all so much for your help! You gave me great advice -- I'll book Category 2 and request ground level. (Somehow I'd thought I only had the option of Category 3 unless I did the 9:30 show, which was a little late for us.)

My mom can walk, it's just that she can't handle the amount of walking at the parks. I think she'd have trouble on the stairs at HDDR, but we definitely could leave the wheelchair outside and she could just walk with a cane if we were on the ground floor. (And the good thing about Category 2 is that she won't have to walk in too far before getting to her seat -- and the walk back out will be shorter as well.)

Thanks also for the boat information. I wonder if the wheelchairs you get there fold? Because I could then help her into whatever kind of boat there was on foot and carry the chair for her until we got to WL. Then I could just unfold the chair for her for the walk to HDDR.Thanks agin - you guys are awesome!

-Jen

WL, thats a typo right, you do know that HDDR is at FW not WL. The two resorts are nearby, but don't share a boat from MK(they used to). Make sure from MK you get on the boat to FW not WL.

 

[triplejen]

WL, thats a typo right, you do know that HDDR is at FW not WL. The two resorts are nearby, but don't share a boat from MK(they used to). Make sure from MK you get on the boat to FW not WL.

Yes -- it was a mistake. I need to get better about the acronyms. Thank you for asking me!