Hoop Dee Do......worth it?

[2hapykdz]

Just booked our annual "getaway" for September for Food and Wine and always looking to try a new experience. I booked Hoop Dee Do for me and the wife. She's not a real fried chicken and ribs eater but she goes for me....and since its Free Dining....it feels like we're not actually paying for it. With that said, is the show THAT good that I'm giving up 2 meal credits for it? I eat it all...so no worries for me but do they do anything else on request? I saw a video of someone eating MacnCheese but it wasnt on the menu....wondering if theyd do a burger or ckn tenders? TIA!

 

[Surgie2]

Personally I wouldn't go there without kids. There are so many better Epcot restaurants or other resort restaurants to choose from. But then my husband and I aren't into that kind of audience participation entertainment and would prefer a glass of wine and appetizers with live music like in the GF lobby lounge lol! If you haven't tried Mizer's Lounge in the GF or the Nomad Lounge at AK maybe those might be fun.

 

[brertoad]

Just booked our annual "getaway" for September for Food and Wine and always looking to try a new experience. I booked Hoop Dee Do for me and the wife. She's not a real fried chicken and ribs eater but she goes for me....and since its Free Dining....it feels like we're not actually paying for it. With that said, is the show THAT good that I'm giving up 2 meal credits for it? I eat it all...so no worries for me but do they do anything else on request? I saw a video of someone eating MacnCheese but it wasnt on the menu....wondering if theyd do a burger or ckn tenders? TIA!

It is a set menu, family style. Mac & Cheese is a common side dish (like at LTT), everyone was probably served mac and cheese that night.
I highly doubt they would do a burger or chicken tenders, unless maybe you had a child who was having an epic meltdown. Those servers are running their butts off and are really busy, I just don't think it would be feasible for them to take a la carte orders/requests from each table.

Is it worth it? Debatable. It is an experience. If you just want that kind of food try Trail's End or Whispering Canyon for 1 credit. If you want the show, spend the 2 credits.
We liked it, but it is expensive OOP. We went for our anniversary a few years ago and we probably won't be going back until some friends want to see the show then we'll go again. The show has been the same for like 30 years. So, if you go once at least you tried it.

 

[Hopefully]

Just booked our annual "getaway" for September for Food and Wine and always looking to try a new experience. I booked Hoop Dee Do for me and the wife. She's not a real fried chicken and ribs eater but she goes for me....and since its Free Dining....it feels like we're not actually paying for it. With that said, is the show THAT good that I'm giving up 2 meal credits for it? I eat it all...so no worries for me but do they do anything else on request? I saw a video of someone eating MacnCheese but it wasnt on the menu....wondering if theyd do a burger or ckn tenders? TIA!

We love the HDDR and I do think it is worth it. We have been when our children were young, then as my oldest son brought his children and also as an all adult party. The food is good and the show is a lot of fun. It is full of singing, dancing, audience participation and corny jokes. I totally think it is worth it.

It is a set menu, family style. Mac & Cheese is a common side dish (like at LTT), everyone was probably served mac and cheese that night.
I highly doubt they would do a burger or chicken tenders, unless maybe you had a child who was having an epic meltdown. Those servers are running their butts off and are really busy, I just don't think it would be feasible for them to take a la carte orders/requests from each table.

The bolded statement above is totally incorrect. MacnCheese is not served as a normal side dish at the HDDR. It is sometimes available for those with dietary restrictions. The menu at HDDR is a set menu and they do not take a la carte orders for those who prefer something differnet. If you ask, they might serve your wife the MacnCheese, but in general we never make a reservation for a meal we would not enjoy.

 

[LCoulter]

Hoop Dee Doo is not just for kids. We have gone many times without kids and have been with other adults and we have all had a great time. It's expensive and we pay out of pocket and think it is worth it and we keep going back because it is so much fun.

Mac n Cheese is not part of the menu but I have heard of others being able to order it for picky eaters. I have never heard of chicken nuggets or burger being ordered though.

If your wife isn't able to eat anything, it may not be worth it for you.

 

[margot31]

I took my husband a few years ago and he enjoyed it. We haven't been back since but that reminds me maybe to go this fall when we have the gma join us for the kids birthdays.

 

[aristocatz]

We LOVED HDDR!!! We went during our honeymoon (no kids) & it was our favorite night of our trip! We care more about theming than food, and HDDR was a great show! Such great energy, servers were fun, and the food was good. If you are looking for a great show, I highly recommend it

 

[alltwelve]

We used it as our 2 dining credits and had the same concerns you are having now, but I'm happy to say it was totally worth it! We had previously used 2 credits at California Grill, and while we are glad we went there, we had a pretty high tab with the drinks that we added on.

Neither of us are fried chicken eaters, so our server offered us each a salmon dish with grilled veggies- it was delicious!!! The funny thing was our server still gave us the silver bucket of fried chicken, and after enjoying our salmon, we both decided to give the fried chicken a try and ended up eating the whole bucket!

The Trail's End restaurant is next door, so the servers can provide many options in addition to the chicken and ribs. The sangrias are also really good- you can choose red or white, and its all included in the price of the meal.

The show is corny in a good way, and we have since been back to the Hoop Dee Doo one more time and it was just as good- if not better- than the first time. We have absolutely no regrets of using our 2 dining credits there!!!

 

[Tigger's ally]

Always had fun whether with kids or without. My wife doesn't like the menu as a whole, but does like enough (combined with the Sangria pitchers) that she gladly goes.

 

[TXPyroMom]

Not to hijack, but for those of you who have gone, is it worth it to pay OOP to get priority 1 seating?

It will be 5 adults and 1 11 y/o and a toddler.

Not sure if we want to burn 2 credits on seats that aren't as good... but maybe they are??

 

[cedricandsophie]

We love it and usually go every couple years. The show is fun and I like the fried chicken and the dessert. It's just a lot of fun. We are going for a week in Nov and I hope to sign up for it when reservations open.

 

[Hopefully]

We paid OOP for Category 1 seats and we are glad we did. The are front and center. Like most venues, the better seats are the more expensive ones. You can still enjoy the show from the other categories as well.

 

[danikoski]

I've been three times now and have always enjoyed it. However, the next time I go, my stepson will be with us, and he is an extremely picky eater that also doesn't eat a lot. He's more a grazer. I'd be hard pressed to pay out of pocket for him to go. So although I love the show and food, I understand the idea of it not always being worth it.

 

[helenm29]

Yeah, I get where you are coming from. I love going to the show and eating all the finger food...it's part of the experience! when my kids were small they wouldn't TOUCH a piece of chicken with a bone in it but they enjoyed the rest of the food..it would be nice if you could order something different but as I said, the food is part of the experience. I don't like being in the very front because it seems like they pick people from those sections to come on stage. We did the front one time with my kids who were about 8 and they guys in the show teased her so bad..she was very shy and it just didn't work out. All in all, I pretty much love everything about it.

 

[LISAMWDW]

YES!

With or without kids doesn't matter, it is fun and delish!

 

[bffdisney]

I would pay OOP. Might be better use than using 2 dining credits. It is unlimited beer and sangria, so if you drink and use the bus, you can get your money's worth! We went as 2 adults and had a blast!

 

[Trip planner]

Not to hijack, but for those of you who have gone, is it worth it to pay OOP to get priority 1 seating?

It will be 5 adults and 1 11 y/o and a toddler.

Not sure if we want to burn 2 credits on seats that aren't as good... but maybe they are??

We have gone twice and prefer to pay oop for cat 1. We were right next to the stage and it was really fun! I don't think the other seats are too far away. We just really enjoyed being up front. I would hate to be in the balcony though.

 

[HopperFan]

We had Category 3 seats and loved those seats. We went with a discount and it was something DD really wanted to do. I'm not sure I would burn two credits on it. It was fun, beer included added to the monetary value ..... I would return with a group maybe, but I'm not sure I would rush back just for dinner and show.

Our last seasonal veggie was corn.

 

[DVCjj]

Loved it when we went many years ago with kids (cat 1, close to stage)
Loved it when we went recently minus kids (cat 1, close to stage)

 

[ElizaDoesDisney]

The bolded statement above is totally incorrect. MacnCheese is not served as a normal side dish at the HDDR. It is sometimes available for those with dietary restrictions. The menu at HDDR is a set menu and they do not take a la carte orders for those who prefer something differnet. If you ask, they might serve your wife the MacnCheese, but in general we never make a reservation for a meal we would not enjoy.

YMMV, but we ate at HDDR this past weekend and were automatically served Mac 'n Cheese - it appears all the tables (at least those near us) also received it. It was one of the highlights of the meal.

We also lucked out - paying for Cat 3 and getting Cat 1 seating - they didn't use any of the seating in the balcony at that particular showing.