Hoop Dee Doo, is Category 3 that bad? Update: Booked it!

[rcraw45425]

How bad is the Category 3 searing at HDDR? Trying for a 6:15 show in late May and all that's showing up is Category 3. The perfect day, our arrival, there's nothing except 4PM, which is way too early even for us. Our last two days 6:15 show is available but only Cat 3. I read that some Cat 3 have obstructed views. WE've done Spirit of Aloha twice and sat Category 3 the first time there. It was okay, my view was not the greatest but my husbands was fine. Did Category 1 the next time and it was perfect, so we are spoiled a bit

 

[LorrieAnn5]

Here is a mini review I wrote:
We just did this last in early Aug 2014. I booked it at about 4pm and we went to the 8:30pm show on the same day. We booked Category 3 and I was so pleased with it.

There is the railing to the balcony on the side, then your swival chair, then the table and then the walkway for the waitresses. The concept of turning to eat/watch the show was brilliant. There were 6 of us and we all sat in one long row so it was more like a dinner with 3 of us that could talk and the other 3 that could talk to each other, but we did this on night 9 of a 10 night vacation so we had talked enough! ;-)

The cornbread was very moist. The salad was basic but had plenty of dressing and veggies (cucs, toms, onions). The fried chcicked was easy to debone and moist. I didn't really like the ribs, but I'm wicked pickey about meat. Baked beans were impressive. Mashed potatoes and corn were standard. The strawberry shortcake was good with enough whipped cream. I had the sangria (red) I'm a wimp so I mixed in some of my DH's sprite, but I liked it.

We were laughing and having a good ol' time. An Actor came up to the balcony to wish my parents a happy anniversary. They call out for b-days and anniversaries. To participate in the final number you'd need to be on the main floor but even then it's no gaurentee.

There was a photopass photographer at the check in. They do not print out the photo for you though.

Also: to get there we took bus from CBR to MK then bus from MK to Wilderness Lodge then transfered to the Fort Wilderness bus. They drop you off right where you need to be. After the 8:30pm show there are three resort busses waiting to take you back. We went to BC, POP, AoA and the CBR. It was 11:50pm when we got to CBR!!! At that rate I should have taken the boat to MK for EMH until midnight and then taken the bus back to CBR, but live & learn.....

I would see this show again....and even book Category 3 again.

 

[OhThePain]

Personally, I like Cat. 3 the best (have sat in the other cats multiple times as well). The show still makes its way up to the balcony so you aren't excluded. I don't really care for sitting on the floor. I always feel like either someone is in my way or I am in someone elses way. I prefer sitting up in the balcony on the swivel chairs with no one sitting in front of me. There are some posts that can be awkward, but they have never bothered me. They real negative to sitting in the balcony is if you are there with a larger party. Everyone in the balcony sits in a row, so its not convenient for those sitting at the ends to communicate.

 

[HopperFan]

Went last week and my studying led me to Category 3 and loved it! I wouldn't book anything else. Great views without being in the middle of it. Two entertainers came up to us. Service excellent.

 

[rcraw45425]

So you aren't broken up into table of two, tables of four, etc? We're a family of four, would we sit across from each other or all in a row? That's a drawback, hubby isn't a "social" person, he wants to just sit with "his group", hates making small talk. At the luau it seemed like the tables were separated a little bit.

 

[HopperFan]

So you aren't broken up into table of two, tables of four, etc? We're a family of four, would we sit across from each other or all in a row? That's a drawback, hubby isn't a "social" person, he wants to just sit with "his group", hates making small talk. At the luau it seemed like the tables were separated a little bit.

We were a table of three. Table was pulled apart. Others all seemed to have their own tables. So no we were not with strangers. You sit in a row and the server works the table from the other side. The chairs swivel so you can eat and spin around for show or even sit sideways to watch & eat. It is a dinner show so it's not like you are talking through your whole dinner.

I do believe that I read recently a post that some larger tables downstairs may have strangers seated together if no big groups book.

 

[HopperFan]

HOOP-DEE-DO-REVIEW TICKET AND SEATING "411":
1) HDDR tables are prioritized in category by WHEN the ressie was made
. . . whether via phone or on-line.
. . . example: a Cat-1 ressie made in January gets a better table than ressie made in February
. . . example: a Cat-1 ressie made within 7-days of the show gets Cat-1 leftovers
2) Tables are manually assigned on 7th day before the show date.
3) Last minute ressies are assigned to the next open table in order.
4) There are no requests allowed for tables.
5) The earlier ressies are made, the better table location.
6) Exception: #044 & #045, kept for last minute handicapped guests.
7) Table numbers do have meaning,
. . . EXAMPLE: table #052
. . . 0 = floor-level
. . . 5 = fifth-row-from-front
. . . 2 = second-table-from-left
8) Tables may be moved around to accommodate number of guests.
9) Only one family/group is usually seated per table. *
10) Distribution of tables and categories, prior to any combining of tables.
. . . Cat-1 tables are main floor to-row8, they are the best seats
. . . Cat-2 tables are the seven tables in row9 on main floor
. . . Cat-2 tables are the last four on left/right wings
. . . Cat-2 tables are the eight rear balcony tables facing stage
. . . Cat-3 tables are the eight tables on both balcony sides
. . . Cat-2 and Cat-3 tables may have posts in the viewing way **
. . . Cat-3 tables require you to turn around to see
11) Ticket Pick-Up:
. . . up to 7-days prior to show date at any Concierge or any Park/DTD Guest Services
. . . within 2-hrs prior to showtime only at HDDR Box Office at Fort Wilderness
. . . box office and concierge windows are to the left of Pioneer Hall at FW
. . . center and left-most windows are Concierge, right-most window is Box Office

* There are four large tables for big families. If there
are no big families (which seldom happens), they will mix small
families of 2-4 to fill the tables. This allows HDDR to maximize
the seating, and revenue. If there are more than one group at
the table, each group has its own "family style" menu items.
** I often assign seats for HDDR, and wince when I put folks
behind pillars or have the pillars in their line-of-sight.

 

[rcraw45425]

^^^^^ Thank you for this info HopperFan (and RS )

 

[rcraw45425]

That you to all of you that commented. I went ahead and booked Category 3 for May 27. Still over $200 for four of us, but hopefully we'll enjoy the food and show (from afar, lol). Glad to know hat most action takes place on the bottom level, we don't really enjoy having to participate in the show!

 

[mombrontrent]

Hope you enjoy it! Our family is booked for May 3rd, Cat. 3 as well. It will be our first time and while the high price was hard to swallow I am looking forward to it, hopefully a great way to "kick-off" our vacation on our first day.

 

[Julylady]

A word of caution about Cat 3. The first time we tried it, we loved it! Kids had a great view of the stage. But when we went last December (different people with us), we were a bit farther back. There was a large beam that blocked the stage for 2 out of the 4 of us. We tried to move the chairs so that everyone could see, but part of the stage was still blocked. I am hesitant to book Cat 3 again for this reason.

Edited to add: If you look at Hopperfan's first picture, we were sitting where the guys in the yellow and gray shirt are sitting.